Highlights of the Deep South: Self-Launched Edition
12 days · Deep South, USA
G Adventures charges £2,800
No-markup version: ~£1,245 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Trade the group tour bus for your own adventure through America's most soulful region. This self-launched 12-day route takes you from New Orleans through Birmingham, Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta, Nashville, and Memphis — soaking up jazz, blues, BBQ, civil rights history, and Southern charm at your own pace. By renting a car split between travel buddies, booking budget hotels independently, and hitting the same iconic sites yourself, you can experience the full magic of the Deep South for a fraction of what a guided group tour costs.
Day-by-day
Arrive in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Arrive into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) at any time. Collect your rental car — booking in advance via Kayak or Rentalcars.com can save significantly. Check into your accommodation in the French Quarter or nearby Marigny neighbourhood. Spend the evening wandering Frenchmen Street for free live jazz, grabbing a po'boy sandwich, and soaking up the city's electric atmosphere.
🚌Fly into MSY; pick up pre-booked rental car (~£35–45/day split between travellers)
🛏HI New Orleans Hostel or India House Hostel (~£28–35/night) or budget hotel like La Quinta Inn (~£60–80/night)
- →Stroll Frenchmen Street for free live jazz
- →Explore the French Quarter on foot
- →Try a classic po'boy or beignets at Café du Monde
New Orleans to Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Hit the road north-east to Birmingham, Alabama (approx. 5.5 hrs drive). This is your deep dive into America's civil rights story. Head straight to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute — one of the most powerful museums in the US — located in the Civil Rights District alongside the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park, both free to visit. Grab dinner at one of Birmingham's growing foodie scene restaurants in the Avondale neighbourhood.
🚌Self-drive from New Orleans to Birmingham (~350 miles, ~5.5 hrs). Budget ~£30–40 fuel split between car occupants.
🛏Redmont Hotel or budget option like Comfort Inn Downtown Birmingham (~£65–85/night)
- →Visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (~£12 entry)
- →Walk Kelly Ingram Park and 16th Street Baptist Church (free)
- →Explore Avondale neighbourhood for dinner
Birmingham to Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
A longer driving day (approx. 6.5 hrs) east to one of the most beautiful cities in the American South. Arrive in Savannah and take an evening orientation walk through the famous Historic District — 22 lush, oak-shaded squares draped in Spanish moss. Stroll down to Forsyth Park and grab a craft beer on Congress Street. The architecture here is jaw-dropping and almost entirely free to enjoy on foot.
🚌Self-drive from Birmingham to Savannah (~410 miles, ~6.5 hrs). Budget ~£35–45 fuel.
🛏Savannah Pensione or Thunderbird Inn (~£70–95/night)
- →Self-guided walking tour of Savannah's Historic District squares (free)
- →Stroll Forsyth Park (free)
- →Evening drinks on Congress Street
Free Day in Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
A full free day to explore Savannah at your own pace. In the morning, hire a bike (~£15/day) or walk to the hauntingly beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery, made famous by 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'. Stop by the Savannah History Museum or the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. In the afternoon, browse the galleries and eateries at the Savannah City Market, or take a self-guided tour of one of the historic plantation estates just outside the city.
🚌Walking and bike hire within Savannah (~£15)
🛏Savannah Pensione or Thunderbird Inn (~£70–95/night)
- →Visit Bonaventure Cemetery — self-guided walk (free)
- →Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum (~£7 entry)
- →Browse Savannah City Market for art and food (free entry)
- →Optional: Wormsloe Historic Site plantation grounds (~£8)
Savannah to Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Drive north up the coast to gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina (approx. 2 hrs). On arrival, join a self-guided orientation walk of the historic peninsula — the 'Rainbow Row' of pastel-coloured Georgian houses, White Point Garden, and the Battery sea wall are all unmissable. Browse the Charleston City Market (free entry) and grab some fresh local seafood for lunch. Book a sunset harbour kayak tour via GetYourGuide for a unique water-level view of the city.
🚌Self-drive from Savannah to Charleston (~100 miles, ~2 hrs). Budget ~£15 fuel.
🛏Not So Hostel Charleston or HI Charleston (~£30–40/night dorm) or budget inn (~£75–95/night)
- →Self-guided walk of Rainbow Row and the Battery (free)
- →Charleston City Market browse (free)
- →Optional: Sunset kayak tour of Charleston Harbour via GetYourGuide (~£35)
Free Day in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
A full free day to explore Charleston independently. Hire a bike and ride out to Sullivan's Island or Folly Beach for a morning swim (~£12 bike hire). Back in the city, explore the Aiken-Rhett House or the Old Slave Mart Museum for powerful historical context (~£8–10 entry). In the afternoon, take a self-booked boat tour around Charleston Harbor (bookable direct via the Charleston Water Taxi, ~£15). End the day with dinner in the Upper King Street restaurant strip.
🚌Walking, bike hire, and water taxi within Charleston (~£25)
🛏Not So Hostel Charleston or HI Charleston (~£30–40/night dorm) or budget inn (~£75–95/night)
- →Cycle or drive to Folly Beach (free, ~£12 bike hire)
- →Old Slave Mart Museum (~£8 entry)
- →Charleston Water Taxi harbour tour (~£15)
- →Optional: Historic house tour via GetYourGuide (~£20)
Charleston to Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Drive west to Atlanta, the capital of Georgia and a major cultural hub (approx. 5 hrs). On arrival, visit the World of Coca-Cola museum (~£15 entry, book direct online) or head to the Auburn Avenue Historic District — the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. The MLK National Historic Site is free to visit and profoundly moving. For dinner, hit the Ponce City Market food hall or explore the Inman Park neighbourhood's excellent independent restaurant scene.
