South - Driving from BHM - MSY: Scenic route?

Hi there,

My husband and I are driving from Birmingham to New Orleans in about a week and I'd like to take a more scenic route than the interstates, but I'm a little overwhelmed at how many roads there are! We'd like to stay somewhere outside of New Orleans our first night and it could be anywhere, really.

Note: we're not looking to spend two full days in the car. More like 4-ish hours the first day, a couple more the second depending on where we stay. We're totally flexible.

I'd love to hear your suggestions!

I grew up on the Mississippi gulf coast and lived in Tuscaloosa for a few years so I know the area pretty well. There are plenty of pine trees, a few lakes & rivers, and some nice small towns along the way no matter what path you choose.

The Lauren Rogers museum in Laurel MS is worth a stop. http://lrma.org/

The beach highway US90 offers scenery and the towns of Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Pass Christian (pronounced Kristy Ann), and Bay St. Louis.

You could go a bit out of your way to Jackson MS to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway then take Highway 61 to Baton Rouge.

Here's a link to the travel section of the website for Southern Living magazine. Perhaps you can find something there. http://www.southernliving.com/travel/

If you can be more specific about the scenery you want to see then perhaps I or others can offer better suggestions.

Thanks for the reply! I'm actually in Tuscaloosava the moment and we'll be leaving from here...

I've booked a place to stay in St. Francisville, north of baton rouge for Sunday night, now I'm just pondering the nicest way to get there... It looks like we can either head to Jackson and down (as you suggested) or down to Hattiesburg and then over. We might spit he drive by leaving Sat night and getting a cheap hotel somewhere....

ThoughtS?

Wow. Apologies for the atrocious spelling. Dang iPad.

Since you have plans in St. Francisville the beach highway along the Mississippi Coast is not a good option.

I suggest taking I-20 to Jackson, MS, then the Natchez Trace Parkway to Natchez, then Highway 61 to St. Francisville.

http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm
The Trace is a road AND a US National Park. Speed limits are low (50 MPH?). The area adjacent to the roadway is protected from development.

Spend some time in Natchez. The mansions are amazing.
http://www.visitnatchez.org/