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01-20-2024, 01:36 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lakewood
Posts: 394
M.O.C. #24110
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Need help planning a trip cross country what do you guys think about this.
Thank you guys and gals the DW and I might have to leave Seattle for North Carolina this year for family health reasons my mother is having health problems, so I want to start planning now a good route. What do you think, about leaving Seattle to North Carolina?
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2023 Jayco North Point 310RLTS
2022 GMC Denali Ultimate DRW
AirLift 5000 Airbag Ultimate
Retired Army MSG
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01-20-2024, 06:21 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 154
M.O.C. #19318
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I don't know that I have a lot of information to offer you because it's been so long since I've traveled cross-country, but I'm very interested in seeing what other people say. I think it would get you more helpful responses if you gave highway numbers. It's a little hard to tell what the roads are, exactly, on your map.
I did travel your proposed route between St. Louis and Nashville this time last year, I think, and will tell you that Nashville can be very tricky to get through. Big cities in general are--but you're probably aware of that, coming from Seattle. (I resorted to going the wrong way on a one-way street in Seattle in the middle of the night once, because I couldn't figure out how else to get out of the area!)
I would say that whatever big cities you plan to drive through, drive them first virtually on Google Maps Street View, so you'll know beforehand what the interchanges look like and where the exits are. And try to avoid morning and evening rush hours in cities, if you can.
Two things which people will want to know--1) Do you think you'll have to go soon enough that winter weather will be an issue? and 2) Are you trying to have fun and sight-see along the way, or are you looking to get to North Carolina as quickly and easily as possible?
Edited to add: Whoops--I think your map is clear, and it's my phone that's fuzzy. Giving interstate numbers would still be good though.
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01-20-2024, 07:33 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,790
M.O.C. #22835
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I agree with the above post. Road numbers would help as would each destination point (intersection town or city). Also are you traveling for speed or to avoid large cities. Trying to follow you map compared with Google Maps is pretty hard. It looks like you are not following interstates all the way. If you are traveling exclusively interstates, you'll have no issues. Interstates are designed for big rigs. Whatever you are driving / towing you'll have no issues. However, if you taking state or US highways, that could be another matter. More detail is needed.
How much time are you allowing yourself? On Google maps, a simple route from Seattle to Greensboro, NC is over 40 hours (almost 3000 miles) .... that would be driving at interstate speed limits.
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History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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01-20-2024, 07:56 AM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Kamiah
Posts: 346
M.O.C. #14438
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I would be looking at something like RV Trip Wizard. I have used it for years. Program a RV SAFE route, plan stops and campgrounds, you can even keep track of your budget including fuel, campground costs, food. Well worth a look.
Sorry I did not mean to sound like a salesman, it is a great product,
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Ron&Sue
2017 Montana 3720RL Legacy
14' Ram 3500 DRW
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01-20-2024, 08:27 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 3,038
M.O.C. #5651
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If you want to sight see, you are missing a lot of good places out west. Tetons, Yellowstone (too busy), Central Colorado has a lot of mountains, etc.
As to Nashville - I went thru a few years ago and I was REALLY glad I had the phone or Garmin(forget which) on. There were about 3-4 freeways and the changes were very tricky. One of them, I merged on from the right, and around a mile later had to exit on the left! Thru several lanes of traffic. Without warning, I would have had a tough time changing so many lanes pulling the rig.
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Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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01-20-2024, 08:47 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Omaha
Posts: 2,084
M.O.C. #2780
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That is pretty much the route we just took last fall from Omaha to the Outer Banks but we're not towing. To go across MO take hiway 36 from St Joe to Hannibal, all 4 lane and little traffic unless you really want to go to Kansas City and go on I 70 with all the trucks
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Paul and Jan Kelpe
2014 Big Sky 3150RL
2015 GMC Denali, Duramax/Allison
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01-20-2024, 08:39 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Lakewood, Wa.