🚌Self-drive from Charleston to Atlanta (~340 miles, ~5 hrs). Budget ~£30–40 fuel.
🛏Atlanta Hostel or Motel 6 / Red Roof Inn budget options (~£55–80/night)
- →World of Coca-Cola Museum (~£15 entry)
- →MLK Jr National Historic Site & Birth Home (free)
- →Explore Ponce City Market food hall for dinner
- →Optional: Atlanta BeltLine trail walk (free)
Atlanta to Nashville via Lynchburg
Nashville, Tennessee
Drive north towards Nashville (approx. 4.5 hrs total), with a detour to Lynchburg, Tennessee for a self-booked tour of the Jack Daniel's Distillery (~£15–20, book direct on jackdaniels.com — essential, it's in a dry county so tasting is at the distillery only!). Arrive in Nashville in the afternoon. Head straight to Broadway for the famous honky-tonks — all live music venues here are free entry with no cover charge. Grab a hot chicken sandwich from Prince's Hot Chicken, the Nashville original.
🚌Self-drive from Atlanta via Lynchburg to Nashville (~320 miles, ~4.5–5 hrs). Budget ~£30–40 fuel.
🛏Music City Hostel Nashville or Drury Inn (~£35–80/night)
- →Jack Daniel's Distillery tour, Lynchburg (~£15–20, book direct)
- →Explore Broadway honky-tonks — live music free entry
- →Try Nashville hot chicken at Prince's or Hattie B's
Nashville to Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Drive west to Memphis, the home of the blues (approx. 3.5 hrs). Stop en route at the Tennessee welcome centre for a scenic Mississippi River overlook. Arrive in Memphis and check in, then head to Beale Street in the evening — the birthplace of the blues, packed with live music bars. Book a Southern BBQ dinner at the iconic Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous or Central BBQ — this is your equivalent of the included BBQ dinner on the G Adventures tour.
🚌Self-drive from Nashville to Memphis (~210 miles, ~3.5 hrs). Budget ~£22–28 fuel.
🛏Hu. Hotel or Talbot Heirs Guesthouse (~£70–90/night) or budget motel
- →Drive the Nashville–Memphis route via I-40
- →Evening on Beale Street — live blues music (free entry to street, ~£5–10 bar covers)
- →Southern BBQ dinner at Rendezvous or Central BBQ (~£15–20)
Free Day in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
A full free day to dig into Memphis' legendary musical and civil rights heritage. Start with a morning tour of Graceland — Elvis Presley's home — booking via graceland.com in advance (~£28–35 for the Mansion Tour). Then head to Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis all recorded — tours run every hour (~£12, book at sunstudio.com). Round off the day at the National Civil Rights Museum, built around the Lorraine Motel where MLK Jr was assassinated (~£14, book direct).
🚌Walking and Uber/Lyft within Memphis (~£10–15)
🛏Hu. Hotel or Talbot Heirs Guesthouse (~£70–90/night) or budget motel
- →Graceland Mansion Tour (~£28–35, book at graceland.com)
- →Sun Studio tour (~£12, book at sunstudio.com)
- →National Civil Rights Museum (~£14, book direct)
- →Optional: Stax Museum of American Soul Music (~£12)
Memphis to New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Drive south through Mississippi and into Louisiana (approx. 6.5 hrs) — this is classic Deep South highway driving with Spanish moss, bayous, and roadside BBQ shacks. Cross the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway into New Orleans for a dramatic re-entry. Arrive and spend your final evening in style: explore the French Quarter, catch live jazz at Preservation Hall (book in advance at preservationhall.com, ~£18), and feast on authentic Cajun and Creole food in the Tremé neighbourhood.
🚌Self-drive from Memphis to New Orleans (~395 miles, ~6.5 hrs). Budget ~£35–45 fuel.
🛏India House Hostel or HI New Orleans (~£28–35/night dorm) or budget hotel
- →Drive Memphis to New Orleans via US-61 (the Blues Highway) and I-55
- →Preservation Hall jazz concert (~£18, book at preservationhall.com)
- →Dinner in Tremé or the Marigny for authentic Cajun/Creole food
- →Optional: French Quarter ghost or history tour via GetYourGuide (~£20)
Depart New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Depart at any time. Return your rental car at MSY airport. If you have time before your flight, grab a final café au lait and beignet at Café du Monde, browse the French Market, or stroll the Garden District to see the grand antebellum mansions. New Orleans is the kind of city that makes you want to stay just one more day — and that's absolutely fine.
🚌Drive to MSY airport and return rental car
- →Final beignets at Café du Monde (free to sit, ~£5 for coffee and beignets)
- →Garden District self-guided walk (free)
- →Return rental car at MSY airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,245 | £2,800 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,555 per person (56%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,245
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Highlights of the Deep South: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,245 per person for 12 days in Deep South, USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,245 — a saving of roughly £1,555 (56%) per person.
How long is the Deep South, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Deep South, USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, road-trip, foodie trip through Deep South, USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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