Advice for trip from NE Iowa to Raleigh NC.

I have driven routes between Ames (Actually Hubbard, Iowa... my daughter use to live there), all the way to the Outer Banks of NC. From Ashville, NC, I've also turned South (many, many times) to head for Florida, and South Carolina. I also use to live near Morganton, NC (50 miles East of Ashville) many, many years ago and drove the route from Morganton to Indianapolis (as Indiana is my home) many, many times. In other words, I am VERY familiar with this route, so much I don't even need a map any more driving either direction.

Starting in Iowa (depends upon where you are at), it will take you 9 1/2 hours (if you are not towing and can break the speed limits) to reach Indianapolis, Indiana. From Indianapolis to Morganton, NC, it's 550 miles. It will take you 11-12 hours, and then you'll have about 3 more hours from Morganton to Raleigh. Total driving time will be around 25 hours. If you plan on driving straight through, you WILL be ragged out when you reach your destination. If you don't want to be strung over at the event, plan on at least 2 days traveling, and 3 days traveling would give you a much more relaxing journey.

The route? Not knowing where you are actually starting from in Iowa, let's start at I-80.

I-80 to Davenport and take I-74 South.
I-74 to Indianapolis (take I-465 around Indianapolis) and continue on I-74 toward Cincinnati, OH.
Go on the West side of of I-275 around Cincinnati and head South on I-75.
At Knoxville, TN take I-40 East and head straight for Raleigh, NC.

There is no easy way over the mountains in Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. But all these roads are Interstate, easily navigated, lots and lots and lots fuel stations and campgrounds along the way.

Like I said, I've driving this route many, many times over the last 40 years of my life and for speed and good roads, this is probably your best route.

Edit: If you are towing a trailer and traveling with family (kids especially), you will not be able to drive the speed limits. And you need to build in fuel stop time, eating time, and potty breaks. If you are traveling with kids, you can expect even more stops, more often. In other words, build good contingency time in your travels. In our past, we have driven longer distances like this, towing the trailer, and when we reach our destination, we are so wiped out from the drive, it takes a couple days to feel somewhat normal again. It really ruins the time at our destination point. So, we quit driving straight through anywhere any more. We plan on 6-7 hours of actual driving time and stop. Of course, we're older now too, and don't travel with young kids any more either. (Just something to think about). Even if you take 3 days for travel time, you will still feel exhausted at your destination for a couple days, especially if you are not comfortable with longer distance trips yet.)

Thanks for the reply, we are planning on traveling for two full days. We will be leaving from the very northeast corner of Iowa, but will end up on I80 leaving Iowa.

What speed are you normally towing at on the flat portions of interstate? The trailer tires are brand new, but I can't remember the speed rating on them. I've been on interstate before and went 65, but that wasn't for an extended period of time.

Your trip has me intrigued. Thought I do a little more exploring on your route. I punched the most NE town in Iowa and Raleigh NC in Google Maps. It came up with 2 routes, both a little over 17 hours. (but who want's to drive around Chicago! So, the second route:


17 h 23 min (1,109 miles)
via I-74

This route has tolls.

New Albin, IA
Get on US-151 S in Paris from IA-26 S, WI-35 S, Co Rd U and U.S Hwy 61 S
1 h 51 min (90.0 mi)

Take U.S Hwy 61 S, I-80 E, I-74 E and I-70 E to US-35 E/US-50 E in Scioto Township
8 h 38 min (587 mi)

Get on I-64 E in Teays Valley
1 h 30 min (96.3 mi)

Take I-77 S, US-52 S and I-40 E to Wade Ave/Wade Avenue in Raleigh
4 h 59 min (332 mi)

Follow Wade Ave and NC-50 S/US-70 E to S Wilmington St

1100 miles would be tough enough for three days of travel. Figure on averaging 45 to 50 miles per hour including stops for various reasons, i.e. 22 hours at least.

Wow I didn't figure I would be averaging that slow.

Towing at 60 mph, with fuel stops and breaks for meals it will pull your average down to about 50 or so.

Interested in the Indianapolis-Cincinnati-Knoxville route. Any recommendations for campgrounds on that route to stay for a night? How about campgrounds on the southern North Carolina coast/Myrtle Beach area for a night or two?

Thanks

Here is a pretty good map you can use to check out different campgrounds, pretty much anywhere in the US. I checked out several spots in Indiana, and they were all there (one's I've very familiar with, State Parks and Private run campgrounds). Zoom in, and in, and in and they will begin to pop up on the map. Click on the map pin for any campground and a small information window will pop up on the map. You can plot your potential campgrounds, then search the Internet for their web site and compare with Google Earth views and see where you'd like to spend some time (even just an overnight).

Click here.

Of course, every state has a State Park / State Recreation (DNR ... Department of Natural Resources) you can pull up too. Then there is also KOA.com and the GoodSam.com campground guide. All good resources. Once you zero down your route, then determine how far you want to travel each day, then search that area and see what's available. (Trip planning is really 1/2 the fun. The other 1/2 is actually doing the trip!)

Good luck! See if that link above helps you out.

Thanks for the sites. How do you think my truck will handle Black Mountain? I've been reading mixed reviews on how difficult it may be.