Dick_B wrote:
We usually leave from Chicago and travel down I-57 to Paducah ...............
This is the most direct route and IF you use a little common sense about when you go through the big towns the traffic should not be too bad either. For example, in Atlanta the big trucks are prohibited on I75/85 through downtown so they all use 285 so......your best bet in getting through Atlanta is straight through the middle, in the middle of the day or VERY early or late.
ANY ROUTE YOU TAKE can end up being a mess if there is an accident or major construction.
There are virtually NO good campgrounds right near metro Atlanta except for Stone Mountain.
I plan most of my trips around time/length and where I want to stay. There are several decent travel planners; KOA and Good Sam are the ones I use......but may not be the "best" depending on what you want to do.