Quick Overnnight Stops: I-40 OKC To Nashville

[wesgiv]

We are taking off on a fall break trip with our '93 Vogue Prima Vista 40' motorhome, towing an MDX here in about two weeks.  We are headed to the Great Smoky Mountains.  Can anyone suggest quick, overnight stops between about Shawnee Okla and the stateline/Ft. Smith AR.  and then again on the east side of Nashville TN?  We are fairly new to all this.  have a great campground to end up at in TN but really don't want to do much other than pull over and sleep on the way.  thank you for any help you can give!

[elkhartjim]

 Shawnee to Ft Smith is 150 miles, there may be a Walmart half way if you want to stop between the two cities.

[wesgiv]

well maybe I should have clarified - I think we will be wanting to stop somewhere about Shawnee or maybe we could go as far as Ft. Smith the first night, sorry for the confusion!

then the second night we could get either west or maybe east side of Nashville.

 

 

[hermanmullins]

Wes,

In Shawnee there is the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center. You can have 50 amp full hookups for $25.00 per night. On I-40 take the Hwy 177 South turn left on N Leo and stay to the right to the Center.

Herman 

[wildebill308]

We have stayed at Nashville Jellystone Park, 2572 Music Valley Dr, Nashville, TN 37214, nashvillejellystone.com, (615) 889-4225

Great location for exploring 

Bill

[hermanmullins]

Sorry for my answer. Just reread question and saw that the starting point was Oklahoma City. Shawnee might be just a tad too far for the first day. It has been awhile since I was through there but there is an RV park in Alma, AR., just East of Ft. Smith. There is also a Cracker Barrel in the same area.

But my statement about the Expo Center in Shawnee. Nice place for an overnight of several days. Stop at the office and see Jake.

Herman

[elkhartjim]

I based my Walmart suggestion on his comment "really don't want to do much other than pull over and sleep on the way".

We've stayed at Seven Points COE east of Nashville.

[jleamont]

wesgiv,

What campground are you staying at in Pigeon Forge, just curious? Sorry can't help with your question, we've been on that route a few times and I don't remember where we stopped at. Wal-Mart's, and Cracker Barrels are the favorites for us, DW usually finds them on her phone.

[manholt]

The original Cracker Barrel is in Lebanon, just east of Nashville.  The Fairgrounds are next door, you can dry camp at either location!

Herman is correct about Alma, but I don't remember the name.

Carl

[wesgiv]

We are staying at "Up the Creek" when we arrive in/near Pigeon Forge.  have really no idea what all we'll encounter over there - we have a boy at school at Auburn and he's going to drive up and spend some time with us there.  Just think it sounds beautiful and we're up for an adventure!  Hope we survive the traffic getting to our campground though!

Yes, appreciate any and all input on where to stay, either RV park or pull over and stop places.  We've actually never done that - just pull off and sleep like at a Walmart or Flying J.  kind of scary sounding so any suggestions you all can make would be great!!  we've just owned "Aunt Bea" our motorhome for a year now.  We are in our early 40's and are having fun with this adventure!  We are actually from NW Okla, but figure we can make it to at least Shawnee, or even as far as Russellville AR before we need to stop that first day after youngest daughter gets out of school.  Then hope to make it past Nashville the second day so the third day is easy going as we enter what sounds like a very busy area before getting to the campground.

 
 

[manholt]

wesgiv, I don't make a habit of overnighting at Walmart.  I have learned to find one that is open all night, or at least has 18 wheeler's and well lighted.  I stay among the trucks or other RV's....never had a problem, do not use my Jacks nor slide outs.  I'm overnighting not camping!

 Same with any Truck Stop that has Pull Thru parking.  That goes for Rest Areas also! 

