Chicago Self Drive Tours

Get more from your Chicago self drive with this suggested Chicago fly drive tour.

Pick-up Pick-up Date Time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 00:00 00:15 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:15 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:15 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:15 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:15 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:15 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:15 08:30 08:45 09:00 09:15 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:30 18:45 19:00 19:15 19:30 19:45 20:00 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 21:15 21:30 21:45 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:45 23:00 23:15 23:30 23:45 Drop-off Drop-off Date Time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 00:00 00:15 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:15 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:15 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:15 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:15 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:15 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:15 08:30 08:45 09:00 09:15 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:30 18:45 19:00 19:15 19:30 19:45 20:00 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 21:15 21:30 21:45 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:45 23:00 23:15 23:30 23:45 Pick-up from Airport City All

Suggested Self Drive Tour Itinerary For Chicago

Day 1 Chicago: Arrival

Arrive in Chicago and pick up your rental car at the airport and proceed to your hotel.
Hotel: Allerton Crowne Plaza

Day 2 Chicago

While exploring this vibrant city located on the shores of Lake Michigan, many landmarks and buildings will appear familiar from films such as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", "While You Were Sleeping" and the "Road to Perdition", not to mention "The Blues Brothers" film. Try and locate the Blues Brothers Soul Food restaurant on Maxwell Street, and don't forget to pay a visit to the original House of Blues jazz club.

Day 3 Chicago - St Louis

Distance: 290 Miles
"Meet Me in St Louis" is a summary of today's journey. Upon arrival take a tram ride to the top of the famous St. Louis Arch and get a city view from 630 feet, then take time to view "Lewis & Clark: 'Great Journey West", a movie produced by National Geographic & viewed on a giant four story screen at the Gateway Arch Riverfront.
Hotel: Red Roof Inn

Day 4 St. Louis - Memphis

Distance: 280 Miles
Memphis offers a multitude of musical and movie moments, and there are two nights to explore your favorites. Start with a visit to Graceland, home of the late Elvis Presley, then choose between the Rock & Soul Museum, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the Gibson Guitar factory or Sun Studio where musicians such as B.B. King, Elvis Presley & Jerry Lee Lewis recorded rock 'n' roll hits.
Hotel: Red Roof Inn

Day 5 Memphis

Check out whether there are any outdoor concerts at the Mud Island outdoor amphitheatre on the Mississippi River during your stay, and dine in B.B. King's restaurant on famous Beale Street.

Day 6 Memphis - Vicksburg

Distance: 146 Miles
Travel from Memphis to Clarksdale, heart of the Delta Blues, stop to tour the Delta Blues Museum with memorabilia from B.B. King and Muddy Waters. Follow the banks of the Mississippi River along Hwy 1 and take the opportunity to roll the dice in one of many Mississippi casinos - they never close!
Hotel: Hampton Inn

Day 7 Vicksburg - New Orleans

Distance: 294 Miles
On to the "Big Easy", New Orleans - a jazz lover's paradise, and another city featured in a string of successful movies. The jazz & blues clubs are too numerous to mention but there are two days in New Orleans to check them out!
Hotel: Radisson Hotel

Day 8 New Orleans

Continue to explore this city of riverboats, jazz and Creole cuisine.

Day 9 New Orleans - Birmingham

Distance: 340 Miles
'Sweet Home Alabama' - today we head for Birmingham, Alabama. For music fans, the highlight would be a visit to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, entrance is free to this exhibition in tribute to jazz greats with ties to Alabama. For movie lovers, try and locate the original Whistle Stop Café, the setting for the novel and later film "Fried Green Tomatoes". Although scenes in the movie were actually filmed in Atlanta, the original café is located in North Irondale, just outside of Birmingham.
Hotel: Wingate Inn

Day 10 Birmingham - Chattanooga

Distance: 148 Miles
Back into Tennessee, and on to Chattanooga. Summer travelers should check the dates of the annual Chattanooga Riverbend Festival. While in Tennessee, don't miss the opportunity to try a 'moon pie', a favorite Southern snack since the early 1900's.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Choo Choo

Day 11 Chattanooga - Nashville

Distance: 133 Miles
Nashville, 'Music City USA' is the destination today. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, a multi-media music shrine including live performances, movie theatres, costumes, instruments and other artifacts detailing country music's colorful history. Don't miss a visit to the Ryman Auditorium and a night at the Grand Ole Opry.
Hotel: Guesthouse International Inn and Suites

Day 12 Nashville - Louisville

Distance: 175 Miles
From Blue Grass to Brass Bands, Kentucky has popular music for every listener. The last night of the tour will be in Louisville, Kentucky pronounced 'Luh-Vul' by the locals, home of the famous Kentucky Derby which takes place at Churchill Downs, the first Saturday each May. Recently featured in the movie "Sea Biscuit" based on a true story, Churchill Downs is the mecca of American horse racing and home of the Kentucky Derby Museum. Take a short side trip to Bardstown and visit My Old Kentucky Home State Park, the inspiration for Stephen Foster's anthem of the same name, which is sung by the crowds every year at the Kentucky Derby. No visit to Kentucky would be complete without a visit to a bourbon distillery, but remember many Kentucky counties are 'dry', so often there are no tastings. Baseball sports fans should ensure they fit in a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum, an interactive museum honoring many of the baseball greats.
Hotel: Best Western Brownsboro Inn

Day 13 Louisville - Chicago

Distance: 300 Miles
Today is the final day of the American Music & Movie tour. The tour ends back in 'Windy City', Chicago having visited six different states, experienced many popular movie set locations, and heard music ranging from blues to jazz to soul to gospel to country to bluegrass and rock 'n' roll.

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