Advice for trip from NE Iowa to Raleigh NC.
Hello, I've been reading on here for a while and bought my first travel trailer this summer. It's a 2009 Dutchman sport lite 28b (4600 dry). TV is a 2005 silverado 1500 z71 3.42 gears with tow pac...
Forum Discussion
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.)
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.)
