cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

OH where to?

garmp
Explorer II
Explorer II
We plan to pick up our new RV April 1 or slightly there after from Elkhart, IN and want to take 2 to 3 weeks to drive back home to St. Louis, MO. Know it's gonna be cold at nights. So we're looking for interesting places to see and stay with warmer temps. Only like to drive 2,3-4 hours per day, and then stay a couple of days or so before moving on. I know the Gulf Coast is warm(er), but too far away. We are out to enjoy ourselves and see new things, not set a travel record.
Only need 30 amp electric and an occasional dump station and fresh water refill. Prefer state & COE parks (FamCamps are also nice). Not really fond of private parks and their used car lot "camping/parking" arrangement. But some can be nice.
Maybe, just maybe a distillery trail tour in either TN or KY would be in order?
Any thoughts?
Our 2351D Phoenix Cruiser, Jack, has turned us from campers into RVers and loving it!
22 REPLIES 22

monkey44
Nomad II
Nomad II
Land Between the Lakes NPS is a great stop for a few days ... borders Kentucky and Tenn...
Monkey44
Cape Cod Ma & Central Fla
Chevy 2500HD 4x4 DC-SB
2008 Lance 845
Back-country camping fanatic

LadyRVer
Explorer II
Explorer II
COE Anderson Rd in Nashville, TN is very nice. Sites 1-10 are water and electric. I was on site 2... perfect.

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Explorer II
have fun ,your on a learning trip. maybe the dealer has a overnight spot in there area. might make a deal for repairs two days away from pickup.

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
โ€œKnow it's gonna be cold at nights.โ€

Bring extra blankets and sufficient batteries to run your RV heater. And a way to recharge the batteries. I guess a generator ๐Ÿ˜ž but hopefully a solar system.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
azdryheat wrote:
You'll be camping at the dealer waiting for the bugs to get worked out. Sorry, but mostly true.


This. We get new campers in the store all the time buying essentials for a trip. When they say "We're picking up our new camper next week and going to Yellowstone", I say "No, you're not".
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
Keep in mind, Indiana State Parks do not turn the water on in the park until after April 1, and that is contingent upon upcoming weather conditions. On the DNR web site, it clearly states they may delay turning on water after April 1 if conditions are not right yet.

Once you get South of Indiana, Kentucky State Parks (mostly) have water on year round, and the farther South you go, every campground will be open year round and fully functional.

Actually, the drive from Northern Indiana to St. Louis is really boring, in a way. Basically, everything is flat and fields all the way no matter which route you take.

Elkhart, Indiana has a county fair grounds campground and more than likely, they will have water running somewhere. They might not have water on at the campsites, but there are multiple places they may park you within the fair grounds, near one of the building or barns where you would have easy water hook-up. I highly suggest you contact them for your first night and spend the night there. You will be close to wherever you are picking up the camper and if problems arise right away, you'll have the opportunity to go right back and get the problem looked at. Plus easy access to shopping centers, food, and WallMart! You will need to initially stock your camper. Bring lots of cash!

After the first night, if everything in the camper checks out OK, head South and get out of Indiana (unless the State Parks have turned on the water by then). If so, you have a myriad of selections right in Indiana to stay a couple day before moving on South. A 2 or 3 hour drive from Elkhart will not get you out of Indiana if you head straight South. It will be more like 5 hours to get to Kentucky, especially towing an RV.

Elkhart County, Goshen Indiana, 4-H county fairgrounds. Click here.

If you have time, go to Middlebury, Indiana tand visit Das Essenhaus family restaurant and grounds. It's Amish food, family style served, individual style served, or buffet style served. The price is more than reasonable. It's a great spot to visit. The grounds are fun to explore, as are the shops there. And they have a live theater there if you like stuff like that. Climb up the silo, take the carriage ride, eat the food, and take lots of pictures. Be sure to purchase a pie, Amish noodles, and cookies from the bakery! We make a pilgrimage on a Saturday once every winter and go there for the day. Occasionally, we've spent the night at the inn and come home the next day. The drive was Goshen to Middlebury is well worth it. You'll pass lots of Amish homes along the way. They are very easy to spot, white houses with no power lines go to them.

While you are there, take in the RV Museum and Hall of Fame, click here in Elkhart.

And if you have a chance, take an RV factory tour. You'll need to check the manufacturer of your choice web site for tour information. The tours are well worth your time. We've been on 2 different ones over the years, Dutchmen-Delali and Coachmen Motor Homes. Both were very enlightening!

You could spend several days just in the Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury area before heading farther South.

azdryheat
Explorer
Explorer
You'll be camping at the dealer waiting for the bugs to get worked out. Sorry, but mostly true.
2013 Chevy 3500HD CC dually
2014 Voltage 3600 toy hauler
2019 RZR 1000XP TRE

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Explorer II
first thing I,d do is hang close to where you boughtit for a couple days .make sure everything works. then go south till your toes are warm.