Posts: 188
M.O.C. #19305
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If you have membership with Camping World, use the RV Trip Planner on their site. You would begin with Point A (Washington) to Point B (NC) and choose a route recommended by preference such as interstates, time or scenery. The second step is to add points for campgrounds along the route. Example range is 300 to 400 miles per day and the first point of interest going I-80 route from here might be a campground at the Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton Oregon some 325 miles. Add to route and pick another arbitrary point some 350 miles along your route for the next point. All sorts of campgrounds will be within say 25 miles of your route with Good Sam ratings and links to the website. I would plot two night stay overs every few days to break up the stress of getting there.
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Henry & Lita (Scotty/Bluey Our shelties)
2022 SOB with 2015 Chevy Silverado
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01-20-2024, 08:47 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Hershey
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #32150
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Good morning. We do quit a bit of “east to west” travel. It will really depend upon time of year that you are traveling and how much time you have. I have driven the 5’er through a lot of snow at different times but if I can avoid it, I do. If I was making this trip after October and before May, I would be going south along the coast and cutting across the bottom. Yes, it is definitely longer, but would keep me out of the white stuff
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01-20-2024, 08:55 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Burns
Posts: 129
M.O.C. #28210
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Looks like the quickest, shortest route, but still 4 to 7 days depending on how many miles a day you drive. If you have time to site-see (10 to 20 days) plan through UT in one direction and SD in the other.
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01-20-2024, 09:58 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Possum trot
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #29795
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We live about half way between St Loise and Nashville. I rarely travel in St Louise , but have been in Nashville a lot lately. I can tell you that for the next YEAR in Ky on I- 24 between the 27 and 31 exits it will be 1 lane. And a major backup in both directions. Best detour will be to get off at the 16, turn left go to the stop light and turn right. That will be hiway 62 stay on that for probably 15 or so miles and it will reconnect you with I-24 at the exit 40. It’s all good road and rv and truck friendly. We will be traveling this bypass a lot this year with our rig. AVOID Nashville at rush hour at all cost. Us your GPS to get from I-24 to I-40 . It’s not real hard but kind of confusing with all the traffic going on. When you get your trip planned out enough to look for campgrounds I can try to suggest some in these areas if you need help.
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01-20-2024, 02:19 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 3,038
M.O.C. #5651
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I don't see any way to drive it in 4 days. Probably 3000 miles at 60 mph and driving 10 yours and 1 hour stopping is 600 mile/day - do LONG days in my book. That would be 5 days and way to much for my old body! LOL
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Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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01-20-2024, 09:45 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lakewood
Posts: 394
M.O.C. #24110
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Thank you for your quick comments, we are driving straight through other than stopping for the night at a campground. I haven't planned all of the campgrounds yet but one and that is stopping in Caldwell, ID. I know that it will probably take us about 6 days to drive it.
The map was on GoodSam Trip Planner but this one is what they route me to in the upper map, see in the pics but I move it down going through Caldwell, ID.
The first route that I posted took me down I-5 and to I-90, I-32 going to Yakmia, and turn into I-84, mainly I-80, I-30 East going through Nebraska, staying on I-80, Utah, Wyoming, I-29 Kansas City, Missouri, I-70 going East toward Illinois, I-64 going toward Memphis, I-50 going toward N.C.
I probably left some of the route out but you see where it's going or I could just go the route that I posted here in the thread.
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2023 Jayco North Point 310RLTS
2022 GMC Denali Ultimate DRW
AirLift 5000 Airbag Ultimate
Retired Army MSG
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01-20-2024, 09:49 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lakewood
Posts: 394
M.O.C. #24110
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In the map that I just posted the trip planner said that it will take me 40 hrs 11 min. and the first map route that I posted said 37 hrs 51 min.
Looking at the map in the trip planner by Good Sam you see three different routes that they put up. Once I figure out which route to take I will start planning the campground along the route, my mother is not doing too well so I want have time to stop and sightseeing.
To get there I figure that we will be driving from 500 to 600 miles on average.
