Big Loop from NH to South Carolina then West and North back to NH ?

[PeterInNH]

Hi All,

Looking to plan a 4-5 week April/May trip starting in SNH and looking for input on routes, places to stop and time.

The only specific goal is Hamilton Branch State Park in SC (+1000 miles) to spend time camping with my brother - something like Rt 84 to Rt 81 to Rt 77 to Rt 20.

Plan on stopping every 300+/- miles for 3 nights - 1st night arrival, 2 days/nights for sightseeing, etc then hitting the road the following morning.
The length of each stay can vary depending things to do/see or want to spend more time at some other place (also trying to limit travel days since will still be working remote).

On the way to SC:
1st 300mi gets me to the general area of the Delaware State Forest
2nd 300mi to the general area north of Shenandoah National Park
3rd 300mi to the general area north of Charlotte

Last travel day a little less than 200mi to HBSP (could spend 4-5 days there)

On the route home would like to head up to Moore SC area for a couple of days then by Nashville, then possibly thru Kentucky, Ohio/West Virginia, then, if time allows, Western PA and Upstate NY (Niagra Falls maybe). Finally back thru VT and then home.

Would like to spend majority of nights in Boondocking/Harvest Host (maybe CoE, National or State Parks) type sites and only using a full service Campground once or twice a week to discharge, recharge and relax in more luxury .

Activities could include (historic) sightseeing, hiking (real mountains if available), bicycling (road or easy mountain), day tripping on my motorcycle, kayaking... And maybe even a round of memorable golf somewhere in there.

So, looking for recommendations of places to stay/visit along that route (approximate and more flexible on the return from SC) and thoughts on whether something like this could be done in 5 weeks or so. Is this something that I could also use RV Trip Wizard for this type of planning ?

Thanks !

Peter

 

[WhittleBurner]

That's an ambitious run for 5 weeks. We mosey a little slower to enjoy the areas How much time do you plan to spend at attractions? If you're a veteran VA state parks camping are half off if you register for their pass. Use Google maps and select to see attractions on the route. So much is out there!

In Ky we enjoyed the Red River valley area. Plenty of mtn hiking. Also on the border of VA and KY is Breaks interstate Park , some spots are difficult for longer rigs of the 2 spots we chose we had to swap with my brother who had a shorter class c because we couldn't get the 303o in..v
But no shortage of nature in the area, hiking and kayaking are the main activities and attractions.

 

[Skilletface]

Planning a similar Fall trip as follows:
Departing Silver Lake, NH.
First stop, Cabela’s Bridgeport, CT. 296 miles 1 overnight
Uncle Bucks Bar and Grill, restock supplies if needed
Second stop, Cherry Hill Park Washington D.C. 289 miles
4 nights take in a little more of what D. C. Has to offer. The park is near the Metro and is well equipped help you have a good D.C. experience.
Third stop, Wally dock, maybe, around MeBane, N.C. 301 miles
before returning home to N. G.A.

 

[grawlsnc]

We live in SC just south of Charlotte, and did a trip to Maine & Vermont in '23.
You mentioned making a stop in the general area north of Charlotte. On our return leg, we stopped at Mayberry Campground in Mt. Airy. NC. Very nice campground with super-friendly hosts. Also quite reasonable.
The town of Mt. Airy (that Mayberry was based on) is fun, and it's close to some good NC wineries.

 

[Longshhm]

If you’re looking for golf, since I’m a SC resident, I can help you out a little. Hickory Knob State Resort Park is near Hamilton Branch, and has a pretty nice golf course; I’ve always enjoyed playing there. Friendly staff, good rates, nice course.
You’ll also be near Mt. Vintage Plantation, which has hosted several LPGA tournaments. Not sure if it is open to the public, but Savannah Lakes (two golf courses) is in that area, too.
April/May is a good time to visit SC; winter will be gone and the intense summer heat will not arrive during that time. Enjoy!

 

[eodenc]

Lake norman state park is not far north of Charlotte. Clator lake st park in Dublin va has decent cell service to work remote. We've done it a few times. It is between your shanendoa and North clt plans but might be useful.

 

[S & F Glamping]

Hi All,

Looking to plan a 4-5 week April/May trip starting in SNH and looking for input on routes, places to stop and time.

The only specific goal is Hamilton Branch State Park in SC (+1000 miles) to spend time camping with my brother - something like Rt 84 to Rt 81 to Rt 77 to Rt 20.

Plan on stopping every 300+/- miles for 3 nights - 1st night arrival, 2 days/nights for sightseeing, etc then hitting the road the following morning.
The length of each stay can vary depending things to do/see or want to spend more time at some other place (also trying to limit travel days since will still be working remote).

On the way to SC:
1st 300mi gets me to the general area of the Delaware State Forest
2nd 300mi to the general area north of Shenandoah National Park
3rd 300mi to the general area north of Charlotte

Last travel day a little less than 200mi to HBSP (could spend 4-5 days there)

On the route home would like to head up to Moore SC area for a couple of days then by Nashville, then possibly thru Kentucky, Ohio/West Virginia, then, if time allows, Western PA and Upstate NY (Niagra Falls maybe). Finally back thru VT and then home.

Would like to spend majority of nights in Boondocking/Harvest Host (maybe CoE, National or State Parks) type sites and only using a full service Campground once or twice a week to discharge, recharge and relax in more luxury .

Activities could include (historic) sightseeing, hiking (real mountains if available), bicycling (road or easy mountain), day tripping on my motorcycle, kayaking... And maybe even a round of memorable golf somewhere in there.

