Looking for stops in route

[flyfishing48]

We will be leaving Northern Michigan mid to late Febuary going south On I69 then picking up I65 at Indy.
If we get a late morning start, I think we might make our first stop around Fort Wayne.
Looking for a hotel/ motel that can accomadate parking a 5th wheel and truck around 50 ft in length. Also would like a restaurant either on site or right next to the property.

Not sure where our next stop would be, but expect we would be hotel (ing) it again.

Thinking some of you snowbirds have gone this route before. Thanks in advance for any help.

[IND_navyvet]

About 5 mi. past Markle is Warren on IN 5. There is a hotel that has parking for OTR trucks plus a couple of restaurants within walking distance. Americas Best Value Inn Warren
Have not used either hotel so can not say how they are. But both are close to 69 and food.

[IND_navyvet]

About 20 miles South of Ft. Wayne to Markle, IN you will find an
Econo Lodge
There is a DQ close by and another small restaurant within walking distance. Hotel is right at 69-224 interchange.

[flyfishing48]

Thank you everyone for all of the replies. This does give us some options and a good start on planing our trip.

[Hank_MI]

Louba wrote:
If you go the I65/231 route thru Alabama, we always stop at Deer Run CG near Troy, AL and de-winterize there. It's a very nice place and very convenient for that route.

We stopped there on our return trip last year.

[Louba]

If you go the I65/231 route thru Alabama, we always stop at Deer Run CG near Troy, AL and de-winterize there. It's a very nice place and very convenient for that route.

[Hank_MI]

Last year we left from Brighton, Mi, I-96, I-69, I-65. We stopped at a campground just inside Kentucky. Only thing we hooked up was electric because it was still pretty cold there. We were in a MH so that's a little different, it was already warm inside when we stopped. Starting from Cheboygan and a late start you probably wouldn't make it that far. The 2nd night we were near Montgomery and de-winterized there. Your 2nd night should definitely get you to an area with open campgrounds.

I'm just throwing this out as an option. If you really want to stop at a motel I can't help. When we have stopped at hotel we get out the AAA books and start calling ahead to see what's available. Do the same with campgrounds.

[Tripalot]

We have stayed at a P.A. park at Cave City and that is where we usually de-winterize in late December or early January. They have water and electric available at the sites. They also have washrooms open but we never use them, preferring our own. There are also c.g.'s just north of Nashville that (and probably the ones in N'ville) are open and several in Tennessee. Our electric heater and propane furnace work as they are suppose to do.

[DutchmenSport]

We live between Anderson and Pendleton, Indiana. Christmas 2014 we went to Port St. Joe State Park in Florida (South of Panama City). We too 3 days to get there and drove straight home at the end. From (North of) Indianapolis, we planned driving 6 hours (down) for 3 days. We did not want to beat ourselves out and be exhausted once we got there, so we enjoyed the journey!

For our first night, we stayed at La Quinta Inn at Goodletsville, Tennessee. They had a really sweet RV and Bus parking area behind the motel, and pet friendly.

If you stop near Fort Wayne the first night, this would give you about an 8 hour drive your second day. When we were there, temperatures were cold, but not as cold as Indiana. But we planned this so we would not have to de-winterize yet.

The second night we stayed at the KOA at Ozark, Alabama and de-winterized. The third day we made it to the State Park. We arrived fresh, well relaxed, and in good spirits! Had a great time.

I'm not sure about motels in Fort Wayne, but I am sure there are plenty to choose from, and if you call ahead, just ask about RV parking. That's what I did with La Quinta before booking the reservation. We stay in motels only 1 time a year (and only 2 times in the last 2 years), and both were when we were on our trip to Florida over Christmas (2013, and 2014).

I, for one, would not want to de-winterize anywhere in Kentucky until the first of March or even Mid-March.

