Slide 1

The quick, brown, classic rose, and bossanova fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Slide 2

The quick, brown, bizarre, and thunderbird fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Slide 3

The quick, brown, charlotte, and red fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Get Your Vibe on I-65

17 days / 16 nights from NZ $7,699 per person

Get Your Vibe on I-65 - 17 days / 16 nights from NZ $7,699 per person

Follow one of America’s great self-drive corridors on this Chicago to New Orleans journey along Interstate 65, linking the Great Lakes, the American Heartland, bourbon country and the Deep South. Designed for Kiwi travellers wanting to experience a true cross-section of the United States, this itinerary combines iconic cities, regional culture and well-known highlights along a classic north-to-south route. From Chicago’s skyline and architectural landmarks, the journey continues through Indiana’s open landscapes, Kentucky’s bourbon heritage, Nashville’s vibrant live music scene, Alabama’s Civil Rights history and into Louisiana’s bayous and French Quarter atmosphere. Each destination reflects a different side of American life, from major urban centres to smaller regional cities and towns. This is more than a road trip — it’s a journey that unfolds at a steady rhythm, where each state brings a new character, changing scenery and a deeper sense of American culture, creating a true north-to-south road trip experience through the heart of the country.

This is a suggested itinerary based on our recommendations for your Interstate 65 road trip adventure. There are no fixed departure dates or schedules, so you can customise the itinerary to suit your personal preferences and needs. Please contact us if you are looking to explore I-65 and we can create a personalised travel package just for you. Photo Credit: istock.com/Gene Smalley

Grand Ole Opry House Exterior view

package inclusions

* Airport arrival transfer in Chicago
* 4 nights at the Silversmith Hotel Chicago Downtown
* 9-day Alamo rental car in a full-size vehicle (Chevrolet Malibu or similar)
* 1 nights at the Hotel Indy, Indianapolis
* 2 nights at the 21C Museum Hotel, Louisville
* 3 nights at the Holston House, Nashville
* Grand Ole Opry Show Tickets + Post-Show Backstage Tour
* 1 nights at The Kelly, Birmingham
* 1 nights at the Fort Conde Inn, Mobile
* 4 nights at the Hotel St. Marie, New Orleans
* Airport departure transfer in New Orleans
* Travel USA Planning Assistance

Oak Alley Credit Explore Louisiana

bonus inclusions

* 3-day all-inclusive Chicago Go City Sightseeing Pass - access to 30+ attractions, tours and activities
* Kentucky Derby Museum - admission and guided track visit
* The Main Ticket - Louisville Slugger, Muhammad Ali Centre & Evan Williams Bourbon experience
* Nashville Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
* Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum admission
* RCA Studio B Tour
* Ryman Auditorium admission
* Guided Food Tour of 12South with 5+ Tastings
* 3-day all-inclusive New Orleans Go City Sightseeing Pass - access to 20+ attractions, tours and activities
* Oak Alley Plantation & Small Airboat Tour

Holston House TENN on Top Lounge Chairs Courtesy Nashville Tourism

accommodation

Travel USA has carefully selected a collection of quality 3.5–4 star boutique properties chosen for their location, character and guest experience. In Chicago, Silversmith Hotel offers a stylish downtown base near the Riverwalk and Millennium Park, while Hotel Indy delivers contemporary design in central Indianapolis. Louisville’s 21c Museum Hotel combines upscale accommodation with an art-focused atmosphere. In Nashville, Holston House places you steps from Broadway and the live music scene, while The Kelly Birmingham provides character and comfort. Fort Conde Inn in Mobile adds historic Southern charm, before Hotel St. Marie immerses you in New Orleans’ French Quarter atmosphere. These properties balance comfort, location and authenticity, but can always be tailored to suit individual travel styles and budgets.

Some of the highlights of your I-65 adventure

Chicago River IL Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay

Illinois

Kicks off the trip in Chicago, a city known for its big skyline, lakefront setting and standout architecture. - a popular big city start before the journey begins

Key Highlights
* Chicago Riverwalk, Millennium Park & Lakefront
* Willis Tower Skydeck & iconic skyline architecture
* Deep-dish pizza, blues music and West Loop dining
* Historic departure point from the Great Lakes into the American heartland

A strong, high-energy launch into the I-65 corridor before open-road travel begins.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum 2 Photo Courtesy of Visit Indiana

Indiana

Indiana marks the transition into the American heartland, where highways stretch into farmland and small cities define the rhythm of travel.

Key Highlights
* Indianapolis Motor Speedway & Canal Walk district
* Jackson family birthplace (Gary) near I-65 corridor
* Rolling Midwestern farmland and classic interstate driving
* Small-town America stops and open roads

A classic driving experience from Chicago's energy to wide Indiana plains and relaxed regional culture.

