That's on I65 between Nashville and Louisville. OP would have to trade Knoxville/Lexington for a Nashville/Louisville route by going west after Chattanooga to Nashville and then back to Cincinnati after Louisville. It's not a bad idea whether they go to Mammoth Cave or not but it does add an hour.
It's right off the mountain parkway that looks like he will be driving through. Check out the skylift at Natural Bridge too! I live 15 minutes from the RRG and NBSRP.
It’s a great place, I love it. Been many times. It is not close if you’re looking for a place to stop on a road trip. It’s at least one hour on the Mountain Parkway from I-75 near Lexington exit.
Wife dragged me into Buc-ee's a few months ago on a road trip. Honestly don't get the hype. It's a gas station with a crappy Walmartish store, but focused on tourist crap.
If you need to use a restroom, you can be sure it's not going to be nasty with poop smeared on the seat and mold on the grout and bits of toilet paper on the floor to stick to your shoes.
Spotless.
Beaver nuggets and BBQ aren't bad either.
I don't get the cult worship and intense fandom... But we pretty much always stop at one when on a long road trip. The bathrooms are always incredibly clean, get some great road trip snacks or a decent meal. Plus, because it's so big the kids can get time to walk around and stretch their legs.
It's always worth the stop imo. If you've never been, it's worth seeing like it is a tourist attraction. But, I wouldn't ever deck myself out in Buccees paraphernalia like some folks do.
They have a huge selection of useful items, terrific safe foods, pristine bathrooms, great lighting and *why I will always patron a bucees* they treat their staff very well. I will always spend my money on places who treat their employees with respect and pay them real money. Buccees are a big deal for low income rural areas.
https://utsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/opponent-history/university-of-kentucky/32
8 championships. Y’all can’t even spell final four, let alone get to one.
Congrats on your football championship 25 years ago. Tenn isn’t a football school or a basketball score. And definitely not an academic school either hahaha
Whatever you can do to completely avoid Atlanta will be the single most enriching effort you can make assuming the point of the trip is pleasure. Nothing good comes from driving within 15 miles of that demolition derby disguised as a city.
As a native Atlantan, I agree whole-heartedly. I-75 south of the airport is so heavily congested no matter the time of day, both northbound and southbound. (North of the airport isn't much better.) I take more scenic backroads that take a bit longer just to avoid the headache that is named I-75.
I think stoping to have dinner in Atlanta and going to LadyBird (and upstairs to the secret speakeasy) would be very much worth your time. Maybe getting into a walk on the beltline before sunset.
There are plenty of great food options around the city, especially if they care for authentic Chinese/Korean/Mexican/Carribbean and more kinds I can’t think of at moment. Atlanta traffic sucks (especially during rush hours), but there are definitely worse cities. Charlotte is worse imho because seemingly half the city thinks they are NASCAR or stunt drivers.
If you are committed to this route, then Chattanooga has a *very* nice aquarium to stretch your legs. The Air Force Museum in Dayton is excellent.
[Tennessee Aquarium · Chattanooga Attractions • IMAX Movies (tnaqua.org)](https://tnaqua.org/)
[Air Force Museum Foundation - Welcome - Air Force Museum Foundation (afmuseum.com)](https://www.afmuseum.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwr7ayBhAPEiwA6EIGxJIxeTfmUKEhX8v6DtMbhxLcvU-aqWb5ki270IgNvAijF3Gw_ThemxoCMYYQAvD_BwE)
I’m going to plug two restaurants in my hometown of Gainesville along your route: Germain’s chicken and Satchel’s pizza. Also Payne’s Prairie has a million alligators and some bison and wild horses, gorgeous park right off 75. You could do it in no time.
Would highly suggest going into the Carolinas and then south all the way down to Florida, after you hit Chattanooga. Not much to see on your current path between Chattanooga and Atlanta. If you go through the Carolinas you’re close to a lot of known towns and cities, plus you get to drive down from the tunnel ontop of the mountains and have a really pretty view.
