First Trip in 25 days! Where do we stay on the way?

[bluesky1997]

Hi all,

I have enjoyed lurking here for the last few weeks but now its time I come out of lurkdome and seek some help for myself!

My family and I are leaving in 25 days for our first trip to DW and panic mode has started to sink in! We are coming from Michigan with our TT and 2 kids (7 & 5) so I figured it would be about 22 hours. How in the world do we break that up and where do we stay on the way? The longest trip we have taken with our TT so far (we just got it last year) was 5 hours. What do you all do when you have so far to travel? Do you break it up evenly and where do you crash for the night? Do you find a campground in the area or do you set up in a parking lot? I've always heard that you can camp in the parking lot at Walmart, is that true? That just sounds crazy to me but the thought of setting up camp just to sleep sounds even crazier.

We are planning to leave on a Wednesday and we are able to check in on Saturday. Is that too much travel time? Not enough? Oh I would greatly appreciate any advice! I realize that we have to figure out what is best for our family but just hearing how other families have broken up the drive would be so helpful. I have not been able to sleep thinking about all this!

Thanks a million in advance and I'm sure I'll have a ton more questions for you all!

Tracie

 

[stacktester]

There's a few posters on here from MI. One being BigDisneyDaddy who would have some great advice. Personally I would book a campground at a spot you decide is a comfortable stopping spot. Being that you have two young one's I would prepare for stops for bathroom breaks and eating. IMO Walmart is not a good place to stay. If you don't want to book a campsite I recommend a Flying J or the like where you can rest. I'll text BDD later and ask him to comment on this thread. I think he's from the Fenton area.

 

[kg66]

We come done from Windsor Ontario, just the other side of the bridge to you. We've stopped at the KOA in Sweetwater Tennessee before. But I agree with you , setting up only to sleep is not worth it. I agree with Stacktester, flying J's are the way to go. When you wake up, everyone brushes their teeth, and in you go for bkfst, and you're on your way again. We find instead of I-75 all the way we go across Ohio, through the Virginias and Carolinas, over to Georgia, and then coming down I-95. It shaves off quite a bit of time and is much more scenic, and less hectic than planning on what time you have to be through Cinncinati, and Atlanta.

 

[mnsprk]

When we leave Cincy we usually take 4 days, (I never travel over 350 mi) but being retired I can meander at my own pace. There are numerous KOA's along I-75 that are close to the X-way. I would not recommend the KOA in Cleveland TN, a little too hilly. At the TN/GA border there is a Best Holiday Travel Park that is great for an overnight stay.

If you can tolerate 400 (8 hr) a day you could do it with 2 nights.

What ever you decide have a great time, and even though its cool down here its a heck of a lot warmer than Mich and OH.

 

[Disney Bunny]

We come done from Windsor Ontario, just the other side of the bridge to you. We've stopped at the KOA in Sweetwater Tennessee before. But I agree with you , setting up only to sleep is not worth it. I agree with Stacktester, flying J's are the way to go. When you wake up, everyone brushes their teeth, and in you go for bkfst, and you're on your way again. We find instead of I-75 all the way we go across Ohio, through the Virginias and Carolinas, over to Georgia, and then coming down I-95. It shaves off quite a bit of time and is much more scenic, and less hectic than planning on what time you have to be through Cinncinati, and Atlanta.

If you follow this poster's route advice and time it properly, I would highly recommend the Savannah KOA. We stopped there on our way to the Fort last November. Your drive from there is about 5 hours to the check in lines at the Fort. Nice place to pull in and overnight.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

If you follow this poster's route advice and time it properly, I would highly recommend the Savannah KOA. We stopped there on our way to the Fort last November. Your drive from there is about 5 hours to the check in lines at the Fort. Nice place to pull in and overnight.

I, too, am a fan of the Savannah South KOA for an overnight stay. Clean, easy on and off 95, and a quick trip to FW. We always stop at the Cracker Barrel at Palm Coast for breakfast before heading into FW.

 

[clkelley]

Depending on the type of camper you have, there is a big difference between "stopping" overnight and "setting up camp".

Now if you have a popup or hybrid, setting up the camper may be too much work for overnight and you may want to hotel it on the way down, but for hard sided campers, most of the interstate campgrounds are easy in, easy out and have level, pull-through sites.

For myself, all I do is pull into the site and plug in the electric and go to bed. I don't unhook, I don't fool with stabilizers or water hookup or anything.

To me, the 25 - 30 per night is well worth it to have electric and a bath house.

Also, most of the interstate campgrounds allow checkins at any time. If you don't know where you are going to stop, just look online for possible places and use mapping software to guestimate about what time you might arrive at different areas. I travel so often now that I know my stopping places, so go ahead and make reservations, then when I arrive, there is a note on the checkin board that tells me my site #. The couple of times I didn't have reservations, they have envelopes and a list of available sites. I fill out the little form, put it in the envelope and pick an available site.

