South eastern us trip advice
South eastern us trip advice
Ok so here we go. I'm taking my wife and my pops on an 11 day ride down somewhere down south to blow the spider webs out after the long dwelling winter in the arctic oasis. Where're leaving April 26 and have 10 or 11 days of riding before Im back to the daily grind at work. I'm thinking of heading from here (north east Ohio) down to Memphis Tn for a day or two, to catch some blues, beer, and BBQ. From Memphis I'd like to head south just to get into some warmer weather. I'm thinking the ozarks, ouachita national Forest, hot springs area for a bit then down into possibly Alabama, Louisiana area. We road all the blue ridge parkway and smoky mtn are area last year and absolutely loved it, so we will def hit the smokies on the way back home. None of us have ever been in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, or Mississippi. I'm looking for any advise from anyone that's been to any of those areas, things to do, see, attractions you really pass up if you,re close by kind of stuff. We're really into the scenic mountain type stuff and really don't messing around with big city traffic on a trip like this. I'm trying to make the most of it for a old man and my wife so any input would be greatl appreciated. Sorry for the long post.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
Since you mention both Memphis and the blues I would suggest highway 61 (The Blues Highway) south to Clarksdale Ms. and visit the Delta Blues Museum. This is a must see stop for blues fans. Just a few blocks from "The Crossroads" where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil. Just down the ally from the museum are some real juke joints unlike any you could find anywhere else.
From there keep heading south on 61 or cross over to Arkansas and Louisiana on 65. 65 is even more down home Mississippi Delta Country. Very poor but it is the heart of blues music. Hundreds of square miles of drained swamp, it's the country and the despair that created the music. Head west for the Ozarks then SE to Natchez and hop on the Trace for a very peaceful 444 miles filled with history. Then up the BRP toward home.
BTW, I love those SE Ohio farm roads.
From there keep heading south on 61 or cross over to Arkansas and Louisiana on 65. 65 is even more down home Mississippi Delta Country. Very poor but it is the heart of blues music. Hundreds of square miles of drained swamp, it's the country and the despair that created the music. Head west for the Ozarks then SE to Natchez and hop on the Trace for a very peaceful 444 miles filled with history. Then up the BRP toward home.
BTW, I love those SE Ohio farm roads.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,579
Likes: 10
From: S.E. MO
Some great riding in Arkansas, from Memphis I would head north and cut across Arkansas towards eureka springs area. Lots of good routes south from there and can make your way towards hot springs. Personally was disappointed in the Pigs Trail but lots of good riding in the area.
We are running a lot of this in a few weeks heading to Texas. Some I've done some I haven't. Planning on crossing over to OK on Skyline drive that is suppose to be nice.
If you make it to eureka springs the Rockin Pig Saloon is a good stop.
Once you get up in that north west part you can find plenty of motorcycle maps for the area.
We are running a lot of this in a few weeks heading to Texas. Some I've done some I haven't. Planning on crossing over to OK on Skyline drive that is suppose to be nice.
If you make it to eureka springs the Rockin Pig Saloon is a good stop.
Once you get up in that north west part you can find plenty of motorcycle maps for the area.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,902
Likes: 29,882
From: PNW
NW Arkansas is a riders paradise. Tons of roads to ride. Eureka Springs, as mentioned, is a great place to stay and ride from. Hot Springs is okay, but I like Eureka Springs much much more. It's not at all far from Memphis - you can take I-40 over to Hwy 65 out of Little Rock and be to Eureka Springs in a few hours. Or, if you like, head to Hot Springs, then pick a good route through Quachita (lots to choose from) and get over to Clarksville (gas up) and run 103 north to 215. Stop in Oark at the General Store for great eats, head east on 215 and pick up the Pig Trail (Hwy 23) and run that north to Eureka Springs. From there you could spend weeks riding the great area roads.
We've done the Hot Springs thing once. It was just okay but the riding was quite good. We've done the Clarksville north ride many many times and we grin ear to ear all the way to Eureka Springs. Eureka Springs is a great riders destination. Tons of biker friendly establishments and bars. Very historic and scenic. It is a touristy town but I promise you will enjoy it.
Not sure if it fits your itinerary exactly, but if you haven't done it already, I would incorporate a run down the triple Nickel in your state, maybe run over to Lexington from there and on to Memphis. Maybe cut through Nashville.
We've done the Hot Springs thing once. It was just okay but the riding was quite good. We've done the Clarksville north ride many many times and we grin ear to ear all the way to Eureka Springs. Eureka Springs is a great riders destination. Tons of biker friendly establishments and bars. Very historic and scenic. It is a touristy town but I promise you will enjoy it.
Not sure if it fits your itinerary exactly, but if you haven't done it already, I would incorporate a run down the triple Nickel in your state, maybe run over to Lexington from there and on to Memphis. Maybe cut through Nashville.
Last edited by nevada72; Mar 30, 2013 at 10:50 AM.
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Thanks a ton guys! A ton of great ideas. I love being able to post something on this forum and with in a couple of days you guys really take the time and put up some great info. That's what this is all about. I'm def going to check out Eureka springs and more of Arkansas than I thought I would. Another couple quick questions; do you guys think it would be worth hitting Memphis on a weekday, will there be anything going on downtown. Originally was thinking we'd do that on the first Saturday night of the trip to catch the nightlife (best music/people watching). Any suggestions as far as running down to the coast around Louisiana to check out of ocean. Still undecided on that because we def want to hit the smokies for a couple days on the way back home, and don't want to run out of time on the road. Damn only 22 years until I retire and get to hit the big road full time.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 194
Likes: 14
From: Florida
Natchez Trace
Northwest Arkansas has some great riding. It's up there with the North Carolina / Tennessee border area.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
Music in Memphis is Beale Street. Last time I was there I stayed at the Quintina Inn near the airport. The manager was a retired Memphis cop who strongly recommended that I leave my bike and take a shuttle van or taxi to Beale Street.
He said that the parking and side streets were not safe. There's only a few safe blocks to do a bar crawl. One night I rode to Graceland and came back around 10PM. The local drivers were homicidal phuked up druggies. Just sayin'.
He said that the parking and side streets were not safe. There's only a few safe blocks to do a bar crawl. One night I rode to Graceland and came back around 10PM. The local drivers were homicidal phuked up druggies. Just sayin'.