Louisville Big Four Bridge and Skyline with sunset in the background showing the downtown city park

Kentucky

Kentucky delivers bourbon country, horse racing heritage and scenic river approaches along the Ohio River corridor.

Key Highlights
* Louisville skyline and Ohio River bridges
* Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum
* Louisville Slugger Museum & Muhammad Ali Centre
* Bourbon distilleries in the Bardstown region
* National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green

A culturally rich stretch of I-65 blending sport, spirits and Southern hospitality.

Nashville tn Country Music Hall Of Fame Exterior.jpg Image By The Tour Operator

Tennessee

Tennessee brings rolling hills, music heritage and arrival into Nashville – the emotional highlight of the route.

Key Highlights
* Scenic hill country transitioning from Kentucky
* Nashville skyline approach along I-65
* Country Music Hall of Fame & RCA Studio B
* Grand Ole Opry Show & Backstage Tour
* Broadway live music district and nightlife

A vibrant cultural shift into the heart of American music and entertainment.

Civil Rights Memorial Centre3 Image By Alabama Tourism

Alabama

Alabama offers a quieter, more reflective stretch defined by Civil Rights history and classic Southern landscapes.

Key Highlights
* Birmingham Civil Rights District
* Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
* Rosa Parks Museum & Civil Rights Memorial
* Battleship Memorial Park (USS Alabama/USS Drum)
* Montgomery to Mobile deep south corridor

A meaningful stretch of the journey balancing powerful history and open-road travel.

New Orleans City Shot of the park horses & carts & church in the background

New Orleans

Louisiana delivers the grand finale – a blend of French, Spanish and Creole culture culminating in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Key Highlights
• French Quarter architecture & Jackson Square
• Mississippi River steamboat jazz dinner cruise
• Live jazz on Frenchmen Street
• Plantation history & bayou airboat experiences

The most atmospheric state of the journey, where music, food and culture combine into a powerful closing chapter of the I-65 experience.

Terms & Conditions
Our prices are dynamic, providing you with the best available rate of the day at the time of booking • Our suggested itineraries can be fully customised to suit your needs and have been created with indicative pricing shown • Final package pricing will be calculated upon request using the best rates available on the day and will depend on factors such as month of travel, how early you book, availability, and whether you choose non-refundable or fully refundable rates • Indicative prices are per person, based on two adults travelling together and sharing a double/twin room with existing bedding • All pricing is in New Zealand dollars for payment by cash or EFTPOS only; credit card fees will apply • Airfares are not included and are an additional cost • Amendment and cancellation fees apply • Surcharges (particularly during peak periods) and blackout (closeout) dates may apply • Indicative prices exclude any applicable car parking, road tolls, one-way rental car drop-off fees and hotel resort fees, which are all payable direct • Please ask your Travel USA specialist for full details.

“We create the adventure ....
You create the memories”

Millennium Park 2 Chicago IL Purchased from iStock 1437030320

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Huge thanks to Travel USA and especially Andrew for making our trip so easy and enjoyable! Andrew was amazing from the moment we started planning, he went above and beyond. His knowledge, travel tips, and thoughtful check-ins made the whole trip completely seamless and his attention to detail and genuine care took all the stress out of travelling. Highly recommend Travel USA for anyone wanting a hassle-free, expertly planned adventure.

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You really paid attention to what we wanted to get out of our trip, and everything was planned in such detail, and ran smoothly. Your expert recommendations were spot on, and we felt so well taken care of the entire time. Thanks to you, we had an unforgettable time, and we’re already talking about planning our next adventure with you to the Yellowstone country! I hope we can work together again soon in the not so distant future 🙂 Thank you again!

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Just wanted to thank you both for your suggestions, hotel choices and how smoothly our trip went with the planning you all did. We had a truly fabulous trip, that suited us perfectly. We said it is actually uncanny how with just phone communications and emails with strangers your selections were just so us. We will definitely recommend Travel USA and will be in touch when we travel to the states again, next time. Cannot rate you highly enough with your expertise and knowledge. With appreciation and heartfelt thanks.

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New Plymouth, NZ

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Thank you so much Travel USA!

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Auckland, NZ

Andrew assisted me with a group booking of 5 couples travelling to the USA for 5 weeks. They wanted to do a “road trip” through the Southern States and spend time in New York. Andrew’s knowledge of the USA is an incredible asset to people planning to travel here, he put together an awesome route, recommended great hotels in the best locations and had so much information on city passes, things to do and places of interest. As a travel agent I found that Travel USA had the best contacts and information from everything from rental cars, hotels, shows, tours etc and they outlined all of this in very detailed itineraries ready to give straight to my clients. He provided a professional detailed itinerary for the group that went 100% perfectly. Andrew made my job easy, and my clients were extremely happy with their holiday plans. I will definitely be using Andrew and his company in the future and would recommend anyone when planning to go to the USA to use their services.

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New Plymouth, NZ

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