Leave Brillion around 11:00 AM for the roughly 7–7½-hour drive to Mount Vernon, using US-151, I-39, and I-64. This is a long first leg, so plan fuel and meal stops around your energy rather than trying to push through; keep a cooler and water in the car, and expect the final approach to be easy highway driving rather than a downtown arrival. Because the schedule is tight, check in at your Mount Vernon hotel first and avoid unnecessary city detours. Note that the later stops are time-sensitive: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts may close before you arrive, so treat it as an arrival-dependent stop rather than counting on a full visit.
If timing works, spend about an hour at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, a pleasant regional arts campus with indoor galleries and outdoor sculpture. Confirm same-day hours before leaving Mount Vernon, since weekday hours can be limited and admission policies vary; allow about 10–15 minutes from a Mount Vernon hotel and use the center’s on-site parking. Then drive roughly 30 minutes west toward Rend Lake near Benton for a 45-minute leg stretch and sunset. The lakeshore is best enjoyed casually—bring a drink, walk a short stretch, and arrive before dusk rather than relying on facilities after dark. Check sunset time and weather today, and keep the stop flexible if the drive runs late.
Return to Mount Vernon for dinner at Joe’s Pizza & Pasta, a relaxed choice after the long road day, with about $15–30 per person before drinks and tip. Call ahead for tonight’s hours and wait times, especially if you arrive after the lake stop; parking is generally easier than in a larger city, but confirm the exact address when booking your hotel because Mount Vernon has several commercial areas. After dinner, keep the evening simple—rest, refuel the car, and prepare for tomorrow’s rural Tennessee drive.
After leaving Mount Vernon, make your first stop at Rend Lake College Historic Village in Ina, allowing about 45 minutes to look through the preserved homes and community buildings. It is a compact, atmospheric stop rather than a full museum visit, so it works well as a leg-stretcher before the longer drive south. Hours can vary by season and special-event schedule; check ahead, and allow roughly 30–45 minutes for this visit. From Ina, continue east and south toward Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, keeping snacks and water in the car since services become more scattered.
Spend about 90 minutes exploring the quieter western Kentucky roads and overlooks in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This is best treated as a scenic pause rather than a tightly planned hike: pull over at signed overlooks, walk a short shoreline or forest trail, and enjoy the sense of space around Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. There is no single admission gate for the entire recreation area, but some facilities and attractions charge separately; carry cash, bug spray, and a paper or downloaded map because cell coverage can be inconsistent. Keep this stop moving—the afternoon waterfall visits near Sparta and Cookeville are the day’s tightest part.
Continue toward Burgess Falls State Park, near Sparta, for roughly 90 minutes. The short trail leads to dramatic waterfall viewpoints, with the best scenery concentrated near the overlooks; wear shoes with good grip, especially after rain. There is generally no charge for the overlook area, but parking and access policies can change, and the park may close temporarily during unsafe conditions. Then drive about 35–45 minutes to Cummins Falls State Park near Cookeville for an hour at the forested waterfall viewpoint. Reserve timed entry in advance if required—access to the gorge and swimming area is limited, and trail conditions can change quickly. If you are running late, prioritize the viewpoint rather than trying to force a longer descent.
Finish in Cookeville at The Putnam Museum & Science Center, a manageable final stop with local-history displays and hands-on science exhibits. Allow about an hour, but verify the day’s closing time before setting out; museums in smaller cities often close by late afternoon, and arriving around 4:00 PM gives you the safest buffer. From there, it is a short drive into downtown Cookeville for dinner at The Cooke House, a historic-setting restaurant where dinner typically runs about $20–40 per person. Reserve or call ahead if possible, particularly on a Tuesday evening after a busy travel day, and keep the rest of the night easy—this route packs several outdoor stops into one afternoon.
Start early at Burgess Falls State Park, ideally around 7:00–7:30 AM, before the day’s drive. The short trail to the overlooks takes about 45 minutes and gives you one last look at the falls and forested gorge. Check current Tennessee State Parks access notices before leaving; parking is generally free, though the park can restrict access during high water or maintenance. Wear shoes with decent grip—the overlooks can be damp.
Refuel in Cookeville before departing around 8:30 AM, then follow US-411 and rural US-23 toward Georgia. Plan on roughly 6½–7 hours with breaks and keep some flexibility for slower two-lane stretches, farm traffic, and mountain curves. Your main scenery stop is the Ocoee River Scenic Byway, where a 45-minute pause lets you stretch beside the river and take in the wooded ridges and whitewater corridor. Pull into an established viewpoint or recreation-area lot rather than stopping on the shoulder; mobile service can be inconsistent, so download the route and keep water and snacks in the car.
After checking in and resting briefly, spend about an hour at the Georgia Southern University Botanical Garden. Its landscaped paths are an easy, low-key way to unwind after the drive; confirm the garden’s September hours before setting out, as some sections may close near dusk. From there, it is roughly a 10-minute drive to the Averitt Center for the Arts in downtown Statesboro, where you can browse local exhibitions and enjoy the historic courthouse-square setting. Gallery hours and admission vary by exhibition, so arriving before 5:00 PM is safest. Finish with dinner at Fordham’s Farmhouse, a casual Southern spot where you should expect about $15–30 per person; allow around an hour, and check its evening hours before committing since smaller local restaurants may close earlier on quieter weeknights.
Leave Statesboro around 8:30 AM and follow US-80 east toward Tybee Island, allowing roughly 1½ hours with normal traffic. This brings you across Savannah and onto the island before the heaviest beach-arrival rush. Use a marked public space near North Beach or the lighthouse area; Tybee parking is metered or paid in many locations, and enforcement is active, so download the parking app or carry a card. Begin at Tybee Island Light Station and Museum, where the lighthouse grounds and museum typically take about 1½ hours. Check the day’s hours before setting out—climbing access can be weather-dependent—and expect an admission fee in the roughly $10–15 range.
From the lighthouse, walk or make the short drive to North Beach for an unhurried couple of hours on the sand. This end of the island is generally calmer than the pier area, though September sun is still strong; bring water, reef-safe sunscreen, and a towel, and be aware that lifeguard coverage may be limited late in the season. For lunch, drive a few minutes to The Crab Shack, a casual waterfront spot with seafood platters, crab, shrimp, and Lowcountry-style sides. Budget about $20–45 per person, and expect a wait at peak lunch time—arriving slightly early is worthwhile.
After lunch, take the short drive west to Fort Pulaski National Monument. Allow about 1½ hours to tour the remarkably intact brick fort, moat, and nearby trails; the grounds are exposed and humid, so water and comfortable shoes matter. The site generally keeps daytime hours and charges a per-person or vehicle entrance fee, with National Park passes accepted. Later, return toward central Tybee Island for the Tybee Pier and Pavilion. A relaxed pier walk and beach stroll make an easy final stop; stay through sunset if skies are clear, though the sun sets over the mainland side rather than directly across the open Atlantic. Keep dinner flexible around the pier—parking and traffic become noticeably easier after the beach crowd begins leaving.