Motorhome Friendly Gas Station Exits

[PrincessCooper's Mom]

First time driving motorhome to The Fort!!

We will be traveling I-10E and I-75S. Not sure where we will be when we need to stop for gas but was hoping to make a list of recommended exits and gas stations that are easily accesible. Also feel free to share the ones to avoid at all costs.


Thanks!!!

 

[bama_ed]

First time driving motorhome to The Fort!!

We will be traveling I-10E and I-75S. Not sure where we will be when we need to stop for gas but was hoping to make a list of recommended exits and gas stations that are easily accesible. Also feel free to share the ones to avoid at all costs.


Thanks!!!

PCM,

I really recommend the book called "The Next Exit" as your RV traveling companion.

http://www.amazon.com/Next-Complete-Interstate-Guide-Printed/dp/0984692126/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412274607&sr=1-1&keywords=the+next+exit+2015

It lists every interstate (sorry no toll roads) and every exit with shopping, lodging, gas, and food businesses at each exit. To your primary question, big-rig friendly gas stations are printed in a red text rather than the normal black text which is helpful. Need a Wal-Mart? They're listed. Want a McDonalds? They're listed. And so on.

Also of course the Pilot/Flying J locations are big rig friendly. I use their app on my smartphone to find locations and look up current gas prices. Of course, their locations are shown the The Next Exit as well.

That's my two cents.

Bama Ed

PS - the cheapest gas I've come across on most of that route (I pick up I10 south of Dothan, AL) is the Wildwood exit #329 one mile north of the FL turnpike where it pulls off from I75. I always stop there both going and coming to top off.

 

[PrincessCooper's Mom]

Thanks Bama Ed!!!

Our trip starts in Dothan, AL.

 

[tiggerdad]

Agree with Ed, I use the pilot and TA website / app to locate and plan my stops. Wildwood has always been my last fuel stop before I get off onto the Florida Turnpike.

Pulling a camper and burning diesel fuel I stick to the truckstops as they are so much easier to get in and out of.

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks Bama Ed!!!

Our trip starts in Dothan, AL.

Oh so you're a local there?

Can you tell me the super-secret route around town to by-pass all those red lights on Hwy 231 and the ring highway from Montgomery to 231 south toward Florida? I bet there's a way the locals know that's not on GPS. I HATE going around that section on a Friday night when I am headed for the Fort.

Bama Ed

 

[PrincessCooper's Mom]

I will work on this and get back to you.

 

[North of Mouse]

Agree with Bama Ed on Flying J. We have found in all our travels that they almost always have the cheapest fuel on interstates that are easily accessible for larger vehicles and tows.

We just get the information on our phones for the closest Flying J when we are getting close to refueling. We 'did' buy one of the books 'The Next Exit' several years ago, but have found that searching with our phones are more accurate now, and always 'up to date'!

Happy travels!

 

[KristinU]

Another fan of the Flying J App here. The navigator/copilot uses it to look up a station that has RV lanes if at all possible. Since we are gas and not diesel, some of the standard pump configurations aren't ideal so we prefer to look for the RV lanes.

The Next Exit book is good if you're in an area where PFJ's are few and far between, but we've been reeeally tight a couple of times on stations that say "RV friendly" in the book...again, it is probably because of gas vs. diesel.

 

[earudick]

Bama Ed,

I live in the Trussville area and have experienced the 231 Dothan bypass issues myself many times when travelling to Central/South Florida. There is another way around that I've used. When you are in Midland City, turn right on county road 59. It is a 2 lane road with a few traffic lights and a few 4-way stops. You will travel for approximately 15 miles and then you should be able to find a road to cut over on 231 south of Dothan. I'm not sure what the street name is in Midland City, but there is a Kangaroo fuel station at the corner. That being said, if traffic in Dothan is reasonable, this route may not save time, but it is less frustrating. If traffic in Dothan is heavy, you may save 10 minutes.

For what it is worth, when traveling this bypass a few weeks ago, it added about 10 minutes to my travel time, according to my GPS. But, I've experience an additional 15 to 20 mins additional travel time going through Dothan. Not sure if this route is the best alternative; I would certainly like to hear from PrincessCooper's Mom.

 

[bama_ed]

Bama Ed,

I live in the Trussville area and have experienced the 231 Dothan bypass issues myself many times when travelling to Central/South Florida. There is another way around that I've used. When you are in Midland City, turn right on county road 59. It is a 2 lane road with a few traffic lights and a few 4-way stops. You will travel for approximately 15 miles and then you should be able to find a road to cut over on 231 south of Dothan. I'm not sure what the street name is in Midland City, but there is a Kangaroo fuel station at the corner. That being said, if traffic in Dothan is reasonable, this route may not save time, but it is less frustrating. If traffic in Dothan is heavy, you may save 10 minutes.

For what it is worth, when traveling this bypass a few weeks ago, it added about 10 minutes to my travel time, according to my GPS. But, I've experience an additional 15 to 20 mins additional travel time going through Dothan. Not sure if this route is the best alternative; I would certainly like to hear from PrincessCooper's Mom.

Thanks for the suggestion, earudick. I see the route you're describing and it looks promising. It can't hurt to try it once and see how it works out. I am headed down in early January so that will give me something new to try.

Bama Ed

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

After reading this board, I'm glad I have a 90 gal aux in the bed of my truck along with my stock 40 gal tank. We can tow our 5th wheel from mobile to the fort and back to mobile with out fuel stops, just bathroom break (if the dw is lucky). Diesel is always so high on the panhandle and especially on the turnpike.

Bama Ed I was wondering which way you drove to the fort. Your lucky you miss some of the never ending I10.

 

[hoosll]

We always travel with our Next Exit book. It's great for camp grounds, WalMarts, gas stations, Camping World, etc. Now that we've sold the RV we still use it for hotels (pet friendly chains) and restaurants.

 

[bama_ed]

Bama Ed I was wondering which way you drove to the fort. Your lucky you miss some of the never ending I10.

SA5er,

Coming from the 'Ham my preferred route is I65 to Montgomery and then down Hwy 231 to Dothan and then 231 due south till we pick up I-10 west of Tallahassee. The alternative route is all interstate due east on I-20 to Atlanta and then I-75 south with the masses. It's more miles via Atlanta but all interstate. Via Dothan is more direct but as I indicated above, several traffic lights in Alabama. I've google mapped every combination and those are the two primary alternatives.

I'm in a Suburban towing a popup so I can get in/out of non-rv friendly gas stations most times (with only a little yelling ) and I frequently use the drive through at McDonalds and such (have to remember to swing wide sometimes).

Pretty good idea to use that aux tank to the Fort and back.

Bama Ed

 

[2travelers]

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[luckycharm19335]

Amen, to the "Next Exit". I buy a new 1 every year.
It is the best inveestment that you can make for your MH.