We'll probably be heading to Phoenix next week, Dec 19 or 20th, depending on weather. Usually, this means get as far south as you can in the first day or so, dewinterize, then relax and move on.
Likely route is I90 west to Erie Pa., then south to I70 near Pittsburg then to Columbus, then I71 thru Cincinnati to Lexington and then I65 straight south to I10 at Mobile. From there we wander west to Az for New Years eve with our daughter and son-in-law in Phoenix.
Anybody with comments on a better route, places to overnite or stay a day or two. and things not to be missed, I really appreciate your input.
We'll likely return by a similar route in the middle of March.
We are booked into Bradshaw Mountain RV Resort (bradshawmtnrvresort.com)for Jan. and Feb. If any other Barthers are in the area drop on by.
They have wifi so we'll be in touch.
Don and Patty

If you are going thru Lexington Ky I would suggest you spend at least one nite at the Ky Horse Park. Well lit up for xmas, and everything else about horses. Tom

If you're in no hurry, the Natchez Trace Parkway is an unusual and a very scenic way. You can pick it up outside Nashville, TN, and take it all the way to Jackson, MS, and there pick up I-55.

I've only been on the Trace from Jackson to Mathison (at jct. US 82). It's two-lane, max speed 50, and very little traffic (no commercial vehicles allowed).

A "must stop" for lunch (10:30AM-2:30PM) would be the Council House Cafe (an historic structure - quite small) a block east off the Trace at SR 407, French Camp, MS. Food there is delicious; it's very near one of my favorite star parties, two miles further down Hwy 407. There's also an interesting little gift shop attached. Grab some of the locally-made jelly.

There's a tiny, minimal-service (but free) state-operated RV park about 15 miles north of French Camp and right on the Trace.

An alternative would be to exit I-65 at Birmingham and take I-20 to Tuscaloosa, north on I-359/US 43 to US 82 at Northport (Wal-Mart only a couple of miles on the right). This is two-lane for about 25 miles (although four in spots, and it's being widened) - mostly four-lane from the MS line west to Mathison.

There are virtually no RV parks between Tuscaloosa and Jackson, MS. There's one in Columbus, MS (Brown's RV Park) forget it - very tiny, and usually fully-occupied by long-termers. Wal-Mart 1 mile north on US 45.

Another smaller Wal-Mart in Starkville, just east of Hwy 25 (on Hwy 182 or 12, can't remember) - the latter, I think.

BTW, I mention Wal-Mart, because they welcome RVs (in most locations) for overnights. That's very helpful in fall and winter, when many RV parks are closed for the cold months.

"I65 straight south to I10 at Mobile..."

How I'd go: (Weather-dependent, of course)When you get to Nashville, hang a right and go I-40 to Memphis and Little Rock; I-30 to Big D; I-20 to the I-10 intersection at Old Ft. Stockton, then on to Phoenix. Eastern I-10 is probably America's WORST interstate in terms of repair/upkeep/maintenance -at least on the part you'd be on- and you'll endure the traffic nightmares of Red Stick, Houston, and San Antone. From Pensacola to San Antone I-10 is pocked with big holes and has broken down shoulders, undulating choppy-ride pavement, and ultrahigh padstrips bouncing lots of traffic. And of course there's a good chance of a wreck on the Atchafalaya multi-miles-long bridge, just in front of you so you're trapped for a looong time.
Conversely, I cruised home from Cape Cod 6 weeks back and rode 81>40>30 with no real headaches.
Overnite: Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis is a good stop, although in Dec. the breeze off the Miss. River may be a little much. Sounds like a great trip -enjoy.

Good point!

I took I-10 from Lake City (roughly Jct I-75/I-10) last April - decent as far west as Gulfport, MS. I-10 in Lousy-anna, fuggedaboudit. Usually lousy surface, roadway elevated above the swamps, small shoulders, very few places for breaks if needed.

If you still wanted to take the Trace, you could pick up I-20 at Jackson, MS. Getting through Dallas-Ft. Worth is almost always a leisurely trip.

If you've not done west Texas before, note that west of Ft. Worth, there's mile-after-mile of nothing but mile-after-mile... Abilene, Midland-Odessa, El Paso. ~600 miles...

When we bought our Barth, we had to fly to Phoenix and drive it back to Georgia. We took I10 and I20 all the way. Pretty good except for minor construction in some parts. One night we stayed at Monahans Sand Hills State Park between Odessa and El Paso. Being from the Northeast, you'll just have to see it to believe the contrast to the area you see everyday. It was about $15.00 and we will stay there again. The only thing bad about this route is you are crossing Texas from northeast to southwest and it is almost a 1000 miles. Good road and pretty country, just a lot of Texas.

