Full Timer Route Planning

[IrishIroamed]

Been wondering this for a while now, so finally figured I'd ask...

Other than a solid destination that you need to be at on a specific date (Hello those heading to Ireland! ), and wanting to head north (probably) in summer and south (probably in winter), how do you plan your routes and select campgrounds?

Some plan months in advance (JudyJB looking to head to AZ in February) or for workamping (Beth, Linda, etc), but others (RV Sue) seem to 'wing it' day to day or week to week. And do you just keep your fingers crossed you'll find an open site at a campground?

Thanks! Just curious.

[Liz]

I prefer winging it, but I do have a general idea of route, and do make plans for the next few days. I make more reservations than I used to when I had a Class B, but usually just call for availability a day or two out, unless it's a holiday weekend. When looking at my route, I look at camping options along the route and what's nearby I might want to explore. If I have choices, then I can stop early or drive longer, depending on how I feel. It's easier to wing it in the west. And of course, if all else fails, there's always Walmart.

[chalet05]

Pretty much what Liz said except she is much better at finding points of interest!

I used to make reservations all the time with the 5er. I called the current park a few days ago and got the last two spots for LeRoy and myself, but there is a WalMart if I had waited too long.

[JudyJB]

I am almost certainly an over-planner, but I just feel more comfortable having plans and places to stay. I have been known to cancel and reschedule, however. A lot depends on where I am thinking of going. Some places like state parks in Florida require reservations 11 months in advance. Other places, you can just drop in as long as it isn't a three-day weekend.

I usually have a final date and destination and then divide my trip up into chunks. For example, I knew I would be leaving Michigan on October 15 after a training session at the college. I also knew I wanted to be in Napa by December 18 when the grandkids get out of school. I am spending the Christmas holidays with them. I don't like to drive more than 200 miles a day and don't like to drive every day. I also knew I wanted to go down the Great Mississippi Road and take the southern route so I did not have to worry about ice and snow in the mountains. And I want to meet up with my full-timing cousin and his wife at Boulder Campground along Lake Mead in November for a few days.

I use an Excel spreadsheet, and just kept plotting things out and selecting places I wanted to see and stay at for a few days. Then I started looking for state and national parks along the route, as I prefer them as much as possible. I originally thought a stop at Grand Canyon would be nice until I checked the temperature in early December!!! I have reservations at the important places and for some weekends, but I know it will be off-season almost everywhere, so even though I have plans to stay places, I really have no reservations yet.

I use RVParkReviews.com and also check out campgrounds on Google maps. The maps help me see if the campground is really what the campground maps say it is! And I also research places nearby that I want to visit. For example, I plan on stopping at the SAS shoe factory in San Antonio!

I have some long-term plans for January (southern California) and February (Arizona). Not sure about March and beyond, except that I want to do some bike riding in Grand Canyon and see some national parks in Utah like Arches. Might spend a week or so at Zion???

[mitch5252]

...she is much better at finding points of interest!

Here's a screenshot of an app that shows little known points of interest at your current location.
It's called RoadsideAmerica

[Bethers]

Even workamping, I like to wing it. But I pick out general routes, especially if dealing with winter weather. And I look for interesting potential areas to stop. I keep notes on those, with two or three places, then sometimes stay at one, sometimes find something else. I, too, prefer shorter driving days to have more time stopping to smell the roses along the way. And I always try to take the back roads. So many neat little towns to see!

[Pooker]

Personally, I think it would be great to just follow Liz around the country! Let her go first, then follow a few days or weeks later. But not having that option:

Years ago, when DH and I did our "Great Adventures" I discovered that it was less stressful to plot the route to the area where we wanted to go first. Then I would check along the route for potential places to stay and things to see/do in the area and take that list along. There are so many areas of the country that don't have Walmarts nearby and truck stops were too noisy for us, so most times I made reservations a few days ahead once I figured out where we'd be and what there might be to see. Sometimes it was only one night - other times 2, 3, or a week! Most trips involved one or another of his Navy reunions, so we worked around those destinations and dates.

Amazing when you think we traveled all over without GPS, computers, or smart phones! Just 20 lbs of camping directories! Boy am I old!

Pooker

[MelissaD]

History Channel has an app called "History Here"
Food Network has an app called "Food Network on the Road"
"Interstate Exits Guide" is also an app worth looking at.

[IrishIroamed]

Personally, I think it would be great to just follow Liz around the country! Let her go first, then follow a few days or weeks later... Pooker

I've thought the same thing myself but nowadays that may be called stalking And you're not old, like the saying goes, you're like fine wine, aged to perfection.

Thanks for the info and going to try out those apps Mitch & Melissa.

[Liz]

...she is much better at finding points of interest!

Here's a screenshot of an app that shows little known points of interest at your current location.
It's called RoadsideAmerica

That's one of my secrets, Mitch! Well I have used that website several times, but don't have the ap.
A more recent ap I downloaded is called "Field Trip." A very good one for finding POIs near you.