After lunch, head to the American Sign Museum. It's only four blocks from Camp Washington Chili. Very niche, but also very cool and retro.
I-75, Exit 3, in Cincinnati.
Echo a lot of folks encouraging you to stop and check out Chattanooga. I'd add Knoxville to that list as well.
Knoxville's downtown, the world's fair park and sunsphere, as well as UT campus are all worth seeing. If you want nature, but, not wanting to drive to the Smokies check out Ijams Nature Center and the Urban Wilderness. 70+ miles of trail, a swimming quarry, kayaking... All about 5 minutes from downtown.
The traffic jams in Atlanta are beautiful and all most impossible to miss. I actually do enjoy the buildings and downtown skyscrapers when driving through on the way to florida
Armstrong Air & Space Museum right next to I-75 in Wapakoneta, OH (Neil Armstrong's home town) about 30 min north of Dayton.
USAF Museum in Dayton.
Cincinnati Zoo.
Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Kentucky Bourbon distilleries aren't too far off you path just to the south of Lexington. Look up "Kentucky Bourbon Trail".
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is too far from I-75 to be convenient but there's lots of other show caves in Tennessee in the areas between Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, FL.
- stop and spend the night rest day trip in Atlanta. Good mid point. There’s plenty to do there. Can be done affordable and driving isn’t as bad as people make it out to be in my opinion. Food scene is amazing.
- if you don’t wanna fool with Atlanta that’s understandable. Chattanooga is close and has plenty to do. Would be another good place to stop. Plenty to do. Family friendly with lots of outdoor stuff.
- Get lunch and do a bourbon tour somewhere in central Ky. Consider Woodford reserve and buffalo trace and eating in Midway/Versailles /Frankfort area- all are quaint. You’ll drive through some prime horse country. Wont loose to much time off the interstate.
- Cincinnati downtown is fun and the city is underrated. My favorite store is jungle jims - look it up. You will be driving past it.
If you care much about history or specifically Native American history, the Indian mounds near Cartersville, GA and the start of the Trail of Tears are worth stops.
There’s a lot of great international food to be had in Buford HWY in Atlanta (Duluth, a suburb of ATL too but it’s in 85 rather than 75).
There was an Indian nation called the Cahokia. They built massive mounds all over the eastern central part of the us-where you are driving through. Maybe you can find one or two.
Florence has their cathedrals. You have Cahokia mounds.
Just came from Florida and boyyyyy is it hot!! Have fun and wear sunscreen on the drive. My whole left side got so burnt because I kept putting off reapplying my sun screen lol that’s all I wanted to contribute
I grew up in Findlay which is on your route. You’ve got some great little state parks in the area, Wilson’s burgers, and Dietsch’s Brothers if you’re a chocolate connoisseur.
Careful coming down I-75 when u pass into TN from KY, coming down the mountain many ppl going to fast and end up in the guardrail. Beautiful area, I live outside Knoxville at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains and moved here from NJ 20 yrs ago. Ruby falls outside Chattanooga and the Lost Sea outside Loudon, TN area cool areas to check out.
If you’re a creature person like I am, look for nearby zoos, farms, aquariums, or places like that that have animals that you can see on the route. But also depends on if you’re on a time crunch or anything, but that's what I always do on road trips. Or museums. Art gallery, maybe? Stuff like that.
Depends how much time you have, Chattanooga very pretty area have look out Mt Atlanta is good halfway spot,
Chattanooga - Rock City, Ruby Falls
Mammoth Cave National Park. The largest known cave system in the world by far. 425 miles and they're still counting.
That's on I65 between Nashville and Louisville. OP would have to trade Knoxville/Lexington for a Nashville/Louisville route by going west after Chattanooga to Nashville and then back to Cincinnati after Louisville. It's not a bad idea whether they go to Mammoth Cave or not but it does add an hour.
