Heading home, Virginia to Colorado.

[Bo]

We made it to Virginia and thanks to those that gave tips for places to see. Now its time to head home. We will be travelling from Roanoke, VA to Canon City, CO. We are well aware of the fastest route but we have a week and a half this time and want to see some different country. Tentative plans include heading to Great Smokies National Park for a couple days then possibly I-40 across Tenessee and drop down to the Ozark mountains in Arkansas. An alternate would take us across southern Missouri. Then, probably, go across southern Kansas or northern Oklahoma into southern Colorado. Are there any must sees along this general route? Any more leisurely non interstate roads to get us there with more scenery. Or is there a more interesting route, like southern Kentucky??

[rops]

I 40 is closed at the Tenn NC line due to rock slide. Advisory said 6 weeks before reopen. A few years ago a rock slide there closed I 40 for 3 months.

Just a heads up.

rops

[Chickadee]

Bo: Hi from the Keys.

From Roanoke, we'd hop on I-81 down to Knoxville then S. out of Knoxville on 129 & a little E. on 321 to spend a few days in Townsend. It's quiet, beautiful and has easy access to visit Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove (for sure), and drive tow vehicle over the mtn. on rt. 441 through Newfound Gap to Cherokee, visiting overlook at Clingmans Dome at top of gap. Townsend is a GREAT spot to stop for a visit to this area.

Then head on West to the Ozarks via I-40 out of Knoxville, over to Memphis and we'd strongly recommend taking State Hwy. 64 West immediately above Memphis (off I-55) and driving over to Mountain View, Arkansas. (ie. frm. I-55, W. on 64 to N. on 167 at Bald Knob, then W. on State Hwy. 14 at Batesville and on in to Mtn. View. This is a simply WONDERFUL Ozark community with a fantastic mountain music venue throughout. Strongly suggest staying at Ozark RV Park right adjacent to the Ozark Folk Center and easy access to that, plus to downtown. Lots of front porch picken and grinnen all over town. GREAT MUSIC!!

When departing Mtn. View, take Hwy. 66 West to Leslie on Rt. 65 (abt. 27 miles), then S. on 65 toward Little Rock, picking up I-40 again for your run back to Colorado.

Drop a line if ya want other info. ENJOY! Steve & Lynette

[mrschwarz]

Steve and Lynnette: I am not currently RVing and don't live in Colorado, but after reading your route description, I want to go home that way!

[Chickadee]

Michael (mrschwarz): So, where are you from? Even if not RV'ing, a visit to Townsend, TN and to Mountain View, AR are pretty enjoyable. Steve & Lynette

[Bo]

I had a report keyed in and something went wrong with my internet connection and lost it so will try again.
We started our return trip from Blue Ridge, VA, this morning with the intent of spending the night in Townsend, VA. Rather than speeding down I-81, as suggested by Chickadee, we opted to take a slower route. We took 81 to the Blacksburg exit and headed west on 460. We took 460 and 19 all the way to Abingdon, VA. This is a 4 lane highway traveling through scenic mountains and small towns the complete distance. A beautiful and leisurely drive. We again picked up 81 in Abingdon. We stopped in at the Tennesee welcome center just outside Bristol and my wife picked up some brochures while I walked the dog. She found that Sevierville, TN had a couple fllea markets, something she can't resist, with a camp ground across from one of them. She decided we should stop a little early and spend tomorrow flea shopping. We are in Ripplin Waters Campground now. The park is very clean, is on the river, and the help is very friendly. Price is right, too. $27, including tax, for full hookup pull through site. Wife learned that flea markets are only open on Friday and Saturday so we'll spend tomorrow exploring the east end of Great Smokeys. Friday will be flea shopping and Saturday should put us in Townsend and Cade's Cove. After that we'll be heading toward Memphis on back roads, probably 75 and 100. From Memphis it will be Chickadee's route to Mountain View. We've traveled I-40 before and to us the truck traffic is too heavy so we prefer the backroads. We don't have to be in Canon City until the 13th so have time to play. Wife must be at daughter inlaw's baby shower on the 14th. We were in Virginia helping daughter prepare for her second. We can park the fiver at the houses at both ends. Son even put in a 30 amp outlet for us. This retired life is sure great.

