Atlanta to Grand Canyon with 10 days

[PMike]

My wife and I are celebrating 30 years of marriage on December 1. We would like to take a memorable trip, and would like some assistance from those who have made this trip before with the planning (i.e. where to stop along the way, sites to see, etc.). We will be pulling a travel trailer and plan to stay at least 3 days at the Grand Canyon. Will this even be possible?

We would be leaving the Friday after Thanksgiving and returning on Sunday, December 6.

I realize it is a long trip, but I am willing to drive. BTW, I am a novice RVer. Any help with the planning would be appreciated!

[LindaAnn]

PMike wrote:
Wow! Just checked back in and there are a lot of great suggestions here. I believe you have talked me out of going to the Grand Canyon. Just not enough time in 10 days. So, we have decided to go to the Smokey Mountains/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. This will allow for the most time enjoying one another's company and seeing sites and hiking.

I really appreciate your input. It is great to rely on other people's experience and not have to make the same mistakes.

Any MUST SEEs in the Smokey Mountains?

We often take trips to the Smokies. In Gatlinburg, we have stayed at Twin Creeks RV Park...it's just outside Gatlinburg, and there is a stop there for the Trolley that will take you downtown. Our favorite RV park is StoneBridge in Maggie Valley. It's not as "busy" as Gatlinburg and not far from Cherokee, NC and Brevard, NC (which is in Transylvania County and home to numerous waterfalls and the actual Cold Mountain). There is a drive 'Cades Cove', but it is usually bumper to bumper. There's a neat little Pizza place (Nick & Nate) in nearby Waynesville and also a Mast General Store that's fun to wander through.

[Mayor30]

wildtoad wrote:
Celebrating a 30th anniversary inside a truck for three straight days each way will truly be memorable. You may not need to get a card for your 31st!

Done much more than that.

[Busskipper]

PMike wrote:
Wow! Just checked back in and there are a lot of great suggestions here. I believe you have talked me out of going to the Grand Canyon. Just not enough time in 10 days. So, we have decided to go to the Smokey Mountains/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. This will allow for the most time enjoying one another's company and seeing sites and hiking.

I really appreciate your input. It is great to rely on other people's experience and not have to make the same mistakes.

Any MUST SEEs in the Smokey Mountains?

We love Lake Toxaway and Hilton Head - both are surprisingly fun around Thanksgiving - not that far from each other and both are easy from Atlanta - throw in Asheville and the Biltmore you have a bit of variety and a great vacation.

Personally I’d precook most of the Thanksgiving meal and enjoy it on the road - leaving with the crowds on Wednesday after work - adding a couple days to the vacation and allowing the loop to be completed.

Think you are on the right track with less long days of driving and more long days of FUN!

It is surprising how many people we talk with who rave about the time they’ve had in those locations. Last note is other than the Biltmore, this allows you will stay away from Crowds - during this Covid times that will be important.

Best of luck,

[ferndaleflyer]

I was just there. River Bend camp ground is where we stay. I have driven through most of them. This last time we spent most of our time in Knoxville. We have always liked Huck Finns and the Pottery to eat. Gatlinburg was always to crowded but we did enjoy Dollywood, heck of a show Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lots of shows in there. Cades Cove, or drive through the National Park over to Cherokee, NC. There is a casino there and also lots to see. KOA in Pigeon Forge is awful in my opinion.

[ppine]

SMNP is not that big. You will be able to see all of it and the surrounding area easily in your time frame. Good decision.

[PMike]

Wow! Just checked back in and there are a lot of great suggestions here. I believe you have talked me out of going to the Grand Canyon. Just not enough time in 10 days. So, we have decided to go to the Smokey Mountains/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. This will allow for the most time enjoying one another's company and seeing sites and hiking.

I really appreciate your input. It is great to rely on other people's experience and not have to make the same mistakes.

Any MUST SEEs in the Smokey Mountains?

