Can you do GA and Tennessee in same road trip?

Question

Hello I am trying to plan our spring break and don't want to OVER plan. We have 8 days in March starting from the 15th. We live in Florida. My thoughts are to drive to the Georgia Aquarium and spend the next day at the Aquarium then head north and meet my brother and his family just outside Atlanta where they live. From there we'd probably hit Chattanooga Piegon Ford Gatlinburg and then start heading home with stops in Helen Ga and MAYBE Savanah Ga before getting back to home. Is this too much for 1 trip? We live in Fort Pierce area.

Answer

It sounds like you have a fun and adventurous road trip planned, but there are a few things to consider to make sure you don't overextend yourself in the 8 days you have. You’re planning to visit several cities across Georgia and Tennessee, which is doable, but it may be a bit rushed depending on how much time you want to spend at each stop. Here's an assessment of your trip and some suggestions to help manage your time better:

Day-by-Day Breakdown:

Day 1: Drive from Fort Pierce to Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta) - This is a long drive (about 6-7 hours), so expect to arrive late and not have much time to do anything except get settled in for the night.
Day 2: Visit the Georgia Aquarium - The Georgia Aquarium is one of the largest in the world and could easily take a full day to explore, especially with kids. It’s worth spending the whole day here, so this plan works well.
Day 3: Travel to meet your brother near Atlanta - If you’re meeting your brother just outside of Atlanta, this will likely be a short drive, giving you time to relax and spend time with family.
Day 4: Drive to Chattanooga - The drive from Atlanta to Chattanooga is about 2 hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore. There’s a lot to see in Chattanooga, including Lookout Mountain, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the famous Walnut Street Bridge.
Day 5: Head to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg - This will be a longer drive (about 3.5 hours from Chattanooga), but you can spend time exploring Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, which are great for family-friendly activities like Dollywood, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, and visiting Ober Gatlinburg.
Day 6: Explore Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge - You can dedicate another day to enjoy the sights and attractions in the Smoky Mountains area. This will give you a chance to slow down and relax a bit.
Day 7: Start heading south - Drive towards Helen, GA (about 3-4 hours from Gatlinburg) for a quick stop. Helen is a charming, Bavarian-style village that’s very scenic and offers a peaceful break, though it might be a bit quiet in March.
Day 8: Head back to Fort Pierce - From Helen, GA, it's about a 6-hour drive to get back home. You may want to adjust your plans to avoid a rushed final day, depending on how much time you want for travel.

Possible Modifications:

Skip Savannah: If you find that your time is getting tight, you could consider skipping Savannah on this trip. Savannah is about 5 hours south of Helen, and you may be better off saving it for another trip to avoid adding too much driving.
Focus on the Smoky Mountains: Instead of heading to Savannah, you might consider spending an additional day or two in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area to explore more of the Smoky Mountains and surrounding parks. The area offers a lot of scenic hikes, outdoor activities, and wildlife viewing, which would be great for a spring break family trip.
Consider Staying Longer in One Place: Instead of hopping between so many destinations, consider staying a little longer in a few select locations. For example, you could stay two nights in Atlanta, two nights in Gatlinburg, and two nights near Helen, and then take a leisurely drive back. This would give you more time to enjoy each place rather than rushing through them.

Overall Assessment:

The trip you have planned is certainly doable in 8 days, but it will require quite a bit of driving. You’ll likely spend a fair amount of time in the car, so if you’re okay with that and want to see as much as possible, it should be fun! However, if you want a more relaxed pace, I would recommend shortening the itinerary by skipping some stops or extending your trip to give yourself more time to enjoy each place.

Let me know if you need further adjustments or recommendations! Safe travels!