Hi Everyone

We are a family of 6 - 2 Seniors, 2 40 year ols, 2 teenagers planning an RV trip to the USA next year.

We hired 2 RV's last year and started our 3 week trip from Las Vegas, taking in Boulder, Grand Canyon, San Franc, LA and loads more. Although we made some first timer mistakes we enjoyed our trip so much that we are coming back.

We really wish we found this site before our last trip as it could of helped us plan our RV parks.
Next year we are planning in flying to Washington, spending 3 nights, picking up our RVs and heading towards Nashville and Memphis. The trip will be about 3 weeks long again.

Any advice or tips anyone can give us for this area would be most appreciated. We do like to see some nature as well as the town sites. We have enjoyed visting the USA 3 times previously doing Disney, Tampa and the Keys. We love your wide open roads and the friendly american people.

Hope to hear back

Many Thanks

Tracey - Ann

Tracy; Don't miss the SkyLine Drive in the mountains of central Virginia. Big Meadows is a great place to stay there, with good hiking and an outstanding Visitor's Center and Ranger Program. This connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is also beautiful and will take you into North Carolina. The best part of the Parkway (I think) runs from just north of Boone/Blowing Rock and runs down to Asheville.

We also like Roan Mountain, which is in eastern Tennessee. Wonderful hiking on the "balds" above the campground and a good Ranger Program. Have fun.


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Hi Tracey-Ann and welcome,

I can only strongly support MaineDon's suggestion, but for more efficient hints you could give us some idea of the time of year you plan to visit this area. Hope to give my suggestions then....

For some pics of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the area go to;

http://web.mac.com/wolfgang.prigge1/Site/M.../My_Albums.html

and click on the albums Biltmore Estate and Blue Ridge Parkway.

Cheers!

Hello Tracey-Ann & also Welcome Back Try this site out as it shows alot of campgrounds state by state http://www.rv-clubs.us/rv_campgrounds.html And here's another Great camping arae in VA Although I have yet gotten a chance to go A good friend highly reccomends it.

http://www.naturaltunnel.info/ Happy Trails

VA is my original home state. I’ve done a lot of RVing there and also been a camp host at state parks. I also had a military assignment in Washington, DC for three years as well as RV’d all over TN. Three weeks isn’t enough time to see or do all the things I can suggest unless you go without sleep 24/7. But here are some things to help you plan.

Don’t know what your plans are in DC, but would at least recommend a drive down Pennsylvania Ave from Capitol Building to the White House. Then along the Potomac to visit the Lincoln and Jefferson memorial buildings. I’d definitely hit the Washington Monument if the lines aren’t long. You can get a panoramic view of DC from the top. You only have three days there so taking in all 17 museums is impossible. My humble opinion is that the History Museum followed closely by the Air and Space are the best. Both are at the minimum ½ day events.

First, I wouldn’t drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in a large RV. Even tho I have seen tour buses on it, there are numerous tunnels to traverse. Great roads but keep in mind that they follow the curves of a mountain range. They are not sharp curves, but curves nonetheless. Also, the speed limit is generally 45 mph. Slow going. And, it’s a lot of up and down hill driving. The parkway typically follows I-81 so there are plenty of places to get on and off. I’d do that for a short tour of the parkway. One great Kodak moment is the same as another when on the parkway wherever it might be. Two places that I would recommend on the Parkway are Peaks of Otter. http://www.peaksofotter.com/ . And Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point on the Appalachians. You can get to the top in an RV (I’ve done it in a 40’ motor) but it’s an adventure.

I assume that you are going down the west side of VA. Personally, I think that the drive along Highway 29 from the DC area is very nice. And, if you have any interest in America’s Civil War, then a stop in Appomattox, VA where Lee surrender to Grant is worth the stop. If you stay on I-81 then Luray Caverns and Natural Bridge are attractions of interest. http://www.luraycaverns.com/ http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/ There is also Mill Mountain in Roanoke, VA which happens to be on the Parkway. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/VAROAstar.html

Once in TN, then you might want to consider the Smokey Mountains area, to include Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Both are plentiful with show entertainment and other tourist attractions. http://www.gatlinburg.com/ http://www.mypigeonforge.com/ Plenty of RV parks also in that area. There is also Grandfather Mountain http://www.grandfather.com/ I feel the state parks in TN are nicer than in VA especially in the eastern section. Plenty of nature there.

A Nashville must is Opry Land if you have any enjoyment of old time country music. It’s RV friendly. http://www.opry.com/

In Memphis, no self respecting Elvis fan would miss a tour of his home called Graceland. http://www.elvis.com/graceland/tours/elvis_overview.asp And then there are riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River.

Along the way you’ll need fuel. Check out Flying J website for truck stops on your route. http://www.flyingj.com/fuel/index.html All RV friendly. You might want to go online and sign up for a Flying J Real Value Discount card. Click on the website link for info. It will give you a 3 cent discount on fuel purchases.

Would highly recommend that you visit each state’s website and request a tourist guide and road map. http://www.virginia.org/ http://www.tnvacation.com/

By the time you go to all these websites for trip planning it might be time for you to leave.

Good luck.

I definitely agree with all of the things that have been suggested so far. But let me clarify one of them. RLM mentioned the "History Museum" in DC. Actually there is a Museum of Natural History and a Museum of American History. They are both good, but when we were there in April 2007 the American History one was closed for renovation. I think it is scheduled to reopen in 2008, but you might check ahead before going to see it. I agree that Wash DC has SO much to see. We were there 2 weeks and didn't see it all. So I suggest you look into taking a commercial bus tour on your first day there. This will give you a good overview, and then you can use your remaining days to go back to the things you would like to see more in depth. They also have two different trolley systems that go by all the major attractions. You pay one fee, and then you can get off and back on as much as you want during the day. We went on the "Monuments By Moonlight" tour which was spectacular, but I don't think it would be a priority if you only have 3 days.

While in Memphis I would add seeing the ducks at the Peabody Hotel. Around 10 am they march off the elevator to their fountain in the middle of the lobby, and around 5 pm they march back to the elevator. It is really cute. Be sure to check for exact times.

Finally a guide book for Wash DC would be a good investment. I recommend the one by Frommers. Also be sure to stop at state visitor centers which are usually located on major highways just inside the state's border. They will have lots of information and sometimes offer coupons for restaurants and attractions.

Sounds like you'll have a great trip. Travel safe.

TX> Thanks for bringing that up. I did mean the American History museum. Agree with you on the ducks.

Gang> I just happened to run across this website on the Blue Ridge Parkway this am.

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway_tour/overlooks-2.asp