How to travel....

[grammynmaggie]

I am trying to figure out what my route when going to PA in a few weeks…..I would love to take secondary roads and not so many interstates. But would like you opinions on which is easier to drive on…. also how many miles do you all travel in one day? I guess I will do a few nights boondocking at WM…at this point it sounds a little scary…..listen to me…this is what I want traveling and I got the jitters…..any advice and help would be appreciated
Thanks...donna

[rvgrammy1953]

Donna, PM me and we'll give you some routes....Where are you starting from and where in PA are you going? (Hopefully, the GTG.... ) We've driven to and from PA & GA for over 8 yrs...so know the way.....

[JudyJB]

I often like to drive on small roads, especially when there is not a lot of traffic. However, it can become very stressful to drive through small town after small town, especially when there are hanging tree branches. Often they are really not as low as they seem, but I am very often made very nervous worrying about how low that next branch is going to be. Turns can also be tight in small towns and that is usually where I go over curbs just a tiny bit. The other problem with having to drive through small towns is that lanes are sometimes narrow and turns sharp and there always seems to be another vehicle in your way.

150 miles on two-lane roads about wipe me out for a day.

So mostly, I try to drive on interstates, even if they are boring. I know for sure that the bridges will be high enough and there won't be any tight turns. I can do about 200-250 miles tops on interstates, although I am planning a 340 mile drive on Monday on a road which is a combination of two-lane and divided highway, but there are special reasons for that and I know it will really wear me out.

My advice would be to take it easy at first and try shorter drives. Sounds like rvgrammy can give you good advice on routes.

Oh, and I often drive one or two days and then stay someplace for a full day to rest. That really helps me be energized for the next drive.

[BirdbyBird]

I have gotten more comfortable with Walmarts the more I have used them. The Walmart folks are definitely used to RV'ers stopping and asking. When traveling by myself I usually only use them when I am driving more miles in a day and therefore I don't pull in until later in the evening. If I am going to spend money at a real campground, state park, etc, I try to stop in time to enjoy the location and take advantage of the ability to walk the dogs. When in a Walmart, the dogs get pottied but it is a quick out and in. When we are in the rig, no one really knows who or how many at traveling in the rig. I do pay attention to what sort of neighborhood the Walmart in located near and make a judgement call.

As Judy mentions, distances vary. And some drives are more stressful that others. If I plan to drive more miles in a day I will often also plan on stopping in a rest area and napping midway to break up the miles..... And some days how many miles I cover often dependings upon how well I slept the night before. Some drive days are shorter than others!

There are no right answers that fit everything. Different travel plans bring forth different choices!

[retiredhappy]

I prefer back roads and the small towns rather than freeways with semi trucks zooming by me and the traffic going thru cities. Just depends on what you are comfortable with. I also like the scenery on back roads. I've stayed at reststops and like Tina, make a judgment call of the area and who's there. You're actually not very safe at big reststops near big cities. Length of drive also depends on the drive and conditions. I've done five hours and was exhausted and I've done two or three hours and stopped early enough to enjoy the park I'm in and walking the dogs. Do what is comfortable for you. I've also stopped and taken a nap before continuing on. There are no hard and fast rules.

[Liz]

Depending on when you are going....I love the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Speed limit is 45, no commercial vehicles, many turnouts with gorgeous views and short trails, points of historic interest. The campgrounds mostly all have some spaces for large RVs and are cheap with your National Park, Golden Age pass. Some don't open until mid-May. Check out the website for current road closures, etc.

http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

[url]http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/driving-skyline-drive.html[url]

[BirdbyBird]

I thought heard somewhere that one of the popular "highways" were to be closed to campers this summer due to lack of budget funds......it might have been the Blue Ridge. Research if you are traveling that way.....

[Carolinagal]

Donna,sounds like Lori and Ernie can give you some good choices. Sounds also like you are experiencing those nerves we all sometimes have. As far as miles per day, that's up to the individual and the type trip you're on. I used to do over 500 miles a day, anxious to get where I wanted to go , also wasn't tired and usually summer time so days were long, so still had plenty of daylight when I did stop. Now I might do somewhere between 200 and 300 miles per day, and I stop and smell the roses on the way. I love doing the back roads, that's always been my choice, no matter the amount of miles each day. I love seeing the small towns, some are so old and I love the history in them. Rest areas on the interstates, I always take more care when stopping then at other places as I figure they are a known area for anyone with mischief in mind. I never get out of my rig if only one car or few and I don't feel right about it. I. probably use my own bathroom more on trips and an afternoon rest is not bad either , I love traveling in my RV, better then any car travels as no one really knows how many are in with you.