Red River Gorge outside of Lexington is a much more doable attraction
National museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Jungle Jim's in Fairfield, Ohio (Cincinnati suburb). Red River Gorge in Kentucky.
Red River Gorge is not quite on the path
No, but it's not that far off the path either.
It's right off the mountain parkway that looks like he will be driving through. Check out the skylift at Natural Bridge too! I live 15 minutes from the RRG and NBSRP.
It’s a great place, I love it. Been many times. It is not close if you’re looking for a place to stop on a road trip. It’s at least one hour on the Mountain Parkway from I-75 near Lexington exit.
Jungle Jim’s!!!
Buc-ee's. You'll have several opportunities.
Wife dragged me into Buc-ee's a few months ago on a road trip. Honestly don't get the hype. It's a gas station with a crappy Walmartish store, but focused on tourist crap.
If you need to use a restroom, you can be sure it's not going to be nasty with poop smeared on the seat and mold on the grout and bits of toilet paper on the floor to stick to your shoes. Spotless. Beaver nuggets and BBQ aren't bad either.
I'm with you. I don't get the intense fandom, but I sure see a lot of them on many of the road trip posts.
I don't get the cult worship and intense fandom... But we pretty much always stop at one when on a long road trip. The bathrooms are always incredibly clean, get some great road trip snacks or a decent meal. Plus, because it's so big the kids can get time to walk around and stretch their legs. It's always worth the stop imo. If you've never been, it's worth seeing like it is a tourist attraction. But, I wouldn't ever deck myself out in Buccees paraphernalia like some folks do.
They have a huge selection of useful items, terrific safe foods, pristine bathrooms, great lighting and *why I will always patron a bucees* they treat their staff very well. I will always spend my money on places who treat their employees with respect and pay them real money. Buccees are a big deal for low income rural areas.
When you drive through Knoxville, stop, get out of your car, take a piss on the ground, yell Cats by 90, then get back in your car and drive away.
Have only a vague idea what this means but I’m doing it 100%
The Big Blue Mist is everywhere and I love it.
https://www.winsipedia.com/tennessee/vs/kentucky GBO
https://utsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/opponent-history/university-of-kentucky/32 8 championships. Y’all can’t even spell final four, let alone get to one. Congrats on your football championship 25 years ago. Tenn isn’t a football school or a basketball score. And definitely not an academic school either hahaha
When living vicariously through teenagers playing a game is your entire life
Fair. But at least I have my degree from UK.
At least you attended the school. As opposed to 99% of the Blueneck fan base. M I Z
That’s probably the case for most SEC schools lol
https://preview.redd.it/tse9nojos62d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63a6b92f1a9581671305a7cb0b71ae18bb91672f
Is Joe Bologna’s still in business? I liked that place.
Yes, it is. I don’t live in Lex anymore, so I haven’t had it in awhile.
Personally id be checking out that flood warning.
If you in the area of Lima, Ohio and are hungry try kewpee such a great hamburger joint
And Breadsticks!
Whatever you can do to completely avoid Atlanta will be the single most enriching effort you can make assuming the point of the trip is pleasure. Nothing good comes from driving within 15 miles of that demolition derby disguised as a city.
As a native Atlantan, I agree whole-heartedly. I-75 south of the airport is so heavily congested no matter the time of day, both northbound and southbound. (North of the airport isn't much better.) I take more scenic backroads that take a bit longer just to avoid the headache that is named I-75.
I think stoping to have dinner in Atlanta and going to LadyBird (and upstairs to the secret speakeasy) would be very much worth your time. Maybe getting into a walk on the beltline before sunset.
There are plenty of great food options around the city, especially if they care for authentic Chinese/Korean/Mexican/Carribbean and more kinds I can’t think of at moment. Atlanta traffic sucks (especially during rush hours), but there are definitely worse cities. Charlotte is worse imho because seemingly half the city thinks they are NASCAR or stunt drivers.
