Just trying to get some info on a trip we plan to take in May & June.Brief synopsis of my plans. Leaving Ca. heading to Iowa for a family visit for a week. Then heading east thru Indiana, Ohio, Gettysburg then maybe on to NYC for the 9/11 memorial, and also Ellis Island.My main focus of this trip is the east coast.Then south to Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Norfolk area then back west to Arkansas for a visit and then home. I don't need info on anything west of the Mississippi river. The last time I was back east was 1990 driving a car. That was basically to Gettysburg and DC.I will be towing a 27 ft. travel trailer. I plan on about 50 days give or take.I'm going to do 3 or 4 posts to cover a few of states in each post.I need some info on Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania here.First off stopping in Indiana just to go to the IMS race track again.1. Need a recommendation for a campground in the area. 2 nights max.2. Then on to Dayton to visit the Air Force museum. Campground recommendation around Dayton. 2 nights.Then east to Gettysburg area.The question here is I want to avoid the Pennsylvania turnpike if I can for cost reasons, etc. I was thinking of taking I-79 south to I-68 east to Hagerstown then on to Gettysburg.Any thoughts about this route?3.Thoughts on campgrounds around Gettysburg. Probably 3 nights. Philadelphia and NYC are 50/50 whether I will make them a stop.4.In case I do, recommendations for a campground in the Philly area. I'll stop here and hope to get some good reponses to my questions.Thanks in advance.

wireman wrote:Then east to Gettysburg area.The question here is I want to avoid the Pennsylvania turnpike if I can for cost reasons, etc. I was thinking of taking I-79 south to I-68 east to Hagerstown then on to Gettysburg.Any thoughts about this route?This is a good choice, I use this route when going west, and back from the Harrisburg, PA area. It is about 45 miles farther but, for me, the extra gas is cheaper than paying the tolls. Plus, the PA Turnpike is a boring ride.I'll gladly drive the extra distance to avoid the turnpike.IF you decide to take the PA Turnpike, DO NOT get off at Breezewood and take US 30 east to save on the tolls. It is hilly, winding and has a couple runaway truck ramps before you get to Fort Loudon.

2. Then on to Dayton to visit the Air Force museum. Campground recommendation around Dayton. 2 nights.Houston Woods State park is 30 miles or so very nice. There is also a state park at Springfield and it is not as nice as other. Unless you need toys for kids I prefer state parks always. They are cleaner and well managed.wireman wrote:Just trying to get some info on a trip we plan to take in May & June.Brief synopsis of my plans. Leaving Ca. heading to Iowa for a family visit for a week. Then heading east thru Indiana, Ohio, Gettysburg then maybe on to NYC for the 9/11 memorial, and also Ellis Island.My main focus of this trip is the east coast.Then south to Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Norfolk area then back west to Arkansas for a visit and then home. I don't need info on anything west of the Mississippi river. The last time I was back east was 1990 driving a car. That was basically to Gettysburg and DC.I will be towing a 27 ft. travel trailer. I plan on about 50 days give or take.I'm going to do 3 or 4 posts to cover a few of states in each post.I need some info on Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania here.First off stopping in Indiana just to go to the IMS race track again.1. Need a recommendation for a campground in the area. 2 nights max.2. Then on to Dayton to visit the Air Force museum. Campground recommendation around Dayton. 2 nights.Then east to Gettysburg area.The question here is I want to avoid the Pennsylvania turnpike if I can for cost reasons, etc. I was thinking of taking I-79 south to I-68 east to Hagerstown then on to Gettysburg.Any thoughts about this route?3.Thoughts on campgrounds around Gettysburg. Probably 3 nights. Philadelphia and NYC are 50/50 whether I will make them a stop.4.In case I do, recommendations for a campground in the Philly area. I'll stop here and hope to get some good reponses to my questions.Thanks in advance.

I can't help on campgrounds. When we do long trips west , south or north we seem to end up at KOA's. Your thoughts on avoiding toll roads are valid, they are extremely high if you have a trailer, plus some tunnels have bottled gas restrictions. Do some homework and keep asking questions. Sounds like a great trip you are planning.

For Philly, if you're interested in the city itself (and not beautiful surroundings or fancy amenities), perhaps the Campus Park and Ride would be a reasonable choice.There is a whole lot to see and do in Philadelphia!

I like Artillery Ridge Campground in Gettysburg. From there I can ride a bike all over the battlefield and into town. If you like horses, you can ride the battlefield as well. It is an average campground, but it works for me. They also take Passport America.US40 is another option and might save a few miles, but takes a bit longer. US40 has some hills, but not nearly as difficult as US30.

Cross country road trip towing. | Good Sam Community

bigred1cav
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
2. Then on to Dayton to visit the Air Force museum. Campground recommendation around Dayton. 2 nights.

Houston Woods State park is 30 miles or so very nice. There is also a state park at Springfield and it is not as nice as other. Unless you need toys for kids I prefer state parks always. They are cleaner and well managed.

wireman wrote:
Just trying to get some info on a trip we plan to take in May & June.

Brief synopsis of my plans. Leaving Ca. heading to Iowa for a family visit for a week. Then heading east thru Indiana, Ohio, Gettysburg then maybe on to NYC for the 9/11 memorial, and also Ellis Island.

My main focus of this trip is the east coast.

Then south to Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Norfolk area then back west to Arkansas for a visit and then home.

I don't need info on anything west of the Mississippi river. The last time I was back east was 1990 driving a car. That was basically to Gettysburg and DC.

I will be towing a 27 ft. travel trailer. I plan on about 50 days give or take.

I'm going to do 3 or 4 posts to cover a few of states in each post.I need some info on Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania here.

First off stopping in Indiana just to go to the IMS race track again.

1. Need a recommendation for a campground in the area. 2 nights max.

2. Then on to Dayton to visit the Air Force museum. Campground recommendation around Dayton. 2 nights.

Then east to Gettysburg area.The question here is I want to avoid the Pennsylvania turnpike if I can for cost reasons, etc. I was thinking of taking I-79 south to I-68 east to Hagerstown then on to Gettysburg.

Any thoughts about this route?

3.Thoughts on campgrounds around Gettysburg. Probably 3 nights.

Philadelphia and NYC are 50/50 whether I will make them a stop.

4.In case I do, recommendations for a campground in the Philly area.

I'll stop here and hope to get some good reponses to my questions.

Thanks in advance.
gbopp
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
wireman wrote:
Then east to Gettysburg area.The question here is I want to avoid the Pennsylvania turnpike if I can for cost reasons, etc. I was thinking of taking I-79 south to I-68 east to Hagerstown then on to Gettysburg.

Any thoughts about this route?

This is a good choice, I use this route when going west, and back from the Harrisburg, PA area. It is about 45 miles farther but, for me, the extra gas is cheaper than paying the tolls. Plus, the PA Turnpike is a boring ride.
I'll gladly drive the extra distance to avoid the turnpike.

IF you decide to take the PA Turnpike, DO NOT get off at Breezewood and take US 30 east to save on the tolls. It is hilly, winding and has a couple runaway truck ramps before you get to Fort Loudon.

Forum Discussion

Cross country road trip towing.

About Campground 101

Related Content

New to cross country towing

2019 Cross country RV trip planning

Cross country on secondary roads.

Onan 7500 watt maintenance coachman cross country

Coachmen cross country