BEST is a good competition, and it happens in the fall, so it would not interfere with the testing. We did it for four years, but stopped. It was just too much for this mentor doing builds for both FIRST and BEST
Now we do off-seasons in the fall.
With BEST you really have to get creative because you only get a kit of parts and you have to use only those materials, plus a few extras, and 4 motors. At least those where the restrictions when we did it.
Otherwise, Peachtree, Palmetto and New Orleans are right up the road (10 hours or so)