About to begin!!!

[Macodiva]

Hello

I'm about to start a month (or so) long roadtrip from Los Angeles to Maryland in my Class B with dog. I've mostly sussed out my route along the mid /lower states due to temps around now. 

Does anyone have any route suggestions or must see stops along the way they'd recommend?

Or any advice in general.

Are any clubs/memberships a good idea to have. I have Harvest Hosts & an America the beautiful pass.

I'm hoping this trip will help me decide whether to make the leap to full-time or not. I've enough savings not to have to panic but not enough to last forever! At 51yrs old it's a big step.

I think I might enjoy the workamping life. I've worked everyday since leaving school at 16. Mostly 7 days a week as I work with animals (which unfortunately hasn't made me rich). It will be quite an adjustment not having to get up to do something, not quite sure how to get my head around that! 

Any advice gratefully received. 😁

[bruce t]

Every answer will give you a different opinion. We are all different and have different needs and interests. Don't glue yourself to a set plan. Hit the road with no preconceived ideas. Relax and let your journey evolve. 

There is no right or wrong way.

Goodluck. 

[agesilaus]

I just saw the weather prediction for the rest of the month. I would keep as far south as you can, I-10 until you get past Texas anyway. Maybe all the way ro I95 and then north.

[sandsys]

If the weather gets good enough, you might enjoy taking the Natchez Trace, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Skyline Drive heading north. We took that route south one year in the fall and had gorgeous color all the way.

Linda Sand

[Kirk W]

12 hours ago, Macodiva said:

Does anyone have any route suggestions or must see stops along the way they'd recommend?

That will be a trip of about 2,700 miles if you travel by the most direct route. Since you seem to be about to leave, I'd agree that you need to stay to the south and take I10 as much as possible which makes the trip 4,000 miles. If you route to make very many stops along the way it will quickly make the trip 4,000 miles and in between you basically have most of the USA. 

12 hours ago, Macodiva said:

Does anyone have any route suggestions or must see stops along the way they'd recommend?

The answer to this will depend on what route you do choose and the weather as you travel. To the south are places like the Grand Canyon, and there are 12 national parks and monuments in Arizona alone. Because there is so much that you may want to see, it would help a lot to have some idea of what sort of things you are interested in. If you choose I40 you will pass through some Memphis & Nashville, both of which have great attractions if you enjoy music of most types. Going more to the north, Colorado has another 17 national parks and monuments along with many other attractions. I could start listing the possible things to see and places to visit but that lise would be far too long to be of much help.

13 hours ago, Macodiva said:

Are any clubs/memberships a good idea to have.

I would suggest Passport America as a good way to save money on campsites.

13 hours ago, Macodiva said:

I think I might enjoy the workamping life.

That is an entire thread all by it's self. We did a lot of RV volunteer work-camping which supplied us with a full hookup site and usually some other amenities in return for a few days per week of help, often doing things that we loved to do anyway, but little or no pay. There are also dozens of places that hire RV folks such as RV parks with a site and pay and there are many seasonal jobs that pay a lot for long hours, allowing one to make a lot of money in a short period of time such as harvests or Christmas season. 

[agesilaus]

We have been down the Blue Ridge/Skyline drive twice and really enjoyed it. Lots to see and do. The Great Smoky NP is at the southern end.

We went up the Natchez Trace, mostly, last year and it was not as impressive. I made an error tho and assumed that it started at Natchez and missed the south leg which starts at Jeckson IIRC. So maybe that is more interesting.

There is a lot of free camping on the Trace tho,

 

[Kirk W]

7 minutes ago, agesilaus said:

I made an error tho and assumed that it started at Natchez and missed the south leg which starts at Jeckson IIRC.

The NPS says that it is from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN? That's the part we traveled.

[kb0zke]

"The NPS says that it is from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN? That's the part we traveled." That's what we did.

A couple of years ago we did the part in TN. Last year we did the rest. Smaller RV's are fine on the Trace Parkway, but larger ones will have troubles. We found a campground near the Trace, then drove a certain distance north, visiting whatever we wanted to on the right, then turned around and did the same thing going back to the campground. The next day we went south a certain distance, seeing everything we wanted to on the right, then turned around and headed back to the campground, seeing whatever we wanted to see on the right. Then we drove farther down the road to another campground and repeated the process. Sometimes we stayed longer than what we needed for the Trace because there was other stuff in the area to see or do.

One day we were getting the Parkway and saw a pair of semis pulled over. We found out later that they aren't permitted on the Parkway without a special permit. If they are caught they are escorted back to where they got onto the Parkway, ticketed for the distance they were on it illegally, and then allowed to drive the distance again - off the Parkway. All in all, a rather expensive way to "save" a few miles. Since there are places where the only access is from the Parkway, commercial trucks can get a permit if needed, but the idea is to keep most of them off of the Parkway.

Also, the Parkway is a designated bicycle path, meaning that you can come around a curve and find a pack of bikes in your lane. They do not have to move over for you - you have to wait until it is safe to pass them.

[durangodon]

I've done the Natchez Trace many times, on motorcycle and towing a travel trailer.  It is 50 mph maximum the entire length, with only one stop sign that I can remember, no red lights.  It takes about the same amount of time as driving from Natchez to Nashville on Interstates, but is much more peaceful and relaxing.  However, don't do the Trace if you like to drive like a bat out of Hell, it won't turn out well.  Lot's of interesting things to see and experience, if you like such kinds of history.