Travel and Stay Recommendations - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Travel and Stay Recommendations

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

On the route shown I can recommend Bonita Lakes in Meridian, MS and Stone Mountain Park by Atlanta, GA as good places to stay and basecamps to see the areas. Stone Mountain is quite interesting.

I would tend a bit further south, especially to miss Atlanta and hit places like Livingston, TX (Escapees HQ), Americus, GA area (Habitat for Humanity and Andersonville), Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. Use rvparksreview.com to find nice places.

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are a bunch so you'll have lots of choices. Been that way a lot and the only ones that stick out are Gulf Coast in Beaumont, TX and Frog City in Ducson, LA. Both are Passport America (17 & 20 $) easy to access, quiet, clean, pull thru, large etc. You get breakfast included at Gulf Coast.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Waggin Tails wrote:
We are beginning to plan our route from San Antonio, TX to Maysville, NC and are seeking recommendations. Our travel dates will be Feb 22 to march 2nd or 3rd. Google maps http://g.co/maps/trxfc show the distance at 1478 miles. Taking a more southerly route (I-10) would certainly keep us in warmer places.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Some route comments: I have driven both your route and the I-10 route more than once. Either is fine except you have to go through Atlanta without a detour off the interstate. If you choose to go through Atlanta, as you would expect, try not to go anyplace near or close during rush hour – even on the outer belt loop.

If it were me I would go I-10 and come into the Atlanta area on I-85 to take the I-285 outer belt around to I-20. That IMO minimizes traffic, especially with a lot of semis that just must travel those roads. It’s a major hub as you know. I also think the I-10 route is more interesting. (Sometimes straight through Atlanat works, but it is a crap shoot with a trailer and I wouldn't chance it. JMO.)

If the goal is just to get there than the following is not a good suggestion; however, if you have a just a little time consider US-17, the coastal highway to Maysville. It might be a nicer trip. After you join US-74 in eastern NC, continue on it to US-421 on the west side of Wilmington. US-421 North to connector to I-40 east to US-17, the coastal highway. The coast highway might give you a little change of scenery It's a long way to the Outer Banks area but a wonderful place once you get there.

I hope you enjoy the trip.

Bill

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the input. I certainly did not intend to keep Atlanta as a point on the route. I also agree about hitting Livingstone. How does this route look.
http://g.co/maps/jf77j

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jerry,outside of Biloxi in Ocean Springs is a nice campground called Davis Bayou Campground.It's part of the Gulf island National Seashore.The shower house is a little funky but the rest of the park is nice with a lot to do in the area.It is water and electric only but has a dump station.With Golden Access pass it's only $8 a night.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Waggin Tails wrote:
Thanks for the input. I certainly did not intend to keep Atlanta as a point on the route. I also agree about hitting Livingstone. How does this route look.
http://g.co/maps/jf77j

Jerry:

Your second Google map is much different than you first. That will be a much longer route, but hey, if you have the time it will be more interesting from one who has driven many of those east coast miles.

You will have traffic on US-17 into and through Myrtle Beach but it will be fine. Also on US-17 coming from the south into Charleston, SC. Going north around Charleston is, IMO, a good idea. Enjoy the more scenic ride and just allow for extra time simply due to the route. If you have time, take in Savanna and Charleston for sure if you haven’t been there before. And naturally you can "eat your way north" up the coast especially around Calabash, NC. Seriouly good food there if if like fish. Just allow plenty of time.

Safe travels

Bill

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yep Bill, we decided to shift South. We drove I-10 over 40 years ago - once heading East in 1967, and once headed West in 1970. I will never forget how the coast line changed as a result of Hurricane Camille. I would be fun to make that journey again.
Each stop is about 200 miles from the last so that makes for descent travel. I like the idea of eating my way up the east coast. We love fish.
2012 is going to be an exciting year for us as we hit the road for our first year of full time RVing. I appreciate all the comments and feedback we received on this forum.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

I only know of 1 little campground in Maysville. I've never stayed at it, but I do know its right on Hwy17, its in a low area that does flood in heavy rain. Do you have family in the area?
If you don't want to stay at the beach, $$, then New Bern has a decent KOA and several small campgrounds that are off the beaten path. Also there is camping/boondocking in Croatan National forest, several decent places but miles from anything.
Further up the road is Washington NC that has 2 great campgrounds, Twin Lakes, and Tranters Creek.
Just making suggestions.
Maysville is a 1 stop light town with few amenities.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

"Each stop is about 200 miles from the last so that makes for descent travel."

Are you following the "2/2/2 plan"? That is stopped by 2PM, less than 200 miles and stay at least 2 days?

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

One suggestion: you are going right by Mobile. You might want to cross the bay and hit the Summerdale Escapees park. IMO it is the nicest park in the Rainbow Park system (the ones owned by Escapees - not coops). And the Gulf Shores area is quite interesting, and the beaches are great. I know it is not that far from your previous stop, but it is something to consider if you are an Escapee.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with Jack. We always enjoy stopping at Rainbow Plantation, the SKP park in Summerdale, AL. Our most recent stay was the first week of November.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Waggin Tails wrote:
I like the idea of eating my way up the east coast.

If you're stopping near Charleston, SC . . .there's a little seafood shack named Bowen's Island Restaurant. It's on the road to Folly Beach about 20 miles south of Downtown Charleston. It's the kind of place that Guy Fieri would feature on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives . . .very little frou-frou but a great atmosphere . . .order inside the concrete block building, get your tray (mostly fresh fried fish, shrimp and oysters) and carry it out to the deck overlooking the marsh and dig in.

Charleston itself is worth a couple days wandering around as well . . .a whole bunch of really fine lunch places and another really fine bunch of dinner places if you want to splurge and eat out.

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jim - Maysville, NC is our destination for a month. We will be working at Safe Harbor Farms animal rescue.

Bill - 2/2/2 plan is the guide for us but on this trip we may not get 2 nights at each stop unless we stretch the distance to 300 miles. It will depend on when we get away from our NOMADS project in Taft, TX (2/17 or 2/18) and whether we need to make a trip to San Antonio before heading east. Our goal is to be in Maysville, NC by March 2nd or 3rd to start our workkamp.

Bill and Jack - I like the idea of stopping at Rainbow Plantation. We could meet Daryl and Judy Patterson (Wandering America) since that is where they hang out during the winter.

Neil - you food suggestion sounds like my kinda place. Thanks for the tip.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes, Daryl and Judy are here - in the ERPU section. Most of the way down on the right side.

We will be here until the end of Feb....but will miss your trip. You should enjoy this area of the country....we always do.

-- Edited by Jack Mayer on Sunday 1st of January 2012 10:24:22 AM

Loki · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you have a day or two to spare - Hilton Head Island, SC, has a much more nature-preserved coast than Myrtle Beach, and an extremely nice waterfront RV park (pretty expensive, though). One of the absolute highlights of the South is the historic downtown of Beaufort, SC, one hour north of Hilton Head via SC 170. From there it's about 90 min to Charleston via US 21 and 17.

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jerry,

If you guys get all the way down to Hilton Head (which is worth the trip in and of itself), you may consider traveling to Savannah, GA, our 13th established colony. A beautiful & historic location with tons of Southern charm!

-- Edited by Jake62 on Monday 2nd of January 2012 06:27:35 AM

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Community Member

If you need someplace in Dillon, SC, try Bass Lake Campground. We were there almost a month in 2010 and definitely would return for either overnight or extended stay. Great owner/operators, clean facilities and great neighbors in the park. It's right on I-95 and very easy on/easy off with negligible highway noise. Can you tell we loved it? biggrin

Cheers,

Betty