-
Alternate route from Oklahoma City, OK to Knoxville, TN
Looking for an alternate route suggestion from Oklahoma City, OK to Knoxsville, TN? Coming into OKC via I40 from the west and really dont want to run through Little Rock/Memphis.
Has anyone done the route through Tulsa OK, Springfield MO, Paducah KY and down into Nashville then over to Knoxsville in a coach? Are the roads okay? Miles is only about 30 miles more so not that much difference that way. Just dont want to be on back roads hearing banjo’s (Oh wait, that’s down in Georgia north of the ATL, What do they play in the Ozarks?).
Will be hitting OKC Tonight and making the decision tomorrow morning, which way to go.
-
6 Replies
-
Take I-40 the entire way. There are no issues running through either. You do not go into Little Rock proper on I-40 so that is a non-event. You will have more traffic going thru OKC than you will Memphis. Once across the Mississippi follow the signs closely for I-40 because it has a non-intuitive path to get you north and around the city. But like Little Rock you avoid almost all the local traffic because of its path. Nashville is a bigger pain if you hit it at the wrong time. I take I-40 through Nashville and with all the different routes you have to pay close attention because sometimes you stay right, others left.
-
You’ll like I-40.
Couple of places to stay in OKC;
Twin Fountains RV park north of OKC and easy access to I-40. We had a PC no rally there.
If you do casino parking it’s free at Riverwind Casino I-35 appox Hwy 9 near Norman, OK. Very large flat RV lot west side of Casino. Loves fuel stop right across street. Loves has small service center so you need to fuel at non peak times or you’ll be waiting a while.
No utilities but good 24 hour security with pick up services at your bus to casino.
-
If you want to avoid Nashville traffic you can take I -840 and miss it completely – It is somewhat of a loop around the South of Nashville
-
Weve been through the OKC to Memphis route, just wanted to try something new. Useally our route takes us from OKC to the ATL, so we go to Memphis and then down through Birmingham and across to ATL. But since we are going into Knoxville this trip, we wanted to see something else besides Arkansas 🙂
Will say that NM, TX and OK are MUCH greener then we have EVER seen it! And you know you are in the real tornado alley when your RV park has tornado shelters.
Tried Twin Fountains (as it puts us near the cowboy museum, which we will check out tomorrow morning on our way out) but being our “planning” is useally that day and it being a holiday weekend, well they were full. Ended up at the Mustang Run RV Park just off 40 before you get into OKC. Very well kept, wide roads so you dont need to do crazy swings to get into your spot. Also I like places that when I park, and go to level, it takes about 2 seconds to level, nice concrete pads all VERY level.
So on the Tulsa OK, Springfield MO route, was more checking to see if it’s a safe route. I know it’s not the same as I40, but more wondering if it’s traffic lights, towns, etc.. or if it’s single lane hwy that is big rig approved (no crazy switch backs, steep mountains, crazy grades, etc.).
-
If you can, put the Mustang RV place on the map. When we stayed at Twin Fountains this spring their power voltage was terrible and several coaches wound up with major problems. The desk help was less than friendly when advised of the problem. Also it had turned into a permanent stay camp for many of the units.
-
Put up the Mustang Run RV Park on the map. Not a bad overnight spot. And if you are there during tornado season, they have 3 underground shelters.
The Cowboy museum was amazing. Need to go back when we are not on our way out of town and limited by time. For those looking to visit the museum? Don’t bring your coaches! The parking lot is not very “big rig” friendly 😉 Kind of surprises me they didn’t really plan the layout to handle tour buses though. We also need to go back and visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. We did find a bar to spend some time in Friday night. Even had live bull riding going on (yes, real bulls, not those mechanical bulls).
As for the alternate route, From the cowboy museum, we jumped on I44 to Tulsa, OK and into Springfield MO, which is a toll road through OK (Two tolls of $16.50 each). 44 was great, even through Tulsa and into Springfield MO. From Springfield, we jumped on Route 60 which was mostly a 2 lane (each travel direction) freeway. Some traffic controlled intersections, but mostly not. In Siksten MO, we got on I57 into Cairo, crossed the Ohio River on Route 62 and into Paducah KY onto I24 then down into Nashville and onto I40 over towards Knoxsville. Not a bad drive with the only “surface” road being from Cairo to Paducha (about 30 miles) through small towns and farm country.
Was able to see some new sights and try a new route. In fact we may use this route from Paducha out to Springfield MO and then up to KC by-passing St Louis. St Louis is becoming more and more an armpit. The roads are terrible, traffic is even worse.
You go by the Mark Twain National Forest, as well as Laura Ingalls Wilder home (we didn’t stop, but they are on the route in case you find yourself with some time and interest in stopping).
I did screw up and forgot about the 155 by-pass through Nashville. Even with missing that, Nashville wasn’t that bad on a Sunday afternoon for a Holiday weekend.
All in all, I would say this was a good alternate route from OKC to Nashville rather then staying on I40.
Log in to reply.