I63 Ark/ Il line

[EVMIII]

Planning our trip to Rushmore, Glatier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and looking for a stop somewhere off I63 around the Arkansas-Illinois border. Don't need anything real fancy, but easy entry and exit, close to I63. Don't want big bucks, but I'd rather spend a few dollars and get a good night sleep.Any recommendations. Thanks.

[notanlines]

Okay, let's start fresh. You're headed to Glacier National Park.....don't go near Illinois. Remember, you're starting in Biloxi. Arkansas doesn't touch Illinois and there really is no I-63. We would recommend taking the western route through Dallas up into Colorado and north.

[EVMIII]

Take 2. First stop on our trip is Mount Rushmore where we are meeting some friends at Custer State Park. I'll be heading up I55 through Memphis where my GPS routes me to State Hwy 63. What I meant to ask was for recommendations at the Arkansas/Missouri line. Our National Park tour ends at the Grand Tetons/Jackson Hole area and I do plan on taking the South Western route home.

[Jeepshots]

Why on earth would your GPS want to take you up 63? Last time i was on 63, it was a two laner that took you from one town to the next. I live in Arkansas. That's in the northeast corner of the state. You'll be in the flatlands - the top of the Mississippi Delta. Lots of crops up there, but not much else to see. Well, once you're past Walnut Ridge, you'll eventually get into some hill as you approach Missouri. I have no idea about RV parks / campgrounds on 63. Are you shortcutting over to Springfield MO? Just trying to figure why 63....

[EVMIII]

Correction, the Good Sam Planner chose that route. My GPS routed 55 to 70. Looks like several more miles, but sounds like it might be faster. I guess I should be looking at a stop on 55 between Memphis and St. Louis.

[Jeepshots]

Heh. Good Sam wanted you to spend days in the Ozarks of Missouri! If you're wanting scenery, then 63 thru Missouri will probably have it (none in Arkansas tho), and it'll probably take you all day to get up 63 to I-70 at Columbia (assuming that was the shortcut destination). If you're wanting to get somewhere, then I'd do I-55 up to St Louis, and I-70 across. If you're wanting to blow some time and cross the natural state on your way west, then take I-55 north to I-555 to State Hwy 14 up to the town of Fifty-Six, and spend some time in the Blanchard Springs Caverns. They have a campground, but no RV hookups - they do have water and a waste station. From there, take State Hwy 27 over to Marshall. Marshall is central to the Buffalo National River (absolutely beautiful), just east of the Ozark National Forest and just north of Leslie (antique shopping). From Marshall, take US Hwy 65 north thru Branson (PLENTY of stuff to do there) and continue north until you hit Springfield (and I-44). Quick jog to the west will allow you to hit I-49, taking you north to Kansas City where you can hit I-70. Happy safe driving, whichever route you go.

http://www.blanchardsprings.org/
https://www.arkansas.com/places-to-g...?city=marshall
https://www.arkansas.com/places-to-g...px?city=leslie
https://www.arkansas.com/places-to-g...nal-river.aspx

[notanlines]

Just so that I can add something constructive, leave Biloxi early and drive all the way to Tom Sawyer RV park just over the old bridge on the Arkansas side in West Memphis.
If you still need an RV park between Memphis and St Louis head to Sikeston, Missouri, home of Lamberts restaurant, famous for "throwed rolls." The name of the RV park there is Hinton RV park. All pull thru's as I remember.

[JRTJH]

I agree with staying at Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis. It's about 5 miles off I-40, but worth the detour. The "riverfront sites" in the campground are on the Mississippi River. It's easy to sit under your awning for hours, watching tugboats push trains of barges up and down the river. If you do decide to stay there, get anything you need for the evening BEFORE you head to the campground. There's nothing around it, no convenience store, no restaurants and it's on the "river side of the levy"....

When you're leaving the campground, look to your right at the Laundromat building under the trees. That black line painted at the second story windows is the river level during the floods 3 years ago..... Don't worry, if the river starts rising, there's 4 or 5 days advance notice before the campground goes underwater.....

[EVMIII]

No time to do a lot of sight seeing enroute, I need to average about 400 a day. I really hope to get 500 or so the first couple days to make the last day into Custer a little easier. It's about 370 to Memphis, another 280 to St Louis. I hope to get atleast another 130 miles (about half way between).

[notanlines]

Sikeston is your answer.

[gearhead]

If not Tom Sawyers, one of the casinos at Tunica Mississippi. I think there is a COE campground there too. If you keep going north there is Lady Luck casino at Caruthersville Missouri off I-55. Decent RV parking there for overnight.
I don't know about Good Sam. I just use Google Maps.

[gearhead]

Then maybe Arrow Rock State Park near Boonville, Mo. Or, something right on I-70 before Kansas City.
Have fun....

[blake2727]

I will have to disagree with some of the other posters. I drive a truck and go from MS to Kansas City or Omaha almost weekly. If your looking to set the cruise and forget it then 55 to 70 is your best route. If you want to save time and have a more scenic route then 63 knocks about 30 minutes off the drive. It is 2 lane for about 60 miles but has passing lanes every few miles. It does have more hills and curves through those 60 miles than 55 to 70 does. It's only 30 minutes so not that big of a deal but I will take the 60 miles of 2 lane to avoid St. Louis traffic any day.

[ctbruce]

If you are going through St. Louis, there are not very many nice campgrounds there. However, if you continue to go passed the Lou to Montgomery City, there is a great campground there, Lazy Days Campground. Very clean, nice dog area, quiet and very well maintained. We just stayed there for a weekend and will go back. http://www.lazydaycampground.com/

This puts you about 3 hours outside of Kansas City and puts you on the path to I-29 and South Dakota. West Memphis to Montgomery City is 345 miles if that helps.

If you want to go further there is a campground at Higginsville, but I've not stayed there but know people who have. That is a 475mile jaunt from West Memphis. http://greatescape-camping.com/home.html

Higginsville is 49 miles from Kansas City. Good luck with your trip!