D.C. to VA, TN, GA, SC, NC, VA and Back Again

Take a two week road trip to see the Mid-Atlantic.  Start in Washington, D.C. and visit various locations in Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

ITINERARY:

Day 1 (Monday)

• Spend the majority of the day driving from Washington, D.C. to Gatlinburg, TN (489 miles)
• Stop at Virginia Tech for lunch
• Check into the Bearskin Lodge for 4 nights

Day 2 (Tuesday)

• Visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2.1 miles from Bearskin Lodge)
• If you have children, get information about becoming a Junior Ranger (consider modifying your plans to participate in Ranger-led programs for children - our favorites were Slimy Salamanders and Geology Rocks)
• Drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (hike 3 mile roundtrip to Grotto Falls) 
• Drive to Clingmans Dome (21.3 miles from Bearskin Lodge)

Black Bear on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Day 3 (Wednesday)

• Drive to Cherokee, NC (33.9 miles from Bearskin Lodge)
• On the way, stop at Mingus Mill, the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, and the Mountain Farm Museum
• Eat a picnic at the Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee, NC
• Visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village
• Enjoy the evening on the lazy river at the Bearskin Lodge

View of the Great Smoky Mountains on the Way to Cherokee, NC
(pictures do not do justice to the amazing views in the park)

Mingus Mill

Day 4 (Thursday)

• Drive to the Cades Cove Visitor Center (27.6 miles from Bearskin Lodge)
• On the way, pull off to see Laurel Falls
• Visit Cades Cove (stop and see the various settlement sites)
• Explore other areas of interest in the park

Little Church in Cades Cove

Day 5 (Friday)

• Drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Anderson, SC (by way of GA - 227 miles)
• Do one last hike before leaving the Great Smoky Mountains - go to Deep Creek in the southern portion of the park and hike less than 1 mile roundtrip to Juney Whank Falls
• Drive through a portion of the Chattachoochee National Forest to Brasstown Bald Visitor Information Center (highest point in GA with a 360 degree view of GA, TN, NC, and SC)
• Leave for Anderson-Hartwell Lake KOA (if you like to camp - otherwise, find a cabin or hotel in the area) 
• Set-up camp 

View from Brasstown Bald

Day 6 (Saturday)

• Enjoy the campground (swim in the pool, play miniature golf, play basketball, play on the playground, roast s'mores)
• Other things to do include: Lake Hartwell, Isaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel, whitewater rafting, visit Clemson University (we enjoyed exploring the University)

Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") at Clemson University

Day 7 (Sunday)

• Drive from Anderson, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC (275 miles)
• Check into the Prince Resort for 2 nights (we got a better rate by booking our room by telephone instead of online)
• Take 39th Ave N and enjoy a peaceful walk on a boardwalk through the marsh and rivers north of the Resort (try to catch sand crabs)

Day 8 (Monday)

• Walk to the beach and spend the day
• Grab some ice cream in the evening at Fat Matt's Ice Cream
• Relax in the lazy river on the roof of the Resort

Fat Matt

Day 9 (Tuesday)

• Drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Williamsburg, VA (343 miles)
• DO NOT stay at the Howard Johnson Inn Williamsburg (recommend either using VRBO.com to find a vacation rental and select another hotel in the area)

Day 10 (Wednesday)

• Spend the day at Busch Gardens

Day 11 (Thursday)

• Spend the day at Busch Gardens

Day 12 (Friday)

• Drive home to Washington, D.C. (156 miles)