Many thanks to those who responded to my earlier post about the Great River Road. My wife and I usually travel with accommodations already booked in advance, but this time around we'd like to make the 15-day drive from New Orleans to Minneapolis with more freedom to stop where and when we want, i.e., no advanced reservations. I am under the impression that this is low season which means it should be doable. Let me clarify this- I would make reservations for the first days in New Orleans and the last days in Minneapolis, but everything in between I'd like to leave open. If you have made this trip in July or if you live in that area can you please advise as to whether or need to make reservations? Thank you in advance.
1
buckguy
I haven't made this trip in July but I have (1) stayed in St L and the Mississippi Delta for work in July and (2) I've traveled in the Midwest in July. It's summer and people will be traveling--you're not doing top tier tourist trap locations, but they will get visitors and a place like St Louis might have a convention. Even a small place can get booked-up, like Greenwood, MS, because of some local/regional meeting. Also consider that summer means weddings...July isn't June or August but there will be a lot of them and they easily tie up small towns and larger sized cities if there are multiple weddings (I once had a problem with this in Toledo Ohio and nearby cities like Monroe and Bowling Green). Some place with old South "charm" like Natchez probably attracts weddings, while other places simply have them as part of the normal life cycle of the place. You might be fine, you might not.
3
zeldasdad
I don't understand why, in this age of smart phones and travel booking sites, your freedom would be the least bit restricted by motel reservations. It is rare that anyone charges cancellation fees before 6:00 PM on the day of arrival and you can change them as you drive.
What reservations prevent is wandering around in the dark at 11:30 PM looking for a place to sleep because you didn't realize that something like Airventure or the Indianapolis 500 or Sturgis was going on.
4
beachmouse
A lot of the big hotel chains have gone to 48 hour free cancellation policies in the past year or two
5
buckguy
And some times 72 hours. At a minimum, OP should use the reservation sites to identify places that may be booked out well ahead of time and adjust their itinerary, as needed.
6
Thorn Tree
This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner