Trip Planners

[JanetA]

Not sure when we are taking off but probably before the heat hits! will most likely take some local short runs around our area of Tx before we head out on the annual trek to find cool air. Most likely we will head east this time.... just not sure where we will end up... oh yes,, it will be back home.. LOL.. but the way points as the gps's say,, who knows!

thanks for asking, Rufflesgirl!

[MsBHaven]

For years I used Streets and Trips and it worked well. I have recently discovered www.rvtripwizard.com. I think it is a vast improvement over anything else I've ever used. In fact, it is almost amazing. The website has a demo and user guide. I pay $37 a year but can cancel. We take a 3 month trip each year so it is very helpful and worth the money for me.

The program allows you to enter which RV parks you want to see - for instance, I select Passport America, city and county parks, Corp of Engineers and many more. The POI (points of interest) has Walmarts, Casinos, and many more. It is terrific to have all these in one location.

Another feature is that it allows you to enter how many miles you want to travel in a day, up to 3. I enter 200, 240, and 280. A circle is formed that allows me to see parks located around each destination.

I've used it on my laptop and it works well. I use it on my iPad, but they are currently having some program issues since Apple just published a new system.

It's a small company and I got an immediate email from the president when I found the iPad problem.

I love this program, but I always have paper maps with me. I guess that stems from my years of travel with my parents. I would be interested in what you all think about trip wizard if you try out the demo.

[grammynmaggie]

Thank for the info on that site Margie...I have
problems planning trips and things to see and do
for some reason ...I cant find the neat things you
all do...tell me your secret...Margie I tried to find
that BlogSpot site with Annie and Buddy and nothing
happens...

[mitch5252]

..
Margie, maybe it's too early for my brain to have kicked in, but...

When I click on DEMO, it wants me to log in. Thinking perhaps that there was a login section under SUBSCRIBE, I clicked there.
No go - it was only to subscribe.

I can't find any place to make the demo work BEFORE subscribing.

So, go ahead (Vickie) and laugh, but what am I missing?
..

[Queen]

Same for me, Mitch, I wanted to give it a look see but it kept asking for a login.

[MsBHaven]

I just sent an email to find out why it isn't working. I was able to use it before I subscribed a month ago. It had a 30 minute time limit. I'll post again when I get a response. Sorry.

[VickieP]

..
So, go ahead (Vickie) and laugh, but what am I missing?
..

A brain?

EDIT: Okay, I'm sorry! Right after I posted this, my computer froze up!
(but you ARE missing more than a few inches in height)

[Deeann]

If you want to stay in Yellowstone Park you will need reservations. Only one campground there with hookups I believe. You can boondock at the other ones. I think the one with the rv hookups is at Fishing Bridge. And if my memory serves me correctly it is for rv's only. The bears used to have a trail through there so they don't allow tent camping, etc. Canyon Land is my favorite place to camp in Yellowstone. It is centrally located, has very nice, hot showers, a large laundry facility, a small post office, several restaurants and a nice souvenir shop where you can also get some groceries, an ice cream cone, etc. There are other places in the park where you can get a shower too: the hotel in Mammoth (north part), the Inn (south part) and maybe one other place. Not all of the camping areas have showers so choose accordingly. Some of the camp areas are first come first serve and cannot be reserved. Arrive early in the day to have the best chances of getting a space. The rest of the campgrounds are reserved. You can stop at the reserved ones and check to see if there have been any cancellations, or if they have free spaces. But if you want to stay at one place and not have to move around you will need reservations. Call now to have the best selection. I recommend to anyone who asks me that they stay at Canyon. I've been to Yellowstone 3 or 4 times and it is the best place to camp there. Also the only gasoline station in the park is at Canyon. If you want to camp in the Grand Teton Park, I would recommend Coulter Bay. I stayed there one time and it was fine. They have showers there. Nice place to camp. I usually camp in Gros Ventre (pronounced grow vaunt) when I'm in the Tetons. Very primitive. Boon docking only. Flush toilets, no showers. You can drive into Jackson and get a shower at the Anvil Hotel.

[judi]

I purchased rvtripwizard and other than a few tech-type glitches I'm impressed. I like the way you can choose which things you want to see on the map. MsBHaven thank you for posting about this! I think since the company is small they may need a little more expertise with the tech side of things, but the amount of info is wonderful.

[MsBHaven]

Received an email back and the demo should now be working. They hAd been working on the program when you were trying to get on earlier.

[snowball]

another good place to camp is in or around West Yellowstone and then do the drive inside the park...there are private campgrounds as well as forest service campground I would think they all need reservations
sheila

[Colliemom]

Hardest part I'm having right now is the timing of the trip. Can't make reservations till I know when it's going to get off the ground. Waiting for a friend who wants to go to SD again. We are talking about caravanning together. She has to get her son moved first and then should be able to go. So I'm waiting to see what she things she's clear to hit the road. And then I have some issues with Sassy right now. Osteoarthritis in her hip and declining eyesight due to cataracts. So not sure what's going to happen there. Well, know what's going to happen, it's just when. Thanks for all the info on Yellowstone. That's valuable information for me and will help at lot. I know there's a book out called "One Hundred Miles around Yellowstone" and I'm thinking of getting it.

[BirdbyBird]

Sue, I know that it is difficult to watch our loved "navigators" age, especially when you know what is coming.....but don't put off traveling. Herschel would not have wanted to miss smelling the bear scat he found. And it was priceless watching his expressions as he watched the herd of buffaloes walk calmly past his window in Yellowstone and then he turn back and looked at me...to make sure I noticed that we were surrounded .....

Tough decisions are not harder or easier out on the road.....but you do have more special memories......

[mitch5252]

..
I just got done playing with the rvtripwizrd - it's a really cool program.
Slick interface, and seems to be very user friendly.

For me, it's a little pricey - annual $37 (auto renew) and $42 (non-auto renew).
As little as I travel, I'd be willing to pay maybe $20-$25 for a year, no more.

Streets and Trips does some very similar things, if you're really familiar with the program, but doesn't seem to have as many, and as up-to-date, parks. Maybe it's time to update my S&T from the 2010 version.

If you have money to spare, or travel a lot, I'd say RVTripWizard is a good program to have.
I'd be interested to see how it runs on a tablet, or if the designers will come up with a free-standing app.

That's MY personal opinion. Your mileage may vary.

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