Southeast USA Tours & Trips
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Table of contents
- The best Southeast USA tour packages
- What people love about Southeast USA Tours
- Travel Southeast USA your way
- Best tour companies for Southeast USA tours
- Popular Southeast USA Cruise Ships
- Southeast USA tours for every type of group
- Top Southeast USA travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Southeast USA
- Contact our Southeast USA travel experts
- What our customers ask about Southeast USA Tours & Trips
The best Southeast USA tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaSoutheast USA travel expert at TourRadar
The Southeast beckons from Atlanta's historic sites to Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery and Charleston's heritage districts. Nashville's Studio B, Memphis' Graceland, and New Orleans' Cajun cooking create unforgettable memories.
Duration 14 days Destinations Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Asheville, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $11,560
10% Off- NZ$10,404You save $1,156
USA: Dallas to Miami
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I had the time of my life. I have meet so many amazing people, and have experienced some unbelievable sights.”
Courtney, traveled in May
The route winds from Memphis' Sun Studios to New Orleans' French Quarter and Florida's attractions. Little Rock High School's historic site, Panama City's beaches, and Miami's Little Havana with Cuban cuisine highlight the journey.
Duration 10 days Destinations Dallas, Memphis, New Orleans, Mobile, Panama City, Orlando, Miami Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator Contiki From $3,785
20% Off- NZ$3,028You save $757
America's Music Cities featuring New Orleans, Memphis & Nashville (New Orleans, LA to Nashville, TN) (2025)
76 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everyone and everything was great.”
Virginia, traveled in November
This musical heritage tour showcases French Quarter jazz, Graceland mansion, and Grand Ole Opry shows. Visit GRAMMY Museum Mississippi and Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum with expert cultural guides.
Duration 8 days Destinations New Orleans, Oxford, Memphis, Nashville Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Collette From $5,249
15% Off- NZ$4,462You save $787
What people love about Southeast USA Tours
- USA: Dallas to Miami
Trip manager was amazing ! Hotels much nicer than expected :) Everything organized very well.
- America's Music Cities featuring New Orleans, Memphis & Nashville (New Orleans, LA to Nashville, TN) (2025)
over all met my expectations would prefer tips to be included in total tour price for tour guide and bus driver
- Southern Charms & Florida
The Old South and Florida tour was great. Very well organised, good itinerary and inclusions, hotels were comfortable and close to night activities (not always centre of town), the guide was excellent and very knowledgable. Would recommend this trip to anyone and especially any music lovers.
Travel Southeast USA your way
The Southeast's mountain trails pack in quite a range - you'll find everything from peaks to coastal walks. Our groups love spending multiple days in the Great Smoky Mountains, where camping pairs up with solid day hikes. The Lost Cove Trail is a particular favorite, crossing creeks before climbing up to that old Shuckstack fire tower right on the Appalachian Trail. Over in Shining Rock Wilderness, the Art Loeb Trail takes you across several peaks above 6,000 feet. You'll spot those distinctive white quartzite rocks at the top - they make perfect spots to watch the sun go down. Civil War buffs appreciate Cold Mountain's historical connections while tackling its 6,030-foot climb. What really makes these trips work well is how our guides handle the backcountry cooking and adjust daily distances based on how the group's feeling.
Coach travel lets you see the South's highlights without the logistics headaches. Starting from Dallas or Atlanta, routes sweep through Memphis, Nashville and down to Miami or New Orleans. You get the big attractions like Universal Studios Orlando and Panama City's white beaches, plus cultural gems like Miami's Little Havana food scene. Our guests say they enjoy having all the planning taken care of while still getting enough free time to explore places like Bourbon Street or South Beach on their own terms.
See all Coach / Bus toursThe South reveals itself best through music and history tours that wind from Atlanta to New Orleans. You'll get to step into Studio B where Elvis laid down tracks, wander through Savannah's historic district with local food experts and try your hand at authentic Creole cooking in New Orleans' kitchens. Our customers tell us they love how the schedule balances guided experiences with plenty of independent exploration time. Music fans can trace the beats from Memphis' Beale Street all the way to Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame, while history buffs dive deep into Civil Rights sites from Little Rock High School to Dr. King's Montgomery parsonage.
Select from our extensive range of 87 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Southeast USA with our expert guides leading the way.
