Choosing a destination (Update: WV, here I come)

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux) 06/23/2019 at 20:50 • Filed to: None

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Update : Chuckles has persuaded me to head east instead of north or southwest. I may continue to the Outer Banks , but I suspect that’ll prove too much driving; I’d rather save that time for the mountains.

So, if anyone has more recommendations for that area, I’d appreciate them. The Cumberland Gap Tunnel, Blue R idge Parkway, Highland Scenic Highway, U.S. 250, Routes 60 and 32 are on my short list.

I may drive some forest roads near Slade in the Daniel Boone National Forest on the way back, but those can be fairly intense/muddy, and with all the rain recently, not sure I’d want to tackle those alone.

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I’ve asked a similar question before, but this time I have a little runway before I depart. The company at which I’m currently contracting has a week off for the 4th of July, so I’m trying to decide what to do with that.

I want to get out of state to someplace with interesting back roads. Ohio has some surprisingly interesting roads (see below), but so much flatness. Illinois has the Shawnee National Forest, but I’d like to have some urban areas around too, and southern Illinois is almost as depopulated as Chernobyl.

Middle of nowhere, Ohio. Any time I’m on a public road that looks nothing like a public road, I’m probably happy.

Kentucky and Tennessee are great, but I’ve spent time there before. They’re my fallbacks.

I’m thinking this time I should either go to the U.P. or the Ozarks. Both seem to have plenty of interesting forest roads to explore. The U.P. has spectacular waterfalls, but I’m guessing also has kitten-sized mosquitos right now, and I’ll of course be topless. I think I’d rather go there when the snow is melting and the water is really flowing.

But I know nothing about the Ozarks.

Of course, as cool as it’s been, a beach in South Carolina sounds nice too. Or another donut tower at the Blue & White in Tunica, Mississippi.

So many options, so little time.

Suggestions? I’d say roughly within the circle below.

Chuckles > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:30

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West Virginia is my favorite driving state. US 250 is my pr eferred road, and you'll see the only covered bridge that's part of the US numbered highway system. Lots of mountains, very few people. Spruce Knob is nice too.

Just Jeepin' > Chuckles 06/19/2019 at 10:34

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Every few months I’ll see something that tells me I should visit, but the other 99.999% of the time I forget the state exists and is in relatively easy driving distance. 

benjrblant > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:35

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if you’re feeling adventurous and don’t mind going outside your radius, the black hills national forest in western south dakota is supposed to be beautiful. the mvum shows lots of 4x4 access roads too. also badlands national park is supposed to be primo.

Chuckles > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:37

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I live in very eastern PA (like 20 minutes from NJ) and I have made weekend trips just to go to WV.

Also, the entire B lue Ri dge Parkway is inside of that circle you drew. That's more popular though. But Asheville is a great city, the road is great, and if you stay in Fancy Gap VA you can sleep in a train caboose with a jacuzzi tub.

Just Jeepin' > benjrblant 06/19/2019 at 10:42

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If I’m driving that far, I’m probably going to the second most holy ground for Jeeps: Colorado.

Censored > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:48

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So IL is awesome. You will not be disappointed with the Shawnee. Marion and Carbondale offer a decent amount of “urban”. If you do decide to go here, get a hold of me and I’ll direct you to a few cool spots. There are also some decent fire roads that are fun to run. This is the area that I let my Rubi stretch her legs.

Chuckles > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:49

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I’ve stayed here before and would absolutely recommend it to anybody looking for some interesting lodging:

http://www.grassycreekcabooses.com/

Milky > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:51

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Lap of Lake Michigan. Silver lake sand dunes to start then all of the ORV trails in the U.P.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:51

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The Ozarks and the Ouachitas are pretty awesome. We did the Ozark National Forest this Easter weekend . Lots of water crossing and some funish overlanding. Very little offroading, but we were also purposefully avoiding the rough stuff.

The Ouachitas are a lot of fun too, though just on the tip of your radius. Lots of different options. We’ve done it a couple of times and really enjoy it.

JustAnotherG6 > benjrblant 06/19/2019 at 10:55

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I just came back from a weekend in the Black Hills with a quick stop in the Badlands. B oth are quite beautiful and questionable roads are easy to find.

Just Jeepin' > Chuckles 06/19/2019 at 10:55

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The nice thing about WV is that if I change my mind I can always just continue on  to a Carolina beach.

benjrblant > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 10:58

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it’s still very snowy here. most trails haven’t thawed or are very muddy. i’ll add that many out of state visitors and even some locals (not suggesting you specifically) seem to have a hard time staying on the trail and not shredding the crap out of our delicate terrain.

