Western Washington to Nashville

[sunfan03]

Need your advice and suggestions for a trip from Washington to Nashville next year. Thinking about leaving mid-April (maybe take a detour to Orlando for the teenagers - Disneyworld) and being gone for about a month (picking up DD from college and bringing her home)

Would like to avoid winter temps and snowy passes, so is best route to head south to California and then east?

Traveling in a 32' Class C this time around. (Our last RV trip was 6 years ago with a 29' Class C.)

[Edd505]

Head to I-90E to I-82 to I-84 to US6 to US191, head to Albuquerque and catch I-40 east. Mid April the Interstates should be clear.

[Blazing_Zippers]

A couple years ago, a friend and I drove from Portland to Savannah. I-84, I-5 to I-80 east....Easy peasy. Stop at the original Cabalas. For a real odd stop, on I-80, take exit 29 for Dix NB -turn right at the stop sign, drive 100 yards, then turn right again toward a large chain link fence that houses a real active missile silo! Yep, the real thing, just sitting there. Your tax dollars at work protecting us. Not really much to look at, but just strangely eerie. Note that you will be on camera, so comb your hair.

[ken56]

Part 2:
There are a few dinner shows that are good and entertaining. Dolly's Stampede is probably the best one. There is also a lumber jack show and the Pirate show and the Hatfield and McCoy show that are good too. There is so much to do here that you have to research and figure out what everyone will enjoy. It's overwhelming really.

Just to throw this out there too. We are about 1.5 hours away from Asheville and the Biltmore Estate...a fantastic place to see. The wife and I are season pass holders because we enjoy it so much. Being this close to it you might want to see if everyone would want to go there.

COVID restrictions are just wear a mask. Restaurants are open around here and the area is as busy as ever. You can't tell there is an 'economic down turn' or a pandemic going on. Just be sensible about taking your own precautions. We've had no issues ourselves and go about our lives and business as normal.

We are transplants from Michigan and this is the best place I've ever lived. Love it here.

[ken56]

Check the National Parks website for info on hiking trails and their difficulty rating because I'm not sure about them. The 2 I can say to visit is Clingmans Dome and the hike to it's observation tower. Easy 1/2 mile hike to it...all up hill. Hopefully you will have a clear day to do it because you can be in the clouds in an instant up there. It's the 2nd highest point east of the Mississippi. Stunning views.

Trails to many waterfalls are usually jam packed with people I can tell you that much. Parking can be almost impossible at some of them. The other place is Cades Cove at the west end of the park but it's drive through with places to stop and see some building and read about the history of the small settlement. It's an 11 mile loop drive that can take 4 hours to do, really, not kidding. The park is the most visited in the NP system so crowds are common depending on time of year. It's also one of few that do not charge to get into.

If you do go up to Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome consider going into North Carolina to Cherokee. There is a working mill you can stop at before you leave the park and there is the Oconaluftee visitor center. You might see the Elk heard around there if lucky. Cherokee has the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and it's worth a see. The town itself is full of Indian trading post gift shops and of course there is the Harrah's casino there too.

Dollywood is a nice park and family friendly to the Nth degree and if you get there early like when they open a day should be enough to cover it all. If the kids like coasters then have them ride the Eagle. Rides for the kids and shows for the "old folks". Tickets run about 70 bucks but considering Disney is 120 now that's a bargain I guess.

[sunfan03]

Thanks Ken56! Definitely planning on a renting a car and might look into Dollywood. Traveling with older teens who are excited to do some hiking, but grandparents will also be with us...any hikes you recommend that wouldn't be too strenuous for the 70 year olds (who can walk leisurely) but have great views?

Will look into Dollywood as an alternative for theme parks - do you think a day is enough time to visit?

[ken56]

Sunfan, it would be best to rent a car to tour the area. Due to the traffic alone (be prepared) maneuvering a large vehicle would be challenging. There are places you can rent a Jeep and other cars so think about doing that.

Have you found a park to stay at? Make a reservation soon if you haven't. Lots of very nice parks in the area. Check out Pine Mountain. Duvall in the Smokies also. There are many others so you should be able to find something.

The obvious place to go is Dollywood. Nice park and family oriented and some great coasters for the kids. It's not like Disney at all. Dolly's Stampede is probably the best dinner show. Hatfield and McCoys is good too. Lumber jack show is cool. . There's the Aquarium of the Smokies in G'burg. Anakeesta attraction there too. The park itself offers hiking mostly with lots of water falls to see. Climgmans Dome is the 2nd highest point in east. Lots to do and see.

