Need Advice First Major Trip West - Dreading Chicago area

[JudyJB]

I'm less of a morning person than many of you, so I will probably not get on the road until 9 or 10, but I will take your advice to drive fewer miles. I will probably want to stop around 4 or 5.

I worked for a few weeks in the south Bay Area in 2000 and my son lives in Napa, so I know how bad that area is. We are going camping in Santa Rosa, and I think I might let my son drive in this area. He has driven a bus and a motorhome and is much more familiar with the area. Luckily, when I arrive, I am coming in from the North!

[Acadianmom]

Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the offices at campgrounds close at 5:00. Some campgrounds have instructions for after hours check-in but I have been doing this for many years and I still find some of their instructions confusing.

When I'm traveling, if I average 50 miles per hour I am doing extremely good with all the stops and things that slow me down. The time that my GPS says I will arrive is way off.

Martha

[JoanE]

Hi Judy,

I was surprised when I started driving my rig how much longer it took me to get anywhere. I was accustomed to barreling up I-95 from FL to NY but driving the MH is more tiring. I still do more miles than some of the gals here but like Liz and Beth have often said, they'll just get on the road, see something interesting and stop again to sightsee and stay overnight. You have to be willing to see the country as you travel the blue highways.

Chicago - I haven't had that pleasure yet in my rig but I've hit some other large cities and it can be daunting. If it scares you, don't go there yet. Find your work around. As you get more comfortable, you'll know when to take on the big cities. I try not to ride the highways unless I just have to get somewhere quickly. Meandering along the back roads is so much more enjoyable.

My GPS is the one from Rand McNally and it is made for RVers. It gives me a lot of comfort to know that my rigs info is in there and it will not let me go under a tunnel too low or over a bridge that can't handle my weight. I once wanted to take a narrow road into a park like setting and it told me I would have to back all the way out. Make sure you have a really good GPS that you know you can rely on. It will give you piece of mind.

So have some fun!

[Bethers]

I didn't read the other replies, so if I repeat, sorry.
The route you have planned should be fine. You do NOT want to take the interstate THROUGH Chicago.

270 miles a day is definitely doable. I find it more relaxing on two lane highways than the interstate - do less distance on interstates as they tire me out and make me work harder driving. But 270 - not a problem (in my mind). When you have to drive 40 mph and are on winding, curving roads, or windy - then you might want to cut down the distance - but even then, wouldn't find that too far. However, only you can say what distance will work for you. Since I like to sightsee along the way - I often go short distances. But even doing that can often go 300 or more a day - depending on where traveling, etc. Just be prepared if things get tense to stop and walk around and work out kinks.

You could also go further west in IL and drive up 39. You'd take 94 west to 80 west to 39 north. That would completely bypass the worst of it and might be a much more enjoyable route for you without adding too many miles. Either way you end up going through/around Rockford - but that's much less traffic than Chicago. This is the route I would suggest for you.

[JudyJB]

Thanks, Beth. That is exactly what I am going to do, take 24 west and then go straight up I 39, bypassing Chicago entire.

I also bought a copy of the Woodalls catalog so I could find campgrounds as I travel without having to be online.

[AlmostThere]

Chicago and its suburbs are always a zoo. Constant construction and traffic from the busiest airport keep the streets humming at all hours. Totally agree with Beth.

[Bethers]

Thanks, Beth. That is exactly what I am going to do, take 24 west and then go straight up I 39, bypassing Chicago entire.

I also bought a copy of the Woodalls catalog so I could find campgrounds as I travel without having to be online.

Taking 24 west is even better! Sounds like you've got getting around Chicago planned well.

[kelpie]

I'm late to the party but I will add my two cents worth. If you don't have cg reservations you can totally play it by ear. Start out when you like, stop when you are tired or stressed and stop for the night when you want. Remember it's your journey and no one else's. Also something to consider. Insterstates can be scary but do offer fairly regular rest stops while state and US highways often do not and I have found are much more challenging to find places to pull your rig over, except in TX, but that's not on your agenda.

[sharon]

I would suggest Trailer Life RV camping book instead of Woodalls...I had both and found better, more and cheaper cg's in the Trailer Life. Ended up leaving the Woodalls at a cg for someone else to use after I got the TL. Also, join Passport America. You would be surprised at how much money you can save using that. Trailer Life is available at Camping World. I get an offer every year thru the mail from Good Sam for 25 or less for the book. JMHO. I only buy it every other year. Plus, on a lot of the cg's listed there you get 10% off if you're a member of Good Sam.

[Acadianmom]

I prefer the Trailer life Campground Directory too. While messing with my GPS I found out how to find Campgrounds. Mine is under points of interest, lodging then campgrounds and rv parks. They are listed with the closest first. It makes it handy if you don't know the address of the campground you are looking for. Twice I have found that the address the campground lists is not what the GPS has. Close but not the same.

Martha

[JudyJB]

Thanks, all! That is a lot of good advice.

I did buy Woodalls, but will look at Trailer Life next time I am in Camping World, which seems to be fairly often.

Right now I am afraid to travel without reservations--part of my over-planning personality, but hopefully, I will get more relaxed as time goes on.

[Rufflesgurl]

Judy - When we traveled all over the Western US, we NEVER made reservations and never had a problem getting a place to stay. We always stayed at RV parks and did not boondock. You might think about getting the Atlas that has the WalMarts listed and shows the ones that do not allow overnight stays. I have not spent a night in WalMart parking lots but many do. Our local WalMart does not allow overnighters.

Slow down and enjoy. Things usually do not turn out how we plan anyway. Happy travels.

Linda

[sharon]

Right now I am afraid to travel without reservations--part of my over-planning personality, but hopefully, I will get more relaxed as time goes on.

You can always wait until about noon, figure out where you are and approx. how much farther you want to go and make reservations then. Do it during your lunch break...multi-tasking!

[Bethers]

Thanks, all! That is a lot of good advice.

I did buy Woodalls, but will look at Trailer Life next time I am in Camping World, which seems to be fairly often.

Right now I am afraid to travel without reservations--part of my over-planning personality, but hopefully, I will get more relaxed as time goes on.

The problem with reservations is that you might just decide that isn't where you want to be that night - might want to stop sooner, or go further - and some places don't let you cancel without a charge. That said, you do what is comfortable for YOU. And try to let some of that compulsive behavior go - as you can.

These days I usually have a range of places I might want to stop - and somewhere during the day, if it's getting into the afternoon, I pick - then, if necessary, I call. Like what Sharon said. And other times I just hope I'll luck into something even better than the places I picked. Often that happens, too!

[JudyJB]

Does the no reservations work in July and August? Those are the months I am going to be traveling at first.

Also, what about not having any electric in July and AUgust across Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada? The desert does cool down at night, right?

I am going to try to "turn over" several new leafs once I get underway:

1) Get to bed at a more reasonable time since I can do my online teaching during the day rather than at night.
2) Get up by 8 or 9 in the morning at the very latest.
3) Go for a long walk at least every day.
4) Drive fewer miles per day and "smell the roses."
5) Do more reading and less internet and TV.
6) Work on slowing down and not planning so much.