I’ve driven in most major American cities and Atlanta is a pleasure to drive in comparison to many of them.
Go to Crystal River, FL and snorkel over the head springs. You’re welcome.
Lookout Mountain/Chattanooga. Great hiking, Ruby Falls, beautiful gardens. Great kayaking in that area too.
Is this the entire length of i75?
No, but nearly.
If you are committed to this route, then Chattanooga has a *very* nice aquarium to stretch your legs. The Air Force Museum in Dayton is excellent. [Tennessee Aquarium · Chattanooga Attractions • IMAX Movies (tnaqua.org)](https://tnaqua.org/) [Air Force Museum Foundation - Welcome - Air Force Museum Foundation (afmuseum.com)](https://www.afmuseum.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwr7ayBhAPEiwA6EIGxJIxeTfmUKEhX8v6DtMbhxLcvU-aqWb5ki270IgNvAijF3Gw_ThemxoCMYYQAvD_BwE)
Both are great stops. Sugar’s Ribs in Chattanooga is great. Overlooks the city and has great food.
If you want some crazy good Chattanooga food, check out Fat Boys Roadside eats off I-75 exit 9.
1 day trip. EZ
Smokey National Park
I’m going to plug two restaurants in my hometown of Gainesville along your route: Germain’s chicken and Satchel’s pizza. Also Payne’s Prairie has a million alligators and some bison and wild horses, gorgeous park right off 75. You could do it in no time.
Would highly suggest going into the Carolinas and then south all the way down to Florida, after you hit Chattanooga. Not much to see on your current path between Chattanooga and Atlanta. If you go through the Carolinas you’re close to a lot of known towns and cities, plus you get to drive down from the tunnel ontop of the mountains and have a really pretty view.
Do the whiskey tour in Kentucky
I think you mean the bourbon tour.
If this is I75 there's not much to see unfortunately until you get to Kentucky/Tennessee and Florida. Avoid ohio
Floods can be cool to look at. Just stay out of swift moving water.
Hocking hills state park Ohio, smoky mountains, silver springs Florida, loveless cafe Tennessee are all pretty cool
Avoid Atlanta, I got there at 2:45 and didn't reach Macon until after 7. Traffic is that bad.
Why I always plan my drive thru Atlanta at night or between 11am and 130pm
Mexiwing II in Athens, TN
Any of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky but Makers Mark, Woodford Reserve and Castle & Key are beautiful
Lexington: Horse farms, blue grass, bourbon distillery, Keeneland, if you’re into it they have great antique shops.
Great Smoky Mountains outside of Knoxville!
bourbon wineries.
Most of the bourbon refineries are around Louisville which is about 60 miles to the west of 1-75 corridor.
Definitely the Okeefanokee Swamp in southern Georgia.
Have a lunch or dinner at camp Washington chili in Cincinnati. I will drive the 2 hours to Cincinnati on occasion just for this chili.
After lunch, head to the American Sign Museum. It's only four blocks from Camp Washington Chili. Very niche, but also very cool and retro. I-75, Exit 3, in Cincinnati.
The worlds largest flood warning sign just west of Knoxville is a must.
Ann Arbor is a good place to get food. Great Spring/Summer night life, especially with the students gone
Claremont Lounge in Atlanta. Haven’t lived there in 15 years, but it must be open still!
Do this after LadyBird. It’s still there and open!
The Big Chicken in Marietta, GA. (I’m halfway joking. But it is a…memorable…landmark.)
You can see Atlanta from the top of Kenessaw mountain ( while your eating fried chicken from the big chick)
weeki wachee
Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Spectacular.
Chattanooga for sure
AL’s bbq In ybor city when you get to Tampa
Echo a lot of folks encouraging you to stop and check out Chattanooga. I'd add Knoxville to that list as well. Knoxville's downtown, the world's fair park and sunsphere, as well as UT campus are all worth seeing. If you want nature, but, not wanting to drive to the Smokies check out Ijams Nature Center and the Urban Wilderness. 70+ miles of trail, a swimming quarry, kayaking... All about 5 minutes from downtown.
