Headed West From NC

CowFam wrote:
We are headed out west from the Piedmont area of NC. Our current plan is to stop in the following places: Nashville TN, Hot Springs AR, San Antonio TX, Carlsbad Caverns NM, Albuquerque NM, Flagstaff AZ, Lake Powell UT, Mesa Verde CO, Moab UT, Salt Lake City UT, and then on to Yellowstone and work our way through the Badlands and take the northerly route back east.

A few families are traveling together, each pulling a travel trailer. None of us has ever driven the route that we are planning, and are wondering if there are any roads/routes that we might want to steer clear of with the campers. We'd like to avoid white-knuckle driving conditions, if possible. I am particularly concerned with the roads between Mesa Verde and Moab, but really would love to hear about any treacherous roads we may encounter.

Also, the trip is fairly well planned up until the Badlands, and that's where we are stuck. Any suggestions for places to see between there and North Carolina? We'd like to avoid Chicago, and St. Louis. The trip will be about 5 weeks in total, with about a week available from SD to NC - although, that is somewhat flexible.

Thanks for any suggestions/help!

You'll likely get responses that 5 weeks isn't enough time to do all of that. That's a lot to see/do/drive in 5 weeks; is that week from SD back to NC included in your 5 week plan, or is that in addition, for a total of 6 weeks? If that week from SD back to NC is included in your 5 week plan, in reality, you have only 4 weeks to do all of that trip, ending in SD and then returning to NC.

Actually, we need a bit more specific information, such as things like how many folks are traveling and how many TV/Trailer combos? Do you already have reservations at destinations for your group? Do you prefer Interstates, or the roads less traveled? Regarding your destination points indicated, how much time do you have allotted for each one, ie, how much time were you planning to spend in Hot Springs AR? How much time in Mesa Verde and Moab? How much time for Yellowstone? A more detailed itinerary would be helpful for more detailed advice.

ETA: Also, when are you planning to do this? That's an important question because weather can be a factor depending on how soon you plan to be in specific areas, and whether facilities/CG/parks will even be open.