Crossville TN to Gainesville GA

deleted

We took 127 (one twenty seven)South to Chattanooga then to I-75 to Atlanta, with our 36 ft motor home towing, with no problems. We were heading to Florida. I am not familiar enough to that region to advise a cut-across off of I-75 to save you from going south to go north over to Gainesville. We have been down 27 (twenty seven) and 68, and wouldn't really advise that as it winds around and is pretty steep in some places. Sorry not much help as we have only been south that one trip. (how was Cumberland Mountain State Park? Isn't it pretty-we live just west of the park.)

on edit-if your google is suggesting using Hwy 30 that runs from Pikeville to Dayton (between 127 and 27) I've been through there by car and although it is very pretty, it is mountainous and I wouldn't recommend with motor home.

GA 53 from Calhoun, GA at 75 east can be done to Gainesville. There are a few hilly and very curvey areas- especially east of Jasper and before Dawsonville, but with appropriate lower speeds you'll be OK. The route leans towards the scenic side.

I now avoid Atlanta roads like the plague.285 is so rough, jammed with traffic and loaded with construction. I do not find it RV friendly.

Another nice alternative is to camp at the Corps of Engineers parks on West Point lake at LaGrange instead of Lanier. Very nice campsites available- and a bit milder weather usually. And the benefit is you totally avoid Atlanta with 4 lane all the way to FL from Calhoun.

For that option you can take 4 lane GA 53 west off 75 at Calhoun down to US 27 in Rome then 4 lane down to LaGrange. Then its 4 lane down to Columbus on Interstate 185, then the GA 520 at Ft Benning down to Tifton and 75 again.

We use that route running north south all the time. At worst its taken us 15 minutes longer than the 285 circus.

Of the three routes when I pull up Google Maps I'd use the middle one... if I had to go there. Lots of slow curvy and hilly two lane roads as I like curvy roads... even 68 which I would not recommend.

Where in Fla are you headed? A easier option would be the COE CG (Mckinney) on lake Allatoona north of Atlanta.

OR you could go on down to West Point lake at LaGrange as suggested above and this would put you through Atl mid day. If you want to avoid Atl and go to West Point lake it would change your route to west of Chattanooga and I-59 south to Gaosden and 431.

If you are headed to the west coast of Fla then Columbus, Albany, Perry/98 south would be my route.

Might want to do a check on I-59 if you decide to go that way as I have been told of late its in rough shape and it takes you west. The GA 53/US 27 corridor is relative;y new 4 lane with light traffic and stays west of Atlanta.

Thank all for your thoughts and suggestions. West Point Lake it is. Not sure how I missed the two cg's that are still open, Whitetale Ridge and Shaefer Herd but I did. And a good route around Atlanta is a big plus too. Again thanks

Of Whitetale and R Shaefer Heard, any thoughts?

Both are good Campgrounds. Shaeffer Heard is closer to the dam off I-85 at the Kia Plant or US 29- Whitetail more mid lake off GA 109.

Once winter sets in they only leave Heard open and usually close Whitetail so you might want to check on any designated closing dates for them. Whitetail is the newer of the 2 but they did some upgrades a year or so ago at Heard. The sites at Whitetail seem a little bit better- but not by much. There are some great ones at Schaeffer Heard. I'd say its a toss up and we love both- some of the most scenic campsitess we have ever camped at in North America.

Both are outside of town. R. Schaeffer Heard is closer to the small burg of West Point, Whitetail closer to LaGrange with more stores etc. Routes in and out of them are quite different.

I live in that general area so if you need any info please feel free to drop me a PM for more specifics.

This route puts you in the area for several touristy visits if that's of interest. Roosevelt's Little White House in Warm Springs. The Callaway Mansion in LaGrange and others.Also note both parks are about 20- 30 or so minutes from Callaway Gardens- definitely worth a visit if you are interested.Traveling south you'll be near enough to stop if you desire at the Army Infantry Museum in Columbus,The Richland Rum Distillery in Richland, Plains, GA (Carters Home), The Andersonville Civil War site, and the pecan, peanut and cotton country of south Georgia.

Have a safe journey! (Weather 60 ish now in this area)

Along US-27:

FDR SP near Pine Mountain
Kolomoki Mounds SP near Blakeley