__________________
2023 Jayco North Point 310RLTS
2022 GMC Denali Ultimate DRW
AirLift 5000 Airbag Ultimate
Retired Army MSG
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01-25-2024, 03:03 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,727
M.O.C. #7992
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[QUOTE=Sparatacus;1287190]In the map that I just posted the trip planner said that it will take me 40 hrs 11 min. and the first map route that I posted said 37 hrs 51 min.
We used many trip planners in our 23 years of RV'ing. Except on very short trips we never came close to matching their time predictions. They figure times based on driving the posted speed limits 100% of the time. We never achieved that pulling the 5'er. Every time you slow down it takes longer to get back up to speed. We always required at least a couple of fuel stops if driving long days. Always needed bathroom breaks and generally a lunch break if doing long days. Rule of thumb, we averaged 50 miles per hour trip after trip. Your results may vary but I'll bet it's not by much.
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2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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01-25-2024, 07:48 PM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lakewood
Posts: 394
M.O.C. #24110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rondo
George, If you can avoid the Chicago mess do so. If it were me I'd come down I-29 through Omaha and go to St. Joseph, MO then take Hwy 36 east out of St Joe to Hannibal and go South from there and across East to Goldsboro. We head to Alabama frequently and that is the way we take which avoids any large city traffic. St Louis is the only big city you would have to contend with and you can avoid it by taking the interstate that goes around it to the north of the city and comes out on the Illinois side of the Mississippi!
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[QUOTE=jimcol;1287434]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparatacus
In the map that I just posted the trip planner said that it will take me 40 hrs 11 min. and the first map route that I posted said 37 hrs 51 min.
We used many trip planners in our 23 years of RV'ing. Except on very short trips we never came close to matching their time predictions. They figure times based on driving the posted speed limits 100% of the time. We never achieved that pulling the 5'er. Every time you slow down it takes longer to get back up to speed. We always required at least a couple of fuel stops if driving long days. Always needed bathroom breaks and generally a lunch break if doing long days. Rule of thumb, we averaged 50 miles per hour trip after trip. Your results may vary but I'll bet it's not by much.
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Thank you guys very much it is deeply appreicated I will look at my map with Good Sam again I did wrote down those city and states you mentions and will give it a try, wow, this site and the people on this site are awesome and you just don't know how this lightening up a big load off of my mind, what's left of it anyway, lol.
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2023 Jayco North Point 310RLTS
2022 GMC Denali Ultimate DRW
AirLift 5000 Airbag Ultimate
Retired Army MSG
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01-20-2024, 11:40 PM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 154
M.O.C. #19318
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You might check Google maps for different route ideas, too. It lets you drag around the cursor to design your own route and see different driving times as well.
It sounds like you plan on going soon--so I would say that you're probably better off the more south you go, this time of year.
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01-20-2024, 11:53 PM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lakewood
Posts: 394
M.O.C. #24110
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Thank you sir I will do that, I'm thinking around May or August before or after I'm sure at this point, I'm using my Garmin RV785 to keep me on the main road and away from low bridges.
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2023 Jayco North Point 310RLTS
2022 GMC Denali Ultimate DRW
AirLift 5000 Airbag Ultimate
Retired Army MSG
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01-21-2024, 12:06 AM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 154
M.O.C. #19318
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparatacus
Thank you sir I will do that, I'm thinking around May or August before or after I'm sure at this point
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You're very welcome, but I'm a ma'am! Very hard to tell, I know, on the internet and with user names.
That's good you won't have to worry about snow or ice--gives you a lot more flexibility with possible routes.
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01-21-2024, 12:00 AM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lakewood
Posts: 394
M.O.C. #24110
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This is what Google routes me I'm not sure if I should go way up top the way they are routing me.
__________________
2023 Jayco North Point 310RLTS
2022 GMC Denali Ultimate DRW
AirLift 5000 Airbag Ultimate
Retired Army MSG
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01-21-2024, 12:12 AM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 154
M.O.C. #19318
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparatacus
This is what Google routes me I'm not sure if I should go way up top the way they are routing me.
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I can't imagine it would be very good to go through Chicago. If there's not much difference in driving times, probably pick the route which will keep you on wide open roads and away from big cities the most.
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