We had a plan to take non-interstates in order to see more of the countryside. Well, that's a good plan, and a valid goal, but...We recently had occasion to put our plan to the test without the RV. We traveled in a minivan and it "Looked" like the proposed route would cut off distance. Without knowing the road, we took off. It was a twisty-turny as you can imaging. Not shorter at all. Nothing but sharp turns and up and down, constantly for nearly 150 miles! Thankfully, we did not have the fifth wheel on behind us. There was no signage indicating no trucks or longer trailers. I wonder how folks would know ahead of time? Just curious. The roads were hwy's 58 and 421 in Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. These are not bad roads as to condition, just very hill country routes. Not even remote, as there are many houses along the way. I really would not feel safe towing much of anything over 20' Hope this helps someone planning.

We had a similar issue last summer in the Catskills. The GPS was set to shortest route rather than fastest route. It took us down a seasonal route through a state park that was crushed stone and a 13% down grade. About 3 miles of white knuckle driving.So there's one suggestion - set the GPS to fastest route.For mountainous areas, I got this.clicky

I was getting a tire repaired north of Dallas and started talking to one of the locals. He gave me directions for a route that would cut miles off my trip and avoid Dallas altogether. It sounded great so we took his advice. We were lost within 20 miles. The route number changed every time we changed counties, so when we came to a T, we had no idea which way to turn. At one point we came up to a bridge with a 5 ton limit. It ended up taking us 2 hours longer to go the route he gave us. On top of that, we were travelling in a very heavy rain storm and crested a hill to find a wheelbarrow laying in the road. Apparently the wheelbarrow had been filled with roofing nails and we ended up with two flat tires.

When we travel those secondary roads, we anticipate slower speeds and longer times. Some of our best routes are the curvey types where we can't even get up to speed. Just slow the whole way. Its the speed up and continual slow down that I don't prefer.

Another problem I had when travelling rural farm routes was getting behind a big combine and travelling at 20 mph for a half hour. Everyone behind you thinks it's you slowing down traffic.

I avoid interstates when I can but I stay on major highways.

Secondary road may not save time | Good Sam Community

31 Replies

Johno02
Explorer
Jan 30, 2015
Yes, we have pulled US 58 up through Meadows of Dan several times, in both directions. We stop at the Meadows to unhitch the toad, then DW leads the way down. There is a good place to stop and hitch back up at the bottom. Never had any problem up or down, but it is really a fun driving education in a 30' MH. We actually stopped in the pull-off at Lovers Leap so we could enjoy the view! The rest of the route to the coast is great! And the restaurant up at the winery is wonderful!
dave54
Nomad
Jan 30, 2015
It's all about the smiles not the miles, and the flowers not the hours.
kohldad
Explorer III
Jan 30, 2015
Thanks for the laughs and chuckles. When I had my 35' FW, we traveled those type roads all the time by choice. That is the only way to travel and see the country if you still have a job you need to get back too. Saw lots of wonderful things not because they were so extremely wonderful, but because they were so unexpected.

Always told my wife I could back out of any place we pulled into if I couldn't make it through. Proved my point when we had to back up 1/2 mile on a small gravel road at night with my daughter shining the flashlight to show the way.

We loved those back roads and seeing as we traveled so much we upgraded to a TC, makes traveling so much more enjoyable and let's us take even small back roads.
oldtrojan66
Explorer
Jan 29, 2015
Good information, folks. Thanks for all the great input. I just need to realize I'm retired now, and take more time to do the research and not make route decisions without proper information.
mabynack
Explorer II
Jan 29, 2015
2gypsies wrote:
1. We've always preferred secondary roads with our 40' motorhome. No, it's not faster but you see a lot more.

2. Diesel Fuel? Never had a problem getting it. Farmers use it, too.

3. GPS? We would never trust it solely. They are not foolproof. We use a variety of references. There is a publication called "Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers" which is very helpful. It comes in western and eastern editions.

4. Our travels are mainly in the west.

I could usually find diesel on the back roads, but once or twice I had to drop the trailer in order to maneuver around the pumps.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jan 29, 2015
1. We've always preferred secondary roads with our 40' motorhome. No, it's not faster but you see a lot more.

2. Diesel Fuel? Never had a problem getting it. Farmers use it, too.

3. GPS? We would never trust it solely. They are not foolproof. We use a variety of references. There is a publication called "Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers" which is very helpful. It comes in western and eastern editions.

4. Our travels are mainly in the west.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Jan 29, 2015
I generally follow US highways and state roads I am familiar with. Interstate is avoided as much as humanly possible without taking dirt roads.
paulj
Explorer II
Jan 29, 2015
Google maps (and others) give both distance and estimated time for routes (whether it is the top 3 it gives you, or one you modified). If one route is significantly shorter, but not much faster, it has a slower estimated speed - due to using slower roads.

Speeds are always going to be estimates. It may be as crude as one speed for freeways, another for highways and third for 'roads', or it may take into account grades and curves. Distances on these digital sources should be accurate, taking into account all curves.
Naio
Explorer II
Jan 29, 2015
I use streetview to check out backroads, too. It can be difficult to getting google maps to do it, for the remote areas, but is worth it!

Travelmath.com, or similar websites, will tell you if the route that looks shorter on the map is actually longer. If so, that means it is very curvy.
paulj
Explorer II
Jan 29, 2015
In Google Maps turn on Terrain mode - that shows the hills and mountains, and deep river valleys. Zoom in to see more detail. Switch to Sat mode to zoom in further. Once you start identifying houses and cars try Streetview. Try it for an area that you are familiar with, then with something new.

And then explore the same areas with your GPS. You should start picking up the clues as to routes that good for you, and ones that are bad.

Detailed information is easy to find these days. In the past to get something comparable you had to buy USGS topos, or order county roads maps from the state. And for some states and provinces there are atlases (Delourme and Benchmark) and backroads mapbooks (BC, Alberta).