📷 Photo by Chris Kofoed on UnsplashMusic highway: Nashville to New Orleans
Country, soul, blues and jazz, with Memphis in the middle.
- Distance
- 1,099 km (683 mi)
- Driving
- 12 h 12 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 8
- States
- TN, MS, LA
- Updated
- April 25, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 1,099 km (683 mi) with 8 stops, from Nashville to Café du Monde. About 12 h 12 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana · More road trips from Nashville
Route description
Start in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium, the former tabernacle known as the “Mother Church of Country Music”, where you can take a daytime tour or see an evening show. The honky-tonks of Lower Broadway are a few blocks away. Then take I-40 west for the drive of around three hours to Memphis.
In Memphis, Graceland lies south of downtown, with the Jungle Room, the gold records and the pink Cadillac. The National Civil Rights Museum, built into the former Lorraine Motel, is a moving walk through the history of the movement and deserves at least half a day. In the evening, Beale Street has live blues.
South of Memphis, you can follow US-61 through the flat cotton country of the Mississippi Delta, where the blues was born, or take the faster I-55 straight to Jackson, the state capital. From Jackson, I-55 continues south through pine forest into Louisiana and across the wetlands toward New Orleans.
In New Orleans, Café du Monde in the French Quarter serves beignets under a heap of powdered sugar and chicory café au lait, as it has since 1862. French Quarter streets are narrow and parking is scarce, so leave a motorhome at a campground outside the center and use the streetcar or a taxi. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, as summer is hot and humid across the whole route.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Nashville
TN - 20 km
Ryman Auditorium
HistoryNashville, TNA former tabernacle that became the "Mother Church of Country Music". Take the daytime tour or see a show.
- 3379 km
Memphis
TN - 414 km
Graceland
HistoryMemphis, TNElvis Presley's 1939 mansion, including the Jungle Room, the gold records and the pink Cadillac.
- 512 km
National Civil Rights Museum
HistoryMemphis, TNBuilt into the former Lorraine Motel. A moving walk through the history of the civil rights movement.
- 6379 km
Jackson
MS - 7314 km
New Orleans
LA - 81 km
Café du Monde
FoodNew Orleans, LABeignets under a heap of powdered sugar and chicory café au lait. It has been open around the clock in the French Quarter since 1862.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Nashville → Memphis · 236 mi · 4 h 13 minOn the way: Ryman Auditorium.Overnight nearby, for example: T. O. Fuller State Park Campground (8 mi); Graceland RV Park and Campground (7 mi).
- Day 2: Memphis → National Civil Rights Museum · 16 mi · 0 h 17 minOn the way: Graceland.Overnight nearby, for example: T. O. Fuller State Park Campground (7 mi); Graceland RV Park and Campground (6 mi).
- Day 3: National Civil Rights Museum → Jackson · 235 mi · 4 h 12 minOvernight nearby, for example: Lefleur's Bluff State Park (3 mi); Timberlake Campground (10 mi).
- Day 4: Jackson → Café du Monde · 196 mi · 3 h 30 minOn the way: New Orleans.Overnight nearby, for example: Bayou Segnette State Park Campground (8 mi); Airline Trailers of Kenner (13 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. Hot in July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Music highway: Nashville to New Orleans?
4-day road trip of about 1,099 km (683 mi) with 8 stops, from Nashville to Café du Monde. About 12 h 12 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Music highway: Nashville to New Orleans?
We suggest 4 days: about 12 h 12 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Music highway: Nashville to New Orleans start and end?
It starts in Nashville and ends in Café du Monde.
Which states does Music highway: Nashville to New Orleans pass through?
Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Where can you camp along Music highway: Nashville to New Orleans?
OpenStreetMap lists 33 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Bayou Segnette State Park Campground, Four Corners RV Resort and Safe Harbor RV Resort.
When is the best time for Music highway: Nashville to New Orleans?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