FYI... State Park campgrounds are open in Indiana during off season. There are no gate fees either. You just pull in and pick any spot to camp. DNR will come by your camp site to collect the (off season) camping fees. However, you will also NOT have water anywhere, and the bath houses will be closed. We visited Summit Lake State Park last week end and the put port-a-potties outhouses outside the shower/bathroom facilities in the campground. You could still dump at the dump station too, but no water to flush anything.

So, if you don't mind skipping a shower for a night, you could always stop at one of the State Parks near Fort Wayne. Just an idea.

[almcc]

flyfishing48 wrote:
We will be leaving Northern Michigan mid to late Febuary going south On I69 then picking up I65 at Indy.
If we get a late morning start, I think we might make our first stop around Fort Wayne.
Looking for a hotel/ motel that can accomadate parking a 5th wheel and truck around 50 ft in length. Also would like a restaurant either on site or right next to the property.

Not sure where our next stop would be, but expect we would be hotel (ing) it again.

Thinking some of you snowbirds have gone this route before. Thanks in advance for any help.

A few years ago we had to leave later (December)and we hotel-ed it for a couple of stops before we de-winterized. Our first stop was near Monroe Michigan in a motel across the street from Harbortown RV, it's probably too early a stop for you.

Our second stop was at the Days Inn in Columbus Indiana, not a memorable hotel but it had parking for transports and RV's, with restaurants nearby. It's just off the interstate.

We de-winterized at our next stop at the Bowling Green KOA which is open all year, it was warm enough to camp there (using lots of propane). not sure what the temps would be like later in the winter.

From there we hit state parks in Tennessee and Arkansas, the ones we stay at are open all year with winter hardy (heated)water pedestals and full services.

[rockhillmanor]

X2
Kentucky line is where you will find CG's open. I would drive the extra few miles. IMHO Indiana is not the place you want to stop in anyway.

[Tripalot]

There are several c.g.'s in Kentucky and Tennessee open all year. Over the years we have traveled south in the winter at least 12 times and have never spent a night in a motel and we leave from near Toronto. We always stay in campgrounds and usually dewinterize the second night in Kentucky.

Do a google search and indicate campgrounds open all year. Then call the c.g. and confirm their facilities and price. We have run across KOA's that want to charge $45 a night in winter for just an electric hookup. No way will we stay at a place like that.

If you are a member of Passport America check the parks along your route. There are a couple that might work for you.

[C-Bears]

X2 for taking U.S. Rt. 231 out of Montgomery, especially as late as you are coming down. Mounteagle (going the other way) can deal you some unexpected weather with a steep grade.

You won't need hotels by the time you hit Montgomery AL. Actually there are probably CG's open in the Nashville area. Staying winterized and using CG's further north is probably the way to go though.

[Parrothead_Mike]

There are different methods many of us snowbirders use to look for lodging or a campground while going to/from. You can always ask the question as you have done or you can do a little research on your own since most folks won't be traveling the exact route you're going.

Here's what I have done.
--Determine how long I plan to drive the first day. Estimate your average speed (including fueling, potty, food stops). Take the number of hours times the average speed and you'll come up with an approximate location(s) where you might want to get a motel/campground. I move along pretty well on the road, but my average speed is usually around 50-55 mph barring any unforeseen traffic problems.

--There is a nice book called NEXT EXIT. You might want to invest in this book (about $15) as it will be real informative in regard to what motels, fueling locations, food, etc. you'll find at specific exit numbers on all Interstate highways.

--I've also used Google maps to identify what might be available in regard to motels at certain exits. Using these satellite maps you can often see parking areas around motels. You can also phone ahead to motels you find on the Internet to ask about RV parking. We've rarely had problems with parking, but usually we only spend one night in a motel on our way to FL because the 2nd night we're usually in warmer temps and can dewinterize.

We go the I-69/I-65 route (and catch US231 in Montgomery, AL). We've stayed in Bowling Green, KY (exit #22 I believe) where there is a Quality Inn with plenty of parking. Last year we stayed in Brentwood, TN and then this year we made it about 10 miles into AL before we stopped for the night. I think these were all Quality Inns.

Hope this helps some. Good luck with your trip.