Planning South Florida to Upstate NY trip...suggestions on route?

[arm4]

It is time to think about heading north. I always seem to rush the trip and end up tired and missing great places. If anyone could suggest a wonderful route(other than wacky I-95) with some great campgrounds I would sure appreciate it. I have been living in my 25FB for the last five months and am not in any hurry to leave her for my home up north....ahhhh the seduction of aluminum. Must be a number of us that make this trip. Thanks. ARM4

[moosetags]

I've got a route for you. It's a little out of your way, but worth the distance and the effort.

Florida has some really great State Park Campgrounds along the way. Most have electric and water with a dumps station at the park. Check them out at Welcome to the Official Florida Online Parks Guide.

I would suggest a route north on I-75 to I-10 West, or use the coast road (US 98). There are some wonderful places to see along the way, Tallahassee, Apalachicola, Port St. Joe, Panama City.

The premier RV park in the Florida state Park system is in Topsail State Park in Santa Rosa Beach. It is a full hook-up campground with direct ocean access.

From there you could head north on US 331 to Mongomery, Alabama, where you can head north to Nashville on I-65 or take the backroads. This is really beautiful country to drive through, and there are plenty of nice campgrounds along the way. From there you can make your way into Kentucky, and on into Ohio.

You can make a stop at Jackson Center, and visit the Mothership. If you haven't been there, it is soo worth it. From there you can cut the corner of Pennsylvania, and on into New York from the west.

Granted, this route is out of the way, but it sure beats I-95.

[arm4]

How long did that route take you? Have you done the skyline drive? That looks interesting. I always fly right on by those exits. I will get out the atlas tonight and look at your route. . And who is HaHa? Thanks for taking the time.

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by arm4

How long did that route take you? Have you done the skyline drive? That looks interesting. I always fly right on by those exits. I will get out the atlas tonight and look at your route. . And who is HaHa? Thanks for taking the time.

Yes, we have done Skyline Drive. It's really nice, but we have a very short interest span and only did part of it.

HaHa is not a who, it's the acronym for the Hensley Arrow Hitch Apparatus.

[jayray5]

Headed to Cazenovia from the south a trip through Ohio is key. Do take the nys thruway to caz though. The southern tier route (17) is the worst highway I have ever traveled on. Concrete sections with the expansion cracks AND rough to boot. You go over 52 mph and it will beat your life UP! Semis don't even use it.

[RIstream'n]

Originally Posted by arm4

It is time to think about heading north. I always seem to rush the trip and end up tired and missing great places. If anyone could suggest a wonderful route(other than wacky I-95) with some great campgrounds I would sure appreciate it. I have been living in my 25FB for the last five months and am not in any hurry to leave her for my home up north....ahhhh the seduction of aluminum. Must be a number of us that make this trip. Thanks. ARM4

Get on 77 off of 95 then 81 off of 77. We travel from RI to Fl on these rtes and it's much better then 95 both for less truck traffic and great scenery.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by jayray5

Headed to Cazenovia from the south a trip through Ohio is key. Do take the nys thruway to caz though. The southern tier route (17) is the worst highway I have ever traveled on. Concrete sections with the expansion cracks AND rough to boot. You go over 52 mph and it will beat your life UP! Semis don't even use it.

Haven't they upgraded 17 to Interstate standards? Last time I went through there, it was one big construction zone for it.

[arm4]

Now this is getting interesting and thanks for all of the different routes. I was just reading a book on the old tourist attractions throughout Florida. When Disney came along and the Turnpike, many went out of business. RIstreamin...when you travel from RI how many days does it take you when you head south?


"I took the road less traveled and now I don't know where the hell I am"

[RIstream'n]

We make it to Virginia the first day. Then to Georgia the second. Then another 5-6 hrs and we're in Orlando. That's driving about 9-10 hrs the first two days.

[Happycampers]

Hello... We are in the frozen north this winter but when we do go thru Georgia we go 441... nice road and not a lot of trucks

[n2916s]

The old Ocean Highway, US 17 from Jacksonville up to Norfolk runs as you might imagine right up the coast.

In St Augustine, Anastasia State Park. Near Savannah, Skidaway State Park. Near Beufort, SC, Hunting Island State Park. On the Outer Banks, NC, Hatteras Natl Park. Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel, pick up US 13, and there's Virginia's Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore.

Very deluxe, indeed.

Mike

[nilesrob]

I liked Moosetags' suggestion - and I'd add Lexington KY (coming out of Nashville) to the list - beautiful country.

If time is not an issue, I'd take any road that doesn't start with "I-".

[Mackhopp]

Originally Posted by Happycampers

Hello... We are in the frozen north this winter but when we do go thru Georgia we go 441... nice road and not a lot of trucks

We take the standard route from Ottawa - I-81 to I-95 to New Smyrna or over to St. Pete's.

I'm always interested though in other routes - where's the 441 and where do you get on it?

We do the drive in 2 days, about 12 hours per day. It's tiring, but we only get a certain amount of vacation time per year, so we gotta boogie! It's preferable to friends of ours who do the drive in one shot, switching whenever the driver starts to nod off. Stupid and dangerous.