Carl

[elkhartjim]

We have stayed at Walmart's, Sam's Club, Costco, Lowes, Home Depot, State Welcome Centers and truck stops over the years. Truck stops and Welcome Centers being the least preferred due to trucks coming and going all night. We always call ahead and ask permission to park in the Walmarts, etc. They will usually tell us what area to park. Like Carl said, do not put your jacks down because they can damage the paving. We do try to locate so we can extend our bedroom slide over a median or edge of the parking lot. Don't bring out barbecue pits and lawn chairs, you're not camping and don't leave your trash.

You will find lots of good information on over-nighting at this link.  http://www.freecampgrounds.com/.

 

 

 

[jleamont]

Wesgiv, we are in the same situation as you, mid 40's we have two kids in high school. When we travel we always stop either at a Cracker Barrel (1st choice) highway rest stop (2nd choice) or Walmart. I can't recall how many times we have done that, never a problem, we never put the slides out and do not have jacks. However I will level with the air leveling. Toad stays connected. Often we will run the generator and AC or at a minimum the roof top fans to drown out exterior noise. Almost always when we wake up there are several other RVs around us. We use to stop at a campground but it became to much of a hassle with the larger coach. 

[kaypsmith]

At any of the Walmart's, or others, be sure to inquire to make sure that it is OK at that location to overnight. Walmart and many others usually welcome your overnight stay, but some cities have ordinances that prohibit this, and the customer service desk will gladly tell you if OK or not. Seveireville Tn. Walmart is one that you can not overnight at because of local ordinances, which I'm sure the many campgrounds very near have been able to get passed. Have a wonderful trip, Kay

[manholt]

I agree with all of you!

Kay, the only problem I have found, with all the local campgrounds; where there is local ordinance against overnighting at Wall Mart or other lots.  The campgrounds still think that 34' RV is as big as it gets...sort of outdated thinking!  So, I just drive to the next town...the further east I get the more problems I have, especially, NE!

Carl

[kaypsmith]

Carl, the part on Tennessee where he is going, he of course already has a campground, I was only using that as example, there many great campgrounds near that Walmart that could easily accomodate 80 footers.

[jleamont]

"the further east I get the more problems I have, especially, NE!"

in the NE you have to be careful, the following are used incorrectly;

Big Rig friendly

Campground

We have had places I couldn't get to, low bridges, weight issues with bridges, low trees, tiny sites etc when big rig friendly was posted on their website.

RV park reviews saved us from a few, we booked elsewhere and drove in with the toad, sure enough wouldn't have been able to stay.

 

[klcracing]

A few miles before Shawnee is the Grand Casino Resort on exit 178, turn left and go north to second entrance, as it is truck entrance, also probably the cheapest fuel prices around. There are rv hookups or you could pull into truck parking. We have stayed there a couple of times while heading to Loretta Lynns Ranch in Tenn. with no problems. We too we're traveling in 40 ft DP with 20 ft trailer. There are a few Wal-Marts just off of 40 that you can pull into also in Ark 

[manholt]

Have been there a couple of times, like it when I get paid for parking overnight !   The only other place I have found that do have space for my rig is KOA, just East of OK. City. I don't know Loretta Lynn, so I guess I won't go there anytime soon... 

[hermanmullins]

Klc,

We were in Shawnee a month ago and was told that the Grand Casino no longer has free RV parking. Now it is $50.00 per night. That makes the $25.00 per night with full hook ups at the Expo Center look pretty good.

Herman

 

[manholt]

Herman, I seem to have a lingering bad taste in my mouth, in ref to Shawnee Expo Center! 

Casino must be losing money, $50 is way over any other Indian Casino RV Resort, I have stayed at...there are some real fancy ones out there, like Red Hat at Coshatta. LA. or Seven Feathers in OR.!

Back to the KOA, off I-40, nice park

Carl

[obedb]

Don't know Loretta Lynn? You don't know Country?. My old brain reminds that a truckstop is between her and the interstate.

[manholt]

Byron, as a singer, of course!  Any one who don't never had or listened to a radio...I don't know her personally!  So, no invite to her ranch.

Carl