📊 Trip Overview
28Days Total
4,400Miles Round Trip
$4,000Total Budget
25Camping Nights
A 4-week road trip from Lewisburg, WV to the Grand Canyon South Rim and back — routed through some of America's most scenic and underrated stops. The camping mix of full-hookup, electric/water, and dry camping nights keeps costs down while keeping the experience authentic.
⭐ Trip Highlights
- Mammoth Cave, KY — World's longest cave system
- Hot Springs National Park, AR — Historic bathhouses & scenic AR-7
- Palo Duro Canyon, TX — Second largest canyon in the US
- Santa Fe, NM — Art, culture, and southwestern charm
- Grand Canyon South Rim — 4 days at one of Earth's great wonders
- Petrified Forest / Painted Desert, AZ — Ancient petrified wood
- Great Smoky Mountains, TN — Cades Cove & waterfall hikes
🚗 Outbound Journey — Days 1–14
Days 1–3 · Lewisburg, WV to Mammoth Cave, KY
I-64 W → I-65 S · 320 miles · ~5 hours
Mammoth Cave Campground (NPS)
- Electric/water hookups · $30/night × 2 nights = $60
- Book cave tours in advance — they sell out
- Activities: Cave tours, hiking Green River trails
Days 4–5 · Land Between the Lakes, KY/TN
I-65 S → Purchase Pkwy → US-68 · 150 miles · ~2.5 hours
Piney Campground (USFS)
- Primitive / no hookups · $24/night × 2 nights = $48
- Activities: Bison range viewing, Homeplace 1850s farm
Day 6 · Memphis, TN
180 miles · ~3 hours
Tom Sawyer's Mississippi River RV Park
- Full hookups · $55/night
- Evening: Beale Street for live blues music
Days 7–9 · Hot Springs, AR
I-40 W → AR-7 S (SCENIC!) · 210 miles · ~4 hours
Gulpha Gorge Campground (NPS)
- $30/night × 2 nights = $60
- Activities: Historic bathhouses, Hot Springs National Park
- AR-7 is one of America's most scenic drives — don't skip it
🏔️ Destination — Grand Canyon (Days 15–20)
Days 15–17 · Grand Canyon South Rim
US-84 N → US-64 W through Navajo Nation (VERY SCENIC) · 395 miles · ~7 hours
Trailer Village RV Park — Inside Grand Canyon NP
- Full hookups · $65/night × 2 nights = $130
- Book months ahead — this fills up fast
- Rim Trail — sunrise at Mather Point, sunset at Hopi Point
💰 Budget Breakdown
| Camping Type | Nights | Total |
|---|
| Full Hookups | 8 | $416 |
| Electric / Water | 6 | $192 |
| Primitive / Dry | 10 | $230 |
| Total Camping | 25 | $838 |
⛽ Additional Costs
- Fuel: $1,540 (4,400 mi · 10 mpg · $3.50/gal)
- Food & Supplies: $1,400 (28 days × $50/day)
- Activities & Park Fees: $400
- Propane & Generator: $150
- Miscellaneous & Emergency: $672
$4,000
Grand Total — Full 28-Day Trip
🚌 Important RV Notes
⚠️ Height Clearance (13′ trailer)
- AVOID: Historic downtowns with low bridges
- CAREFUL: Parkways with stone overpasses
- WATCH: Gas stations, drive-thrus, parking garages
- Use RV Trip Wizard or AllStays to check clearances ahead of time
📱 Recommended Apps
- iExit — RV-friendly fuel stops
- AllStays Camp & RV — Campground finder with hookup details
- GasBuddy — Lowest fuel prices on route
- RV Parky — Campground reviews by RVers
📅 Best Time to Go
- April–May: Wildflowers, mild temps, less crowded
- Sept–Oct: Fall colors, cooler temps, less crowded
- Avoid July–August: Extreme SW heat, peak crowds
📋 Final Tips
🎫 Book Ahead
- Grand Canyon Trailer Village fills up months out
- Mammoth Cave tours — reserve before you leave
💧 Camp Smart
- Dump stations at full-hookup sites before dry camping
- Fill fresh water tank whenever available
💳 Money Savers
- America the Beautiful Senior Pass: $80 lifetime
- Good Sam membership: 10% off many campgrounds
- AAA/AARP: Fuel discounts add up over 4,400 miles
Safe travels — the Grand Canyon awaits. The journey is just as memorable as the destination.
Want an Itinerary Built for You?
This itinerary was built using AI + real expertise. I'll do the same for your trip — custom routes, campground picks, logistics, and packing lists included.
Plan My Trip
See More Samples