Ohio to Va.

[Steeljag]

The wife and I will be traveling to RVW in Lakeview Ohio next month to pick up our ordered class C. Hopefully everything will go well, and we will only be there one day ( spending the night in RV to ensure all is good.

We would like to visit friends near Staunton Va on the way home (Fl), and Google shows the route on I 64 through the George Washington NF.

Is that part of I 64 RV friendly ? Road grades ? Places for gas ?

Thanks for any info !

[Steeljag]

Just a follow up to say the trip went very well, the six speed handled the mountains well, no issues locating gas, and we did spend the night at the Beckley service plaza.

Thank you all for the replys / info !

[Steeljag]

Wardster wrote:
I usually buy fuel at Exit 95, which is right before you get on the WV Turnpike.

Thank you !

This will be an interesting trip / adventure for us....LOL !

[Wardster]

I usually buy fuel at Exit 95, which is right before you get on the WV Turnpike.

[Steeljag]

All good info, and I thank you all !

[jnharley]

We just traveled I-64. Westbound last week and have done it dozens of times both directions. This route is just fine. A portion of I-64 between Charleston and Beckley, WV is toll road. It cost us $3.80 at each toll booth (2) with our EZPASS towing a 37 ft 5th wheel with a dually. Not many campgrounds open right now so we stayed up in the Tamarack parking lot at the Beckley Travel Plaza. Good place to eat inside and you are up and away from the truckers. There were about 5 or 6 other RVs there with us and the RV parking spaces are long and wide enough to open all your slides. We talked to the Welcome Desk and let them know we were staying but is was not necessary. They have overnight security inside the building but not outside. We felt safe. We did fuel up at the diesel pumps but wow, it was pretty expensive. WV in general has expensive fuel.

[Rangerman40]

There are three tolls on 64. They aren't terribly priced.... nothing like Florida. The "Beckley Travel Plaza" is a pretty big gas station/truck stop/rest area that you should easily be able to manuver. I had my 40ft fifth wheel in there last fall and didn't have to go through the truck lanes for fuel.

[Steeljag]

Drew - Yes, it is the E450.

RJF - Drove through that KOA last year while visiting. It's very close, appeared nice, and likely be where we stay!

Ranger - Well I'm assuming my Florida Sun pass won't work on those tolls ! That will add stop and go time. Do you know how many tolls ?

Do you recall if Beckley had decent gas stations for a newby driving a class C ?

Thanks for all the info, and please add anything else you think of especially on that section of I 64 through the NF toward Staunton.

[Rangerman40]

From Lakeview take 33 into Columbus and get on 270 then hop on 23 down to Chillicothe where you will hop on 35 till you hit 64. Take 64 to 81 and you are there.... a couple things to note. 64/77 is a toll road for much of the way. 33,23, and 35 are all RV friendly state routes. I've been on them many times. Make sure to go to Shenandoah NP while you are in Staunton. There are some hills but nothing terrible in WV. Heading up 81 you'll be in a valley. There isn't much to speak of as far as gas stations go on the section of 64 that heads straight east once you make the turn in Beckley.

[rjf7g]

There are no issues with hills or fuel stations on I-64. We have camped here and liked it http://www.walnuthillscampground.com/

[DrewE]

You should be able to go a few hundred miles on a tank of gas, assuming a normal Ford or Chevy chassis with a ca. 55 gallon tank. I wouldn't worry about gas station availability on any of the Eastern Interstates in the least; just start thinking about refilling when you get to maybe half a tank and you'll easily be all right.

Interstate 64 does have some pretty decent grades, but nothing at all impossible to manage. You should be just fine if you practice basic sound hill driving: downshifting as needed on descents, etc. Use tow-haul mode and (especially if you have a Ford V10) don't be afraid to let the engine rev. The V10 is not a low-rpm truck engine.

[Steeljag]

Deleted!

[Steeljag]

midnightsadie wrote:
look at rt77 south see if that takes you close to your friends house in va. rt 77 is a pretty good rt to flr.

Thanks, but Staunton is several hours West of I77 and Google shows I 64 being the most direct route. It shows I 64 going through the NF, so I'm somewhat concerned about being able to find fuel, and road grades even though it is a Interstate !

Going from TTs to a Class C which we're excited about, I don't want to be excited about steep hills, and lack of gas stations.....LOL !

[midnightsadie]

look at rt77 south see if that takes you close to your friends house in va. rt 77 is a pretty good rt to flr.