Week 8: Mid-West Route Home-Ohio, Lousiville, and Memphis

This entry is part 10 of 11 in the series 56 Nights North East Summer Airstream RV Trip

56 Nights North East Summer Airstream RV Trip

Days 48-49: Quick visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Aug 29 – Aug 30)

HTR Niagra to Sunbury / Columbus North KOA, OH – 317 miles, 5.25 hours

Day 48 was yet another long travel day. We took breaks along the way, including a brief stop at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Unfortunately, we arrived after the park had closed, so we only had time to walk near the entrance and browse the gift shop before continuing our journey.

We arrived at Sunbury / Columbus North KOA at 9pm, ready to rest for the night after a long day on the road.

Days 49-50: Airstream Factory Tour and Terraport Campground (Aug 30 – Aug 31)

Sunbury / Columbus North KOA to Airstream Factory Terraport – 76 miles, 1.5 hours

Day 49: Nearly Missed The Airstream Factory Tour
One of the experiences I was most excited about on this trip was the Airstream Factory Tour at the Airstream Mothership in Jackson Center, Ohio. We had scheduled it months in advance, and the on-site Terraport Campground next to the Airstream Service Center, with full hookups for just $20/night, made for an inexpensive and convenient stay.

We almost missed our scheduled Friday 1 p.m. tour! We pulled into the campground at 12:40 p.m., thinking the tour was at the same location, only to realize it was about a mile away. By 12:53 p.m., I was frantically unhitching the trailer—probably the fastest I’ve ever done it—and we made it to the tour doors just in time at 12:58 p.m.

The tour itself was amazing, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at how Airstream travel trailers are crafted. That evening, we relaxed back at the Terraport, cooking steak and salmon on the grill for dinner.

Days 50-52: Louisville, KY & Churchill Downs – Kentucky Derby (Aug 31 – Sep 02)

Airstream Factory Terraport to Grandma’s RV Park, Louisville, KY – 147 miles, 2.5 hours.
Day 50 started with an unexpected hiccup: our truck battery was completely dead. After an unsuccessful attempt with a neighbor’s jump starter, Logan and I biked to a nearby NAPA Auto Parts, just half a mile away. They had one battery in stock and quickly sourced another from a nearby city.

The staff went above and beyond—Danny delivered the battery to our campsite, while William and Spencer came out to help us install it. While I could have replaced it myself, they were so quick and kind that we were back on the road faster than expected. What a fantastic crew!

We originally planned to visit the ARK experience on our way to Lousiville but decided to skip it. We did stop for a dinner break at William Arnold Log House in Williamstown, Kentucky, an authentic early 1800s log cabin. We arrived at Grandma’s RV Park in Louisville at 9:15 p.m. Note: the campground had strict rules—no bicycles, hoverboards, or scooters were allowed.

Day 51: Churchill Downs
The next morning, we started our day exploring a nearby flea market before heading to the iconic Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. It was fascinating to walk the grounds and imagine the historic horse races that take place there.

Later, we visited the Big Four Bridge and Waterfront Park, where the kids enjoyed the playground and we crossed the pedestrian bridge for scenic views of the river and city as it connects Kentucky to Indiana.

Days 52-54: Lincoln Birth Place Historical National, Mammoth Cave, Jellystone (Sep 02 – Sep 04)

Louisville, KY to Jellystone Mammoth Cave, KY – 97 miles, 1.5 hours.

Day 52: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace and Mammoth Cave Jellystone

We checked out of Grandma’s RV Park and made a stop at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. The kids were excited to earn their next Junior Ranger badge, but this one took longer than previous ones, so we took a lunch break before they completed the requirements.

We arrived at Jellystone at Mammoth Cave in the late afternoon, and the kids immediately went off to explore the campground on their own—they love that independence! While they roamed, we restocked groceries at a nearby DG Market, then grilled burgers and pork chops for dinner, accompanied by a hearty soup.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Day 53: Mammoth Cave Tour
We spent the day exploring Mammoth Cave National Park, where we joined the Domes and Dripstones Tour, which included the famous Frozen Niagara.

Days 54-56: Memphis and National Civil Rights Museum (Sep 4 – Sep 6)

Jellystone Mammoth Cave to T.O. Fuller State Park, Memphis, TN – 319 miles, 5 hours.

Day 54 was another long driving day as we made our way to T.O. Fuller State Park, Memphis TN.
Along the way, we made a pit stop at a Tennessee Buc-ee’s for snacks and, of course, the world’s cleanest restrooms.

Just when we thought we were in the clear, disaster struck—a loud pop at 65 mph on the highway told us one of our Airstream tires had blown. Thankfully, we were able to safely pull over onto the shoulder. It turned out to be the front passenger-side tire. Having already changed an Airstream tire earlier on this trip, I am now considered a pro but it was nerve-wracking with trucks whizzing by at 70+ mph.

Once we were back on the road, Thao called around to find a tire place that has at least 4 set of tires we needed in stock, given that we are now out of spare tires. We found a Discount Tire in Southaven, MS and scheduled to come by for a replacement the next morning.

We made a quick dinner stop at a Love’s Truck Stop, stocked up on water and rice at Costco, and finally arrived at T.O. Fuller State Park after 9 p.m. Backing into the campsite in the dark was, as always, a challenge, but we managed.

Day 55: Fresh Airstream Tires and National Civil Rights Museum
We started our morning by towing our Airstream to Discount Tire where they replaced all 4 tires for us on the Airstream. Our Stella got 4 brand new Good Year Endurance ST225 /75 R15 tires. We felt so much more at peace for final leg of our trip home. With fresh rubber on the road, we decided to relocate to Jellystone Horn Lake MS, which offered laundry facilities and was closer to the attractions we wanted to visit.

While we initially planned to visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland, we realized we wouldn’t have enough time to fully enjoy it. Instead, we headed to the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of Room 306. The museum provided a powerful and educational experience, teaching the kids about slavery in America and the Civil Rights Movement.

To wrap up the day, we enjoyed delicious fried chicken dinner at Hattie B’s, a perfect ending to a busy and meaningful day.

Day 56-57: One Last Overnight Stop (Sep 6 – Sep 7)

Jellystone, Horn Lake, MS to Dallas Northeast Campground, Caddo Mills, TX (429 miles, 6.5 hours)

Day 56 was yet another long and grueling driving day. We made a quick stop at Hot Springs National Park Visitor, where we ate lunch in our Airstream and refilled our water jugs with hot spring water before continuing. Having visited Hot Springs twice before, we didn’t spend much time there this trip and were ready to move on.

Originally, we had planned to stay overnight at a campground near Paris, TX. However, we decided to push a bit further to shorten our driving time the next morning. Our final overnight campground stay before returning to Austin was at Dallas Northeast Campground in Caddo Mills, TX.

Day 57 – 58: Back in Austin, But Not Yet Home (Sep 7 – Sep 8)

Caddo Mills, TX to Austin – 291 miles, 3.5 hours
Finally, the homestretch! We had a deadline to make it back to Austin in time for Logan’s first soccer game of the season. Driving straight to the soccer field, we made it just in time for his 2 p.m. game!

Even though we were back in Austin, we weren’t quite ready to head home yet. Logan’s friend was celebrating her birthday with a campout at McKinney Falls State Park, so after the soccer game, we drove straight to the park and spent one more night camping—this time just minutes from home.