questions on I-40 going west from NC to OK
OK I have never been past Knoxville, TN going west on I-40 to Lawton, Oklahoma. My questions are: Once I am past the smokey mountains on I-40 in NC/TN are there more mountains to climb to get to OK?...
Forum Discussion
Well just finished our return trip to Oklahoma and back to get my camper and baby girl back home.
NOT as big a deal with this trip.
We made it home in 3 days with stops in Jackson, TN, and Sevierville, TN.
Jackson Tn stop was a campground I found on RVparky. What a stop the website showed a nice campground and I was like cool, but I did not read the comments and I wish I had. IT was really a trailer park with 6-7 RV sites on the asphalt parking lot. Full 30amp hook ups but the water hookup was down in the ground and the hole to hook up water was full of water or dirt just depends on what hole you looked into. Because it was about dark I just hooked up power for the night and then next morning I ran all 30plus foot of water hose to get to the hole with nothing in it to shower and use our stuff. Sewer hookup was ok and covered with a roofing shingle. Never even saw that the night before.So lesson learned here, Read the comment before committing to an RV park for the night but it worked out, the next night we stayed In Sevierville at a nice campground we stayed at on the way out 9 weeks before. So that was great. Got up Monday morning and finished our ride home.
The camper is in its Rv port and it was glad to be home.
Just a recap of trips.
Going to Lawton, OK: Drove 2801 miles round trip, drove around Lawton area for 2 extra days
Avg 13.05 MPG, used $500.00 in diesel fuel at an Avg of 2.149 gals. 231 gal purchased
Coming back home from Lawton, OK: drove 2603 miles round trip, straight out and back
Avg 12.44 MPG, used $480.00 in diesel fuel at an Avg of 2.069 gals. 230 gal purchased
Observations of roads:
I-40 could use some work, NC roads seemed to be in better shape than other states. NC rest areas are some of the nicest and newest.
I-40 in Knoxville is awful as far as driving goes about had a wreck there coming home. I still don't how I missed it but did, thank God.
Nashville was ok to drive around on the bypass, Memphis has a lot of construction on the road before you get into downtown on the west and eastbound sides, EAST of Memphis.
Then once into Arkansas I-40 has major bridge rebuilding work going on plus highway paving. Lucky both trips with the camper in tow we drove on the weekends so construction was suspended. most of these zones.
once past this area west of Memphis the road was just a busy highway through Little Rock and Fort Smith. Rest areas were OK in Arkansas.
Oklahoma the roads were very broken up in places you bounced all around and if you could stay in the left-hand lane(inside) you were better off than the outside right lane. Construction around the OKC area on the 240 a bypass was bad. they are doing bridge work and road work. slowed down here just due to
the amount traffic here. once you get on the I-44 toll road it was not in that great of shape for a toll road, They must use that money for something else. Rest areas in Oklahoma were awful, old and nasty the two we used were anyway. both on I-40 east of OKC. nobody was even working them???
overall for these two trips, I drove 5405 miles in a 9 week period. Two of these days were long days both towing the 5er. I know now that I could pull this camper anywhere I wanted to go in the America but I should only drive no more than 7-8 hours a day. but I could go more if needed.
My daughter had the best summer of her life so far. She made new friends and life long relationships. She worked with our Native Americans and learned their culture. Heard stories from the elders of the Comanche Nations.
And just found her after college job. She was offered a job when she graduates in May 2017. We know that she will be the one that will spread her wings and soar to great adventures and new heights.
So I am prepared to take my 5er and visit her where ever she ends up at in a year or so. she could be back in OK or even farther out west, but God had His hand her and she has a better idea of her future career.
Again for those who commented on this thread with good advice and other comments, I again Thank you. Your information was invaluable for these 2 road trips.
Thanks,
randy
NOT as big a deal with this trip.
We made it home in 3 days with stops in Jackson, TN, and Sevierville, TN.
Jackson Tn stop was a campground I found on RVparky. What a stop the website showed a nice campground and I was like cool, but I did not read the comments and I wish I had. IT was really a trailer park with 6-7 RV sites on the asphalt parking lot. Full 30amp hook ups but the water hookup was down in the ground and the hole to hook up water was full of water or dirt just depends on what hole you looked into. Because it was about dark I just hooked up power for the night and then next morning I ran all 30plus foot of water hose to get to the hole with nothing in it to shower and use our stuff. Sewer hookup was ok and covered with a roofing shingle. Never even saw that the night before.So lesson learned here, Read the comment before committing to an RV park for the night but it worked out, the next night we stayed In Sevierville at a nice campground we stayed at on the way out 9 weeks before. So that was great. Got up Monday morning and finished our ride home.
The camper is in its Rv port and it was glad to be home.
Just a recap of trips.
Going to Lawton, OK: Drove 2801 miles round trip, drove around Lawton area for 2 extra days
Avg 13.05 MPG, used $500.00 in diesel fuel at an Avg of 2.149 gals. 231 gal purchased
Coming back home from Lawton, OK: drove 2603 miles round trip, straight out and back
Avg 12.44 MPG, used $480.00 in diesel fuel at an Avg of 2.069 gals. 230 gal purchased
Observations of roads:
I-40 could use some work, NC roads seemed to be in better shape than other states. NC rest areas are some of the nicest and newest.
I-40 in Knoxville is awful as far as driving goes about had a wreck there coming home. I still don't how I missed it but did, thank God.
Nashville was ok to drive around on the bypass, Memphis has a lot of construction on the road before you get into downtown on the west and eastbound sides, EAST of Memphis.
Then once into Arkansas I-40 has major bridge rebuilding work going on plus highway paving. Lucky both trips with the camper in tow we drove on the weekends so construction was suspended. most of these zones.
once past this area west of Memphis the road was just a busy highway through Little Rock and Fort Smith. Rest areas were OK in Arkansas.
Oklahoma the roads were very broken up in places you bounced all around and if you could stay in the left-hand lane(inside) you were better off than the outside right lane. Construction around the OKC area on the 240 a bypass was bad. they are doing bridge work and road work. slowed down here just due to
the amount traffic here. once you get on the I-44 toll road it was not in that great of shape for a toll road, They must use that money for something else. Rest areas in Oklahoma were awful, old and nasty the two we used were anyway. both on I-40 east of OKC. nobody was even working them???
overall for these two trips, I drove 5405 miles in a 9 week period. Two of these days were long days both towing the 5er. I know now that I could pull this camper anywhere I wanted to go in the America but I should only drive no more than 7-8 hours a day. but I could go more if needed.
My daughter had the best summer of her life so far. She made new friends and life long relationships. She worked with our Native Americans and learned their culture. Heard stories from the elders of the Comanche Nations.
And just found her after college job. She was offered a job when she graduates in May 2017. We know that she will be the one that will spread her wings and soar to great adventures and new heights.
So I am prepared to take my 5er and visit her where ever she ends up at in a year or so. she could be back in OK or even farther out west, but God had His hand her and she has a better idea of her future career.
Again for those who commented on this thread with good advice and other comments, I again Thank you. Your information was invaluable for these 2 road trips.
Thanks,
randy