So, looking for recommendations of places to stay/visit along that route (approximate and more flexible on the return from SC) and thoughts on whether something like this could be done in 5 weeks or so. Is this something that I could also use RV Trip Wizard for this type of planning ?

Thanks !

Peter

Hi Peter, last summer my wife and I took our 310GK towed by F350 6.7dsl. We went Virginia Beach to Littleton, MA, hitting Salem & Boston. Next stop Arcadia National Park, across NH & VT to Lake Champlain and down to lake Onieda. From there down to Virginia Beach. We learned that we really needed at least 3 nights per stop IOT enjoy the stop. Towards the end we were exhausted keeping to our schedule. Suggest you pick out what you want to do & see ahead of time. Arriving and then figuring it out didn't work out. Take a well stocked tool kit.

 

[PeterInNH]

Hi All,

Ok, the trip is all planned and reserved - thanks for all your input ! We have a couple of 1 night stays (just to get in some miles on the weekend), the rest 3 to 5 nights. All days except 1 are under 300 miles. Probably will be glad to get home but it shouldn't be a killer

One question I have is what is going on with I40 between Asheville and Rt 81 ? Trip Wizard has us looping way around to the north to get onto 81 and it would be nice to take a more direct route... Any information out there ?

Thanks again !

 

[ajg617]

@PeterInNH Have to get through the Smokies and I-40 routes north up to Newport TN (very nice place) through the Smokies. But there was some significant damage to I-40 from the Hurricane Helene flooding with roadway collapse impacting into Jan at least (New damage delays I-40 reopening in North Carolina closed by Helene). I just put a test route in RVTW (we've traveled from Nashville to Asheville in the past) and I didn't get that big jog I see on your map so perhaps it has re-opened and then when you created the route would matter. I'd suggest you put in a new RVTW test route from Asheville to your next destination and compare the two. 2023, we routed from Chattanooga to Asheville and came to the conclusion I either had to go way north and hook up to I-40 then dive south or route south through Atlanta.

 

[PeterInNH]

@PeterInNH Have to get through the Smokies and I-40 routes north up to Newport TN (very nice place) through the Smokies. But there was some significant damage to I-40 from the Hurricane Helene flooding with roadway collapse impacting into Jan at least (New damage delays I-40 reopening in North Carolina closed by Helene). I just put a test route in RVTW (we've traveled from Nashville to Asheville in the past) and I didn't get that big jog I see on your map so perhaps it has re-opened and then when you created the route would matter. I'd suggest you put in a new RVTW test route from Asheville to your next destination and compare the two. 2023, we routed from Chattanooga to Asheville and came to the conclusion I either had to go way north and hook up to I-40 then dive south or route south through Atlanta.

Well, I just built that route yesterday. But, just created one from Pine Ridge Campground to Two Rivers Landing and it did the same thing and routed me past Asheville way north instead of taking the more direct route up Rt40. Then I went into Trip Settings to poke around and only changed Carrying Propane to Yes and it updated the route to go up Rt 40. So, then I did the same thing (probably should have had that set from the beginning - ooops) on my original big trip route and it then changed that route as well.

Strange.

Thanks for the help !

 

[ajg617]

Well, I just built that route yesterday. But, just created one from Pine Ridge Campground to Two Rivers Landing and it did the same thing and routed me past Asheville way north instead of taking the more direct route up Rt40. Then I went into Trip Settings to poke around and only changed Carrying Propane to Yes and it updated the route to go up Rt 40. So, then I did the same thing (probably should have had that set from the beginning - ooops) on my original big trip route and it then changed that route as well.

Strange.

Thanks for the help !

Glad you figured that out. Check RV settings was going to be my next suggestion

 

[PeterInNH]

Glad you figured that out. Check RV settings was going to be my next suggestion

Well, I'm not really sure I "figured" anything out... Why Propane Yes/No would bring I40 into the route or not ? Weird.

 

[ajg617]

Well, I'm not really sure I "figured" anything out... Why Propane Yes/No would bring I40 into the route or not ? Weird.

If I understand the work on I-40, might be RVTW said if you don't have propane, you can go the northern route and avoid what it thinks might be a heavy construction/rebuild area on I-40. Sometimes RVTW knows about long term construction projects and changes my route. Sometimes it doesn't. I've been hit twice now by I-70 closures east of Indianapolis to the point that I won't drive there anymore (I-70 is in awful condition anyway). In both cases RVTW and Garmin disagreed and I was left on the loop going in circles because I couldn't get onto I-70E east of Indy. Had to resort to Google Maps to find a divided highway that I figured I could get on height wise and actually dig into IN DOT to find out what was going on.

 

[WhittleBurner]

If I understand the work on I-40, might be RVTW said if you don't have propane, you can go the northern route and avoid what it thinks might be a heavy construction/rebuild area on I-40. Sometimes RVTW knows about long term construction projects and changes my route. Sometimes it doesn't. I've been hit twice now by I-70 closures east of Indianapolis to the point that I won't drive there anymore (I-70 is in awful condition anyway). In both cases RVTW and Garmin disagreed and I was left on the loop going in circles because I couldn't get onto I-70E east of Indy. Had to resort to Google Maps to find a divided highway that I figured I could get on height wise and actually dig into IN DOT to find out what was going on.

Last we checked I 40 is open with one lane in each direction with a lower speed limit (can't go fast with all the curves anyways) Could be a slow go taking it.