More travel styles:
Best tour companies for Southeast USA tours
Intrepid, Cosmos and Travelling Time all get solid feedback from travelers who've explored the Southern US with them. Intrepid's tours stand out for how they handle sustainable travel and really dig into the region's history - they don't just skim the surface. A lot of our customers mention how their guides take time to unpack complex historical events and local perspectives. Cosmos has built a strong reputation for keeping things running smoothly, and their tour director Kris Kimball gets mentioned by name quite a bit in reviews for knowing exactly how to handle everything from scheduling to local insights. The coaches are comfortable and the daily planning hits that sweet spot between structured and relaxed. For music fans heading to Nashville, Travelling Time seems to have the CMA Festival figured out nicely. Their hotel picks work well for the event and travelers particularly like how they handle the seating at Nissan Stadium. The company's focus on good value shows through in little details like location convenience, transport timing and consistent service quality. Each company brings something different to the table while covering the essentials well. If history and sustainability matter most, Intrepid's your best bet. Want everything handled with practiced expertise? Cosmos has that down. And for Nashville's biggest music events, Travelling Time knows exactly how to make it work.
View operators
Popular Southeast USA Cruise Ships
Southeast USA tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
101 tours in Southeast USAGroup tours are a really sociable way to see the South's highlights without breaking the bank. Our most popular routes connect Nashville's music spots with Memphis's soul legacy and also New Orleans' jazz quarters. What our travelers really like is the mix - you might spend your morning recording at Studio B, then have the whole afternoon free to check out Broadway's honky-tonks. Many trips include some unique stops, like meeting Gullah Geechee communities in South Carolina or learning about sea turtle protection on Jekyll Island. You'll travel by coach with drivers who know all the perfect photo spots along routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Small Group
13 tours in Southeast USAThese small-group tours through the Southeast let you experience the region's character in ways large groups simply can't match. The popular Atlanta to New Orleans route takes you into Nashville's historic Studio B to record your own track, connects you with Charleston's expert guides for Black History walks, and gives you time to explore Savannah's local food markets. Our travelers tell us how much they value having time to properly explore places like Bonaventure Cemetery, where guides share the tales that have inspired countless poets, writers and also filmmakers. The Georgia history trail combines Civil Rights landmarks with practical experiences, from hands-on cooking in Savannah to studio time in Nashville's music scene. What sets these tours apart is their access to exclusive experiences - private sessions in New Orleans' Creole kitchens or intimate shows at the Grand Ole Opry. Tour leaders strike an excellent balance between guided activities and free time, so you can discover Bourbon Street's jazz spots or wander Charleston's historic streets at your preferred pace.
Private / Personalized
13 tours in Southeast USAEnjoy the exclusivity of our Private Southeast USA tours, tailored to your own group, preferences and pace with over 13 itineraries to choose from.
Top Southeast USA travel itineraries to fit your plans
These quick 3-day Southern tours really pack in the good stuff around the Smoky Mountains and Appalachians. If you're into hiking, you'll stay at Dancing Bear Cabins and tackle solid 8-mile routes up to spots like Charlies Bunion on the AT, plus catch some great waterfalls at Grotto Falls. Photographers get fantastic shots up at Clingman's Dome, and the Middle Prong of Little River has some perfect spots too. For water lovers, our kayak tours mix lake paddling with hikes to Lost Cove Trail - you'll camp right on Eagle Creek and cook fresh by the water. Our guests often tell us they love how we mix the active stuff with cultural stops, like checking out the Mountain Farm Museum where you'll see what Appalachian farming was all about back in the 1800s.
These week-long music tours through Nashville and Memphis hit just right. You'll actually record your own song at RCA Studio B - same place where Dolly Parton and Elvis recorded their hits - and catch a live show at the Grand Ole Opry. We'll take you through Sun Studio, show you Graceland's meditation garden and explore the National Civil Rights Museum. What makes these tours special is how they connect music with culture - you'll walk through the Tennessee State Capitol, check out the Parthenon in Centennial Park and really get into Memphis' soul at the Stax Museum. The guides on these tours know their stuff cold; our travelers always mention how they share stories you won't find anywhere else.
Our 10-day Southeast tours really let you dig deep from different angles. Nature fans can explore Shenandoah National Park and the Smokies, with hikes up Stony Man Trail and visits to Cherokee sites. If you're into history, you'll appreciate Colonial Williamsburg, Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and also Washington DC's monuments. Some routes head down to Miami through Panama City Beach's white sands and Universal Studios, ending up in Little Havana's amazing food scene. Other tours focus on Appalachian culture - you'll taste wines at Veritas Vineyards, visit the Biltmore Estate and hear traditional bluegrass at the Museum of Appalachia. Our guests particularly like how these longer tours mix scheduled activities with free time to explore Nashville's Broadway, New Orleans' French Quarter and other spots at their own pace.
