Route suggestions

[Christian, Tommie and Dad]

Hi all,
I am leaving on my first trip in my new 17B. I am going from Central New Jersey to Peoria Illinois. I am looking for advice to help me avoid extreme inclines and declines, toll roads, possible problems when towing with propane tanks (I have two). If anyone has any suggestions for inexpensive (free!) camping or boondocking I would love to hear about it. My camper is self contained with Solar power
I am traveling with my service dog(71 lbs), my 20 year old cat and elderly Father. Going west we have a little flexibility, but I would like to stay in camps conveniently located from the highways. Returning east we might explore a little. Thank you in advance for all your shared experience and helpful suggestions.

[SFDavis50]

https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic...opo%20Download

Above is a topographical map.

[cpaharley2008]

Lisa,
If you can take I95 south to Baltimore and then take 695 around the city to I70 west and then I68 west to West Virginia and then I79 north to reconnect to I70 west and stay on it all the way to Indianapolis where you connect to I74 north to Peoria. No tolls all easy grades and interstate with plenty of rest stops and KOA's available in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

[padlin]

Another possibility going west, if you want to get off the highway and aren't in a hurry. Take I-70 like Jim says, but head north at Columbus to 30 west. Take 30 to 224 south of Forth Wayne to 24. 24 west right into Peoria. We've taken it a couple times.

If you want to avoid DC and Baltimore, take I-81 north instead of I-95, then cut over from Harrisburg, the road would depend on where in NJ you want to go. It's longer but more peaceful. I cut through Charlotte.

I don't know I-68 across WV, Jim might know how it is, hill wise. I-76 is another option but it's a toll road. I've had a couple mean hills around Hagerstown, but don't recall what route I was on at the time.

[Christian, Tommie and Dad]

Thank you

[Bill and Earline]

The best advice to get low cost camping is to get the $10 app named Allstays. It locates Corps of Engineers camping, but also allowable free places like certain Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, etc. If your father has the senior pass from the National Park Service, even better. Half price at most federal places--National Forests, National Recreation areas, and C.O.E.
Also use Allstays to find county parks, city parks, and others that are good for one nighters, while traveling.

[ReagentGrade]

Yes, the Allstays app is excellent. I also use the "Ultimate CG" app to find boondocking sites. I also subscribed to the online version on Ultimate CG so I could download the POI file to my Garmin. If I can find it online, I can find it in my custom POI file (except for new items because I don't update the POI file very often).

[Iowa Dave]

When you travel through NW Ohio on the old Lincoln Highway, drift into the nice town of Delphos Ohio and stop in town at the Delphos Creamery for the best ice cream money can buy at a very reasonable price. Make your route one that has a chance of making historical memories, meeting nice people and if your going to stop into a local
Restaurant look for ones with lots of cars parked around it and one that does not have a help wanted sign in the window. The national road highway 40 is also great don't worry about making time, make memories.
Iowa Dave

[cpaharley2008]

One more item, please update your avatar to your new Escape.