Driving to Memphis from Lexington area

My family is planning a Southern road trip this August (probably not the ideal time to visit weather-wise but there you have it). First stop will be the Lexington area where we will visit family for a couple of days. Then we plan to drive to Memphis and from there go the the Delta (Clarksville or Greenwood Mississippi area) so my blues guitar-playing teen can make a proper homage to Robert Johnson. We%26#39;ll end up in New Orleans and fly home from there.

I was shocked to discover that by far the longest distance will be from Lexington to Memphis. Is this a reasonable drive for one-day? Are there any places worth stopping along the way to break up the drive? Any good restaurants?

I grew up in Kentucky but have never been to Memphis and so never did that drive. It seems daunting....Any comments welcome!

Driving to Memphis from Lexington area

I have driven it many times. It should take between 6 to 6.5 hours of driving (mapquest says 422 miles at 6.5 hours and I find they give more time than it usually takes me)...of course, longer if you plan to stop anywhere. It is certainly not too much to do in a day.

From Lexington, you would get on US 60 going towards Versailles and get on the Bluegrass Parkway until it meets with I65 and then you would go to Nashville and then take I40 to Memphis.

I have not stopped much in between, so I don%26#39;t know exactly what to reccommend, but there is the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.

Since you are going through Nashville, you may want to consider doing something there.

If I think of anything else, I%26#39;ll post more.

Driving to Memphis from Lexington area

Memphis is a six hour drive from Lexington, easily done in one day. I know it looks longer than that on a map, but we went to Memphis last summer from Lexington and it was six hours down, six hours back. If you want to break it up, try the Mammoth Cave area in Kentucky or Nashville.

Once you get to Memphis, I recommend staying at the Comfort Inn downtown on Front Street, overlooking the river. It is a nice place with large rooms, at a reasonable price. It has a roof top pool. You can walk to the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks (11:00 a.m. they bring them down to the lobby, and at 5:00 p.m., they are sent back up) and to Beale Street. Memphis has a downtown trolley system that is another easy way to get around. Try the barbecue at Pig on Beale and the Rendevous. Flying Fish, next to the Peabody on Second is great for fried oysters, shrimp, po boys, etc. We like the Majestic restaurant on Main, built out of an old movie theater. Graceland is fairly interesting and the admission is reasonable.

When you head from Memphis to the Delta, make a stop in Oxford, home of Ole Miss. The Oxford Square is entertaining, and the Ole Miss Campus is pretty, especially the Grove. I went to law school there.

I%26#39;ve not spent any time in the Delta in years, but as I recall, Clarksdale was the better blues opportunity. Greenwood now has a least one upscale hotel now.

I would also suggest checking out Natchez, MS if it is along the route you plan to take. It%26#39;s in the southeast corner of the state on the Mississippi River across from Louisiana. It is a small town, but beautiful and full of history.

Nashville would be a good stop since it%26#39;s pretty close to the midway point of the drive. Depending upon what time you leave Lexington, it could be a good lunch stop.

The Loveless Cafe is fun for country/Southern style food. It%26#39;s also in a nice setting with a little gift shop next door. http://www.lovelesscafe.com/

I also hear good things about Jim %26#39;N Nick%26#39;s BBQ in Nashville. http://www.jimnnicks.com/

Fantastic suggestions, everyone! Thanks so much. It sounds like it%26#39;s worth breaking the drive up with a stop in Nashville and maybe Mammoth Cave. But in any case you%26#39;ve reassured me about the drive. 6.5 hours is doable for me - and maybe we%26#39;ll stay over in Nashville. I%26#39;ll have to look at a map to see if that makes sense.

Would love to visit Natchez and Oxford but not sure we%26#39;ll have time on this trip.

Any sugestions for good road food between Lexington and Memphis?

Thanks again.