Michigan to Georgia Road Trip With KIA Sedona

Plan a fun road trip from Michigan to Georgia in the KIA Sedona. We’ve put together a list of things to do and places to check out while you’re taking a fun road trip with the family!

Michigan to Georgia Road Trip With KIA Sedona

We recently came back from a fun road trip to Jekyll Island, Georgia. We’re going to start this road trip with Detroit, and end it with Atlanta. Depending on the route you take, it’s 11-12 hours without stops. However, if you start higher up in Michigan or travel farther south in Georgia, it’ll take a few hours longer. The keys to an awesome road trip are making several stops and taking your time. Enjoy the ride!

Many of these stops will depend on the time of year. Obviously, you won’t be spending an hour on the pier at the Great Lakes in the middle of winter. We traveled from Michigan to Georgia in a 2016 KIA Sedona. The word AMAZING doesn’t even begin to describe the perks of driving a KIA Sedona. KIA’s message, the power to surprise, delivers just that. This Sedona is full of surprises. Gone is the old-fashioned look of the previous Sedona. In its place, comes a modern, sleek front that almost looks like it could be an SUV.

See what I mean?

I shared tips on how to plan a road trip with a KIA Sedona, which will give more in-depth on how awesome this mini-van truly is, and the benefits of owning one. I also wrote about the KIA Sedona during our 2015 trip to California.

Now, let’s get on the road with our Sedona!

{we only had to fill up a few times! We averaged 23.4 mpg}

Detroit

Called a “gem of a museum” on TripAdvisor, the Detroit Institue of Arts was founded in1885 and now covers over 600,000 square feet. Boasting more than 100 galleries, this multicultural museum is worth the modest admission fee ($12.50 adults $6 kids). Anytime we can, we “sneak” in learning. The DIA helps us out with that!

A hidden gem in Detroit, and worthy of a quick peek before you start your road trip, is the Motown Museum. The tour guides here are informative and friendly. You’ll learn about The Jackson Five, Aretha Franklin, and more. Tickets are $15 each for adults (kids 4 and under are free), and they sell out frequently – especially on Saturdays. Book your stop ahead of time if it’s on a weekend!

Looking for delicious food and fast service? Lafayette Coney Island is in the Top 3 restaurants in Detroit according to TripAdvisor. Not a hot dog fan? Well, everyone loves pizza! Try the best pizza joint for miles: Pizza Papalis.

Toledo

There are quite a few spots in Toledo that are worth stopping for, but the Imagination Station is one of our favorites. The news even did a feature on “elephant toothpaste”! It’s a hands-on science museum that all of the kids enjoy.

Toledo Botanical Gardens is one of those places you could spend the entire day exploring, so it depends on the weather and how much time you have if you want to make this stop.

Dayton

Hungry? Try the highly-rated chicken thighs and broccolini at Wheat Penny Oven, or if you are in the mood for delicious pizza (again?), Dewey’s Pizza is a must!

In the mood for some more learning? Don’t worry, this learning is the fun, hands-on kind! Visit the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park. You’ll learn many things here, mostly about aviation history obviously but also about African-American poet and Dayton native, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar began writing poetry as early as six years old, and was publicly reciting poetry by age nine. There’s a lot of history to take in here!

Besides the Aviation Park and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, you will want to visit the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery because, awww! (Go see for yourself!)

Cincinnati

Depending on how many stops you want to make, Cincinnati might be a good place to hang out for an afternoon or so. There’s so much to see and do! No matter what you decide to do first, you better bring your appetite because Cincy has some amazing food!

Craving BBQ? Grab the best around at Eli’s BBQ. Just like momma makes. Taste of Belgium has the best waffles, while Skyline Chili will hit the spot if you’ve got a chili craving.

At least once in their lifetime, everyone should visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Located in Cincinnati, the museum exhibits the Underground Railroad and how they helped slaves escape to freedom. Start on the third floor and work your way down. Plan on spending a few hours here.

Stroll across the Roebling Suspension Bridge, visit the American Sign Museum, and catch an event at Fountain Square if you’re lucky.

Louisville

Looking for a fantastic adventure? Go ziplining underground at Louisville’s Mega Cavern! Not ready for quite such a heart-racing adventure? Spend an hour or two at the Ali Center, also known as the Mohammad Ali Museum.

Wild Eggs is our choice for Brunch (or even lunch!), but there are many great restaurants to choose from in Louisville. Plug your location into Yelp and explore a bit!

Nashville

The self-proclaimed “best idea in Nashville since country music”, Mas Tacos, is sure to be a family-favorite. The Wild Cow will please the veggie lovers in your family, or you could go old school with some hot chicken from Hattie B’s!

Great food isn’t the only reason to visit Nashville, of course. The Grand Ole Opry, Fontanel Mansion, The Johnny Cash Museum, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, and The Parthenon are all great reasons as well.

Atlanta

Atlanta is our final stop and boy is it an awesome one! The World of Coca-Cola and the Fox Theatre are both great entertainment options, obviously for different reasons. If you’re a history buff, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the MLK Jr Historic Site are all worth a visit.

The Georgia Aquarium and Atlanta Botanical Gardens are both lovely choices for those who enjoy animals and nature.

Our final destination was just a few hours from Atlanta. Jekyll Island is a fun, relaxed beach vacation idea to add to your bucket list. You can read about all the things for families to do on Jekyll Island here, and where to stay.

As you can see, this road trip can take two days or two weeks! It’s completely up to you. The best part about all of it? The vast amount of choices you have. Good luck!

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