We will be taking our "maiden voyage" along Rt 40 from Elk City OK to Sevierville in the spring for the 2021 rally. We'll be hauling a 43' 5th wheel. We want to plan carefully and we will be following the 2-2-2 rule. We have the Rand McNally truckers atlas and we plan to purchase a Garmin device. Anyone have suggestions of places to stay that aren't too far off the interstate and that can accommodate big rigs? Other thoughts or suggestions? TIA!
LarryW21 said
04:41 PM Oct 19, 2020
Along with your paper maps, are you sure your cell phones and tablets aren’t sufficient?
Terry and Jo said
11:16 PM Oct 19, 2020
Jane and Frank,
While we've yet to use it with our RV (Ford F450 and DRV Mobile Suites), we did purchase a Rand McNally RV GPS called the Overdryve. It has a 7" screen (easy to see) and can be "configured" to the specifications of the RV. We've used it primarily in our Summer work gig doing road condition surveys in various states. One can adjust the settings for the height of the RV as well as its weight. Some of the work vans we drive have a camera system that extends above the van to take 360 degree photos, and we need to know about heights. I always measure to the top of the cameras from the ground and add 3 inches to insure that I don't hit a low overpass.
It has worked well for us, especially so with driving through areas of the country where we have never been.
Sorry, but I can't help with overnight places between Oklahoma and Tennessee. The two times we have been to Tennessee with the work van, I never thought to look at RV parks. You might see if you can utilize an app called:
Allstays also has online guides for hotels and truck stops.
Terry
Bill and Linda said
03:38 PM Oct 20, 2020
jcordar2 wrote:
We will be taking our "maiden voyage" along Rt 40 from Elk City OK to Sevierville in the spring for the 2021 rally. We'll be hauling a 43' 5th wheel. We want to plan carefully and we will be following the 2-2-2 rule. We have the Rand McNally truckers atlas and we plan to purchase a Garmin device. Anyone have suggestions of places to stay that aren't too far off the interstate and that can accommodate big rigs? Other thoughts or suggestions? TIA!
We've made that trip on I-40 dozens of times. No big deal except for Nashville. Keep an eye on traffic and consider going around on I-440, not straight through, if near rush hour. Actually I've always gone around regardless. (Yes, I know the 2-2-2 rule - then there's the reality of sometimes "stuff happens.")
One place I would suggest is Tom Sawyer's Mississippi Campground in West Memphis AR. It's literally right on the river. I'd actually plan the trip to make sure you stop there. We did. It's a well know place to RV people who travel that I-40 area. Another is Spring Lake RV Resort near Crossville, TN. Always stopped there as well. Nice people around a nice man-made lake. From Spring Lake in Crossville to the Rally is only 100 miles. Easy trip.
Can't help you too much from Elk City to Tom Sawyer's. There is a Checotah / Lake Eufaula West KOA. Nothing to write home about but its fine. Things can be a bit sparse east of OKC close to I-40 until Tom Sawyer's.
Keep in mind all these travel "rules" one reads about how to travel aren't rules. Everyone has their own way to travel. So suggest you keep your mind open and determine how you like to travel. That's what matters.
Jane and Frank,
While we've yet to use it with our RV (Ford F450 and DRV Mobile Suites), we did purchase a Rand McNally RV GPS called the Overdryve. It has a 7" screen (easy to see) and can be "configured" to the specifications of the RV. We've used it primarily in our Summer work gig doing road condition surveys in various states. One can adjust the settings for the height of the RV as well as its weight. Some of the work vans we drive have a camera system that extends above the van to take 360 degree photos, and we need to know about heights. I always measure to the top of the cameras from the ground and add 3 inches to insure that I don't hit a low overpass.
It has worked well for us, especially so with driving through areas of the country where we have never been.
Sorry, but I can't help with overnight places between Oklahoma and Tennessee. The two times we have been to Tennessee with the work van, I never thought to look at RV parks. You might see if you can utilize an app called:
Allstays Campgrounds and RV Parks
Allstays also has online guides for hotels and truck stops.
Terry
We've made that trip on I-40 dozens of times. No big deal except for Nashville. Keep an eye on traffic and consider going around on I-440, not straight through, if near rush hour. Actually I've always gone around regardless. (Yes, I know the 2-2-2 rule - then there's the reality of sometimes "stuff happens.")
One place I would suggest is Tom Sawyer's Mississippi Campground in West Memphis AR. It's literally right on the river. I'd actually plan the trip to make sure you stop there. We did. It's a well know place to RV people who travel that I-40 area. Another is Spring Lake RV Resort near Crossville, TN. Always stopped there as well. Nice people around a nice man-made lake. From Spring Lake in Crossville to the Rally is only 100 miles. Easy trip.
Can't help you too much from Elk City to Tom Sawyer's. There is a Checotah / Lake Eufaula West KOA. Nothing to write home about but its fine. Things can be a bit sparse east of OKC close to I-40 until Tom Sawyer's.
Keep in mind all these travel "rules" one reads about how to travel aren't rules. Everyone has their own way to travel. So suggest you keep your mind open and determine how you like to travel. That's what matters.