America's Musical Heritage: Self-Launched Nashville to New Orleans
10 days · Nashville to New Orleans
Globus charges £3,150
No-markup version: ~£1,060 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Follow the spine of American music from Nashville's honky-tonks to the jazz bars of New Orleans — entirely on your own terms. This self-launched route takes you through the birthplaces of country, soul, blues, and Cajun music, swapping a luxury motor coach tour for rental cars, Greyhound buses, and local transport. You'll visit the same iconic landmarks — RCA Studio B, Sun Studio, Graceland, the Delta Blues Museum, and Bourbon Street — at a fraction of the price, staying in well-rated budget hotels and hostels along the way. All cost estimates are approximate.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Fly into Nashville International Airport (BNA). Take the WeGo bus route 18 into downtown for around £2, or a rideshare for ~£20. Check into your hostel or budget hotel near Lower Broadway and spend the evening exploring the free live music on Honky Tonk Row — no cover charge required at most bars.
🚌WeGo bus from airport (~£2) or rideshare (~£20)
🛏Nashville Downtown Hostel or similar budget hotel near Broadway (~£25–35/night)
- →Arrive and settle in
- →Explore Lower Broadway and Honky Tonk Row (free entry to most bars)
- →Catch free live music at any of the Broadway honky-tonks
Nashville: Music City Deep Dive
Nashville, Tennessee
A full day exploring Nashville's legendary music landmarks. Start with a self-guided walk through Music Row, then visit the Country Music Hall of Fame (book online via GetYourGuide or direct). Head to RCA Studio B for a guided studio tour — you can also pay to make your own recording. End the night at the Grand Ole Opry for a world-famous live country show; book reserved seats directly via opry.com.
🚌Walk or WeGo bus around downtown (~£2–4)
🛏Nashville Downtown Hostel or similar (~£25–35/night)
- →Self-guided walk through Music Row and Centennial Park (Parthenon replica — free)
- →Country Music Hall of Fame admission (~£25)
- →RCA Studio B guided tour (~£14, bookable via opry.com)
- →Optional: make your own recording at RCA Studio B (~£40 extra)
- →Grand Ole Opry show with reserved seats (~£30–55, book via opry.com)
Nashville to Memphis: Soul & Rock 'n' Roll
Memphis, Tennessee
Take a Greyhound bus or FlixBus from Nashville to Memphis (approx. 3.5 hours, ~£20–30). Alternatively, rent a car for the 3.5-hour drive along the I-40 for more flexibility. On arrival, head straight to the legendary Sun Studio for a self-booked tour — the birthplace of rock 'n' roll. Then visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in the afternoon. In the evening, head to Beale Street for dinner at a local restaurant.
🚌Greyhound or FlixBus Nashville–Memphis (~£20–30)
🛏Hostel Memphis or budget hotel near Beale Street (~£25–35/night)
- →Greyhound/FlixBus from Nashville to Memphis (~£20–30)
- →Sun Studio guided tour (~£14, book direct at sunstudio.com)
- →Stax Museum of American Soul Music (~£12)
- →Evening on Beale Street with dinner at a local soul food restaurant (~£15–20)
Memphis: Graceland & City Landmarks
Memphis, Tennessee
Today is all about Graceland. Book the Elvis Presley's Graceland tour directly via graceland.com — the Elvis Experience Pass includes the mansion, automobile museum, airplane collection, meditation garden, and more. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided walk of Memphis highlights: the Mississippi Riverfront, Lorraine Motel (National Civil Rights Museum), and Mud Island. Grab some legendary BBQ at Central BBQ or Rendezvous for dinner.
🚌Rideshare or taxi to Graceland (~£10 each way)
🛏Hostel Memphis or budget hotel (~£25–35/night)
- →Graceland Elvis Experience Pass — mansion, gold records, jumpsuits, automobile museum, airplane collection (~£35–45, book via graceland.com)
- →Self-guided walk to Lorraine Motel / National Civil Rights Museum exterior (admission ~£15 if entering)
- →Mississippi Riverfront and Mud Island walk (free)
- →BBQ dinner at Central BBQ or Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous (~£15–20)
Memphis to Clarksdale & Greenwood: The Blues Delta
Clarksdale & Greenwood, Mississippi
Rent a car for today — public transport in the Mississippi Delta is very limited. Drive south on the US-61 (the legendary Blues Highway) to Clarksdale (~1.5 hours). Visit the Delta Blues Museum, then stop at the Crossroads (intersection of US-61 and US-49) for a photo — free and iconic. Have lunch at Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by Morgan Freeman, with live blues and southern dishes. Continue to Greenwood (~1 hour) for a self-guided walk of The Help filming locations. Check in to a budget motel in Greenwood.
🚌Rental car recommended for Mississippi Delta (~£40–55/day including fuel)
🛏Budget motel in Greenwood, MS (~£55–70/night)
- →Drive Memphis to Clarksdale via Blues Highway US-61 (~1.5 hours)
- →Delta Blues Museum admission (~£8)
- →Photo stop at the Crossroads (free)
- →Lunch at Ground Zero Blues Club with live blues music (~£15–20)
- →Self-guided tour of The Help filming locations in Greenwood (free)
- →Drive Clarksdale to Greenwood (~1 hour)
Greenwood to Indianola & Natchez
Indianola & Natchez, Mississippi
Drive from Greenwood to Indianola (~30 mins) to visit the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center — a world-class celebration of the blues legend. You can try playing instruments in the interactive exhibits. Then drive south through the Delta to Natchez (~2.5 hours), one of the oldest cities on the Mississippi River. Spend the evening exploring Natchez Under-the-Hill and the antebellum district. Dinner at a local restaurant featuring regional southern specialties.