Just Jeepin' > Milky 06/19/2019 at 10:59

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I’ll definitely make that trip someday, if not this time. I’ve twice tried and failed  to make the Jeep Jamboree on Drummond Island.

Just Jeepin' > Censored 06/19/2019 at 11:02

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I visited Garden of the Gods long before I owned a Jeep . What a spectacular place .

Just Jeepin' > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 06/19/2019 at 11:03

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I’m done with off-roading for the most part, certainly when I’m alone. I just like back roads. 

450X_FTW > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:10

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Silver lake sand dunes are always fun in the jeep, but if you’re going up the week of the 4th avoid the weekends, they’ll be overly busy.

Another fun wheeling option is St Helen, MI. The city has pretty much developed into an ORV haven in the past few years. 

Chuckles > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:14

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I used to live in Eastern NC. If you want desolate, take 264 to the outer banks instead of 64.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:22

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Plenty of good options then. For finding trails I’ve found that the dual sport guys are better organized and more into long drives than the offroad people. That is where we got the idea to do the Oklahoma Adventure Trail and several of the Arkansas options. Might be worth seeing if there is something similar for your state (or adjacent states). It was a lot of fun, even though it was just backroad driving.

Just Jeepin' > Chuckles 06/19/2019 at 11:24

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Just don’t stumble into Croatan, I assume? It’d be a shame to vanish without a t race.

Just Jeepin' > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 06/19/2019 at 11:26

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I hope I can reach a point financially where I can take a couple of months to try the TAT. What a great drive that would be.

Kentucky and Wisconsin both have their equivalents. 

Censored > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:29

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That’s just scratching the surface. GOTG is awesome, and likely the highlight , but there are tons of other awesome places to visit.

Ash78, voting early and often > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:30

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Draw a box between Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Asheville. Everything in that box is pretty awesome.

Chuckles > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:34

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That whole peninsula is just beautiful desolation. One year in January I drove from little Washington to Nags Head and passed maybe 3 other cars. 264 is just a 2 lane road through a lot of emptiness. I love it. Just remember to get gas in Belhaven.

Just Jeepin' > Chuckles 06/19/2019 at 11:36

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I only have about 200 miles/tank. Is it really that isolated?

Chuckles > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:42

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You'll be ok, but your options are limited. You just have to keep an eye on things and you might have a stretch of 25-30 miles without a gas station. And if you decide to go off 264 and take some back roads, you'll want to gas up first.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:45

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Go to Toronto and get me some Puppers?

Just Jeepin' > CaptDale - is secretly British 06/19/2019 at 11:48

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I do miss Toronto, but I’m skeptical about dealing with border security. 

Just Jeepin' > Ash78, voting early and often 06/19/2019 at 11:50

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I love Lookout Mountain.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:53

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It is just a case or 2 of beer

Just Jeepin' > CaptDale - is secretly British 06/19/2019 at 11:57

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Heh, no, the border in general. Seems to be an excuse for the government to demonstrate its true asshole nature.

“Unlock y our phone or stay in detention for a week.”

CaptDale - is secretly British > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 11:59

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Ah. I’ve never had that issue. Hell even traveling abroad recently it only took 20 minutes to get through TSA in LAX, Heathrow, and Charles De Gaulle .

Ash78, voting early and often > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 12:09

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Amazing composition and looks like you timed the fog just right. That’s a really cool battlefield/park.

There is so much in that “box” I mentioned, but you can find some of the most beautiful scenery and food in the entire Eastern US there.

One travel hack I’ve always wanted to try is to go to the Smokies, then to an old settler valley called Cade’s Cove, which is a huge tourist draw . Most people go in & out the same way, but there are actually two (one-way) gravel roads that lead out from there. One drops you right onto the Tail of the Dragon. It’s called Parson Branch Road . Not technical trails, but they can get closed due to tree fall or high water.

It’s basically a “secret escape hatch” from the National Park and saves you 2-3 hours of driving if you’re heading into NC from there.

Just Jeepin' > Ash78, voting early and often 06/19/2019 at 12:20

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Thanks. It was a great f og day.

I’ve been down both those roads out of Cades Cove. Unfortunately one has been closed for a couple of years, at least last I heard.

I don’t remember offhand which road is which, but this is taken  from the lower road.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 12:28

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The U.P. has spectacular waterfalls, but I’m guessing also has kitten-sized mosquitos right now

I can’t imagine the ozarks are any better with mosquitos, but i could be wrong.

