Rolling Atlas

Southern Holiday Lights Road Trip

Checked on Oct 23, 2026 (facts carry the date each source was last checked)

Call to confirm before you go. Holiday light shows change hours, prices and routes from night to night, and a few nightly hours on this route aren't published yet. Each one is marked "Check before you go" below. Call each place before you go, and tell them what you need.

This plan strings together eight holiday light events across Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina, from a drive-through cavern in Louisville to the small mill town of McAdenville. You can do the full loop in about a week, or pick a shorter northern or southern route. Each event links to our full accessibility guide where we have one.

When to go: Dec 1–24

All eight events are open at the same time from Dec 1 to Dec 24, 2026. McAdenville has the shortest run, "December 1-26, 2026" (Christmas Town USA, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026), and both Galaxy of Lights and Bellingrath are closed Dec 25.

Dates and hours at a glance

  • Lights Under Louisville (Louisville, KY): the show runs Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027. Opening night (Nov 13) is 6–10 PM; after that it's open daily 9 AM–10 PM, with shorter 5:30–10 PM hours on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. A standard vehicle pass starts at $42.99, and every ticket has to be bought ahead of time, since none are sold at the gate (Lights Under Louisville, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Check before you go: the Christmas Express is a separate ticket, and its price differs between the light show's site and the Mega Cavern's site, so confirm the current price on the Lights Under Louisville page before you buy. Full guide: Lights Under Louisville.
  • A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland (Nashville, TN): "November 6, 2026 – January 2, 2027" (A Country Christmas, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Check before you go: nightly hours aren't published. The FAQ says "Hours of operation vary by event and by day" (FAQs, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026), so check the ticket site for your date. Full guide: Gaylord Opryland.
  • Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS (Nashville, TN): "November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027," with entry slots from 4:30 to 8:30 PM and closing at 10 PM (Know before you glow, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Full guide: Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS.
  • Galaxy of Lights (Huntsville, AL): "November 13 – December 31, 2026," closed Nov 26 and Dec 25 (Galaxy of Lights, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). The calendar gives last ticketed entry as "8:45 p.m. on Walking Nights (entry gates close at 9:00 p.m.)" and "9:00 p.m. on Driving Nights," with a 4:30 p.m. Sensory Hour on four Walking Nights (2026 calendar PDF, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). The garden adds that "The Walking Night experience closes at 10 p.m." (Galaxy of Lights, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Check before you go: the Walking Night opening time isn't published, so check the calendar or call the garden. Full guide: Galaxy of Lights.
  • Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath (Theodore, AL, near Mobile): "Nov. 20, 2026 – Jan. 9, 2027 | Closed Nov. 25, Nov. 26, Dec. 25 & Jan. 1," 5:00–9:00 PM, last home tour 8:00 PM (Magic Christmas in Lights, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Full guide: Bellingrath.
  • Fantasy in Lights at Callaway (Pine Mountain, GA): "November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027." The route is about 7 miles and "takes at least 45 minutes" (Fantasy in Lights, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Check before you go: nightly show hours aren't published. Only the resort shuttle hours (5–10 PM, Nov 15–Dec 31) are, so call the resort before you fix your night. Full guide: Callaway Fantasy in Lights.
  • Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands (Buford, GA): "November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027," 5:00–10:00 PM, with a gate surcharge from 4 PM. The page says it's busiest from shortly after sunset to 8:30 PM. Its FAQ says the driving tour is "fully accessible" and that "most other attractions have ADA access" (Magical Nights of Lights, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Full guide: Lanier Islands.
  • McAdenville Christmas Town USA (McAdenville, NC): "December 1-26, 2026," lights 5:30–10:00 PM (Christmas Town USA, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Full guide: McAdenville.

Route A: the full loop (8 events, about 7 nights)

Louisville → Nashville (Opryland, then Cheekwood) → Huntsville → Bellingrath → Callaway → Lanier Islands → McAdenville. Plan one event per night.

Drive times below are computer-estimated by OSRM's public routing service ([Secondary]). They don't include stops, traffic or rest breaks, so add time.

Leg Distance and drive time [Secondary]
Louisville → Gaylord Opryland 170 mi, about 3 h 13 m
Opryland → Cheekwood 19 mi, about 31 m
Cheekwood → Huntsville Botanical Garden 111 mi, about 2 h 19 m
Huntsville → Bellingrath 379 mi, about 7 h 1 m
Bellingrath → Callaway 290 mi, about 5 h 27 m
Callaway → Lanier Islands 123 mi, about 2 h 29 m
Lanier Islands → McAdenville 199 mi, about 4 h 2 m

Heads-up: the long day. Huntsville to Bellingrath is the longest leg at about 379 miles and 7 hours before stops. Consider making it a travel day with no event that night, or choose Route B to skip it.

Route B: northern (6 events)

Louisville → Nashville (Opryland and Cheekwood) → Huntsville → Lanier Islands → McAdenville. This skips Bellingrath and Callaway and avoids the 379-mile leg. Huntsville to Lanier Islands is about 212 mi, 4 h 37 m [Secondary, OSRM]; the other legs match Route A.

