Time for a Memphis Road Trip!Time for a Memphis Road Trip!

Time for a Memphis Road Trip!

Dec. 17, 2010

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By Joe Hornstein
UCFAthletics.com

Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - According to MapQuest, a road trip from the UCF campus non-stop to Silky O'Sullivan's, located on the heart of world-famous Beale Street, will span 777.81 total miles over 12 hours and 59 minutes. According to TravelMath.com, the trip is $177.79 for regular unleaded gas round trip - a lot cheaper than a plane flight.

That isn't so bad? Besides, who out there hasn't gone on a last-minute, spontaneously-decided road trip? This columnist will argue taking a road trip is synonymous with college football.

If you leave at midnight, you will get to Memphis with most of the day left to enjoy. If you leave at lunch, you'll get there with a little nightlife still ahead of you. Anything in between, just gives you more time to party with thousands of UCF alumni and fan-faithful already making the trip.

The big party is on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, at 2:30 p.m. central time. That's when the 52nd Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl kicks off between No. 24 UCF and the Georgia Bulldogs. You'll probably need to get there at least a few hours earlier to enjoy the official UCF Alumni event taking place inside the Liberty Bowl's indoor tailgate and buffet.

With that said, if you are driving straight through, leave no later than 8 p.m., so that gives you some time to stop off during the way, fill up on gas and take in some roadside, gas station, late night cuisine.

For me, I'd recommend going much earlier, preferably days in advance. There is a lot going on during bowl week, you won't want to miss. There is the Liberty Bowl parade, UCF alumni and fan parties, refreshments and libations on Beale Street, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion, delicious Memphis barbecue, historic Sun Studios and Stax Records, the Gibson guitar factory, the NBA's Grizzlies are playing, Usher's in concert on the 29th and the O'Jays are performing at the Liberty Bowl gala. If you're feeling lucky, there are also some large casinos less than half an hour from Memphis in Tunica, Miss.

With the game on Friday afternoon, I'd probably tell you to get to Memphis, at least by Wednesday to catch all the fun beforehand and then stay after game and hit the road Saturday morning.

That's the plan. Here you go!

Jump on the 408 and continue west till you get outside Orlando, merge onto the extension for the Florida Turnpike and continue till you hit I-75 north near Wildwood. One of the longest stretches of the road trip is the next 205.4 miles through Florida and into Georgia. You'll be passing Ocala, Gainesville, and the central gateway to the Panhandle, Lake City. If your car can handle it, barring gas refills, I'd make the first stop, Valdosta, Georgia, about a half hour north of the state line. Gas prices in Georgia are some of the lowest in the country.

Not even an hour later, around Tifton, you'll need to look out for the signs directing you to take the US-82/GA-520 exit, Exit 62, toward US-319/Tifton/Sylvester. Ultimately, you are trying to hit the GA-520 W toward Dawson/Columbus - crossing into Alabama. Big stops during this 150-mile stretch would be Albany and Columbus. Note, GA-520 W turns into the US-280 W, once you get to Columbus, cross the muddy waters of the Chattahoochee River that Alan Jackson made famous and enter Alabama.

You'll stay on the 280 for a while, but you'll need to jump onto I-85 for a few miles, before merging back on US 280 for a 108-mile sojourn into Birmingham, where you will be two-thirds (8 hours, 43 minutes) done with the road trip to Memphis. Depending on when you left Orlando, 9-10 hours later could be one of the best barbecue meals you've ever had waiting for you at Dreamland BBQ (1427 14th Avenue South). A full slab of ribs is highly recommended.

You'll wiggle your way around Birmingham for the next 15 minutes before you'll need to get onto US 78 toward Jasper, passing through Mississippi and crossing into Memphis, Tennessee. Technically, the US 78 stretch is the longest of the MapQuest journey, eating up 210.8 miles and just under four hours.

On this final run, you'll go past Tupelo during the Mississippi leg. While you will see Graceland in Memphis, you can also see Elvis' birthplace in Tupelo (306 Elvis Presley Drive).

Once you get into Memphis, get off US 78 and merge onto I-240 west towards St. Louis. 4.3 miles later merge onto WB Fowler Senior Expressway, which becomes I-55 north, which becomes South Riverside Blvd. From South Riverside, you'll make the easy right onto Beale Street, where Silky O'Sullivan's (183 Beale Street) and good times await just a half-mile up.

Bowl Week Events [All Times Listed CST]

Monday, Dec. 27

  • Team Welcome Party (6 p.m.)
  • Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors (7 p.m.)

Tuesday, Dec. 28

  • Professional Rodeo presented by Ford Trucks (7 p.m.)

Wednesday, Dec. 29

  • AutoZone Liberty Bowl Players & Coaches Luncheon (12 p.m.)

Thursday, Dec. 30

  • AutoZone Liberty Bowl Parade (3 p.m.)
  • Bash on Beale Pep Rally (5 p.m.)
  • UCF AlumKnight Out (5-7 p.m.)
  • Memphis Tigers vs. Lipscomb Bison (7 p.m.)
  • President's Gala/Dinner Dance (7 p.m.)

Friday, Dec. 31