Off-Roadeo in Tennessee... how long does it take?

[dpAtlanta]

I'm looking forward to my TN Off Rodeo on May 9. Does anyone know how long to allow for the drive from Townsend to the site?

Roughly 30 minutes… use google maps from your location in Townsend to the Bronco Off-Roadeo.

Sponsored

 

[Beach_Bum]

I'm looking forward to my TN Off Rodeo on May 9. Does anyone know how long to allow for the drive from Townsend to the site?

Give yourself a half hour. Best to get there early for check-in. Keep in mind there are different routes that navigation will take you to the same destination. It would be prudent to drive the route the day before just to familiarize yourself with the back roads.

 

[blueflame]

Thanks, I will check out the route.

 

[dpAtlanta]

It would be prudent to drive the route the day before just to familiarize yourself with the back roads.

We did the same... but this is what the sign says on the day before the event:

I believe they change the sign on the day of the event to say Tennessee Bronco Off-Roadeo

 

[Beach_Bum]

We did the same... but this is what the sign says on the day before the event:

I believe they change the sign on the day of the event to say Tennessee Bronco Off-Roadeo

The other side of the mailbox/road sign?

Seems like they have a steady schedule of attendees nearly every day. I'm sure it is closed for at least 1 day a week. In either case, the metal cut-out of the Bucking Bronco is part of the permanent mailbox/road sign.

 

[dpAtlanta]

The other side of the mailbox/road sign?

Seems like they have a steady schedule of attendees nearly every day. I'm sure it is closed for at least 1 day a week. In either case, the metal cut-out of the Bucking Bronco is part of the permanent mailbox/road sign.

Here is the other side on the day before I attended.... so they must change both sides, or at least they used to.

 

[cobra935o]

My GPS from my phone with Apple Car Play tried to take me to a neighborhood across the street, and I know I wasn't the only one, cause there was another there behind me, so dont get fooled into trying to go into the private neighborhood, just back up a little and its on the opposite side of the street than its telling you, look for that mailbox sign and the wood fence posts all the way down to the parking and base camp area.

 

[Marc L]

Ours is the 30th on May staying at RT Lodge. Getting excited. Long-ish drive from Chicagoland 10 hours.
We have a 7MT 4dr Big Bend <-- basically a base model with heated seats so anything we get will be totally different.
We've NEVER off-roaded beyond fire roads so it will be an experience. Years back I tried to get her to go to the Land Rover offroad event as we had a good JP Morgan Chase discount, but she wasn't interested.

 

[Marc L]

Awesome experience at the Offrodeo in TN despite getting drenched during the pre-drive instruction. We both felt confident in the vehicle and the instruction. It was exciting without being sketchy which was perfect. The instructor let us know the times we would slide or lose traction and emphasized not panicking, which gave us confidence.
The RT Lodge was okay. If you like the resort atmosphere and plan to be at the lodge during the day it might be a good choice, but we used it just for sleeping and it definitely wasn't worth double or triple the cost of an average chain hotel. If I did it again I probably would stay in Knoxville vs. Maryville as it was a sleepy town.

 

[dpAtlanta]

The RT Lodge was okay. If you like the resort atmosphere and plan to be at the lodge during the day it might be a good choice, but we used it just for sleeping and it definitely wasn't worth double or triple the cost of an average chain hotel.

I would agree if you were only crashing there for the night... and during bad weather.
We stayed two nights and enjoyed the large group gathering around the fire pit, and the food/bar was really good. We also had time to explore around the day before with good weather... bad weather would affect the experience.

 

[Marc L]

I would agree if you were only crashing there for the night... and during bad weather.
We stayed two nights and enjoyed the large group gathering around the fire pit, and the food/bar was really good. We also had time to explore around the day before with good weather... bad weather would affect the experience.

The rooms had lots of flaws -- Walker House room 109. No individual temperature control, which is a BIG DEAL. We always set CONSTANT FAN and 68 degrees as hotel rooms are inherently stuffy. Lots of artificial light penetration at night, which means if you like dark rooms while sleeping you are SOL. Breakfast was super limited and as a northerner Waffle House was not only a novelty, but had as good of food and a MUCH better selection. Shower was super cramped. Rooms had NO refrigerator and you had to go to the main lodge and ask for ice. Parking was strange which meant if you had a lot of luggage or a cooler there was a long walk. Super easy to pass the entrance on Ruby Tuesday drive in the dark, which was annoying.
The staff was very friendly, but there wasn't a lot they could do with what I consider fatal flaws.