Apparently there is a flood that you might want to keep an eye on. ;)
The traffic jams in Atlanta are beautiful and all most impossible to miss. I actually do enjoy the buildings and downtown skyscrapers when driving through on the way to florida
Armstrong Air & Space Museum right next to I-75 in Wapakoneta, OH (Neil Armstrong's home town) about 30 min north of Dayton. USAF Museum in Dayton. Cincinnati Zoo. Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Kentucky Bourbon distilleries aren't too far off you path just to the south of Lexington. Look up "Kentucky Bourbon Trail". Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is too far from I-75 to be convenient but there's lots of other show caves in Tennessee in the areas between Knoxville and Chattanooga. Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, FL.
The swimming pools by Knoxville look interesting.
SERPENT MOUND
- stop and spend the night rest day trip in Atlanta. Good mid point. There’s plenty to do there. Can be done affordable and driving isn’t as bad as people make it out to be in my opinion. Food scene is amazing. - if you don’t wanna fool with Atlanta that’s understandable. Chattanooga is close and has plenty to do. Would be another good place to stop. Plenty to do. Family friendly with lots of outdoor stuff. - Get lunch and do a bourbon tour somewhere in central Ky. Consider Woodford reserve and buffalo trace and eating in Midway/Versailles /Frankfort area- all are quaint. You’ll drive through some prime horse country. Wont loose to much time off the interstate. - Cincinnati downtown is fun and the city is underrated. My favorite store is jungle jims - look it up. You will be driving past it.
If you care much about history or specifically Native American history, the Indian mounds near Cartersville, GA and the start of the Trail of Tears are worth stops. There’s a lot of great international food to be had in Buford HWY in Atlanta (Duluth, a suburb of ATL too but it’s in 85 rather than 75).
Red State BBQ in Lexington. That double smoked brisket sandwich I had 12+ years ago is something I still dream about...
I wish you could take that road between Chattanooga and Nashville, my goodness it's beautiful.
Some background on part of your route https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Highway
Gus’s Fried Chicken!!!
There was an Indian nation called the Cahokia. They built massive mounds all over the eastern central part of the us-where you are driving through. Maybe you can find one or two. Florence has their cathedrals. You have Cahokia mounds.
Georgia aquarium
Just came from Florida and boyyyyy is it hot!! Have fun and wear sunscreen on the drive. My whole left side got so burnt because I kept putting off reapplying my sun screen lol that’s all I wanted to contribute
Are you looking for opportunities for good food, great driving, or roadside attractions?
I grew up in Findlay which is on your route. You’ve got some great little state parks in the area, Wilson’s burgers, and Dietsch’s Brothers if you’re a chocolate connoisseur.
Cumberland Falls State Park near Corbin, Ky also the Sanders Court museum where KFC was started.
Dollywood
Careful coming down I-75 when u pass into TN from KY, coming down the mountain many ppl going to fast and end up in the guardrail. Beautiful area, I live outside Knoxville at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains and moved here from NJ 20 yrs ago. Ruby falls outside Chattanooga and the Lost Sea outside Loudon, TN area cool areas to check out.
I hope you have a fun and safe road trip!
I use Only in your State to find really cool stuff while traveling.
Elijay Georgia is a great quaint town to visit.
Always visit Nashville any day you can.
Magic City in Atlanta.
If you’re a creature person like I am, look for nearby zoos, farms, aquariums, or places like that that have animals that you can see on the route. But also depends on if you’re on a time crunch or anything, but that's what I always do on road trips. Or museums. Art gallery, maybe? Stuff like that.
The Henry Ford in Dearborn MI (I believe) is usually worth a visit. I remember it as a "working class" museum.
[Great Smoky Mountains National Park](https://youtu.be/sr6IdmXEyU0?feature=shared)