Tour of the Southeastern United States: Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi

Travel South USA offers a 13-day tour of the Southeastern United States — the “Delights of the Deep South” — departing from Memphis, Tennessee.

The Southeastern USA Tour Itinerary

Day 1 • Memphis (Tennessee) and Little Rock (Arkansas)

Starting in Memphis, you head to Little Rock, the Arkansas state capital. The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum features a replica of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room. Don’t miss the historic Arkansas Museum, which celebrates the state’s cultural and natural heritage through six diverse galleries, artisan exhibits, and faithful reconstructions of four period homes from Little Rock’s history. Enjoy the River Market for local snacks, shopping, and live music.

Days 2 & 3 • Eureka Springs and the Ozark Plateau (Arkansas) (442 km)

Head to Eureka Springs, a charming Victorian-era town once famous for its thermal baths, set against the backdrop of the Ozark Plateau. Enjoy live bluegrass and folk music, shop in unique boutiques and art galleries, and check out the town’s eclectic events — from blues and opera concerts to classic car shows, UFO festivals, antiques, and art fairs. Continue to Bentonville, the global headquarters of retail giant Wal-Mart, to visit the Wal-Mart Visitors Center and Sam Walton’s legendary Walton 5 & 10 store.

Day 4 • Hot Springs (Arkansas) (317 km)

The historic city of Hot Springs, or “Spa City,” boasts 47 natural springs and a wide range of wellness experiences — from thermal baths and massages at the Hot Springs Baths & Spas to outdoor relaxation. The Hot Springs Observation Tower offers panoramic views over the city, the Ouachita Mountains, and neighboring lakes and forests. Once a hub of horse racing and gambling, Hot Springs attracted infamous gangsters; the Gangster Museum brings this colorful history to life with stories of Lucky Luciano, Al Capone, and more. To relax, take a riverboat cruise on Lake Hamilton aboard the “Belle of Hot Springs.”

Day 5 • Shreveport/Bossier City (Louisiana) (289 km)

Travel south to Shreveport‐Bossier City and visit the historic Municipal Auditorium, home to the famed “Louisiana Hayride” radio show, and the R.W. Norton Art Gallery, where you’ll find works by American artists Frederic Remington and Charles Russell. In the evening, try your luck at one of Shreveport’s five riverboat casinos or watch the horse races at Harra’s Louisiana Downs. For a family-friendly outing, the Louisiana Boardwalk is the state’s largest entertainment and shopping complex with a vast range of stores and restaurants. Remember: Louisiana offers tax-free shopping!

Day 6 • Lafayette (Louisiana) (344 km)

In Lafayette, make sure to visit Vermilionville, an open-air heritage park devoted to Cajun and Creole culture, where actors showcase the daily lives of French-Canadian settlers from 1765 to 1890. Try authentic Cajun cuisine and live music at Randol’s Restaurant & Cajun Dancehall. For adventure, take a guided tour to discover the mysterious beauty of the bayous and soak in the vibrant spirit of Cajun culture.

Days 7 & 8 • New Orleans (Louisiana) (218 km)

New Orleans is truly one-of-a-kind. Its blend of history, legends, vibrant music, and celebrated cuisine attract visitors from all corners of the globe. Don’t miss a ride on a historic streetcar, a must-do that recalls Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Enjoy jazz in the city where it was born, notably through native son Louis Armstrong. Have breakfast with coffee and beignets at Café du Monde on Jackson Square, try lunch at Muriel’s for an experience steeped in French Quarter mystery and decadence, and cap off your evening with a jazz dinner cruise aboard the “Steamboat Natchez” on the Mississippi River.

Day 9 • Natchez/Vicksburg (Mississippi) (284 km)

Arriving in Mississippi, visit the charming riverfront towns of Natchez and Vicksburg. Natchez surprises with its many Antebellum mansions, beautifully preserved from the pre–Civil War era. Tour one of these grand riverfront homes and be sure to visit the Vicksburg National Military Park, established in 1899 to commemorate the siege and defense of Vicksburg. The site features over 1,300 monuments, a 25-km scenic drive, a restored Union gunboat, and a National Cemetery. Step back in time at the Under-The-Hill Saloon, once frequented by riverboat crews and adventurers, and tour the Old Courthouse Museum, Vicksburg’s oldest structure, built in 1858 by enslaved labor. Interesting tidbit: Coca-Cola was invented right here in a Vicksburg soda shop.

Day 10 • Jackson (Mississippi) (165 km)

Jackson, the state capital, is home to the Mississippi State Capitol and the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion — both essential stops.

Day 11 • Greenwood/Clarksdale (Mississippi) (157 km)

Discover Delta culture and the birthplace of the blues, where legends like B.B. King shaped a genre unique to the South. Don’t miss the bluesman Robert Johnson’s grave in Greenwood. Explore local museums and authentic “juke joints” dotted across the region: the celebrated B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola and the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. In the evening, enjoy Southern fare and live music at the Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman.

Day 12 • Tupelo (Mississippi) (228 km)

Tupelo is the proud home of the Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum, honoring the “King of Rock and Roll.” Visit his humble birthplace, see the statue with his first guitar, a commemorative chapel, the Walk of Life, the Fountain of Life, and the Story Wall. Also check out the Automobile Museum, which displays over 100 historic vehicles charting the progress of motoring through the last century.

Day 13 • Return to Memphis (175 km)