Self-Drive: Mississippi Tour

Outstanding 18-day tour from Minneapolis to New Orleans via some ‘roads less travelled’

Like Route 66, our tour down the Mississippi is a driving tour for the adventuresome, but unlike Route 66 – this tour has more than one common theme.

Being a ‘self-drive tour’ – YOU choose the starting date from Minneapolis.

We suggest doing this tour between May and October, with July & August being the hottest months.

Starting in Minneapolis, Minnesota – you’ll traverse lesser known highways and trails, taking you on an outstanding journey back in time as you drive yourself through some unique towns and villages.

Along the way, you’ll take in some amazing scenery, at a much slower pace than Route 66 – with more 2 night stops, and a varied array of local stories and themes.

We cover the industry of the Mississippi River: Well before roads and wagon trails, the river was arguably the most important trade route for both natives and foreign visitors alike.

French fur traders, the brutal wars between the native American Indians and the British – the boom times of cotton exports, through to the civil war, plantations, slavery and the subsequent ‘birth of the blues’ – and later, Rock n Roll.

If you’re the sort of couple who enjoys a roadtrip – a journey that offers the chance to pull up and talk with local farmers, ask questions of long-time residents and learn from authentic, small town icons about the lives they’ve lived: You will absolutely LOVE this tour down the Mississippi!

Throughout the tour, you will meet some great locals and stay at a variety of accommodation, with both modern hotels and old themed accommodations along the way!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Early US transport using the river (pre-roading)
• Fur Trading and European battles with native Americans
• Plantations, slavery, the birth of the Blues and subsequent Roll n Roll
• 2 x nights in Memphis including ‘Graceland tour’
• 2 x brilliant nights in Nashville
• Drive old roads, across farmlands and through forests
• Visit plantations and enjoy the vast stories & history of the Mississippi delta!
• Finish in New Orleans

TOUR FORMAT:

Following breakfast, you will generally depart each day about 8:30am, and will usually conclude at the hotel by 4:30pm each afternoon. Some days are shorter – others slightly longer. Time spent driving is approx 2.5- 3hrs per day, which allows plenty of time to explore the stops, chat with locals and see things that interest YOU!

Along the way, guests use our turn-by-turn navigation via the iPhone supplied to you and, with the extensive Route Book you’ll discover roads, trails and places others simply wouldn’t see.

This is a tour for those who love a good old fashioned road-trip. A road-trip that provides an amazing discovery of American history, set amongst stunning scenery, memorable accommodation and dinners with new friends.

Sound like something you would like?

You choose the start date – Gilligans takes care of the rest!

 Take a look at some Mississippi highlights here!