If you enjoy western art, come back I40 through Oklahoma City and go to the Cowboy Hall of Fame. The name might not indicate it but they have an unbelievable collection of original artwork by Remington and others. The original "End of the Trail" statue is there and I could stare at it for hours.

Have fun and don't over plan. Just go.
Nick

Well it ain't that bad! I just drove from Houston to Tampa last week and we encountered none of the problems mentioned. I-10 had no construction up between Houston and Tallahassee. The worst area is Baton Rouge where the 1-10 meets the Mississippi River Bridge. That was congested eastbound but not westbound. Texas. Louisiana and Mississippi have completed overlays and new rest stops that make the trip easy. We encountered only one area of narrow lanes and that was east of Baton Rouge.
Now the good part: I know of three Barth owners in the Houston area and one or more service places that either sold or serviced Barth's years ago. You might want to get our info in case you need help, directions or whatever. We can, with Bill's help, make a contact chain of members that you can call if you need anything on your journey. I assume you are going to Mobile because you want to see stuff along the way. Don't miss the USS Alabama in Mobile Bay and perhaps the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Gulfport/Biloxi MS is a great show and they can handle rv's.
I-10 west of downtown through Houston is being expanded to 24 lanes - yep 24! but the west bound lanes are nearing completion and are easy except at rush hour (3PM to 7PM). Once out to Katy it is clear to San Antonio (The Alamo, Riverwalk and several KOA's, Good Sam RV Parks and such)
The trip from San Antonio to El Paso is better on I-10 than of I-20 because of more scenery and variety of terrain. The Davis Mountains Observatory (University of Texas) (http://www.as.utexas.edu/mcdonald/mcdonald.html) is a terrific stop - star gazers from around the world come there.
However you won't see cowboys, rustlers or stampedes but there are local fairs and rodeo's and lots of good mom and pop diners if you get off the Interstate and visit the old towns. Locally Diesel is selling today for $3.19 and Regular is $2.69 to $2.88. If you have specific needs let me know and I will try to help.
Tom K

Thanks you all for the suggestions.
Looks like we'll run south thru Pittsburg, Columbus, Cincinnati to Nashville and do the Natchez Trace then amble across to the Texas hill country. i want to stop in Carlsbad to look at a 65 Royal Enfield project then over to Phoenix area for a bit before we get into Bradshaw Mtn for January 1.
As it happens, Carlsbad is the Barth's first home after being bought from Texas RV in Waco. Wonder if the first owner is still around?
We are planning a leisurely return thru the Rio Grand valley and Gulf coast in March.
We had Christmas with the family this weekend, biggest storm of the last few winters came too! The Barth is buried in drifts and the compartment doors are glazed over with the freezing rain that came first!
Gonna be fun to pack!
Everybody came here so the brother and sister-in-law used the Barth as a bedroom and were very comfortable although the furnaces where on all weekend, ... with lows around 15 degrees!
We will have a second Christmas with our other daughter and son-in-law in Jan. when we get to Phoenix.
We will spend Christmas day somewhere on the road. Just the two of us. ... Now that's going to be different!
Thanks again.
Don and Patty

"then amble across to the Texas hill country..."

If you like country roads, 190 through LA/TX ain't a bad trip. After Hearne, TX stay on 79 west to Taylor, turn right (N) on 95, go through Taylor 5 miles then immediately after the flat bridge over the San Gabriel River turn left on Hwy 29 and go west on 29 through the heart of the Hill Country: Georgetown, Burnet, Llano, Mason; join 190 at Menard, then on to Carlsbad. In Austin, Armadillo World Headquarters burned years ago, but the larger-than-life statue of guitarist Townes Van Zandt looks out over Town Lake; the Austin Music Scene is still very much on fire. Fredericksburg is all decked out for its annual Christmas show if you want a diversion.

What a great trip! Barth just cruises along nicely (67mph@2100rpms)for all those miles so far.
We did the Trace from Nashville all the way to Jackson Miss. then went straight south. The weather has been quite cool so decided to lay up for Christmas in the RGV.
We are in Victoria Palms RV Resort in Donna Texas. We highly recommend this place, great facilities and friendly people.
Two more hiccups besides the ws wiper, ..we ran out of propane overnite in east Texas but filled up before leaving the campground next morning. The LPG monitor doesn't work it always reads full, so knew this would happen eventually. And the speedo is intermitant, so the cruise sometimes doesn't work either.
We are back on the road to Az tomorrow morning.
We wish everyone a very Merry Chistmas.
Have a graet holiay.
Don and Patty