Morning: Pack the car, check tire pressure, and grab a quick breakfast before hitting the road. Fill up on fuel at a local station and head west on US‑31 toward Indianapolis.
Afternoon: Cruise through Indianapolis, then merge onto I‑65 S and I‑64 W, enjoying the rolling Indiana countryside. Stop for lunch in Louisville and stretch your legs at the Louisville Waterfront Park overlooking the Ohio River.
Evening: Arrive in Knoxville, Tennessee around 9 PM, check into a downtown hotel, and savor a dinner of local barbecue near Market Square.
Find HotelsMorning: Depart Knoxville early and take I‑40 W to I‑75 S, crossing into the Great Smoky Mountains region. Pull over at the Clingmans Dome overlook for panoramic mountain views.
Afternoon: Continue south through Atlanta, where you can snap a photo of the iconic Peach Drop at Centennial Olympic Park. Afterward, drive into Florida and enjoy a waterfront lunch at the Tampa Riverwalk before heading farther south.
Evening: Arrive in Key West late in the evening, check into your accommodation, and experience the famous sunset at Mallory Square while listening to street performers.
Find HotelsIf you have extra time, add a day to explore the Florida Keys Highway 1 and the Everglades National Park for wildlife tours. To shorten the trip, consider flying from Knoxville to Miami and renting a car for the final leg to Key West, cutting the driving time by half.