🚍 Stevens Family RV Adventure
Atlanta, GA → Kalamazoo & Northern Michigan → Home
📅 July 11-23, 2026 • 8-12 Days
Atlanta, GA → Kalamazoo & Northern Michigan → Home
Three ways to structure this adventure. Click any route to see the full breakdown.
Each route has a different personality. Pick the one that matches your vibe.
Atlanta → Chattanooga → Nashville → Mammoth Cave → Louisville → Indianapolis → Kalamazoo → Home. ~1,450 miles round-trip over 9 days with epic stops along the way.
Easy morning start. Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls, Incline Railway. Family-friendly caves and views. Camp at Raccoon Mountain Campground (full RV hookups, pool).
Music City. Grand Ole Opry, Broadway honky-tonks, Nashville Zoo. Camp at Nashville KOA or Two Rivers Campground (walkable to Opryland).
World's longest cave system. Take the Domes & Dripstones tour (kids love it). Louisville Slugger Museum. Camp at Louisville South KOA.
Longest driving day. Optional stop: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (Brayden will love it). Arrive Kalamazoo by evening for family time.
Family time, Holland beaches, Air Zoo, Cindy's sister visit. Relaxed days, no driving pressure.
Kalamazoo → Nashville area (overnight, ~330 mi, 5 hrs). Nashville → Atlanta (~250 mi, 4 hrs). Reverse the adventure route or take I-65 straight south.
Your complete trip timeline with driving distances, stops, and activities.
Morning departure from Atlanta. Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway. Kids can explore Rock City's Enchanted Trail.
🏕 Raccoon Mountain Campground — full RV hookups, pool, cave tours on-site.
Nashville Zoo (great for Ella & Brayden), walk Broadway, catch live music. Grand Ole Opry if timing works.
🏕 Two Rivers Campground — walkable to Opryland, full hookups, laundry.
Longest driving day. Optional stop at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (Brayden will love the race cars). Push through to Kalamazoo by evening.
🏕 Kalamazoo area — Markin Glen County Park or Tri-Lakes Trails Campground.
Family time base. Air Zoo Aerospace Museum (flight simulators, real planes). Day trip to Holland for Lake Michigan beaches, Dutch Village. Visit Cindy's sister. Bell's Brewery for Brad.
🏕 Stay at same campground — no packing/unpacking stress.
Drive up the coast. Optional stop in Grand Rapids (Founders Brewing, Gerald R. Ford Museum). Traverse City for cherry orchards, Clinch Park Beach, and downtown shops.
🏕 Traverse City State Park — beachfront on Grand Traverse Bay, full hookups.
One of the most stunning spots in America. Dune Climb (450 ft of sand... Ella and Brayden will race up it). Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for breathtaking Lake Michigan overlooks. Glen Haven Beach for swimming.
🏕 Return to Traverse City State Park or Platte River Campground (right at the dunes).
Hunt for Petoskey stones on the beach (Michigan's state stone... the kids will dig it). Mackinaw City for views of the Mackinac Bridge. Optional: ferry to Mackinac Island (no cars, just bikes and horses).
🏕 Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping — waterfront, views of the bridge, pool and mini golf.
Two options: (A) Retrace I-75 south through Ohio, overnight near Cincinnati or Lexington. (B) Cut west to I-65, overnight in Louisville or Nashville for one last stop. Either way, arrive Atlanta July 22-23.
🏠 Home sweet home. Unpack, decompress, campfire stories in the backyard.
What's happening July 11-23 along your route
Top-rated parks along your route with full hookups, amenities, and reviews
Caves, ziplines, water parks, and unforgettable experiences along the way
Available RVs on RVshare.com for pickup in the Atlanta area
Take the RV north from Kalamazoo for an epic Lake Michigan adventure
Truck drive from Atlanta, departing 2 PM ET Thursday Jul 16
| 2:00 PM | Depart Atlanta (Buckhead) | Mile 0 |
| 3:00 PM | Buc-ee's stop, Calhoun GA (gas, snacks, restrooms) | Mile 65 |
| 4:15 PM | Pass through Chattanooga, TN | Mile 120 |
| 5:30 PM | Pass through Knoxville, TN | Mile 215 |
| 6:15 PM | Corbin, KY -- home of the original KFC (quick stop?) | Mile 275 |
| 7:30-8:00 PM | Arrive Lexington, KY -- check in + dinner | Mile 369 |
| 8:30 AM | Depart Lexington (after hotel breakfast) | Mile 369 |
| 9:45 AM | Pass through Cincinnati, OH (I-75 over the Ohio River) | Mile 450 |
| 10:30 AM | Gas/restroom stop -- Dayton, OH area | Mile 505 |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch stop -- Toledo or Findlay, OH | Mile 600 |
| 2:00-2:30 PM | Arrive Kalamazoo, MI! | Mile 730 |
Leave 2 PM Thu, arrive ~2-3 AM Fri. 12-13 hours with stops. Not ideal with kids but doable if you want to wake up in Michigan.
| Route | Distance | Drive Time | Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-75 North (Recommended) | 730 mi | ~10.5 hrs | Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, Cincinnati |
| I-65 North (Alt) | 740 mi | ~11 hrs | Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis |
Delta nonstop flights for 4 passengers (Main Cabin, not Basic Economy)
| Date | Nonstop Options | Per Person | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15 (Tue) | 9:49a, 3:19p, 7:54p, 9:59p | ~$569-599 | ~$2,276-2,396 |
| Jul 16 (Wed) | 4 nonstop options | ~$649-679 | ~$2,596-2,716 |
| Jul 17 (Thu) | Evening flights cheapest | ~$569-599 | ~$2,276-2,396 |
| Flight | Miles/Person | Taxes | Seats Left | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound ATL to GRR (Jul 15-17) | ||||
| Saver availability not yet cached by Seats.aero for these dates. Check delta.com directly -- domestic saver typically 10K-15K miles/person. | ||||
| Return GRR to ATL (Jul 24) | ||||
| DL2058 nonstop, 2:19p-4:34p | 11,000 | $5.60 | 9 | 44K + $22.40 |
Your miles: Brad 168K, Cindy 38K, Brayden 28K, Ella ~30K = 264K total
Key insight: Book award flights for ALL passengers from Brad's 168K account. No transfers needed. Delta lets you book for anyone.
Estimated total (if saver available): ~84K-104K miles + ~$22-45 taxes for all 4 roundtrip. Well within Brad's 168K balance.
Cash equivalent saved: ~$2,300+
Transferring miles between accounts costs $0.01/mile + $30/transaction. No Diamond member discount. Not worth it when you can book from one account.