Recommendations

[Paulette]

I'm looking for recommendations on my route west next month. I'll be leaving from MD, North of Baltimore, with a destination of Lake Anita State Park in Iowa, and don't know if I want to go way north to Interstate 80 or stay slightly south and take 70. Looks like mileage is about the same either way. North would allow me to maybe see the Great Lakes. Or maybe, go way north on 80 and come home on 70? Any of you that have traveled that direction have any recommendations? And while I would like to take all the backroads along the way, I'll be traveling in a 35 foot Class A...so I'm a little leary of backroads. Some day when I downsize a bit, I'll hopefully get to do all the backroads and byways.

Also, we'll be taking our time (sort of) and taking 3 days to get out there. Are there any "you gotta see this" places along the way? I've not made any reservations along the way. I figure that we'll find something and if not, we'll find walmart or a truck stop along the way. I do have reservations at Lake Anita.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[snowball]

Were is lake Anita at or close too? that may help in Iowa
Sheila

[Paulette]

Slightly south west of Des Moines.

[asirimarco]

You could always drop down about 35 miles south of I-70 and come visit us in Nashville, IN We're just off of 46 between Columbus and Bloomington. Road goes off of 70 and then catches up with it again in Western Indiana - in near Parke County where all the covered bridges are. Love to have you

[Pooker]

Paulette - There are back roads and then there are back roads. If you take US highways (those that have a route number and are red on the maps) you will be fine. Interstates are great for getting from point A to point B if time is important, but our highway system is a good one and we traveled all over this country on US highways with our 35 footer. Just pay attention to underpass measurements, etc. If the truckers can go on a road, you can go. They usually go through towns, though, and that is either a blessing or ???

I'd opt for one route out and a different one back - maybe a mix of Interstates and other US highways. Enjoy the journey!

[Paulette]

Evie, thanks for the info. I'm still in the planning of the route stage so I'm not real sure which roads I'll take.

Carol, I might take you up on your offer. Depends cause I'll have the Ex with me. If I can though, I'll let you know. Thanks for the invite!

[Sparkle]

Paulette, if you want to be bored to death, have to pound along at a high speed, love to be passed by trucks, see nothing because your eyes are fixed on the road and you are white knuckling the steering wheel, then by all means take either 70 or 80. I drive a pick up, pulling a 31ft trailer, so I am longer than you, and never go on Interstates unless I'm in a hurry to get somewhere. I have traveled hundreds of miles on back roads , sometimes never seeing another vehicle for miles and I've never had a problem. In fact the only problem I've had was totaling my rig on an Interstate (okay, we'll forget about the beach incident, but then I wasn't on any kind of road) I'd say, go for the peace and quiet, the scenery, the interesting little towns on the blue roads. Read Least Heat Moons book, Blue Roads.

[snowball]

that said ...if you take I80 make sure you stop by at the Amana Colonies. they have "working" business ie a barn that does wood work ect lots of little shops that you can buy from places to eat
think you would enjoy it
sheila
up in the NE part of the state is an area they used to call little Switzerland due to the clear streams not the mt buy any means!!! only place in Iowa you find clear streams or at the time it seemed like it to me...I was new from the west and those dirty waters so didn't impress me
sheila

[rvgrammy1953]

We agree that if you are in a hurry....do the interstates....not in a hurry....do the RED roads...US Highways.....we tend to do a combination of both Interstate and red roads....as said before, because red roads will take you "down-town"... and some town/city streets usually aren't RV friendly.....tight spaces!!!!.....tight turns....so Interstate roads for the cities and Red roads for the rest......I've heard there's an Atlas out that has Trucker routes...which might be helpful.....and as mentioned...keep an eye on your height with overpasses and bridges.....but being 11ft. 6 inches....the Red roads have worked for us.....