I love the UP...the little bit of the forest roads I’ve been around up there for the rally races have been beautiful.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Ash78, voting early and often 06/19/2019 at 12:32

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One drops you right onto the Tail of the Dragon. It’s called Parson Branch Road .

We tried finding this escape route when I was there last but after apparently missing it twice we asked a ranger and he said it was closed due to high water at the time :(

Had to settle for the long way round to the Tail of the Dragon

Just Jeepin' > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 06/19/2019 at 12:44

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I’ve always heard that the mosquitos around the Boundary Waters are brutal because the warm season is so short, and I assumed that would carry over to the U.P., but dunno.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 14:11

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You will not be disappointed with NW Arkansas. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 14:20

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Backroads aplenty! 

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 14:38

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Is the “T” in TAT Tennessee or Texas?

Just Jeepin' > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 06/19/2019 at 14:42

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Much bigger!

https://www.transamtrail.com/

nermal > Just Jeepin' 06/19/2019 at 18:13

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Go to WV.

If you’re into offroading, check out the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. There’s all types of variety in them.

Alternatively, or in addition, go to Snowshoe and get a downhill mountain bike for a day or two .

Just be careful if you’re near the maximum security prison, don’t pick up and hitchhikers there. You’ll see signs everywhere to remind you, just in case you forget. 

Just Jeepin' > 450X_FTW 06/19/2019 at 19:56

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Michigan is almost too overwhelming. Between the 3(!) different state licenses/passes (or am I missing even more?) , the wide variety of options, the near-wilderness of the U.P. (a nd the off-limits Huron Mountain Club), it’s tough for an outsider to plan a Jeep  trip.

450X_FTW > Just Jeepin' 06/20/2019 at 07:29

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Alright I’ll give you the stickers/permit one, because even that pisses me off since I have to buy 4 sets of ORV stickers a year at $36 each (2 bikes, wife’s quad, our Jeep), then if you go to the sand dunes you need the state parks sticker ($11).

Other options for private land off road parks:

Bundy Hill (closest one to you).

Rocks and Valleys

The Mounds  

Just Jeepin' > 450X_FTW 06/20/2019 at 08:13

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Not all that interested in off-road parks on a solitary road trip . It’s the countless back roads I’m looking forward to (plus Silver Lake).

450X_FTW > Just Jeepin' 06/20/2019 at 08:42

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If the views are what you’re after, check out Tunnel of Trees, just north of Petoskey (which is also an awesome town)

Sovande > Just Jeepin' 06/23/2019 at 21:01

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Check out Dolly Sods Forest. There are fire roads throughout and they are well maintained. The area is gorgeous. I was out there in May and we drove for an hour and a half through the woods and saw one other car. It was a Jeep.

Just Jeepin' > Sovande 06/23/2019 at 21:07

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Excellent, thanks, exactly the kind of roads I like to find.

someassemblyrequired > Just Jeepin' 06/23/2019 at 21:18

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Just (literally) got back from the Asheville, NC area. Not sure what the jeep trails are like, but it was some awesome scenery and some great driving roads.

WV is frikkin great. There’s some really sad areas that it’s heartbreaking to see, but some awesome driving roads and cool things to see.Go do Cass Mountain Railroad, and it’s very close to the Greenbrier observatory. Lots of awesome driving roads in that area.

The national forest areas in eastern WV also have some awesome roads and are very close to Skyline Drive in VA, which is a slow go in the summer, but spectacular.

f86sabre > Just Jeepin' 06/23/2019 at 21:29

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We stayed at this Airbnb on the Blueridge Parkway during the Power Tour. It was very nice and reasonably priced. I wish I could have stayed longer.If you are looking for fun roads I would recommend the routes we used for the tour. Drive them the reverse route if needed. If you follow the link below  it will show you the daily routes. there are cool car things along these routes. The link at the top loads nicely into google makes as well.

https://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/21/2017/01/Hot-Rod-Power-Tour-2019-LARGE-PRINT2.pdf

M.T. Blake > Just Jeepin' 06/24/2019 at 00:58

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Michigan panhandle. 

Just Jeepin' > M.T. Blake 06/24/2019 at 07:58

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Technically, there is no such thing. You mean the Upper Peninsula? Definitely on my list, just not this trip.

M.T. Blake > Just Jeepin' 06/24/2019 at 09:14

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Yes. That.