A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

Hi all
I am wanting to plan my very first trip (even though I don't have my rv yet- but plan to by April!)
I would like to go from my home in Chico, ca to my sister's in Rutland Vermont.
But here is my dilemma: how the heck do you do that?
How do you find places to stay across the country that are about a days drive apart?
Is there a book or something? I'm sure this sounds like a very basic question to those with experience and I appreciate your help! Geordy

I decide which way I want to go (northern part of the country or southern for example) and then use Good Sam's route planner. It lists the mileage and hours between whichever towns you put in. It also lists Good Sam discount parks if you are a member.

Here are some websites:
http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds/campgrounds.htm This one has n ap for a smart phone or tablet. I use it a lot.

National forest cg guide: http://www.forestcamping.com/index.htm

Free and low cost cgs:http://freecampsites.net/usa/

Casino camping: http://www.casinocamper.com/index.php

Corps of Engineers cgs: http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDirectoryListByAgencyID.do?contractCode=NRSO&agencyID=70902

Those are just a few.

And I don't make reservations except on holidays. I never know from one day to the next how far I'll want to go. Some days short distances, others, much longer ... the beauty of this is you can make that decision yourself. I do usually have several ideas in mind for places to stay - and if I'm in an area where it's really popular or again, on holidays, I either plan that ahead or at least call mid-day and see if places up the road have spots. Then again, there's always Walmart

Great advice- thanks so much
I have heard about the Good Sam Club and will investigate this further. Are most rv'ers a member of this?
Any other helpful organizations I should join?
Geordy

I recommend Passport America for lower rates on campgrounds.

And use www.rvparkreviews.com to find out what others think of cg's. Just make sure you read the reviews, and the reasons some don't like a place or vice versa, might be just the opposite of what you are looking for. (For example, I like rustic, wooded sites - some want only cement pull-thrus.)

My GPS shows campgrounds and the distance to them. I don't know how they choose the ones to list but doesn't list all and some are closed. My GPS probably needs to be updated. Passport America sends a directory and you can also look up parks on line. I still carry a Trailer Life directory. It helps to have a navigator that can look up things while you drive. I seldom make reservations unless I'm going to a GTG or know the area I need to be in. I made a 5,000 mile trip and only had one reservation and I never had to stay at Walmart. If I'm traveling by myself I usually make a list of the roads I need to take each day, the towns and how far it is between them and where I have to change highways. My GPS and I don't always agree.

Martha

You also should look up things to see along the way. As long as you are going all across the country, if you aren't in a hurry, there are a lot of neat places to check out on whatever route you choose. (and Sistahs to visit with, too! ).

Passport America also has free trip routing but it is not as convenient for doing a long distance trip. Good Sam's let you continue your trip for as long a distance as needed. I use both; GS to mark my trip and then do the same thing in PA to find the PA discount CGs. PA also lets you put in places of interest along the way.

You didn't mention but many of us travel with our iPad and or computers and are able to get connected to the Internet along the routes. It makes it easier to check those apps and reviews. Just remember that you only need to drive the many miles one leg at a time. The best part is if you have friends and family across the USA that encourage you to wander here and there along the journey. Flat driveways are a plus

Part of it depends on how much time you have. As a newcomer I would not an on driving more than 200 miles per day--maybe less.

Everyone has their own travel style. I prefer state and national parks so I look along my route for places that look interesting that are about that distance apart. Then I tend to drive one day and stay someplace two days.

Then I block everything out on a spreadsheet.

Since you are traveling in summer you may want to have reservations before and after the big holidays.

Have fun.

it sounds like a dream trip have fun in planning it...and let us all know so that we can encourage you to stray off
the beaten path to met some of us or something that people have been to I've not been that direction..so far go as far south as Quartzsite AZ
in the winter and Idaho in the summer quite the rut...
sheila

..
Sounds like a GREAT trip!

I always use Microsoft Streets & Trips to plan a route. Then you can <right-click> on a point along the route and tell the program to find you all campgrounds within a user-defined radius. When I see campgrounds whose location would work, I go online and look them up. I also supplement S&T with iPad apps - AllStays, Campwhere, State Parks, USFS/BLM, and Woodall's.

How exciting! Keep us in the loop - we'll love following along all the way, including the RV shopping.

..

I have a Passport America membership which saves me half off camping at member parks. I alos have apps downloaded on my Android phone for Passport America, RV Camps Locatro and RV Parky. My GPS also will locate rv parks nearby and if you have phone service and a phone capable of searching, just search for rv parks near whatever town you're near. City parks are also a good option if your rig isn't too big.

I use Rand McNally trip planner on my computer.

Planning if half the fun.

Ladies
Thank you so much for all of the useful info. How glad I am to have found such wonderful support. I see now that it is not as difficult as I feared!
Geordy