Demographics
Solo travelers connect well with tours that blend cultural highlights and social experiences across the Southeast. Our customers particularly enjoy routes from Dallas to Miami that include Civil Rights history at Little Rock High School and evenings enjoying live blues on Memphis' Beale Street. The journey continues through New Orleans' French Quarter for jazz and Creole flavors, then winds down to Panama City's beaches and Orlando's theme parks. Another popular choice follows the Georgia history trail, where solo travelers tell us they appreciate the mix of guided elements like Savannah's food walks and cemetery tours with plenty of free time to explore Charleston's historic district and Asheville's craft beer scene on their own terms. The scheduling hits a sweet spot - you're never rushed but always have something interesting planned.
Our couples love these Southern routes that mix romance with rich local culture. The Charleston-Jekyll Island-Savannah loop is a favorite - you'll wander Charleston's cobblestones, relax on Jekyll's exclusive beaches and explore Savannah's shaded squares. Nice touches make it special, like evening light shows at James Island Park and private trolley rides through old Savannah when the crowds thin out. For music lovers, the Nashville to New Orleans route hits all the right notes with nights at the Opry and mornings exploring Graceland. You'll have time to really settle into spots like Natchez with its grand old mansions and also New Orleans' French Quarter, plus free afternoons for horse-drawn carriage rides or dinners along the Mississippi.
Young adults tend to pick tours that keep the energy high while hitting major Southeast highlights. The Dallas to Miami route is especially popular, packing in Memphis' music scene, New Orleans' legendary nightlife and Miami's South Beach atmosphere. Our younger travelers tell us they love having organized elements like Sun Studio tours mixed with free evenings to explore Bourbon Street's jazz clubs or try Little Havana's food scene. Another favorite starts in Atlanta and winds through Savannah's historic district before reaching Nashville, where you'll actually record your own song at Studio B. These tours balance cultural experiences like Black History walks in Charleston with active elements like kayaking in Florida's clear waters.
Our senior travelers often choose tours that dig deep into Southern culture without rushing between stops. The Atlanta-Chattanooga-Nashville route works really well - you get comfortable hotels like the Gaylord Opryland while seeing the region's best spots. The pace feels just right; maybe you'll take the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain one morning, then have a quiet afternoon exploring Chattanooga. These tours connect you with American history in meaningful ways, from MLK's story in Montgomery to traditional music preservation at the Opry. You'll spend multiple nights in key places like Nashville and also New Orleans, which means fewer hotel changes and more time to really get to know each city.
Solo Travelers70 tours- Couples60 tours
- Seniors (50+)36 tours All tours for Seniors
Best time to visit Southeast USA
- Summer 2025
Summer tours really lean into the region's water-based activities and indoor cultural spots to beat the heat. Popular routes combine Memphis' musical landmarks with refreshing stops at Panama City Beach's crystal waters. Our travelers start their mornings early at spots like Sun Studio or the Rock and Soul Museum, then spend afternoons swimming in the Gulf of Mexico or enjoying Universal Studios' water parks. The Miami-bound summer tours include cooling breaks in Little Havana's shaded cafes and optional speedboat rides across Biscayne Bay. Many summer itineraries build in flexible schedules so you can explore places like Bourbon Street or Frenchmen Street during cooler evening hours when the music scene really comes alive.
- popular 31 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2025
Fall brings ideal conditions for exploring the Southeast's historic districts and musical heritage. Our autumn tours often start in Atlanta with visits to the MLK Jr. National Historic Site, then wind through the Blue Ridge Mountains when the foliage is at its peak. Travelers particularly enjoy how these routes combine Chattanooga's scenic railway rides up Lookout Mountain with tours of Jack Daniel's historic distillery. Several itineraries include evening shows at the Grand Ole Opry, where you might catch both legendary performers and rising stars on America's longest-running radio show. The autumn routes down to New Orleans take advantage of cooler temperatures for exploring the French Quarter on foot and enjoying jazz performances in the outdoor courtyards of historic restaurants.
- popular 49 tours
- 49 tours
- 33 tours
- Winter 2025 / 2026
Winter in the Southeast takes on a special charm, especially during the holiday season. Our most popular December tours explore Charleston's historic district all lit up for Christmas, with special evening visits to James Island County Park's dazzling light displays. Several routes include stays at the grand Jekyll Island Club Hotel, where you can join Christmas caroling sessions before dinner in the historic dining room. Travelers particularly enjoy how these winter trips blend indoor and outdoor activities - you might start your morning at Savannah's Pin Point Heritage Museum learning about Gullah Geechee culture, then spend your afternoon exploring St. Simons Island's boutique shops and cozy cafes. Florida-bound winter tours offer a warmer escape, with stops at Siesta Key's white sand beaches and evening entertainment in Marco Island's waterfront district.
