Iowa to Fort Myers, Fl route

[Casinojunkie]

Planning a trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Myers, FL come late Oct or early Nov.
Looking for best route for site seeing, eating establishments. Will go a little off the route for those special sights or eats.
Plan on staying in Corps of Engineers camp grounds.
Need input as have never been that direction before.
Thanking you ahead of response.

[RoaminRichards]

The previous route I suggested to you is mostly four lane highway all the way from Iowa City to Mobile, AL and as another post stated it keeps you from going through Atlanta with tons of construction. Same for Birmingham, AL. I would suggest you stay at Tom Sawyers Mississippi River RV Park in West Memphis, Arkansas if you want to experience a great stop. You are right next to the Mississippi River where you can watch the barges traveling up and down. It is a very different type of Campground. Memphis has some great food to sample.

[jaycocamprs]

RoaminRichards wrote:
If you prefer to by-pass Memphis, you could take I- 155 from Hayti, MO to Dyersburg, TN then US 412 south to Jackson, TN then US 45 south all the way to Mobile, AL.

There are lots of COE parks along the Tenn-Tom Waterway and the Black Warrior & Tombigbee Rivers
Also in that region the Alabama River

[ken56]

Sikeston MO has a Lamberts also. A couple good RV parks near by too so might consider it for an overnight stop. St. Louis and the Gateway Arch and museum is a worthy stop too if you have the time.


As for the route I would head south on 55 once you get to St. Louis and pick up 12/10 outside of New Orleans and then go accross the Gulf Coast to pick up 19 east of Pensecola then 98 south to 41. Lots of great little towns to go through.

[Casinojunkie]

wski wrote:
Have a safe trip, you will love Florida. I have a nephew that lives in Ft Myers and my brother lives in Cedar Rapids, runs Woolf's Lunchbox food truck. Can't recommend a route, but if you get anywhere close to Foley, AL checkout Lambert's cafe...

Lady friend has property in Ft. Myers, has not been there inn several years. Have not seen your brother's food truck as of yet.
Yes, I have heard about the thrown rolls at Lamberts in Foley, AL, that is scheduled for the return trip.

[Casinojunkie]

DFord wrote:
Take a look at these books:

RV Camping in Corps of Engineers Parks: Guide to 644 Campgrounds at 210 Lakes in 34 States

and

The Wright Guide to Camping with the Corps of Engineers

Thanks for the information.
I have the Wright Guide to Camping with the Corps of Engineers, but not the other one.

[wski]

Have a safe trip, you will love Florida. I have a nephew that lives in Ft Myers and my brother lives in Cedar Rapids, runs Woolf's Lunchbox food truck. Can't recommend a route, but if you get anywhere close to Foley, AL checkout Lambert's cafe...

[DFord]

Take a look at these books:

RV Camping in Corps of Engineers Parks: Guide to 644 Campgrounds at 210 Lakes in 34 States

and

The Wright Guide to Camping with the Corps of Engineers

[GTO66]

Both the corps parks on the river are nice. now the condition on the river could be a problem depends on how much water is released from the lake.

[Casinojunkie]

RoaminRichards wrote:
Hi, Your planned trip sounds like great fun! I noticed you did not state what kind of roads you prefer, how much time you have for the trip or what your interests are. There are several different routes you could take. I have traveled between Orlando, FL and St. Louis several times. I can only assist you for that portion of your trip. I personally prefer the US highways over Interstates when possible. You could go south to Iowa City on I-380, then continue south on US 218 to just north of Keokuk, IA where you pick up US 61 south all the way to Wentzville,Mo then south on I-64 to I- 55. From the St. Louis area you can take I-55 south to Memphis. One of the great stops heading south. Memphis has some of the best barbecue restaurants I have found. If you prefer to by-pass Memphis, you could take I- 155 from Hayti, MO to Dyersburg, TN then US 412 south to Jackson, TN then US 45 south all the way to Mobile, AL. From there east on I-10 to I-75 to Ft. Myers, FL. Google maps shows thw fastest way is south to Hannibal, Mo down US 61 to Wentzville, MO then through St. Louis on I-64 to Mount Vernon, Il on south to I-24 to Chattanooga, TN then south on I-75 to Ft. Myers, FL. Once again, time is the key factor.

Time is not a factor as we want to see and do everything possible in/or just outside of our travel path, which is still on the drawing board. Just need guidence from those who have been there done that. Thanks.

[Dick_B]

Just did a similar trip and I would definitely try to avoid Atlanta. Between the traffic and roadwork we estimate we lost an hour going around Atlanta on I-265. I would never never recommend going THRU the city.
Do a Google Maps search and route down I-65 instead of I-75.

[RoaminRichards]

Hi, Your planned trip sounds like great fun! I noticed you did not state what kind of roads you prefer, how much time you have for the trip or what your interests are. There are several different routes you could take. I have traveled between Orlando, FL and St. Louis several times. I can only assist you for that portion of your trip. I personally prefer the US highways over Interstates when possible. You could go south to Iowa City on I-380, then continue south on US 218 to just north of Keokuk, IA where you pick up US 61 south all the way to Wentzville,Mo then south on I-64 to I- 55. From the St. Louis area you can take I-55 south to Memphis. One of the great stops heading south. Memphis has some of the best barbecue restaurants I have found. If you prefer to by-pass Memphis, you could take I- 155 from Hayti, MO to Dyersburg, TN then US 412 south to Jackson, TN then US 45 south all the way to Mobile, AL. From there east on I-10 to I-75 to Ft. Myers, FL. Google maps shows thw fastest way is south to Hannibal, Mo down US 61 to Wentzville, MO then through St. Louis on I-64 to Mount Vernon, Il on south to I-24 to Chattanooga, TN then south on I-75 to Ft. Myers, FL. Once again, time is the key factor.