After driving 220 miles today we have decided to stop for the night at an RV park near Bristol, Tennessee. This is an interesting town, it straddles the border of Tennessee and Virginia.

Bristol TN & VA

An appropriately named State Street divides the town.

State Street, Bristol TN/VA

Tennessee on the south side and Virginia on the north side.

Bristol TN/VA

We drove around a bit and walked up and down a few streets. A sign tells of how the first recordings were made that launched the country music industry in 1927.  And that in 1998 the United States Congress recognized Bristol as the “Birthplace of Country Music.”

There is a big “Birthplace of Country Music Museum” in town, but it was closed by the time we got there so we did not get inside. It is a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum and just opened last year.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, VA

We are staying at Shadrack Campground just south of Bristol. It is a nice clean campground with large perfectly level sites. It’s close to the Bristol Motor Speedway, a popular NASCAR short track. The campground is almost empty right now.

Shadrack Campground, Bristol, TN

• Gasoline:  $109 @ $2.05
• Lodging:  $16.56   (Passport America 50% discount)