Hi there, I think which way you go will depend on what you want to see along the way. You could go up via Lightning Ridge to Dirranbandi then across to Thallon to see the painted silos there (some of this road may still be dirt) free or low cost camp beside the silos. Up to Nindigully Pub - free camp beside the river and pub, to St. George to Surat - free camp in town and plenty to see, across to Glenmorgan to see the old Garage - free camp next door, to Meandarra - good military museum. Up to Condamine - free camp by Caliguel Logoon,the lagoon a few k's from the highway and south of the town, take a look at the Condamine bell and the river, Miles Pioneer Village, Wondoan, Taroom, Theodore - free camp in town by the river, Banana, Biloela, Calliope to Gladstone. OR instead of Lightning Ridge head to Collarenebri, Mungindi - free camp on Qld side of the river and again you could side step to Thallon then up as before or go up to turn off onto the B5 to Weengallon - look at the aboriginal site there, then across to North Talwood to Bungunya - free camp that is in town away from the highway (no shops left in this town though), or skip the Thallon detour if not interested, up to Westmar - free camp to Meandarra etc. OR straight up the A39, fuel at Coonabarabran usually expensive, Moree, Goondiwindi, fuel at Goondiwindi usually expensive too, Moonie, Dalby, Kumbia - free camp in town or another between there and Kingaroy, Wandoan, Murgon - have a look at the woodwork at the information centre, Ban Ban Springs to Biggenden -free camp in town then up. There are just lots of alternative routes that you can go on, plenty of free camps. Most of the ones I've mentioned we have stayed at at some stage in our travels. We've done most of these roads in the RV in our Avatar. Cheers and enjoy.

I'll have to leave the road conditions question to others as I can't honestly say that I remember any of these roads being particularly bad and thinking we'll not go this way again any time soon. Sorry, no help from me there.