[skipwil]

East Tn. & Western N.C. news media stated this a.m. that the I-40 section would be closed at least 4 mo.s and then only 2 lanes will be used. Welcome to N.E.Tn travelers
safe journeys...

[Bo]

We made it to Canon City before the snow hit. Had a great trip but the route changed as we progressed. Spent 4 days in Great Smokies. The last two nights we spent in the campground at Cade's Cove. Definitely a place to see. We headed out of Cade's Cove with the intent to follow Chickadee's route to Mountain View in the Ozarks but my wife saw we could hit Hot Springs National Park without going out of our way very much. We were traveling the backroads of Tennesee and wife found a free campground in Meriwether Lewis National Monument that would be at the right time for a night's stop. We weren't sure how to find it and stumbled across a small campground just as it was getting dark and decided to stop there. Met a couple from Ontario that were on their way to Florida and enjoyed a chat around a campfire with them. The campground was on the Nathez Trace, as is the free campground we were heading for and we decided to head down the trace for a way before heading west again. Checked the free campground and found it to be a very nice campground if you are into dry camping. We broke off of the trace just below the Mississipi/Tennessee boarder and traveled Mississipi country roads heading to the Helena, Arkansa, crossing. Spent that night in a casino campground. Didn't lose any money but did enjoy the good food at a buffet. Next day we got to Hot Springs and set up in the National Park campground. First NP campground I've been in with full hookups. We spent the next morning sightseeing in the Bath House District. Left at noon and started for home. Spent that night in Fayetteville, Arkansas in a park I wouldn't recommend. Didn't see much of the Ozarks so will do that next time. Wife wants to go back to Arkansas. Southern Kansas was a smooth drive with a night in Dodge City. Got to Canon City in mid afternoon on Friday. Yesterday we finished our trip home to Loveland, CO.

Chickadee, I will keep your recommendations on file and will visit Mountain View in the future. I love country and mountain music. Thanks much.

[Chickadee]

Bo: Glad ya made it before the snow. Yup, I think you'd really enjoy a visit to Mt View. Steve & Lynette

[P&K812]

we are going to travel from new york to colorado springs in june any help on route would be appreciated.thank you.

[Bo]

Your traveling preferences may be different than mine but here is our preferred quick route between Virginia and Colorado. We get on I-64 in Virginia and take it all the way to St. Louis, then take I-70 all the way to Colorado. Few cities and lower truck traffic than on the highways feeding Chicago. At the Colorado end I recommend leaving 70 at Limon and take Highway 24 to Colorado Springs. 24 is a good two lane highway, 4 in a few areas, with no cities and only a few small towns. By avoiding Denver you avoid traffic and the high toll of E-470. 24 also saves quite a few miles and time. If I were taking your trip I would probably take the toll road that goes from through Pennsylvania into Chicago to the Amish Colonies in Northern Indiana, We like to visit them, then head south before hitting Chicago until reaching I-64 or I-70 and St. Louis. Then I-70. We have campgrounds that we try to hit west of Topeka, Kansas and in the central southern tip of Indiana. Both are simple, no paved pads, but are clean, quiet and friendly. If you want more info give me a little info on your preferences, ie: shortest time, interesting sites, cities yes or no, etc. I will tell you what I know or think I know.

An alternate to the route I suggested above is: Continue west from the Indiana Amish Colonies and pick up I-80. Continue on I-80 through Chicago and all the way to Cheyenne Wyoming. Take I-25 from Cheyenne to Colorado Springs. We avoid this road due to truck traffic and Chicago. If you take this one you will pass within a mile of my home.

If you are starting in upstate New York, want scenery and have lots of time: Cut across Canada to Michigan, head up to the UP and head west across Minneosota and North Dakota a little south of the Canadian border. Then go south to the Badlands and Black Hills before heading west in Wyoming and picking up I-25 and head south to C Springs. You can read your maps and pick the highways for this route. We made this trip the other direction and really enjoyed it