The Southwest to Nashville

[comprose]

Planning to drive from Escondido CA to Nashville TN starting out late March. Rough planning sees us going to Sedona AZ via Quartzsite - Prescott NF avoiding Tuscon, then Santa Fe NM via Gallup NM. From there Amarillo TX - Wichita Falls TX picking up US 82 all the way to the Natchez Trace, then up to Nashville. (We've done the Trace before - wonderful and beautiful drive!)

We've done some touring through these states (this routing will be new except for the Trace) with a 14' KZ trailer; this will be the first time with our 1999 30' Land Yacht motor home towing a smart fortwo dingy.

Suggestions, RV sites (we can handle dry camping for a night), sights, alternate routing, etc., etc.

We'll start a new thread later for our trip home from Nashville to Seattle.

Thanks,

Mike

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by comprose

From there Amarillo TX - Wichita Falls TX picking up US 82 all the way to the Natchez Trace, then up to Nashville. (We've done the Trace before - wonderful and beautiful drive!)

You'll actually be taking US287 from Amarillo to Henrietta, TX, then heading east on US82, crossing I-35 at Gainesville.

Fair warning, between Amarillo and Vernon, TX, there are some definite windy areas— one reason for the wind turbines sprouting like weeds in that area.

As for campgrounds, Eisenhower State Park is just a short detour off US 82 on the south shore of Lake Texoma. Well worth a stop if you've got time. A goodly chunk of the south shore in the park is a cliff, and there is a hiking trail that runs right along the edge of the cliff in some areas. Great view, but watch your step— no guardrails!

Alternately, in the same general area but south of US82, there is Ray Roberts Lake, which has not one, but two Texas State Parks, Isle Dubois and Johnson Branch. I haven't stayed at those, yet, but I plan to check out one or the other next time I pass that way on my way to my kid brother's house.

[Lily&Me]

Do you have the AllStays app?

It will show you campgrounds of all types all along your route.


Maggie

[HiHoAgRV]

We do the reverse route across Texas and can offer something. Watch your speed while on 287/82. Small town speed traps are pretty bad.
Amarillo has an easy in RV park on the west side, can't recall the name. It's tight but we fit with our 34' trailer. Wichita Falls also has a spot on the west side, not much of a destination but ok. The east side has Coyote, it's real expensive. Henrietta has a small city park on the SE side. Sherman also has one we have stayed at. We take 82 until east of Sherman them 69 down to Tyler and onto I20. Vicksburg has a decent Casino park. Heading up the trace, well you've done that leg, right!

[PeterKV]

We would be very happy to have you stop and visit us here in Wichita Falls RV Park, we have plenty of sites including 120' pull through sites, spotless showers and super friendly staff.

[Cirrus Flyer]

Rancho Sedona RV park is a great spot.
http://ranchosedona.com

[RamblinManGa]

Hi from AZ. . . if you, like us are tired of Interstates, I would recommend US 260 E out of Sedona to Show Low, then US 60 to NM. We stop at Pie-O-Neer in Pie Town for best pie ever, the VLA cause it's interesting, and the Bosque del Apache NWR for birds & critters. From there, I-25 goes North to ABQ & Santa Fe, or US 380 goes East to Roswell & on to Texas & OK. Pretty interesting drive. . . .travel safe, Craig

[comprose]

Great routing suggestions (and wind warnings!). Many thanks, and when you all are cruising the Great Northwest, perhaps we can reciprocate in some measure.
Mike

[Pat.Mann]

Based on a suggestion from a local we met at the Peabody Hotel Duck March in Memphis, we camped at a Corps of Engineers site near Nashville called Old Hickory Lake - great advice and a fine campground site. The Democratic Travelers were there at the time, so you know it must have a lot of interest among airstreamers and long-term travelers.

[68 TWind]

Once you get to the Trace on Hwy 82, there are two nice MS state parks along the way north bound. Trace Lake State Park, just west of the trace at Tupelo is beautiful and has full hook up. Farther north and close to Alabama state line is Tishomingo SP (my favorite). This park does not have full hook up but is quiet and has great hiking. There is a Natchez Trace (government) campground at the Meriweather Lewis site a little farther up the trace in Tennessee. This is really nice area and it is free but it is dry camping. Finally, a few miles east of the trace at Lawrenceburg, TN is the Davy Crockett state park. We camped there for a week this summer it is a wonderful place to stay.

[Goal15]

Wichita Falls used to have a city run overnight park just west of I44 just north of downtown that was nice when it opened 20 years ago but last time I was up there it looked deserted


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[Goal15]

WF city website says it's still in operation. But that part of city may have gotten a little sketchy since the Sheraton next door closed


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[PeterKV]

The problem with Wichita Falls city park is you are a stones throw from the freeway and with no onsite caretaker there are many shaddy looking characters wandering the park especially at night while Coyote Ranch and Wichita Falls RV park have onsite personel to help insure a clean and safe park.