2026 March 27 - April 5 Road Trip Itinerary (Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi)

Going

Day 1 - Iowa (drive through); Missouri

Day 2 - St Louis, Missouri (The Gateway Arch); Illinois / Kentucky / Tennessee (drive through); Georgia

Day 3 - Atlanta, Georgia (World of Coca-Cola, Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival) 

Day 4 - Atlanta, Georgia (Georgia Aquarium); Alabama (drive through); Florida

Day 5 - Destin, Florida (Henderson Beach State Park, Destin Harbor Boardwalk)

Day 6 - Destin, Florida (Crab Island Destin)

Day 7 - Mobile, Alabama (USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park); Mississippi (drive through); New Orleans, Louisiana (French Quarter)

Day 8 - New Orleans, Louisiana (The National WWII Museum)

Back

Day 9 - Louisiana / Mississippi / Tennessee / Arkansas / Missouri (drive through)

Day 10 - Missouri / Iowa (drive through)

Planning

HOTELs

St Louis (1 night) - SO WINDY!!!

Hyatt Regency St Louis At The Arch (Unbeatable location)

Pros:

The hotel is conveniently located just steps away from the Arch.

Cons:

The hotel is very popular, which can lead to some issues with noise. We initially had a connected room without a view, and the people next to us were talking loudly and seemed to be smoking weed. We could smell it in our room. After reporting the issue, the hotel said they would send security. We then asked to switch rooms. The front desk first told us there were no available rooms, but after speaking with a manager, they were able to switch us to a room with a view.

During check-in, the front desk informed me that there was no self-parking option, only valet. However, other guests mentioned that self-parking is available if you use the hotel room key card for entry.

Mutual:

The room was a bit small, but for a downtown hotel, I think it was acceptable.

Atlanta (2 nights) - STILL WINDY!!!

Element Atlanta Midtown

Pros:

The hotel is located in a quiet Midtown neighborhood.

The room is spacious, almost like a studio apartment, with a cooktop, full-size fridge, sink, and dishwasher.

Complimentary breakfast with made-to-order options, including healthy choices like egg whites, avocado toast, and yogurt with fresh fruit. Note: no meat options (bacon, sausages).

Convenient self-parking.

Cons:

The front desk is on the second floor, which can be a bit confusing, especially since the first floor is the lobby for a different hotel.

Destin (3 nights)

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Destin

The room is a bit small, but the location is very close to Henderson Beach State Park. That said, since a car is required to access the park, staying this close isn’t really necessary.

New Orleans (2 nights)

Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter, New Orleans

The hotel is located in the French Quarter, making it a great spot with easy walking access to many restaurants. It’s also about a 15-minute walk to the WWII Museum. The room isn’t very large, but that’s understandable given the prime location. Parking is valet only. One downside is that the French Quarter can be quite loud, especially at night.

St Louis (1 night)

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites St. Louis South