🚌Rental car continued (~£40–55/day including fuel)
🛏Budget hotel or motel in Natchez, MS (~£60–80/night)
- →Drive Greenwood to Indianola (~30 mins)
- →B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center (~£10, interactive instrument play included)
- →Drive Indianola to Natchez via the Delta (~2.5 hours)
- →Self-guided walk of Natchez Historic District and Under-the-Hill (free)
- →Dinner at a local Natchez restaurant with southern specialties (~£15–20)
Natchez to Ferriday, Frogmore & Lafayette: Cajun Country
Ferriday, Frogmore & Lafayette, Louisiana
Cross the Mississippi into Louisiana. Stop in Ferriday to visit the Delta Music Museum, celebrating Louisiana's musical giants including Jerry Lee Lewis. Head to Frogmore Plantation for a historic guided tour of one of the South's best-preserved cotton plantations (~£15, book via frogmoreplantation.com). Continue to Cypress Cove Landing for live Cajun music and storytelling on the Atchafalaya Basin. Arrive in Lafayette for the evening — try Cajun dancing at a local venue like Whiskey River Landing.
🚌Rental car continued (~£40–55/day including fuel)
🛏Budget hotel in Lafayette, LA (~£55–75/night)
- →Drive Natchez to Ferriday via the Mississippi River bridge (~45 mins)
- →Delta Music Museum, Ferriday (~£5)
- →Frogmore Plantation historic guided tour (~£15)
- →Cypress Cove Landing — live Cajun music and storytelling (~£10–15)
- →Optional: Cajun dinner and dancing lessons at a Lafayette restaurant (~£30–40)
- →Optional: Try Mardi Gras and Fais do-do dances at a local venue
Lafayette to New Orleans via St. Martinville, Atchafalaya Basin & Houmas House
St. Martinville, Atchafalaya Basin, Houmas House & New Orleans, Louisiana
Depart Lafayette and detour to St. Martinville to see the famous Evangeline Oak on the banks of Bayou Teche — a romantic Cajun legend site. Then book an Atchafalaya Basin boat tour (available via GetYourGuide or direct from operators like McGee's Atchafalaya Basin Tours, ~£25). Continue east to Houmas House Plantation and Gardens for a self-booked guided mansion tour (houmashouse.com, ~£15). Have lunch at their on-site restaurant before continuing into New Orleans. Drop off your rental car at the New Orleans airport or a city location.
🚌Rental car final day (~£40–55); return car in New Orleans
🛏HI New Orleans Hostel or budget hotel in the French Quarter/Marigny (~£30–45/night)
- →Drive Lafayette to St. Martinville (~30 mins); visit Evangeline Oak (free)
- →Atchafalaya Basin boat tour — McGee's or similar (~£25, book direct or via GetYourGuide)
- →Drive to Houmas House Plantation (~1.5 hours from basin)
- →Houmas House Plantation and Gardens guided mansion tour (~£15, book via houmashouse.com)
- →Lunch at Houmas House restaurant (~£18–25)
- →Drive to New Orleans and drop off rental car (~1 hour)
New Orleans: Jazz, Food & The French Quarter
New Orleans, Louisiana
A free day to soak up the Crescent City at your own pace. Wander the French Quarter, browse the French Market, and visit Jackson Square (free). Jazz Fest aside, New Orleans has free live music almost everywhere — head to Frenchmen Street in the Marigny neighbourhood for the best authentic jazz and blues bars (no cover at many venues). Consider a self-booked walking ghost tour or a cemetery tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 via GetYourGuide (~£15). In the evening, try a Cajun/Creole dinner at a local spot like Dooky Chase's or Coop's Place (~£20–30).
🚌Walk or streetcar around New Orleans (~£3/day streetcar pass)
🛏HI New Orleans Hostel or budget hotel (~£30–45/night)
- →Self-guided French Quarter walk — Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, French Market (free)
- →Optional: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 guided tour (~£15, book via GetYourGuide)
- →Frenchmen Street — free live jazz and blues in the bars (evening)
- →Optional: Cajun dinner and zydeco dancing at Mulate's or a local Lafayette-style restaurant (~£30–40)
- →Optional: New Orleans food tour via GetYourGuide (~£35)
Departure from New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Enjoy a final breakfast in New Orleans — try a beignet and café au lait at Café Du Monde on the riverfront before heading to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Take a rideshare or airport shuttle (~£20–30) from the city.
🚌Rideshare or airport shuttle to MSY (~£20–30)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast at Café Du Monde — beignets and café au lait (~£6)
- →Last stroll along the Mississippi Riverfront (free)
- →Rideshare or airport shuttle to MSY airport (~£20–30)
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,060 | £3,150 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,090 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,060
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 America's Musical Heritage: Self-Launched Nashville to New Orleans cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,060 per person for 10 days in Nashville to New Orleans. 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £3,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,060 — a saving of roughly £2,090 (66%) per person.
How long is the Nashville to New Orleans trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Nashville to New Orleans.
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, music, road-trip trip through Nashville to New Orleans, 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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