Okteenerfest caravan from the DFW area, Lets start planning. Options

[ClayPerrine]

We are starting to plan the trip to and from Okteenerfest.

If you would like to travel with us, just let us know. The more the merrier. Any and all suggestions, ideas, etc.. are greatly appreciated.

We have been to Okteenerfest multiple times, and twice to Banner Elk, so here are the gotchas.

1. Registration in Banner Elk on Thursday is usually 3 to 7 in the afternoon/evening. It's better to get there early rather than late because registering on Friday is a pain in the ass. It's a lot more fun to get there early enough to get settled in, meet people, and figure out dinner. We normally make Wednesday a long day, and Thursday a short day of driving.

2. The time change. Around Rockwood, TN, on highway 40, we lose an hour. It bit us hard a couple years ago.

3. Anyone who is pulling a trailer is going to need a safe place to park when we stop for the night, both there and back.

4. Leaving DFW, Betty and I are going to trailer one car, and drive another, both trying to clear Dallas morning rush hour traffic to get to I-30 headed east. A long first day favors leaving early.

Questions for the group.

What time are y'all comfortable leaving in the morning? We found that leaving at 7am works for us.

In the past we have found hotels that were running $60 to $80 a night. What is a comfortable price range for a hotel for y'all?


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Betty]

Here's what we're thinking so far - totally open to any and all suggestions!

On The first travel day (Wednesday) hotel arrival time that night isn't as critical so morning leave time can be fluid as Warren and Karen can come our direction, stop and meet up with us. From there we head towards Dallas on 635, stopping again to meet up with Scott and Katie - or - we all pick a place over by Scott and Katie and just meet up there? From there it's get to Highway 30 and go east.

We're suggesting stopping for the night in Hurricane Mills TN. That makes for a little over 9 hour drive the first day. There are about 3-4 hotels in Hurricane Mills with some restaurants to pick from. If that works for everybody, we'd pick the Days Inn (15415 Highway 13 S, I-40 Exit #143, Hurricane Mills, TN 37078-2358, 1-800-329-1992, actual hotel is 1-931-296-7647) (the price is right and it looks like they have room for trailers to park). The hotels in town are all close together so don't feel obliged to stay where we do - we'll all have each other's cell phone numbers to be able to communicate.

The only sticky parts are going to be Dallas morning rush hour, and Memphis TN afternoon rush hour. We've done Memphis rush hour multiple times, it's definitely easier than DFW but the road quality really, really sucks HARD - which the two driven 914's have to worry about the most. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) We can all decide if we want to leave DFW earlier or later to minimize rush hour(s), or not?

So, if Hurricane Mills TN works for everybody, I'd recommend we get hotel reservations now?

Scott said he and Katie are both Road Warriors, if they want to drive straight through - more power to you! If you have any issues we'll come and help/rescue when we catch up to you. I always make the joke that long distance miles in a 914 should be counted at least 1 1/2 times regular car miles, so I know I'll need the overnight break in order to arrive in Banner Elk happy and ready to play. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

That makes for just a 6 hour drive on Thursday to Banner Elk - but don't forget we lose one hour due to the time change around Rockwood TN! Depending on when we leave Hurricane Mills, that'll put us in Banner Elk around 4:00 p.m. Early enough to get unloaded, settled in, meeting people and ready to start having an incredible time! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif) Seriously; you guys have no idea just how freakin' AWESOME this group of people is! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

Coming back Sunday night we tend to split the drive into two more even driving days - I'm still working on that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)