[padredw]

Sunfan wrote:
What do you think about taking I-20? Thinking maybe we could visit White Sands NP again (weather should be fine) and then head East on I-20 through Dallas (or possibly drop down to I-10 and visit family in San Antonio, Houston).

Since you asked about I-20 I will comment about that portion of your contemplated route. From Dallas to Nashville is about 665 miles. One good thing: from west to east I-20 is an easy route south around Dallas/Fort Worth on the south. I have towed my fifth-wheel on this route several times and have never had to slow down.

April is a beautiful time in East Texas as the wildflowers are blooming and the temperature/humidity hasn't reached Summer's awful highs. There is a super fine state park at Tyler just off I-20, but the park is popular and would require advance registration.

The direct route to Nashville from Dallas is to take I-30 to Little Rock and I-40 on to Memphis and Nashville. (the interchange from I-20 to I-30 would be on the east side and still avoid much of the city traffic.)

You have mentioned the alternative to drop south. If so, you would stay on I-10 and not take I-20. In April this would take you to the Texas Hill Country and such towns as Kerrville and Fredericksburg as well as to San Antonio. It would be a great time for a visit to Fredericksburg, a quaint town with German heritage. The bluebonnets would likely be near their peak. To really enjoy this area would require staying over for a day or two at least.

You may take an entirely different route, I am commenting only on the portion of I-30, I-30, and I-10 within Texas. I know these routes well as I live just 20 miles north of I-20 not far from the Louisiana state line. Let me know if I can help.

[DrewE]

One area I'd suggest stopping at is St Louis; there's a lot to see and do in that city. The zoo and botanical gardens are renowned, the City Museum is great fun for children and the young at heart (wear long pants and consider bringing knee pads), there's the arch, etc. Personally, I'd rate the City Museum as more fun than Walt Disney World, however tastes do differ.

[sunfan03]

ken56 wrote:
If you decide to come over to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area just ask me for suggestions. We live 25 miles out of PF and Sevierville and can offer up some more suggestions.

Ken56 - We decided to spend several days in the Pigeon Forge area, so any suggestions would be appreciated. The last time we were in the Smoky Mountains, we had a car (not RV). Is it best to park RV in Pigeon Forge and then get a rental car to tour around Gatlinburg/Smoky Mountains?

[ken56]

If you decide to come over to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area just ask me for suggestions. We live 25 miles out of PF and Sevierville and can offer up some more suggestions.

[sunfan03]

Thanks kohldad - good point about Florida and appreciate the suggestion about Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. That would be time (and money) better spent to stay in the area.

[kohldad]

I like Ken56 suggestion as I80 should be fine by mid April. Even if there is a late snow it shouldn't affect the road conditions for very long.

As far as Florida, that would be 1 day of travel in both directions so IMO not worth all the extra driving. If you want entertainment, look into Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. That is only about 4 hours east of Nashville.

[sunfan03]

ken56 - thanks! That's one of the drawbacks of heading south...big cities and traffic. Also, thanks for the tip on I-80 vs. I-70...definitely prefer 80....and the suggestions for Nashville.

[ken56]

We did the Columbia river route on our way home from the Olympic Penn. on 84 to Salt Lake City and there was nothing challenging about it. I had a 30ft. trailer with me and had no issue at all. Not the same time of year but the road is not the infamous mountain pass kind of road at all.

Heading south on I-5 into Cali. you put yourself into major cities to get far enough south to cut over east. Out of SLC take 80 east, no mountain passes like on 70 in Colorado, Vail pass is 10,000 ft. altitude.

Nashville has Broadway street with the music bars and country singer museums. Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage is just east of downtown and worth the stop. The museum is very interesting and the home tour is good too. Weather here in TN in April is, or should be pleasant with the trees and early flowers budding out. Depending on how long you stay in Nashville you might consider a day trip down to Lynchburg and the Jack Daniel Distillery, or just head down to Tims Ford State Park for a couple days. Due to COVID they have suspended their tours though so who knows if they might resume by then. The bottle shop is still open though. Not far from Lynchburg is Tullahoma where the Beechcraft Heritage Museum is. If you like aircraft this is a wonderful stop.