South Bend, Indiana to Austin, Texas

[Rosie39j]

Making this drive next week in our sprinter/Interstate. Thinking southern route Indy to Louisville to Nashville Etc. Any shouldn't miss things to see, eat, or great places to stay?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom!

[Rosie39j]

Wow no comments. Maybe I'd better change course and drive to Disney��

[Jukeboxfun]

When in Nashville, don't miss the RCA studio B tour. Not much to see there really, but if you are into music, it's incredible.

[87MH]

Give Deep East Texas a look.


One of the perks of Airstream ownership (besides this Forum) are the various Airstream only parks across the nation. One of the most affordable parks is in East Texas. The Texas Airstream Harbor Inc (TAHI) is in the middle of historic Deep East Texas.

You can read more about the Harbor on Lake Sam Rayburn (SE of Lufkin) at:

Texas Airstream Harbor.com

(You may have to do an internet search - I can't post the link right now.)

We are not on the "WBCCI" server, so the link may or may not work.

Full hookups are only $15 per night. You need not be a WBCCI member to stay at the park - the only requirement is an Airstream product.

TAHI is a non-profit organization, and relies on volunteer labor to keep costs at a minimum. TAHI is a secure gated community - lots of road and park area to ride bikes on. Birding is second to none in Texas. We are right on the shore of Lake Sam Rayburn, so most any type of fishing is available almost from your parking spot.

TAHI (Texas Airstream Harbor) is a couple of hours north of Houston, so plenty of medical and entertainment are close at hand. Lufkin, Texas (more than 33,000 population) is only a half hour drive away.

PM if you have any questions.

[Cannonball]

Martin Dies State Park near Jasper Texas is really pretty.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Goal15]

We do Dallas to Nashville and back a couple times a year . . . so here are some thoughts for what it's worth for that section of the trip

If you are through Nashville between April 1 and Oct. 30, (sorry just saw your timetable, so disregard this first tip, at least for this trip) do book campsite at Seven Points Corps of Engineers campground just east of Nashville. Downtown is an easy 20 minute drive (well not during rush hour) from there and it's a really nice campground for being so close to a large city.

Do the Studio B tour of course, but also make sure you do the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum... extremely well done and even if you only have a passing interest in country music, very enjoyable.

Crema coffee shop just south of downtown is great and there is a burger place in East Nashville called Riverside GrillShack that is awesome. You will need to gps it to find it but well worth looking for.

From Nashville, if you take I-40 to Little Rock, the Maumelle COE campground on the Arkansas River is another great place to stay and it is open year round. Very peaceful and just 10 miles from downtown Little Rock. It's easy to get to from I-40 and just as easy to get to I-30 headed south.

A day's (4 hours) drive from Maumelle is Cooper Lake State Park in Sulphur Springs, TX stay at the South Sulphur Unit, Bright Star campground. It's kind of our home base park and we have been going there for 5 years and just love it. Great park staff nice level campsites.

Stop at the What-A-Burger in Sulphur Springs (just south of I-30) for a great, traditional Texas burger......

Enjoy your trip
Dana

[Austin512]

Are you prepared to arrive in Austin during the SXSW event? There will be more than enough to do here to keep you busy for a while. I'm local downtown, let me know if you need any advice or tips on moving about here during the festival. Have a great trip.

[Pahaska]

Be aware that Austin traffic rivals the worst in the country. I-35 at anytime is not fun and anywhere near work traffic is suicidal. MOPAC expressway paralleling I-35 is under construction and not fun either.

I live SW of Austin in Hays county. We are leaving Sunday morning going north on MOPAC which will not be bad. We return late on a work day and I will take the toll road, TX 130, to intersect TX 71, east of Austin. From there in, I will be against the worst of the work traffic.

[Rosie39j]

Originally Posted by Austin512

Are you prepared to arrive in Austin during the SXSW event? There will be more than enough to do here to keep you busy for a while. I'm local downtown, let me know if you need any advice or tips on moving about here during the festival. Have a great trip.

Thanks but I live in Austin. Bringing the van home and trying to get away from sxsw!