Columbus to Albany Road Trip Guide

Your first stop on the adventure is this beautiful zoo in Pine Mountain. Here at Wild Animal Safari, you’ll come in contact with 75 wildlife species and up to 500 animals. Yes. 500 animals. What’s more, you can explore some parts of the zoo in your car, and some others on foot.

If you want to get around in your vehicle, you can drive through a 3.5-mile stretch in the zoo where you’ll come face-to-face with giraffes, camel, zebra, elk, American bison, and other fauna. If you choose to go on foot, then feel free to explore the Walk-About in the park where you’ll see bears, alligators, hyenas, ligers, and monkeys.

Feel free to come with your camera so you can take pictures. Note, however, that pets are not allowed in the zoo. After a long and fulfilling day here, drive south to FD Roosevelt State Park to camp in your RV/trailer.

Just before you drive out of Georgia, you should visit Funopolis Family Fun Center in Commerce to give you and your children the chance to enjoy some family fun experience. This amusement center is loaded with plenty of activities that keep young and old engaged for hours on end. Some of the things to do here include racing the tracks, playing golf on the Miniature Golf Course available, as well as many other indoor activities.

In addition to these, the Center is open to family and group events, so you can enjoy a birthday party or family reunion here. If you want to eat something, feel free to visit the Café where you’ll be able to get pizza, Coke, and cake.

A private RV park sits nearby for guests that wish to stay overnight in the city before picking up the adventure the next morning.

As soon as you arrive in North Carolina, make your way to High Rock Lake where you’ll now be able to have a taste of water-based recreation on this road trip. This lake that extends more than 10 miles has over 350 miles of shorelines, meaning you have a lot of options about where your preferred spot to relax is.

When you arrive here, it’s up to you to choose how you’d like to spend time. You could boat or kayak on the lake, swim, ski, or angle for fish species. Fishing is particularly popular in spring and summer, but rest assured good populations of largemouth bass are present in the lake in fall.

As far as camping options are concerned, lots of campgrounds sit on the shore of the lake offering tent and vehicle sites. Some of these include Moose Lodge Campgrounds and High Rock Lake Marina and Campground.

Next on the list is a stop at the Tobacco Heritage Trail in Boydton, Virginia where you’ll get the chance to stretch your legs and enjoy an excursion. This trail is nestled between unspoiled woods and tobacco farms. The name of the trail draws from the fact that the tobacco farms have been passed on from generation to generation. You can be sure you’ll enjoy the outdoors here and get the chance to relax too. You could decide to explore the trail on foot, on the back of a horse, or a bike. It’s up to you.

A few safety recommendations are in effect for guests that wish to have fun on this trail, so be sure you abide by them to make your time here one with only good experiences. Pets are allowed on the trail, but ensure you keep them on a leash.

John H. Kerr Reservoir is a good place to spend the night as four COE campgrounds that accommodate tents and RVs are available on the shore.

Your next stop after driving from Boydton is Woodford, where you’ll get your adrenaline pumping and cheer your favorite racecar driver on. At Dominion Raceway and Entertainment, guests are welcome as spectators to watch the wide array of racing events and activities that take place on the raceway. From road courses to oval tracks, street race tracks, and karting tracks, there are good options for races to choose from.

Events available in this sports facility include NASCAR racing, car shows, concerts, bingo nights, and movies. Whether you’re alone or with your family, there’s an exciting activity for whatever time of day you visit.

Less than two miles northeast of the raceway is the Fredericksburg / Washington DC South KOA campground where your overnight RV camping wishes will be met. Amenities provided here include partial and full hookups, Wi-Fi, showers and restrooms, plus a pavilion. RVs up to 95 feet long are welcome.

Time to learn a few things about aviation at the College Park Aviation Museum in Maryland. This is a top destination for guests who are on vacation with their families to see aircraft of various types and sizes. The museum gallery features plenty of artifacts and exhibits that visitors can take pictures of. What’s more, you’ll be able to come up close to these aircraft, and even be able to touch some parts. Make sure you supervise your children for the entire time you’re exploring the facility.

Tours for different categories are provided within the museum to different classes of tourists – group tours, school tours, and summer camp tours. The museum is open every day of the week except on specific holidays.

Drive a few miles north to Cherry Hill Park if you’ll like to spend the night in a family campground that offers RV services and modern amenities.

It’s high time you spent quality time in a park and Wharton State Forest in New Jersey is just the perfect place for this. This State Forest encompasses rivers and streams that provide water-based recreation opportunities. In addition, there are plenty of land-based activities that you can engage in with your family while you interact with nature in its purest form here.

The best place to begin is the Visitor Center where you’ll get grounded in how you would best enjoy your adventure in the Forest. Thereafter, there’s nothing in your way, so go hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, or canoeing/boating. Playgrounds are available for children and so are picnic areas for family meals. To cool off, you can swim in Atsion Lake which features a bathhouse.

As far as camping here is concerned, options range from primitive sites to group sites, and RV campgrounds with water, fire rings, picnic tables, pit toilets. Reservations are accepted.

Wrap up this exciting road trip at Harriman State Park in Sloatsburg as you unwind with your family. Being the second-largest state park in New York, this park is home to 200 miles of hiking trails, 31 lakes/reservoirs, streams, and scenic roads. The major facilities in the park are a recreation area, cabins and campgrounds, and four large lakes - Lakes Sebago, Welch, Tiorati and Silvermine. Other facilities available include boat launches, gift shops, playgrounds, a Visitor Center, and a swimming beach.

Things you’ll be able to do at Harriman State Park are biking, hiking, ice fishing/skating, fishing, and swimming. Wildlife viewing is a popular activity here, thanks to the vantage points and diverse fauna in the region. Campgrounds here accept RVs and trailers up to 30 feet long and feature picnic tables, grills, and bathrooms. Pets are welcome but you’re required to keep them on a short leash.