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Visit Washington DC, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, Blowing Rock, Asheville, Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Nashville.
Cruise down Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway – both considered among America’s most legendary drives – as you link the nation’s capital, Washington DC, to Music City Nashville. Along the way on this popular 12-night road trip, you’ll drive on scenic roads for the vast majority of the route and visit America’s most popular National Park – Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So, should you enjoy US politics, world-class museums, scenic mountain driving and incredible music, then this is the perfect road trip for you.
Key road trip highlights:
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We’ll suggest properties to match your preferred budget, be it low-cost, mid-range or high-end luxury that you’re looking for. We can also mix it up so you’ll experience a range of standards and experiences along your road trip.
All of our American road trips can be tailored to meet your requirements. Do you have more or less than 12 days for your road trip? No problem, we can bolt on extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
After landing at Washington’s Dulles International Airport, you’ll make your way to your hotel in the heart of Washington or the historic Georgetown area. You can reach the city easily by taxi or take the Metro directly from the airport if you prefer. You’ll have three nights and two full days to allow you to really appreciate this city’s outstanding attractions and neighbourhoods. There’s no need for a car just yet; you’ll collect this when you leave town.
Your Road Trip Pack is the perfect companion to commence exploring Washington. You may want to begin by taking a self-guided tour of some of Washington’s iconic buildings. The White House, Capitol Hill and the Lincoln Memorial are just some of the key buildings and monuments on offer. Across the Potomac River lies Arlington, an essential visit for any history or military buff, with the moving National Cemetery a great place to wander around.
You may want to dip into the renowned Smithsonian Museums today – there are a whopping 17 to choose from. The most famous, the Air & Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History, are on the National Mall, in the city’s heart. Best of all, these world-class museums are free to visit. Our favourite establishment is the Newseum, which has incredible artefacts chronicling how the ‘news’ has changed over the last 100 years. You can even try your hand behind a TV studio desk if you wish.
After collecting your car, you can head straight for the majestic mountains of Shenandoah National Park. Alternatively, you can opt to visit more historical US sites en route. Mt. Vernon, Harpers Ferry and Antietam National Battlefield are all doable on your way to the natural wonders found along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Your detailed Road Trip Pack will tell you about these options and many more.
You’ll spend your day driving along two of America’s very best roads today. The first half of the day will be spent on Skyline Drive as you cruise through Shenandoah National Park, and the second half of the drive will be spent weaving your way south on the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.
Cruise along farm-dotted valleys unfurling between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail roll across the hills here, home to scenic rivers, streams and lakes. Old-time mountain music can be heard regularly, and wineries and craft breweries offer tastings in small towns and on mountain slopes.
Get an early start, and then hit the road with a full belly and fuel tank. Along the way today, you’ll pass over the Lynn Cove Viaduct, which hugs the side of Grandfather Mountain. Later today, you’ll arrive in Asheville, where you’ll spend the afternoon and evening enjoying this thriving mountain town. This town is littered with chocolate shops, microbreweries and delicious eateries. The North Carolina Arboretum and the incredible Biltmore Estate are well worth a visit. Want more great views? Then, venture 25 miles south of Asheville, and you’ll be rewarded with a captivating vista from Chimney Rock. Please let us know if you want a second night to enjoy Asheville.
Complete the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway on your way to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In this famous National Park, you’ll find ridge upon ridge of forest, which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The Smokies is world-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture.
A second day to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its neighbouring attractions is essential. Watch out for the beautiful wildlife which roams this area, including black bears, bobcats and elk. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an awesome place to visit at any time of year. However, in the autumn, the trees put on a dazzling show of colour for hikers and drivers to enjoy.
Country music takes the primary focus for the rest of the road trip as you leave the Appalachian Mountains and head west to ‘Music City’, Nashville. En route, you can stop by the fun Dollywood Theme Park, named after its proprietor and local legend, Dolly Parton.
Nashville is the motherland of Country Music, and it’s so proud of it. Nashville boasts about its music heritage at every opportunity, including the outstanding Country Music Hall of Fame. However, it’s not all about Country. There is also a rich blues history here, and singer-songwriters from every genre enjoy playing the bars in this town. Tonight, for the complete tourist experience, head down to Broadway and stop by a honky tonk or two for a one-of-a-kind night.
Rest up after the night before, and then spend the last full day of the trip at your pleasure. If you’ve got the Country Music bug, then head out to the legendary Grand Old Opry. Since 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has broadcast a live concert show with a variety of different performers playing gospel, country and bluegrass in a fun celebration. Alternatively, food lovers could spend the day touring some of the many fabulous food joints this city offers.
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You’ll find answers to most of your questions right here. If you still need assistance, Feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be sure to get back to you promptly!
Not a problem. If you are lucky enough to have extra time to explore more places or add more rest days, then just let us know and we’ll adjust your trip to match your preferred timescale.
We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.
Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is not a problem. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.
No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.
The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.
Please use the form below to request a quote from our team. Fields marked with an * are mandatory. Please note that we currently only serve customers based in the UK & The EU.
Not quite what you’re looking for? Get in touch to discuss your Bespoke Road Trip plans, or check out these similar road trip itineraries…
ARTCo customers can be confident that we only work with the very best service providers, such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Alamo. Any payments made to us are fully protected via the government’s ATOL scheme (Flight packages) or Financial Failure Insurance (Non-Flight Packages).
