2023 Estelline Trip

[JEBar]

we've started planning this summer's trip from our home to Estelline, SD - the info in this paragraph will most likely change several times before it becomes final .... this itinerary contains some significant changes for us ..... first, we plan on 6 driving days .... historically we have 5 .... the increase allows us to shorten our daily driving distance/time .... at our ages that's an attractive consideration .... second, this northern route is a marked deviation from the one that we usually follow across the middle of the country .... it was chosen largely because of campground spacing

May 31 .... Home to fuel stop .... Speedway 3331 Thomasville Rd Winston Salem NC 27107 .... 115 miles

​May 31 .... Home to Asheville East KOA in Swannanoa, NC ---- https://koa.com/campgrounds/asheville-east/ .... reservation 800-562-5907​ made Jan 18 ---- 127 miles

June 1 .... to Elkhorn Campground in Frankfort, Kentucky ---- https://www.elkhorncreekrvpark.com/ .... reservation 502-695-9154​ ---- 317 miles - 4 hr 53 min

June 2 .... to D & W Lake Camping & RV Park in Champaign, IL ---- http://www.dwlake.com/D-and-W-Lake-RV-Park/Overview ....reservation 217-356-3732​ ---- 298 miles - 4 hr 34 min
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June 3 ... to Waterloo / Lost Island Waterpark KOA in Waterloo, IA ---- https://koa.com/campgrounds/waterloo/ .... reservation 800-562-2483​ ​ ---- 320 miles - 4 hr 34 min
​
June 4 ... to Jackson RV Journey in Jackson, MN ---- https://koa.com/campgrounds/jackson/ ---- reservation 507-847-3825​ ​ ---- 218 miles - 3 hr 18 min

June 5 ... to Estelline, SD .... per Google Maps driving time ---- reservation made ​ ---- 164 miles - 2 hr 22 min​

[b]Total from Home to Estelline ---- 1,560 miles ​ - 23 hr 46 min[/b]



​August 18, 2023 Victorian Acres RV Park at 6591 Highway 2 in Nebraska City, NE ---- https://victorianacresrvpark.com/ .... 304 miles / 4 hr 25 min.... booked - 4-18-23

August 19, 2023 St Louis West KOA at 18475 Old US Hwy 66 in Eureka, MO 63025 ---- https://koa.com/campgrounds/st-louis-west/ .... 383 miles / 5 hr 51 min .... booked - 4-18-23

August 21, 2022 Rjourney at 1270 Tylertown Rd in Clarksville, TN 37040 --- https://rjourney.com/locations/tn/cl...-resort-llc-2/ .... 290 miles / 4 hr 17 min .... booked - 4-18-23


August 22, 2022 Asheville East KOA at 2708 Hwy 70 E in Swannanoa, NC 28778 ---- https://koa.com/campgrounds/asheville-east/ .... 350 miles / 5 hr 38 min .... booked - 4-18-23


August 23 Home .... 242 miles / 3 hr 54 min​

[JEBar]

over the years we have consistently found that no matter the route we take, it doesn't make much difference in the distance driven or the time it takes to drive it

Per Google Maps :

Total from Home to Estelline traveling the route shown in post 1 ---- 1,560 miles ​ - 23 hr 46 min


Total from Home to Estelline via the route we usually follow (Nashville > St Louis > Kansas City > Estelline) ---- 1,552 miles - ​ 23 hr 18 min

[markiver54]

Should be nice to take an alternate route anyway. Driving time is about the same, so why not.

[Sir Henry]

That’s a nice slow pace. My last trip to Florida has me going 500 to 700 miles a day.

[JEBar]

That’s a nice slow pace. My last trip to Florida has me going 500 to 700 miles a day.

a couple of decades ago we routinely covered such distances, or longer, per day .... for us, those days have passed into history .... historically, one of the factors that helped determined how many days we would spend going from on location to another has been how much time and effort goes into breaking and setting up camp .... years ago installing an aftermarket auto-leveling system that has proven to be a major asset

[Sir Henry]

That’s a nice slow pace. My last trip to Florida has me going 500 to 700 miles a day.

a couple of decades ago we routinely covered such distances, or longer, per day .... for us, those days have passed into history .... historically, one of the factors that helped determined how many days we would spend going from on location to another has been how much time and effort goes into breaking and setting up camp .... years ago installing an aftermarket auto-leveling system that has proven to be a major asset

We will be staying in motels during the February trip and staying at relatives at the destinations.

[North Country Gal]

Safe journey. Love to follow along if you can manage to stay in touch.

[JEBar]

we don't plan to pull out until the end of May .... so, we have plenty of time get both our equipment and ourselves ready

[Hatchdog]

“ we've started planning this summer's trip from our home to Estelline, SD”


After a couple of years on this site I’m starting to use this as an early sign of spring. Thanks!

[JEBar]

“ we've started planning this summer's trip from our home to Estelline, SD”
After a couple of years on this site I’m starting to use this as an early sign of spring. Thanks!

we've been at this for a long time ... we've been married for 48 years during which we've driven out there and back 45 .... in addition we've flown out there and back once .... we've driven most of the routes from home to Estelline that anyone would even consider and a good number that wouldn't be given serious consideration ....

[JEBar]

first steps in getting ready for the trip has been taken .... both truck and camper washed and waxed

[Cofisher]

Starting to plan several days In the Rockies this summer. Inviting everyone in reach to meet me there. Lots of friends and family. Will spend a night or two at friends. And...sleep in the van a night or two.

Best part? Fishing and lying around the camp fire. Life is good.

[markiver54]

I am envious of you guys. Enjoy!

[JEBar]

Starting to plan several days In the Rockies this summer. Inviting everyone in reach to meet me there. Lots of friends and family. Will spend a night or two at friends. And...sleep in the van a night or two.

Best part? Fishing and lying around the camp fire. Life is good.

that really does sound great .... looking forward to following your trip

[Hatchdog]

That truck and fiver are looking good. I don’t recall how old they are but I believe you have mentioned they both are very “experienced”. They both look to be pristine from this distance.

[JEBar]

I drove to Middlebury and picked up the camper at the Sunnybrook factory on Halloween day of 2005 .... I think the truck is a 2007 model .... they have shared many a mile bouncing down the road since them

[JEBar]

our pre-trip todo list is getting shorter .... today I replaced the battery in 4 tire pressure sensors (3 on our Sportchassis - 1 on our camper) .... Truck batteries fully charged .... truck test driven 50 some miles yesterday ..... $175 worth of pure diesel added, NO that didn't fill the tanks

[BigAl52]

3.82 a gallon over this way. About .50 cents a gallon cheaper in Texas USA

[JEBar]

$3.969 where I just added fuel .... it is pure diesel, no ethanol added .... we have a hundred or so more miles for outings already scheduled before we leave for South Dakota .... my goal is leave with sufficient fuel to get us to Knoxville, TN where we will completely the tanks and head to the Northwest

[JEBar]

more pre-trip items checked off ....

1. both camper fridges defrosted and cleaned .... the big one really needed defrosting, I've never seen as much ice on the freezer sections walls

2. Green Mountain Davy Crockett grill accessories removed from camper's basement

3. all truck systems checked and seem to be OK