Rented a car to reach Charleston, SC then drive back to DTW!

[Guest]

I have booked DTW to ATL on Thursday, April 6th and then rented a car to reach Charleston, SC then drive back to DTW! What routes would you take?

We plan on 2 days in Charleston as it is my main destination. Hoping for Asheville on the way back.

Anywhere else?

I need to be back in DTW by Monday, April 10.

[Heidi]

The drive from ATL to Charleston is five hours, so depending on arrival time, that could be most of Thursday. So that gives you Thursday evening and Friday in Charleston. I’d leave fist thing Saturday morning (traffic Easter weekend will likely be heavy). You can be in Asheville for lunch and enjoy downtown. Then either hit the road for a few hours (I wouldn’t do the stretch of I40 west of Asheville to the states line too late at night - not an easy piece of highway) or spend the night and then be a road warrior on Sunday to get back to Detroit.

[Meigan]

I've made that trip, if you want to hit up Asheville, that'll eliminate hitting up Charlotte, NC (or at least it would be out of your way). Between Asheville and Knoxville, you'll be near Pigeon Forge, TN which is a pretty big tourist destination (Dollywood and distilleries). Once you hit Knoxville, TN, you'll basically have a straight drive back to Detroit area on I-75. Cincinnati could be a good place to stop for a night or to check out Jungle Jims.

You don't really have a lot of time to do much since it's a 13-ish hour drive between Charleston and Detroit.

[Dave]

If you are yet to visit Mammoth Cave NP, it is a cool place to visit - from Asheville you will take I-40. You will then return to Detroit through Louisville/ Cincinnati. The tours are guided and do need to be reserved in advance.