Route C: southern (3 events, or an add-on)

Bellingrath → Callaway (about 290 mi, 5 h 27 m) → Lanier Islands (about 123 mi, 2 h 29 m) [Secondary, OSRM]. Run it as its own trip or tack it onto the northern route.

Timing tips

  • Galaxy of Lights: Driving Nights are Dec 6–15 and Dec 28–31 (2026 calendar PDF, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). If you'd rather stay in your vehicle, aim for Dec 6–15.
  • Gaylord Opryland: after 3:00 p.m. CT, resort access is guaranteed only to overnight guests or ticket holders "every Friday and Saturday beginning November 20 plus daily November 23-26 and December 18-31" (FAQs, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Within the Dec 1–24 window, a Sunday–Thursday visit between Dec 6–10 or Dec 13–17 avoids those dates; otherwise book a room or an ice! ticket.
  • Callaway: confirm show hours with the resort before you set your night.

Accessible places to stay

We list hotels whose own websites describe accessible rooms. An accessible or roll-in room isn't guaranteed by room type, so ask for one by name when you book and confirm it before arrival.

  • Louisville: Omni Louisville Hotel. The hotel lists a "Roll-in shower with adjustable height hand held shower head," an "Accessible main entrance," an "Accessible route from public entrance to accessible guest rooms" and an "Accessible parking space for self-parking" (Omni Louisville property details, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Which rooms have the roll-in shower isn't stated.
  • Nashville: Gaylord Opryland Resort (on site). The hotel lists "Roll-in Shower," "Transfer Showers in Guest Rooms," "Mobility accessible rooms," "Accessible on-site parking," "Van Accessible on-site parking," "Main Entrance is Accessible" and "On-Site Restaurants are Accessible," with rooms reached by interior corridor. Self parking is $37 a day, valet $55, and check-in is 4:00 pm. For accessibility questions, call +1 615-889-1000 (Marriott: Gaylord Opryland overview, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026).
  • Huntsville: two downtown hotels list roll-in showers on their own pages: AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown ([Official], checked Oct 23, 2026) and SpringHill Suites Huntsville Downtown ([Official], checked Oct 23, 2026).
  • Mobile area: Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Point Clear. The hotel lists "Roll-in Shower," "Transfer Showers" and "Main Entrance is Accessible" (Marriott: Grand Hotel overview, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Full guide: Grand Hotel Point Clear.
  • Buford: Legacy Lodge at Lanier Islands (on site). The lodge's ADA King rooms are on the first floor and the third (lobby) floor (Legacy Lodge, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). The resort's ADA accommodations page lists "6 handicap parking spaces in the self-parking lot of Legacy Lodge," "Level entrances throughout Legacy Lodge as well as two guest elevators" and a "Lift chair available at Pool," and says the main entrance has double doors "with staff assistance to open" (Lanier Islands ADA accommodations, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). If you need a roll-in shower, confirm one is assigned to your room when you book.
  • Pine Mountain: The Lodge at Callaway Resort (on site). The King Woodland View and Double Queen Woodland View rooms are each marked "Accessible Available," and the bathroom is described as a "separate shower and tub" (The Lodge, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). The page doesn't mention a roll-in shower or a step-free entrance, so ask about both when you book.
  • Near Callaway: Fairfield Inn & Suites LaGrange. The hotel's overview lists "Roll-in Shower," "Transfer Showers in Guest Rooms," "Mobility accessible rooms" and "Main Entrance is Accessible" (Marriott: Fairfield LaGrange overview, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Its rooms page says "There may be a limited number of accessible rooms for each room type" (rooms, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026). Call and confirm an accessible room with a roll-in shower before you book.
  • McAdenville: Hampton Inn Charlotte-Belmont @ Montcross. About 2.3 miles from McAdenville [Secondary, OSRM]. The hotel's FAQ lists accessible rooms with mobility features, an accessible public entrance, van-accessible parking, portable shower chairs and roll-in showers, and its rooms page lists a king mobility room with a roll-in shower (Hampton Inn Charlotte-Belmont, rooms, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026).
  • McAdenville: two Gastonia Marriotts. Both are about 4.8 miles from McAdenville [Secondary, OSRM]. The Courtyard Charlotte Gastonia overview lists "Roll-in Shower," "Mobility accessible rooms," "Main Entrance is Accessible" and "Accessible on-site parking." The Fairfield Inn Charlotte Gastonia overview lists "Roll-in Shower," "Mobility accessible rooms," "Main Entrance is Accessible" and "Accessible Entrance to On-Site Pool" ([Official], both checked Oct 23, 2026). Call and confirm an accessible room before booking.

Heads-up: the ice! slides at Opryland. The FAQ says the slides "require guests to walk up steps unassisted and meet specific height requirements," and that there are "many other elements throughout the attraction that are fully accessible" (FAQs, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026).

Heads-up: Galaxy of Lights distances. The walking route is "approximately 1.75-mile," and new areas add "approximately 0.25 miles." The tram has one accessible space: "One ADA-accessible space is available for guests who need to remain in or on their mobility device" (Galaxy of Lights, [Official], checked Oct 23, 2026).

Checked on Oct 23, 2026. Sources are linked next to each fact above, with the date each was last checked.