Then the next morning, unplug, hop in the truck and I'm on my way again.

 

[lawnspecialties]

Most everyone here will agree.

Right now, order The Next Exit book from Amazon, Camping World, etc.. It will tell you every campground, restaurant, truck stop, and whatever else you need at each exit of the interstates between your house and the Fort. We never go camping without it in the truck.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Carol comes rolling into those campgrounds about 1 am all loud and rowdy, so watch out.

 

[bluesky1997]

Thanks so much for all the replies! I was looking at that book, The Next Exit, so I will add it to my cart, thanks for that suggestion.

Now, here's what may be a silly question. When I punch in Orlando from where I am in Map Quest, it automatically gives me the 1-75 route. How do I get it to show the route you all suggested that goes through the Virginas, etc.?

We have a hardsided TT so I like the idea of pulling in and hooking up electric and thats it. Sounds much easier than the way I pictured it, lol.

Thanks again a million everyone! I'm very thankful I found this board, what a lifesaver it has been!

Tracie

 

[mnsprk]

Find a point on a map that is along the I-77 route and make it a stop. The program should route you that way

 

[ftwildernessguy]

That's the trouble with Mapquest.

 

[retired and happy]

You can put several intermediate points in Mapquest, but you have to put them in the order you will arrive at them. This may enable you to pick some layover points with time and distance approximations.

 

[CampingBandit]

HI, we were just there in November, we left early on thursday morning and arrived at noon on saturday. We stopped 2 nights, once in TN and once in GA, leaving only a 3-4 hour drive on saturday so we still had energy once we arrived.

What I did was use Google maps (which lets you click and drag to change the route). I still verified the directions were actually accurate (which they weren't always).
Then I would look for a town that was about 400 miles away (the most I would want to drive in a day, especially with young kids and THAT is pushing it) and then I looked the towns up on RVParkReviews.com or RV.net forums and picked CG's that way.

Our first day was 8.5 hours, then the second leg was 10.5. It was TOO long. The kids were slap-happy after being in the car for such an extended stretch....it was annoying.
Kids that age need a cg - so they can run around and explore and let off steam after being cooped up in the car for so long....

We really liked Twin Oaks RV park in Elko GA if you do go the I-75 route (it was fine for us, going 'round Atlanta wasn't too bad on the way down and on the way back it was a piece of cake. These type are easy in, alot of these places have pull thrus so you just pull in, plug in and go (relax, sleep, eat, whatever).

 

[bluesky1997]

My husband wants to make the trip in 3 nights, which would be easier for the kids even though would prefer to do it in 2. I finally figured out mapquest. I know its not the most accurate thing but I wanted to get a idea of where we could stop.

So if we go the I-77 route, I think we will attempt to stop in WV the first night (6.45 hours), NC the second night (4.5 hours), and GA the third (4.5 hours). It kills me to break it up like that but hopefully we can make it a fun adventure for the kids. I'm going to start researching our stops to see what things are fairly quick "must see's" while we are there.

Thanks again for all the help and advice!

Tracie

 

[4mickey2]

just an fyi. print out the exits and fuel prices to flying j, loves and pilot.

it makes it much easier to know where the truck stops are to get fuel before you need it. these three usually have easy in and out driveways. well, other than pot holes. nothing worse than not knowing where your next fuel stop is or how you will get in to get fuel.

we drive until we can't but, have no kids. the dogs know that when we stop they go. lol

 

[lathamary]

I love this thread! We will also be making a long trek, and it's great to hear some suggestions as to where to stop. We're planning on stopping every night at a campground, and taking the 24 hour trip in three eight hour jaunts or so. We're flexible, though.

I bought a Woodall's North American campground directory. I also like the sound of that Next Exit book, I'm going to look into that.

Keep the great suggestions coming! They're appreciated!

 

[Lil' Lisa]

We have the Woodalls book and we also have the Exit Now book (similar to Next Exit, but spiral bound which is nice). I use both when figuring out where we will stay. The Exit Now book shows campgrounds along the way and the Woodalls book gives additional information about price and amenities at the campgrounds which aids in making a decision.

 

[lawnspecialties]

just an fyi. print out the exits and fuel prices to flying j, loves and pilot.

it makes it much easier to know where the truck stops are to get fuel before you need it. these three usually have easy in and out driveways. well, other than pot holes. nothing worse than not knowing where your next fuel stop is or how you will get in to get fuel.

we drive until we can't but, have no kids. the dogs know that when we stop they go. lol

Good advice.

Just so you all know, in The Next Exit book, some places will be listed in red. This means they are easily accessible for RVs. Not just fuel places but places like Cracker Barrels and Wal-Marts. Nothing worse than pulling off for fuel and finding out not only you can't fit in the lot but you also have to drive a mile or so down the road just to turn around.