 

[dpAtlanta]

The rooms had lots of flaws -- Walker House room 109. No individual temperature control, which is a BIG DEAL. We always set CONSTANT FAN and 68 degrees as hotel rooms are inherently stuffy. Lots of artificial light penetration at night, which means if you like dark rooms while sleeping you are SOL. Breakfast was super limited and as a northerner Waffle House was not only a novelty, but had as good of food and a MUCH better selection. Shower was super cramped. Rooms had NO refrigerator and you had to go to the main lodge and ask for ice. Parking was strange which meant if you had a lot of luggage or a cooler there was a long walk. Super easy to pass the entrance on Ruby Tuesday drive in the dark, which was annoying.
The staff was very friendly, but there wasn't a lot they could do with what I consider fatal flaws.

Wow... what a difference a different house makes.
We stayed in the Wiley House in room 402, and there was a refrigerator and a full-size shower/tub that was not cramped. I believe there was an ice maker in the front entrance area of the Wiley House with water. There were no light issues at night... I had a hard time making it to the bathroom in the middle of the night because it was so dark.
We also had a buffet breakfast that had plenty of options with good food... I love Waffle House, but the buffet was better.

I guess together, we are providing a Public Service Announcement.

 

[Marc L]

Wow... what a difference a different house makes.
We stayed in the Wiley House in room 402, and there was a refrigerator and a full-size shower/tub that was not cramped. I believe there was an ice maker in the front entrance area of the Wiley House with water. There were no light issues at night... I had a hard time making it to the bathroom in the middle of the night because it was so dark.
We also had a buffet breakfast that had plenty of options with good food... I live Waffle House, but the buffet was better.

I guess together, we are providing a Public Service Announcement.

I could read labels clearly at 2:30am in my room with the shutters fully closed.

We had water and coffee in the Walker House, but no ice. When I went to the front desk to ask about ice they had to get it from the restaurant and they never mentioned it was available in my house or anywhere else.

What was on the buffet breakfast(Friday morning)?
Scrambled eggs, bacon, granola, yogurt, fruit, and some pastries. We don't eat pork and scrambled eggs are the least appealing of all egg varieties. The home-made granola was the highlight, however there was no milk for me to turn it into cereal as I'm not a yogurt-granola person. They only had water and orange juice besides coffee and the orange juice was pretty unappealing.

 

[dpAtlanta]

We were there November 13th & 14th.... Wednesday & Thursday.
We enjoyed our stay.
Sorry to hear yours was not a good one.

 

[TheZsdad]

The rooms had lots of flaws -- Walker House room 109. No individual temperature control, which is a BIG DEAL. We always set CONSTANT FAN and 68 degrees as hotel rooms are inherently stuffy. Lots of artificial light penetration at night, which means if you like dark rooms while sleeping you are SOL. Breakfast was super limited and as a northerner Waffle House was not only a novelty, but had as good of food and a MUCH better selection. Shower was super cramped. Rooms had NO refrigerator and you had to go to the main lodge and ask for ice. Parking was strange which meant if you had a lot of luggage or a cooler there was a long walk. Super easy to pass the entrance on Ruby Tuesday drive in the dark, which was annoying.
The staff was very friendly, but there wasn't a lot they could do with what I consider fatal flaws.

We had pretty much the same experience at the RT lodge. No AC on arrival ,then no heat at night. Two twin beds was the only room available when booked months ahead. Cute but at my age (75) I prefer comfort over cute. Way over priced. Breakfast start time at 7:00 AM and had to be at the off roadeo at 7:45 doesn't leave much time to enjoy a nice breakfast. We did enjoy the breakfast the next day. The property the lodge sits on is beautiful but I wouldn't stay there again. I would do the full day again if the off roadeo offers one at a decent price. A half day I won't bother as it's too much trouble and expense with travel and lodging. Agreed the staff was friendly and the room clean.

Sponsored