Southeast Texas to the Smoky Mountains

southerngirl76 wrote:
Hello all! We just purchased our first RV! A 24 foot 1991 Ford Ultra Class C. We have taken it out on a couple small trips and worked out some kinks. We have also totally remodeled the interior and had a blast doing that.

Now I need your help and sage advice. This Christmas we are heading to the Smoky Mountains from Brenham, Texas, meeting our friends from Minnesota in Nashville and caravanning together from there to the Smokies. They have a 29 foot class C of some sort but I forget exactly. We can leave on Friday the 20th when my husband gets home from work around 6PM or we can leave bright and early on Saturday the 21st. We need to be home by the 1st as my husband has to go back to work the next day.

Ideally we would like to make a loop and not come home the same way we get there. I've looked at Tom Sawyer in the Mississippi as a possible stop over for Memphis. I am intrigued by the barges coming by. I haven't a clue where to stay in Nashville or what part of the Smokies. We'd like to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after in the Smokies at least. I have no clue about routes back and forth. What roads are good? Do we stay on interstates the whole time? How do we sight see in Nashville? Is our 24 footer small enough to drive and park? We want to tour Ryman and the Country Music Hall of Fame.


It will be my husband and I (in our 40s - I am in very fit and active and he is slightly less so), our daughters 23 and 16 and our son 7 years old. Our kids are used to super long days in the car so shorter days and on board ammenities are going to be a treat. All the kids are nature and history lovers. Hiking, biking, very active out door type kids usually up for anything. We will also have our dogs with us and if you have a recommendation on a doggy day care for Nashville I'm all ears.

So basically I need information and your expert advice on routes, campgrounds and any interesting activities. I know you guys are a wealth of good infomation.

I will leave the Nashville suggestions to someone else. I have not stayed there in an RV, just passed through. Visited years ago on business.

As far as the loop, I'd take a direct route to Nashville to get there: Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis. You don't have to take interstates in Texas, you can take a more direct route (and avoid Dallas) on US and Texas state highways. After Texarkana, it will be interstate all the way until just a few miles from the Smokies. You can take a different route by coming back through Chattanooga, Birmingham, and at Meridian decide if you want to come back on I-20 or I-59/I-10.

Winter weather could possibly be a factor at the time you are going, especially in Smoky Mountain National Park due to its elevation.

As far as camping in the Smoky Mountain area, it really depends on your preferences on amenities, RV park or more primitive campgrounds. There are plenty of RV parks to choose from. We chose to stay in Townsend, since it has nice RV parks but much less tourist traffic than Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. We drove over to see Gatlinburg and just passed through Pigeon Forge, which mainly seemed to be tourist shops and you-know-who's amusement park. Again, it depends on what you want to do while you are there.

I suspect most of the towns right by the park in Tennessee will be fixed up for a "Smoky Mountain Christmas," so it should be fun. Hiking is available in the National Park, but maybe less so in the winter.

In terms of historical sites, I'd choose my stops on the way based on the trip schedule. In that region and especially near the Smokies, historical sites are all around. See what is available near the sites where you decide to stay.