Check the map for a route, I usually keep to the red roads on map,but have done black roads too, you shouldn't have any trouble traveling through any town , no matter the size as you travel all over Melbourne with no problems, you'll do fine. Walmart stops you should always ask, but when there are already half a dozen RVs there I have been guilty of just assuming its ok, usually always trucks there too. These are usually 24 hr WM's. Like Tina, I walk Maggie for her business then I'm usually inside , unless I need something from the store. You just have to use your own judgement. Google some of the towns you will be traveling through to see about city parks for your stops, some have small fees, out west some are totally free. If your internet service is short, go to the library and use their computers, most cities, small ones at least give travelers use of them, without their card.

I could go on and on, but you are going to be fine, make a route for yourself, but leave it in Jello, if on the road you see a sight advertised you would like to see down another road Liz and I, have found some fabulous places that way. A long list of them !! Enjoy, try not to get uptight, not doing I-95 would be the biggest relief to me Through the years have done it so much and so boring and in places stinky LOL.

Have a great trip, keep us all posted, enjoy the time before then of studying your map and finding a nice route, with maybe a place you'd like to stop by and visit.

This trip is yours and no matter how you do it or what you decide it will be right, there are no real rules of traveling these roads, we all do our own thing our own way and in sharing we sometimes pick up other ideas from others.

Safe travels, my friend,
CArol

[JudyJB]

The Natchez Trace, which several of us have driven, is another very easy, very scenic, parkway. It goes 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, TN, with no stop lights or even stop signs. Speed limit is 45 or 50, I think. Best part is that there are three free campgrounds along the way, and all are in beautiful locations!

It goes through some flat lands, but mostly rolling hills with gently curving roads. There are scenic and historic pullouts every few miles and very little traffic when I took it in November. If you need gas or whatever, towns are just off the parkway, though out of sight. Very pleasant. You can take all of the road or only a portion if you want.

Ditto on going slow enough to smell the roses!

[PeggyinCT]

Hi Donna. Travels jitters are part of the experience. Acknowledge them and then do what you need to do to get from point A to point B. Listen to yourself and do what is comfortable for you. Again if you have fear, try to figure out what is really bothering you. I live in a city, so I am used to heavy traffic and all kinds of people, so I don't avoid cities. Now long stretches of back roads where I'm the only vehicle for miles in any direction and no cell phone coverage makes me nervous. I've stayed by myself at 24 hr Super Center WM and Pilot and Flying J truck stops, but never at a roadside rest area unless it posted 24 hr security and there were trucks parked. Like others, when boondockI do what I need to do, and then stay in the rig and turn the lights off early. Enjoy the trip. Peggy

[grammynmaggie]

Well after reading all your good info and advice …I think this first long trip I will stick mostly to the interstates…get off if I see something good….I will be going from Melbourne FL to Greenville PA up the west side of PA..I have driven this route before…about 5 times…so I know it…I was just wondering what it was like driving an RV on secondary roads…I would always drive 10 to 12 hr days…but I cant do that any more…even with a regular vehicle. And besides I don’t want to travel that fast…there was always a reason time wise that I had to do this…but not any more! So thanks much for the info…I will be keeping it for future reference.

donna

[Bethers]

I can't drive as far on interstates. Make me tired, and the trucks buzzing by and the winds are worse ... but that's just me. I can do miles and miles on windy back roads with sites to see I highly recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline that Liz mentioned. But I do understand you'll go with what you think will be comfortable to you. I never find the interstates out east comfortable. Out west, more so, only because they aren't always traveled as much (not counting around the big cities).

I've cut down on Walmart stays considerably, only because if I do my research I can find awesome locations at low prices with much better views. On the route you're going, especially if you take the interstate, that will be different ... and Walmarts and Flying J's would be the easy choice for a night's rest.

[JoanE]

I prefer secondary roads but also use the interstates. Depends on my agenda - enjoy the ride or get to a destination by a deadline. Don't make the mistake of driving too many miles in a day. Plan to stop early enough so you can relax, take a walk, enjoy your dinner, have a glass of something good. Like Judy, I sometimes take a day off from driving to get more rest unless I have planned to be in one area for a few days.

Never isolate your rig in a rest area. You want to be with all the other vehicles. It will be noisier but safer.

Generally, I avoid large cities but I did drive through Cleveland after visiting the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Talk about obstacles! One pole on a corner leaned into the street and I couldn't change lanes in time. Narrowly missed hitting the side of my roof on that one.

Try to stay flexible so that situations don't throw you for a loop. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that happen unplanned.

Joan

[mtngal]

Here's an idea: stick mainly to the interstates where you are comfortable; but pick one or two easy access secondary roads to take a side trip; leaving the freeway for a couple hours. That will give you a chance to try them out and maybe see why so many of us stay on the RED roads whenever possible!