- 21 tours
- 16 tours
- popular 24 tours
- Spring 2026
Spring brings perfect weather for exploring the Southeast's musical heritage and coastal gems. Our travelers love how March through May tours combine Nashville's recording studio experiences with Charleston's historic walks and Savannah's food scene. You can record your own track at Studio B where Elvis and Dolly laid down hits, then head south to sample local honey and British-inspired pies on Savannah's culinary walks. The spring routes through the Blue Ridge Mountains are especially nice - you'll visit craft breweries in Asheville, tour America's largest home at Biltmore Estate and stop at small-town distilleries where you can taste award-winning Tennessee whiskey. Many spring tours include special access to Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, where expert guides share stories that inspired poets and filmmakers.
- 31 tours
- popular 37 tours
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Contact our Southeast USA travel experts
Andrei
Expert in Southeast USA at TourRadar
Andrei is one of our seasoned Southeast USA Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Southeast USA tours answered!
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+64 4888 0182What our customers ask about Southeast USA Tours & Trips
How Does Music Shape the Southeast USA Experience?
The Southeast's music scene is incredibly rich and varied you'll find authentic experiences around every corner. Nashville's Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium is a must-see with 3 acts performing in what locals call the "Mother Church of Country Music" its intimate 2362-seat venue really lets you feel the energy. Down in Memphis head to Beale Street Historic District where B.B. King's Blues Club and Lafayette's Music Room (where Elvis actually performed) serve up genuine blues nightly. For jazz lovers Preservation Hall in New Orleans is housed in this amazing 1750s building while over on Frenchmen Street The Spotted Cat Music Club keeps things fresh with contemporary jazz fusion. Here's something really special you can actually record your own track at Nashville's RCA Studio B where more than 35000 legendary songs were recorded between 1957 and 1977.
What Historical Sites Tell the Southeast's Story Best?
The Southeast's history runs deep and complex you'll find incredible stories preserved across the region. Charleston's McLeod Plantation really brings Gullah Geechee culture to life through living demonstrations and original slave quarters while Savannah's Pin Point Heritage Museum tells an inspiring story of how freed slaves built thriving communities in an old oyster factory. The Little Rock Central High School site offers these amazing ranger-led tours that really help you understand the 1957 desegregation crisis. In Memphis the National Civil Rights Museum keeps Room 306 exactly as it was when Dr. King spent his final hours there. For a glimpse into antebellum life Natchez's Longwood mansion Americas largest octagonal house stands frozen in time unfinished when the Civil War began.
Where Can I Experience the Southeast's Natural Beauty?
You wouldn't believe how many different landscapes you can explore within just a few hours drive. Take an airboat tour through Louisiana's Jean Lafitte National Park with expert guides who'll help you spot gators and over 200 different bird species. Up in Virginia's Shenandoah the Stony Man Trail is a moderate 3.8-mile hike that rewards you with incredible valley views from 4011 feet up. The Great Smoky Mountains are absolutely stunning with 2900 miles of streams and Cades Cove's wildlife-rich valley best seen at dawn or dusk. For coastal adventures Panama City Beach's Shell Island is this pristine natural spot only reachable by boat while the Everglades' 38-mile Loop Road shows you parts of subtropical wilderness most people never see.
Which Tours Help Solo Travelers Really Connect?
Some of the best connections happen on small-group tours that really get you involved with local life. Intrepid's Georgia History Trail keeps groups intimate (8-15 people) and includes these amazing home-cooked meals with local families plus special experiences like after-hours access to Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery. If you're 18-35 Contiki's Dallas to Miami tour is great for meeting people while doing authentic stuff like cooking classes in New Orleans homes. Globus runs this fantastic Music Cities tour with just 24 people max giving you proper attention during exclusive experiences like private Studio B recording sessions and backstage Grand Ole Opry access.
What Local Foods Should I Try While Touring the Southeast?
The food here tells such amazing stories through local flavors. In Memphis Central BBQ's been serving incredible dry-rub ribs since 1948 using recipes passed down through four generations. Charleston's 82 Queen makes this amazing she-crab soup with local Atlantic blue crab and sherry while New Orleans' Dooky Chase Restaurant (going strong since 1941) serves Chef Leah Chase's legendary Creole gumbo. You've got to try Nashville hot chicken at Prince's they created it back in 1945 and Atlanta's Brunswick stew at Mary Mac's Tea Room's been a local favorite just as long. For fresh seafood Savannah's Low Country boil at The Crab Shack is incredible using local shrimp and sweet Vidalia onions straight from nearby farms.