Roadtrip from DC to Houston - where to stop?

Thought I would repost here since I may get more suggestions for my trip here....originally posted in New members area.

Hello TW, I have been wanting a Taco over 10 years now and finally found the right one. This will be my first new vehicle. 2018 DCSB TRD OR 6MT with Premium and Tech packages and tonneau cover in Blazing Blue Pearl. Since gulf states toyota does not stock manuals, I searched the country and found one in DC. So tomorrow morning I am flying in to finish the deal and drive her home!

I have a bit of extra time to stop along the way and want to make a road trip of it. Unfortunately I won't have camping gear with me since I am flying in, though i could make short hikes within parks. Any suggestions on where to stop or pass through on the way back? I will have 2.5 days to make the trip. So far this is what I was thinking:

Saturday (half day)

• Skyline Dr
• Shenandoah national Par
• Suggestions on best spots/short hikes along the route? I don't mind doing up to 1-2 mile hikes if its worth it, though not much longer due to time

Sunday

• Blueridge Parkway - anyone who has gone the whole length before, how long will that take? I figure it will take a while to do the whole thing with the low speed limits and all the stops along the way. Maybe just hit the most spectacular points?
• Maybe Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Monday

• New Orleans? Depending how far I get, I may be in more of a time crunch

Maps official fastest route, for reference:



(if I do Skyline Dr./Blueridge parkway, that would put me somewhere between the two suggested routes for the first half of the SW route before I-10)

Any suggestions?