Top 6+ legendary Southern main streets that belong on your bucket list
How many of these fabled thoroughfares have you strolled?
The “main street” of a town or city is usually its heartbeat. It’s where barber shops hum with conversation, cafés spill onto sidewalks, and parks invite neighbors to linger a little longer. Historically, this central thoroughfare did more than bring people together—it also served as a vital link between a town’s commercial core and its wharves or harbor, tying daily life to the rhythms of trade and travel.
Today, many main streets—at least those in major Southern cities—are often more focused on tourism. These are areas where boutiques, museums, restaurants, and photo ops abound. Some main streets maintain a quieter, almost nostalgic presence, while others are more lively (take a walk down Nashville’s Lower Broadway at night for a real dose of honky-tonk revelry).
Across the region, some main streets are destinations all their own, and we’ve compiled six of the most legendary below.
King Street: Charleston, South Carolina
There’s hardly a thoroughfare in the South as iconic as Charleston’s King Street. Divided into Lower King, Middle King, and Upper King, the road buzzes with shoppers, tourists, and all manner of activity year-round; it’s truly the Holy City’s “main street,” even if it goes by a different name. Lower King has more of the iconic historic charm the city is known for—plus antique shops and boutiques that have been there for decades.
As you walk north toward Middle and Upper King, you’ll pass all kinds of stores, bars, and restaurants, from Hampden Clothing and Halls Chophouse to Old Whaling Co. and The Ordinary. Along the way, you may spot a tourist getting a lift in a pedicab.
State Street: Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia
State Street is one of the most unique throughfares in the South. The Virginia-Tennessee state line runs right down the middle, serving as the boundary between the twin cities of Bristol, Virginia, and Bristol, Tennessee. Notably, State Street—also called Bristol’s Historic Downtown District—is part of the national Main Street program. When you experience the area, you’ll notice a continued focus on revitalization, history, and community building, as well as its shops, cafes, galleries, live music, and occasional street festivals.
If there’s one thing you can’t walk away from State Street without, it’s a photo of the landmark electric sign, which has a “foot” in each state.
Lower Broadway: Nashville, Tennessee
It might not have the “main street” label, but Lower Broadway is, hands down, where a good chunk of the action occurs in Nashville—at least if you’re interested in the music scene, historic architecture, and iconic tourist sights. You may have heard it referred to as “Honky Tonk Highway,” as it's home to quite a few famous venues, like Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and Robert’s Western World.
After the sun goes down, the neon signs that signal your arrival into this part of town give Lower Broadway its signature look. No matter what time of day (or night) you visit, though, it’s hard not to snap a photo of this main drag, located on the west side of the Cumberland River.
Broughton Street, Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, technically has a few different roads that could be considered its “main street”—River and Bull are other contenders—but Broughton Street is often referred to as the retail and commercial center of the downtown area. Only a few blocks from the river, the vibrant street is lined with historic buildings that house restaurants, shops, and one-of-a-kind galleries.
The Paris Market, located in what was a Victorian-era grocery, sits on the corner of Broughton and Whitaker, just down the street from Leopold’s Ice Cream and SCAD’s Gutstein Gallery. After you’re done with your stroll, head south to walk among the live oaks in Columbia Square.
Beale Street: Memphis, Tennessee
With a nickname like the “Home of the Blues,” Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, has to make it on this list. Dating back to 1841, the street has a long, storied history in Memphis. It became a hub for Black culture and businesses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the “mother of Black churches,” Beale Street Baptist Church, was built here in 1869.
Beale Street’s blues legacy was built by names such as W.C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” and B.B. King—B.B. stems from “Beale Street Blues Boy,” which was eventually shortened to “Blues Boy.” More than a century since Handy wrote what’s considered the first blues song, Beale Street continues to provide entertainment in the form of live music (365 days a year). Time your visit with a concert in Handy Park or a show at B.B. King’s Blues Club, and make sure to stop by A.Schwab, the oldest store on Beale Street.
Duval Street: Key West, Florida
Duval Street is a mile of classic Key West charm—yes, it’s known for its lively drinking scene—and its claim to fame is that it’s the only place in the U.S. where you can walk from the Gulf to the Atlantic via just one street. Although the main drag has certainly become associated with its parties and people watching, it’s also a good place to admire the island city’s historic architecture. After all, it goes right through Old Town Key West.
Don’t miss a stop by the Oldest House Museum and Garden, a picture of the historic Strand Theater, and, of course, a drink at Sloppy Joe’s, which has roots going back to 1933.
