Assateague State Park, MD to St Louyis, MO

Thanks for all the great input and ideas, but we have pretty much decided to abbreviate our trip, due to time restraints. Gotta pass on the OBX, Assateague Island and the wild ponies, which I have to see sometime!, and the ferry rides. Family responsibilities come first. But on the good side we will be able to make the NDOG in Ohio, at least for a brief time. Appreciate all the input.

WE too prefer I-64. We stayed at Indian-Celina Lake recreation area in the Hoosier National Forest. They have sites with electric and nice showers. They have some large sites but the interior roads are a little tight depending on the size of your rig. A nice stop a little west of their is Lincoln Boyhood National Historic site.There is parking for 3 RV's.Nice visitor center and short walk to a recreation of the home site which is interesting.https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lincoln+Boyhood+National+Memorial/@38.1780951,-87.0071566,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x82ac72f7a400e000

Mike and Trish wrote:
...An alternative we've tried is to take I-79 south instead at Morgantown, then pick up I-64 west at Charleston, WV. A much prettier route, to me, though it takes a bit longer...

We also prefer I-64 to I-70. I-64 seems to have less trafic and better road surface. I-70 around the Indianapolis area has been terrible the past couple of years. My impression is that there are fewer campgrounds/RV parks along I-64 so a little better planning is required.

You've got the right idea on the first part of your route. However you leave Delaware or Assateague, you'll find your way to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Routes 50/301. On the other (west) side of the bay, you'll stay on 50 to I-97 north, to MD 32 west. As you said, that will take to to I-70 at West Friendship. (It's the easiest way in an RV, trust me, I've tried every route.)

From there, you could stay on I-70 the whole way to St. Louis if you want, though I prefer to get on I-68 at Hancock, MD, then I-79 north at Morgantown, WV, back to I-70 in PA. (Avoids the PA Turnpike.) As you say, you could do Rocky Gap in MD, or (my preference) Deep Creek Lake (stay in the state park campground). The rest of I-70 isn't very scenic, though there's the Columbus Zoo and the museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, for starters.

An alternative we've tried is to take I-79 south instead at Morgantown, then pick up I-64 west at Charleston, WV. A much prettier route, to me, though it takes a bit longer.

Good luck, and enjoy the trip!

Veebyes wrote:
Guess you are going to cross the CBBT. That should be fun. Stop at the visitors center on one of the tunnel islands. Getting off the Eastern Shore is another matter. No toll on the Bay Bridge east to west. After that it is the auto jungle between Baltimore & Washington.

Have fun.

Was that a tongue in cheek comment? Like spending a weekend with my in-laws is fun? We plan to stay at Trap Pond State Park, DE and visit Assateague SP on day trips and then snake our way west to Hwy 32 and on to West Friendship, where we pick up Hwy 70 to Rocky Gap SP. Any advice on either or those parks or the route?

Banting about the idea of leaving the Assateague area and going to Rocky Gap SP, MD. From there to Hocking Hlls, OH. The DW always wanted to see that area. The final leg would be Shakamak State Park, IN and then home.
Any thoughts on this for a plan?

hope I understand your question. Looks like you'll be going the southern route to Assateague, then a more northern route back to St Louis?? If so, here are a couple of options: 1. Harper's Ferry National Historic Park - we stayed at the KOA but there are other options. 2. Cass Scenic Railroad Cass WV. There are some forest campgrounds with no hookups in the area. 3. New River Gorge Bridge - We stayed at Battle Run Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Summersville off US19. 4. National Museum of the Airforce in Dayton, OH. Out of the way but worth it. 5. Corvette factory and museum in Bowling Green KY. We stayed at Bailey's Point Corps of Engineers campground in Glasgow KY and drove into Bowling Green. Also there are some beautiful state parks in West Virginia and the Land Between the Lakes area in Kentucky is beautiful. We also like Cumberland Falls State Park in Corbin KY. The original KFC is in Corbin. (small but neat). Also in KY is the Big South Fork National Park area with some beautiful scenery. One of our favorite areas.

Guess you are going to cross the CBBT. That should be fun. Stop at the visitors center on one of the tunnel islands. Getting off the Eastern Shore is another matter. No toll on the Bay Bridge east to west. After that it is the auto jungle between Baltimore & Washington.

Have fun.

One possibility that comes to my mind is the Blue Ridge Parkway, perhaps including the national parks at one or both termini.