Add a driving holiday to Atlanta onto your stay in New Orleans and get a whole lot more out of your trip.

New Orleans, with its fascinating mix of Creole, Cajun and European culture, delicious cuisine, and a thriving music scene, is one of the most exciting cities in the USA. Atlanta is equally significant as it’s known as the heart of the civil rights movement where leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. challenged the rules regarding issues like Black rights, desegregation, and labour laws. Travelling from New Orleans to Atlanta with Intrepid offers an enriching journey with plenty of fun along the way. Party along Bourbon Street, visit the mansion at Graceland, immerse yourself in the history of Savannah, record a song in Nashville, and tour the Atlanta History Center in one incredible trip. Your expert leader knows all the best activities and sights along this popular route so pack your bags and get ready for adventure. 

Our New Orleans to Atlanta Tours

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Our New Orleans to Atlanta Highlights

Exterior of the Graceland Mansion

Feel the music in Memphis

Memphis offers music lovers a lot more than the chance to visit the Graceland mansion, where you’ll find more shiny jumpsuits than you can point a camera at. If you want to learn more about the birth of rock and soul music, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum should be your first stop. Drop into the historic Sun Studios where artists such as Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Howlin’ Wolf, and Johnny Cash recorded some of their biggest hits. In the evening, get into the groove of Memphis and head to Beale Street's traditional blues clubs, made famous by BB King.

Savannah Waterfront Historic District

See the sights in Savannah

In 1946, Lady Astor referred to Savannah as 'a beautiful lady with a dirty face', in reference to the crumbling, faded majesty of the city's 18th- and 19th-century mansions. Due to plenty of restoration work, Savannah's face may no longer be dirty, but she's still a city of contradictions. Take a three-hour walking tour which blends the city’s history with some of its best and most delicious eats, learn more about the town’s slave and cotton trade, immerse yourself in its underrepresented history or jump on a Hop-On Hop-Off trolley tour around town.

Girl holding cowboy boots in Nashville

Tap your toes in Nashville

Earn your place in the Country Music Hall of Fame as you take part in a recording session with a professional sound engineer at the iconic Studio B in Nashville. If you aren’t much of a singer, you might like to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, explore the Tennessee State Museum, or drop into a distillery for a tasting or two. Allow time for a final finger lickin’ good dinner on a barbecue, beer and bourbon foodie adventure with an expert guide. Think house-smoked meats, southern-inspired spirits, traditional southern sides, and frosty beers.

People on Bourbon Street

Party on Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street, one of the world’s most famous party streets, comes alive after dark when the streets are filled with music and the sound of people having fun. With its raucous atmosphere and drink-as-you-stroll “go cups”, get set for a night to remember (or perhaps forget) along this famous nightlife strip. Want a drink that doubles as a souvenir?  Head to one of the bars which offer “go cups” in novelty shapes like a glowing skull or a neon sippy cup branded with the name of a famous Bourton Street drinking spot. It's especially fun when you head there with your tour group. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial exterior

Atlanta history tour

Atlanta is known as the heart of the civil rights movement and has a rich social history. Immerse yourself in 33 acres of historic houses, gardens, and award-winning exhibitions with a specialist guide at the Atlanta History Center where you’ll explore the past like never before. The center is part of a global network of historic sites and museums that connect past struggles to today’s movements for human rights. Next, head to the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site where you’ll learn more about where Martin Luther King was born and his legacy as a leader.

French Quarter historic buildings

French Quarter adventure

Many visitors come to New Orleans’ French Quarter to party the night away but there are plenty of cultural pursuits to enjoy here as well. Stroll the streets and admire the iron lace work and gracious balconies of the historic buildings which draw their inspiration from French and Spanish architectural styles. New Orleans also has a thriving artistic community, with many local craftspeople exhibiting and selling their works near Jackson Square. You’ll also find talented musicians and performers busking throughout the French Quarter. 

New Orleans to Atlanta Tour Reviews

New Orleans to Atlanta FAQs

Everyone traveling on an Intrepid trip must be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage. 

All travelers are required to produce:

  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
  • All children aged 5 to 17 years old must provide proof of vaccination;(if eligible), proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
  • If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional. 

In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

It's possible to fly from New Orleans to Atlanta in 3.5 hours but with so many great things to see and do along the way, it's much better to travel by road. While it's possible to travel by bus from New Orleans to Atlanta or catch a train and connecting bus to get there in 11 hours, it's a lot more enjoyable to join a small group tour and let an expert local leader show you all the best spots along the way. Travelling this exciting route with other like-minded travellers is much more fun than hiring a car and going it alone. 

Read more about how to get from New Orleans to Atlanta

The weather can vary quite a bit depending on what time of the year you're travelling and where you visit as you drive from New Orleans to Atlanta. As New Orleans and the surrounding area is located quite close to large bodies of water, the weather in New Orleans can get a bit wet, especially in the winter and fall seasons and it can be humid. In fact, the city has one of the highest levels of humidity in the United States. Further north in Atlanta, the weather is pleasantly warm in spring but summer can get quite hot and humid. Autumn adds a pleasant chill to the air and is ideal for outdoor pursuits. Temperatures often drop to around zero degrees Celcius in winter but snow in Atlanta is not a regular event. 

When you're travelling from New Orleans to Atlanta, it's important to read up on what kind of weather to expect during the time you'll be there as temperatures can often fluctuate throughout the day in some seasons. Regardless of when you're going, New Orleans is quite a humid place so it's best to pack hot weather clothes so you won't be too uncomfortable. We'd also recommend packing an umbrella if you're traveling during winter or fall as well as some appropriate wet weather shoes. You should always remember to pack sunscreen and apply it every time you go outside, even if the day looks overcast. If you're planning on checking out the blues clubs in Memphis or partying the night away on Bourbon Street, you'll need a few dressier outfits as well. Comfortable shoes are essential, whether you're walking around town or dancing the night away. 

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. New Orleans is working towards making all services, city programs, and facilities accessible to all persons. New Orleans is also quite a flat city so it's fairly easy to get around. However, we’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid

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