Birmingham to Manistique Road Trip Guide

Before you head out on the roadways, you should probably take the family to the Birmingham Zoo. They have plenty of exhibits and exotic wildlife from lions, elephants, giraffes, and so much more. Plus, your kids will never run out of things to do. They are guaranteed to definitely have a ball for hours before you head out on the road.

If you plan on staying one more night, there’s a couple of RV parks located south of Birmingham in the suburb of Hoover. It might be a little out of the way, but it will be close to I-65, which you will be mostly traveling on for much of this trip.

As you head farther north, you’ll be just outside of Huntsville. If you are a fan of space and want to learn of the history of America’s space exploration, this is definitely the place to be. Believe it or not, this is where the world-famous “Space Camp” is located. Check out the exhibits or take part in the wide variety of simulators that are available.

If you ever wondered what life was like for an astronaut, you and your whole family will get the chance to experience it. Obviously, a ride on the space shuttle won’t be included. Before you liftoff to your next leg on the trip, you won’t need to go very far to find an RV park. There is one located on the grounds of the US Space & Rocket Center. On the day you arrive, you can find a space, explore the museum, and also explore Huntsville all in one go.

On your way to Manistique, you’ll eventually have to get through Nashville, Tennessee. Famously known as “Music City”, there are plenty of places that you can explore. If you are a fan of country music, you’ll be in heaven. Just don’t forget to check out the Grand Ole Opry before you leave.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is another place you might want to check out as well to learn more about the legends of the music genre from Hank Williams to Johnny Cash and so many more. A can’t miss landmark is a full-scale replica of the Parthenon, an ancient Greek landmark. There are plenty of places to check out throughout the day when you are in Nashville.

There’s a lot of RV parks located outside of Nashville including the Nashville North KOA. If you are looking for more activities, there’s a reservoir located east of the city where you are almost guaranteed to find a good spot for RV no matter what the size.

After an eventful day in Nashville, it’s time to hit the road and cover more ground in Tennessee. Once you cross into Kentucky, you might want to head on over to the city of Bowling Green where you can check out the Lost River Cave. You’ll get to enjoy exploring the inside of a limestone cave while riding on a subterranean boat. It just might be the coolest adventure you’ve ever been on (be it by yourself or with the entire family).

After exploring the cave, you can check out the Kentucky museum just up the road if you have the time. There’s a KOA park just located outside of Bowling Green where you’ll have plenty of space for your RV.

Hopefully, you enjoyed exploring the Lost River Cave. Because that’s not the only one you’ll get to explore on this long road trip. You’ll be exploring the longest cave in the world. There are at least 400 miles of underground trails located on the grounds of Mammoth Cave National Park.

On the ground level, the park as a lush forest that you can hike. If you are a fan of nature walks, this humongous forest is certainly the place for you to take in the scenery and observe the wildlife. There are plenty of campgrounds and RV parks in and around the park, especially those that can accommodate large RVs. After all, you are in or near a national park so there’s a good chance you’ll find plenty of space for your rig.

The city of Louisville is the home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby. It’s also where the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats are manufactured. If you are a baseball fan, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is certainly one of those “can’t miss” places to visit.

You’d be crazy to not visit the famous Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby. Learn the history of horse racing at their on-site museum and learn about the legends of Secretariat and the number of Kentucky Derby winners over the course of its 150 years.

At the end of the day, you can settle in at the KOA Louisville South campground where you can be able to set up your RV.

If you are a racing fan (or not), this might as well be the place to visit as you are making your way farther north. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the world’s largest racing circuit. For years, it has hosted the Brickyard 400 and the world-famous Indy 500 race. Whether you catch a race here or not, it’s certainly a place worth checking out.

Just east of the city of Interstate 70 is the KOA Indianapolis. Not only is it a great place to park your RV, but it has plenty of amenities for you and the entire family. Needless to say, it sure beats the hotels.

From Indianapolis, you’re now ready to embark on a long stretch throughout Indiana and all the way up through Michigan. You’ll be making a few road changes from I-69 to US Route 127 and finally I-75 through most of central and northern Michigan. Mackinac Island is smack dab between the mainland and Upper Penninsula of the state. This is an island park that you can explore on foot or by bike. The scenery is beautiful and a sight to behold. Don’t forget to take pictures of Arch Rock before you leave the island.

There are plenty of RV parks that you can stay at that are both on the island or on the mainland in nearby St. Ignace. Again, this will depend on the size of your RV and if there are any available accommodations that will fit.