New Orleans to Kansas by RV

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas to Kansas by RV. How was it driving Arkansas Highway 23 through the Ozarks in our Class A motorhome? Where did we find cheap diesel? Don’t have time to read this now?

Leg 1: New Orleans, LA to Memphis, TN Route

• Read our Quick Visit to Biloxi Mississippi article for things to do when you only have a few hours.
• Great cheap campground: Chickasabogue Park in Eight Mile, Alabama with Passport America for $9.36/day.
  • Check out our photos in our Awesome Passport America Deal in Alabama article.
  • Two fun Boondockers Welcome hosts, one in Atmore, AL and the other in Prattville, AL.
  • We share 3 Free Things to Do in Birmingham AL on Sunday.
  • At the last minute, we decided to go to Tims Ford State Park before our Jack Daniels Distillery tour, so we took a different route after Huntsville. That detailed route can be found here.
  • Nashville, TN
    • We share money-saving hacks, and parking tips for the Musicians Hall of Fame and Honky Tonk Highway in our Nashville and the Musicians Hall of Fame article.
    • FREE overnight parking in Jackson, TN at Walmart/Sam’s Club. Beware of the height-restricting bars on the Walmart entrances.
    • Memphis, TN: T.O. Fuller State Park
      • The campground had an ice machine where you could get FREE ice, which was really nice since it was hot and sunny.
      • Public pool nearby that you can use for $2.50/person and good laundry prices.
      • Too many bugs. Jeri had 50 bug bites after one evening outside.

Leg 2: Memphis, TN to Independence, KS Route

• Hot Springs, AR
  • Get details on hiking in our Hot Springs Mountain Tower at Hot Springs National Park article, and then treat yourself to a mineral bath the next day. Get our comparison of Buckstaff Bathhouse and Quapaw Bathhouse in our Hot Springs Arkansas Bath Houses article.
  • Morrilton, AR: FREE overnight parking at the Walmart.
  • Arkansas Highway 23
    • Morrilton, AR through the Ozarks to Eureka Springs, AR.
    • The road was steep and curvy, doable but a little stressful at times.
    • We had to drive slow and look for turnouts to let people pass.
    • We almost hit a baby deer and a fallen tree, two different incidents, but since we were driving slow and there was no oncoming traffic we were able to drive around them.
    • Overall: Penguin would drive this route again.
  • Cheap Diesel
    • Walmart Fuel Station, 808 W Walnut St, Rogers, AR 72756.
    • The cheapest diesel we have found during our entire trip: $2.42/ga.
    • Diesel pumps were on the end, fairly easy to get to even though this is not a truck stop-sized gas station.
    • We got gas around 1 pm on a Sunday and only had to wait a few minutes for the cars to clear so we could pull in our 37’ Class A motorhome and tow car.
  • Cherokee Turnpike: US-412 toll road
    • The free option is US-412 Alternate.
    • We had to pay $6.25 since we have four axles, motorhome has two plus tow dolly and Fiat rear wheels.
    • Overall: The Cherokee Turnpike was really smooth and a nice drive, but we have never driven the US-412 Alternate route so we don’t know if it was worth the $6.25.
      • Have you driven the US-412 Alternate route instead of taking the Cherokee Turnpike? What was your experience?