St. Louis to Lafayette and Thornville RV Pickup Route
Overnight in Lafayette
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St. Louis–Lafayette drive via I-70 E and I-65 N — St. Louis to Lafayette; depart around 1:00–2:00 PM for the approximately 4–4.5-hour drive, allowing extra time for traffic and fuel. Check in at 31 Frontage Road and park the vehicle overnight.
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Wabash & Erie Canal Park — Delphi; take an evening walk along the restored canal and historic grounds, ~1 hour. It is a worthwhile short detour north of Lafayette if arrival is early.
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Main Street Books — downtown Lafayette; browse the independent bookstore and nearby historic streets, ~45 minutes.
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Columbian Park — downtown Lafayette; enjoy a relaxed sunset walk through the gardens and park, ~45 minutes.
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Bistro 501 — downtown Lafayette; polished American dining in a historic setting, approximately $25–$45 per person, ~1.5 hours. Verify dinner hours before departing St. Louis.
Afternoon Drive from St. Louis
Leave St. Louis around 1:00–2:00 PM for Lafayette, following I-70 E toward Indianapolis and then I-65 N; plan on roughly 4–4½ hours of driving, plus a fuel or rest stop. Traffic around Indianapolis can slow the final stretch, so keep the evening flexible. After arriving, check in at 31 Frontage Road and park securely before heading back out. Because this is a travel-heavy day, grab a quick drink or snack before leaving St. Louis rather than counting on a full meal en route.
Evening Detour and Lafayette
If you arrive in Lafayette with daylight remaining, continue north to Wabash & Erie Canal Park in Delphi for an easy one-hour walk along the restored canal and historic grounds. It is about a 30-minute drive from Lafayette, so it works best only if you are checked in by early evening; confirm the grounds’ access and daylight conditions before making the detour. Return to downtown Lafayette afterward and spend about 45 minutes browsing Main Street Books, then wander the surrounding historic blocks—many shops close by early evening, but the architecture and streets are pleasant for a short walk.
Dinner and Sunset
Finish at Columbian Park, where the gardens and paths make for a relaxed sunset stroll; allow about 45 minutes and use the on-site parking near the park facilities. Then have dinner at Bistro 501, a polished American restaurant in a historic downtown setting, budgeting approximately $25–$45 per person before drinks and gratuity. Verify its Wednesday dinner hours and make a reservation if possible. After dinner, return to 31 Frontage Road for an early night—the next morning’s RV pickup in Lafayette is scheduled for 7:00 AM.
RV pickup and arrival in Thornville
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Lafayette RV pickup drive to 6821 E 100 N — east Lafayette area; leave at 7:00 AM for the short local drive, allowing ~30 minutes for navigation, paperwork, inspection, and hitching.
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Walmart Supercenter — Columbus west side; after collecting the RV, drive toward the Columbus meeting point and stop for groceries, water, and supplies, ~45–60 minutes. Confirm the exact store and RV parking suitability in navigation.
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Sam’s Club — Columbus; use the fuel station if membership and vehicle access are suitable, ~20–30 minutes. Check fuel-lane clearance before entering with the RV; use a nearby truck-friendly station if necessary.
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5200 Westpointe Plaza Drive — Columbus west side; meet the other RV and coordinate the caravan, ~30–45 minutes. Allow time for a final fuel, restroom, and route check before leaving.
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7585 Kindle Road — Thornville; arrive via I-70 E, then local roads, in approximately 45–60 minutes from west Columbus. Set up camp and settle in for the evening, ~1.5 hours.
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Columbus-to-Thornville drive via I-70 E — depart the Westpointe Plaza area by approximately 3:00–4:00 PM to reach the Thornville campground before dark; confirm campground check-in and RV site instructions ahead of time.
Early Morning — Pick Up the RV
Leave your Lafayette overnight stop at 7:00 AM for 6821 E 100 N, allowing about 30 minutes for the local drive plus time for paperwork, the vehicle inspection, hitching, and a careful walk-around. Before leaving, photograph the RV’s exterior, confirm the fuel level, test the lights and brake connection, and ask about height restrictions, propane, generator use, and roadside assistance. A 7:30–8:30 AM pickup is a realistic target if everything is ready.
Late Morning — Columbus Supplies and Fuel
Drive east toward Columbus, using the major highways recommended by your rental company or RV navigation app rather than relying only on a standard car route. Stop first at the confirmed Walmart Supercenter on the west side of Columbus for groceries, water, paper goods, ice, and RV supplies; plan 45–60 minutes and verify that the specific location has space for an RV before entering the lot. Then continue to Sam’s Club for fuel, allowing 20–30 minutes. Check membership requirements and lane clearance in advance—some club fuel stations are tight for larger motorhomes, so do not force the turn if the approach looks awkward. Keep a truck-friendly backup fuel station marked in your navigation.
Midday to Afternoon — Meet the Other RV
Allow roughly 30–45 minutes at 5200 Westpointe Plaza Drive to meet the other RV, compare routes, exchange phone numbers, and agree on your caravan order and radio or messaging plan. This is also the right time for a restroom break, a final fuel check, and a quick review of the route into the campground. Try to depart the Westpointe Plaza area by 3:00–4:00 PM; the drive to 7585 Kindle Road in Thornville should take about 45–60 minutes via I-70 E and local roads, but an earlier departure gives you daylight for backing into the site.
Evening — Settle In at Thornville
At 7585 Kindle Road, complete campground check-in, confirm your site boundaries and hookups, and take your time leveling and securing the RV—about 1½ hours is a comfortable estimate for a first setup. Keep the evening simple after the long day: prepare the groceries you bought in Columbus, check that slide-outs and awnings have adequate clearance, and review the next morning’s departure plan. Confirm quiet hours, dump-station rules, and whether the campground requires a specific exit route for larger RVs before turning in.
