OKC to Columbus, GA end of May - ideas!!!

[oklahomajewel]

hi y'all....

Hey, I'm needing to book hotel reservations etc for going to my oldest son's Basic Training Graduation at Ft Benning in Columbus GA
It will be May 28, 29 . I looked at flights and car rental, and driving will still be cheaper.

There is a campground there and of course I've thought of being cheap and taking the Jewel Box (if possible) but it would be a 900 mile trip each way and not sure if I want to "camp" while there. I'm looking at hotels, and they will be kind of expensive since it's just me traveling... at least it seems that way .

Any ideas? And are there any good teardroppers that can give me some travel advice from OKC to Columbus, GA? I-40 to Memphis, then 78 to Birmingham then I-85 to Columbus.....

Thanks ...

Julie

[Miriam C.]

Julie I would love to run off on a trip like that. Now the cheapest way I found when I was going to take Mom to Fl. was to fly into Jacksonville and rent a car. Soooooooo much cheaper.

Mom flew in to Jacksonville and back to KC for $125 round trip. Might be worth it to try that way.

It would be about a 5 hr. drive for you.

[dmb90260]

You can take the Jewel Box and use it when it suits you. Get a hotel room when you need a good shower.

I will make one recommendation, get a copy of The Next Exit. Camping World will have it but you might find it cheaper on the Net.
It lists all the services at EVERY Interstate off-ramp. When you are looking for food, gas or a Wally World to park in, it is invaluable. It does not include state highways, only I-40 etc.

[Lynn Coleman]

You can take the Jewel Box and use it when it suits you. Get a hotel room when you need a good shower.

I will make one recommendation, get a copy of The Next Exit. Camping World will have it but you might find it cheaper on the Net.
It lists all the services at EVERY Interstate off-ramp. When you are looking for food, gas or a Wally World to park in, it is invaluable. It does not include state highways, only I-40 etc.

Ditto on "The Next Exit" I had a copy of that when I was traveling alone for six weeks on a book tour from FL to New Mexico and back. The book was a real help.

As for camping to and fro, if the cost of the gas while towing 900 miles is cheaper than staying in hotels, go for it. If not, find out how many buddies you might have along the way that can put you up for a night. I'd be glad to offer the spare room or the Inkwell for a night but I'm way out of your travel zone.

Good luck in your quest and congrats to your son.

Lynn

[arsnls64]

I spent 4 years at Ft. Benning before going to Europe. It gets real humid down there, but May shouldn't be too bad. Most any hotel in the area will be good except for some on the road called "Victory Drive". Stick to major chains and you'll be ok. Boy, that place brings back memories!

[McTeardrops]

Julie

You don't say how much time you have available for the trip. I would be tempted to overnight at Natchez Trace State Park, (on I-40 about 110 miles east of Memphis) drop the trailer, take 40 to 65 to 85, motel for the event, and overnight in the trailer on the return leg.

Of course, we've been known to log 6000 miles on our trips from Texarkana to Connecticut.....

[caseydog]

Julie, I travel a lot, and I have stayed at a lot of Motel 6 locations. They are cheap, and no frills, but they are clean and comfortable. Go to the Motel 6 website and check it out.

CD

[asianflava]

Julie, I agree with Glenn, Motel 6 isn't all that bad. We stay there on multi day drives to gatherings. It's much faster than having to setup camp, take turns taking showers (we only have one set of toiletries between us) then breaking camp. Plus they are usually close to the interstate whereas a campground is a few miles away. Check their website to see which ones you will pass. You can also book online which makes it easy.

One time, there was a traffic jam that backed up traffic for 30 miles. When we finally got past it (around 2AM) I stopped at our motel. The lady was turning away a lot of people. When I came up to the desk, she had our room ready. She noticed the area code in the phone number I gave her and thought that we got stuck in the traffic.

If we need internet access, I will book a Super8. Some but not all Motel 6 motels have Wi-Fi. After Minden, Mel downloaded her assignments in St Louis, wrote them out on the drive down, and e-mailed the assignement at a Starbucks in Nashville.

Oh, yeah I just read an article that Motel 6 is undergoing a renovation flatscreen TVs and other improvements will be installed in all the rooms. I dunno how far they have gotten though.

[Miriam C.]

The other thing you can do is pull in at the welcome areas when you come into a new state and there will be travel mags. They used to have coupons for cheap motels usually motel 6, Super 8, Holiday Inn....

[Micro469]

Motel it????







Just watch out for the BEDBUGS.................................................

[asianflava]

Motel it????







Just watch out for the BEDBUGS.................................................

Yeah but someone can also say Camp? Watch out for the mosquitos, ticks, chiggers, no-see-ums, ants, horse flys, etc.

Either way you have to watch out. You can always ask for a different room or get your money back if you don't like the room.