FL - DC in a 5th wheel

[BeachBumJan]

Hi all,

We are traveling from south of Tampa to Bull Run Regional Park in Cernterville, VA so we can be in our nation's capitol on Independence Day - so excited! We plan to take a couple extra days getting there and wonder if any of you have suggestions for campgrounds, state parks, interesting stops along the way. We've been to Savannah a couple of times, so we can either go there again or not ... depends on what else we might find! Thanks for sharing your ideas!

[Chuck_S]

Good Luck! There's a reason the phone number for the Amtrak Car Train is 1-800-I-HATE-I95. (Not really but it should be.) But your truck and trailer ain't gonna fit.

I95 - I26 - I77 - I81 (Shenandoah Valley) - I66 will bring you up a more scenic way and the back way into DC. It's all Interstates so even the mountain grades are mild.

-- Chuck

[GL1800Rider]

We are working our way to Gettysburg and staying in Winchester Va right now. Ran from the Inverness area. I would suggest from Tampa taking I-75 to Hwy 326 North of Ocala. Take that to US 301 North crossing I-10 (to stay away from Jacksonville) and picking up Hwy 200 to I-95 to I-26. 95 is a bit rough but doable. Watch the off ramp going to I-26, it's pretty bumpy.

There are a couple of campgrounds near Yamassee SC but we don't care for either one. KOA is expensive and the other takes Passport America but is fairly run down Thousand Trails Park. We stayed at Sweetwater Lake campground 2 miles of I-26 Exit 130 near St. Matthews. $30 a night cash only honor system. No sewer but they have a dump station that we didn't use. The campground is on a nice lake and the owner who we did not see lives on the property. If you stay there you can park on any site and any direction. I suggest parallel to the road as it's easier to level.

From I-26 take I-77. We have stayed 3 times at Mayberry Campground in Mt. Airy just off I-74 about 6 miles form I-26. Rates are $38 a night and they accept Passport America Monday thru Thursday or Good Sams. Nice staff and all sites are 50/30 with many pull thurs.

If you stay at Mayberry, get back on I-77 North to I-81. You will encounter a long grade but I had no issue maintaining 60 mph. We got fuel at a Flying J one mile WESTBOUND on I-81 then got back on I-81 to head East. Try to avoid buying Fuel in Pennsylvania if you go thru there, it's about 40 cents a gallon higher.

Sorry for the long story but hope it helps.

[Chuck_S]

Winchester VA to Gettysburg PA is a easy drive.

In fact it's the way I go from Richmond VA to Gettysburg PA to avoid I95. Longer miles, less time. (I run I64 out of Richmond out west to I81.)

-- Chuck

[rlh1957]

I agree the route I95 - I26 - I77 - I81 (Shenandoah Valley) - I66 is a good route. Stay off I-95 as much as possible, have a more scenic route and better stops or stopovers along the way. Less riff raff also. Me, I would bypass Jacksonville anyway I could... even if I added 1 hour to my trip. I haven't see a smooth ride through Jacksonville in over 40 years. I-95 should have totally bypassed Jacksonville instead of trying to integrate through that half ass conglomeration of potholes, switchbacks and slowdowns.

[Mikolow]

Camp Lake Jasper in Hardeeville SC is a real nice stop off. Sits on a scenic lake with plenty of room.