[ferndaleflyer]

agesilaus also did it twice from Baltimore. I also as a young man drove from Boston area to Redlands CA in 52 hours non stop before Interstate highways. Trust me I have broken the speed limit a few times when I was young but have cleaned up my act in recent years....I know not many can drive as long and far as I can and do but very few trips I haven't enjoyed. Rolling out Monday, IN THE RAIN!

[profdant139]

I agree -- New Orleans is not a great place to take the kiddies. But since this trip is a celebration of the OP's 30th anniversary, I bet the kiddies might be old enough to tag along, if that's what the OP wants. 😉

And yes, we are talking to ourselves. But it's 2020, and everyone else at home is tired of listening to me rant and rave. 😉

[agesilaus]

New Orleans right now is in the sights of Hurricane Delta. Still a couple of days out so that could change. Frankly I would never consider taking the kids to see the boozehounds of New Orleans.

I haven't seen another post by the OP so we may be talking to ourselves again.

[profdant139]

wildtoad's remark made me laugh out loud -- well done!

And to the OP, you mention that you are a newbie. As a newbie, I did a couple of "mostly-driving" trips until I figured out that they were more work than fun.

Just a thought -- New Orleans in cooler weather is a lot of fun. Music and food at night, long walks during the day to burn off the calories. And there is the Cajun country near Lafayette. If you have never heard zydeco, you are in for a treat! Less than 500 miles each way.

[dedmiston]

We did an 11,000 mile trip this time last fall and our average rate was a very reliable 50 mph. That's from camp to camp, including gas and breaks.

If I were looking at your 1,800 mile legs and the number of days in your budget, I would consider putting in two 600 mile days each way. Those would be twelve hour days, and the amount you'll spend on fuel in twelve hours will make the strongest men cry. But at least that would chip away at your mileage debt and you'd have two days to make it those last 600 miles. Or you could mix it up: 600, 300, 600, 300, depending on where you make your stops.

It's a heck of a trip though. After 29.75 years, you should know better than anyone else whether that's doable for you two as a couple. If you could squeeze in even one or two more days, it would make a huge difference for the trip.

It's not so much that you won't have enough time to see the Grand Canyon, because a lot of people only spend two days there. It's that you'll be tortured by all the places that you didn't have time to stop along the way. It would be great to blast out there and make note of all the places you'd like to stop along the way back home, and then gift yourself with another day or two to stop along the return.

If you can deal with the long driving days, a trip like that is still way better than no trip at all.

...

Just to mix up the discussion a little bit, what if you changed the focus and cut it short a little instead of going to the GC? What if you picked some destinations in New Mexico as your endpoint instead of Arizona? Have you two ever been to Chaco or any of the other ancient tribal sites? Atlanta to Albuquerque would cut 800 miles off your trip and give you a lot of time to make day trips to so many of the incredible tribal sites in NM.

[agesilaus]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
Can't never did anything----that being said I have done this very trip twice from Baltimore.....Last year I went from Baltimore to West Palm Beach. Drove both ways with no stops except for fuel 36ft DP towing 30ft enclosed car trailer. I will be 80 next birthday!!!!!

Baltimore to W.Palm is 1000 miles down flat roads, he is talking about almost twice as far. Not the same thing. And did you enjoy your trip? We did 1200 miles in 30 hours once and I certainly did not enjoy it.

[Mayor30]

Go for it. We often drive at night when there is less traffic and easier to get in and out of fuel stops.It is also easier to find a spot in a rest area to take a nap. If you need a good over nighter, Mustang Run RV park is great. Most pull throughs and full hook ups.All roads and sites are concrete. Nice bathrooms,swimming pool and dog run. $49 a night.http://www.mustangrunrvpark.com/

[ferndaleflyer]

Can't never did anything----that being said I have done this very trip twice from Baltimore.....Last year I went from Baltimore to West Palm Beach. Drove both ways with no stops except for fuel 36ft DP towing 30ft enclosed car trailer. I will be 80 next birthday!!!!!