Pre trip

[nuyork212]

Hello all

Ok folks, Just wondering how do you guys prepare for your long trips? For example if I want to travel back to the Eastcoast do I look up camp grounds to stay near the near the interstate? reststops ? Etc....

Whats the best way to pre plan?

Is there a website that can help?

Thanks all

[doug hodder]

I'd say...pick a route you want to take, kinda based on what you might like to see on the way, figure out just how many miles a day you want to travel, then do a search on camping locations that may be near your daily mile total. Once you figure it out, send some e-mails to arrange camping and hopefully check them out online. If it's a private campground that caters to the RV crowd, drop them a note and see if a teardrop would be welcomed. Believe it or not, sometimes they aren't, or you will be put in the back portion next to the railroad tracks and have to listen to the Union Pacific every 15 min...it does happen! Off the beaten path might give you more interesting camping options and scenery, and you can avoid the typical KOA's. I'll use them if I have to, but there are lots of other options. If you are just going to wing it...don't push your mileage and wait till it's late in the day to find a spot. It's a drag trying to find a spot at 9 at night when you are tired and hungry.

If you just want to blow and go, that's different. I've spent the night in truck stops in the middle of Wyoming just to catch a few zzzz's prior to finishing up the run to Minden Ne. having to listen to a Cat diesel idle all night long. My dog hated me for that one....Doug

[nuyork212]

I'd say...pick a route you want to take, kinda based on what you might like to see on the way, figure out just how many miles a day you want to travel, then do a search on camping locations that may be near your daily mile total. Once you figure it out, send some e-mails to arrange camping and hopefully check them out online. If it's a private campground that caters to the RV crowd, drop them a note and see if a teardrop would be welcomed. Believe it or not, sometimes they aren't, or you will be put in the back portion next to the railroad tracks and have to listen to the Union Pacific every 15 min...it does happen! Off the beaten path might give you more interesting camping options and scenery, and you can avoid the typical KOA's. I'll use them if I have to, but there are lots of other options. If you are just going to wing it...don't push your mileage and wait till it's late in the day to find a spot. It's a drag trying to find a spot at 9 at night when you are tired and hungry.

If you just want to blow and go, that's different. I've spent the night in truck stops in the middle of Wyoming just to catch a few zzzz's prior to finishing up the run to Minden Ne. having to listen to a Cat diesel idle all night long. My dog hated me for that one....Doug

Thanks Doug .. This is what I was aiming for ...I like to plan a trip to NJ....from Colorado.....I-80 straight down...Oh yea..need to buy a trailer first...I have done this by car and stayed at hotels....

[Gage]

Well if you plan on running the hiways for the most part. A must get book would be The NEXT EXIT. I've been clear to the East Coast twice and that book helped with gas station locations and camp grounds, also stores and restaurants. Wouldn’t leave home without it.

[doug hodder]

Just a side note...if you are just going to drive through Wyoming or Nebraska in the middle of the night...it's good to travel with Gage....He'll get up at 1 in the morning and look for your lost EZ up that may have blown away in a wind storm. Another story from the 2nd trip to Minden in '07. Great idea on the book. Thanks Gage... Doug

[Gage]

Just a side note...if you are just going to drive through Wyoming or Nebraska in the middle of the night...it's good to travel with Gage....He'll get up at 1 in the morning and look for your lost EZ up that may have blown away in a wind storm. Another story from the 2nd trip to Minden in '07. Great idea on the book. Thanks Gage... Doug

............

[doug hodder]

Hey...I didn't tell anyone that I took it down at 10PM Gage...Thanks for your looking out for me on that one though, he's that type of guy! Those tornado sirens that night were a trip huh? Doug

[Verna]

If you have an iPhone, there are a number of apps that can help you wing it through the country. I rarely make reservations and these apps have helped me.

CampWhere shows state and city parks, along with BLM. On my recent two week trip to AZ, I used this and found some great places to stay--Valley of Fires in NM. Great BLM, $18/night with electric and hot showers.

AllStays shows all campgrounds. Nice for the one tiny RV park I stayed at near Joplin, MO. It was getting late, drizzling, and I was more tired than I thought. Clean, hot showers, $17 per night with electric, quiet.

iExit shows what s on each exit. Nice to find out exactly what is available at each exit.

I'm not sure if these apps set available on Android devices, as I have the iPhone.

[Shadow Catcher]

On the trip out to California on I-80 (from Ohio) we used the McDonald's of camp grounds, KOA, ubiquitous and easily accessible from the highway and if you are trying to make miles a fairly good choice, They are however inconsistent as far as quality of facility and the KOA book is full of glowing descriptions that for the most part should not be believed. We also had the Woodalls book and now on the iPad, All Stays.
On the way back I-94 we used a number of national and state parks. Unfortunately Nancy had a case of home to the barn and passed up a couple of opportunities including Teddy Roosevelt National Park.
If you will be passing through Ohio I can vouch for many of the state parks and we are not far from I-80 and you are welcome to a piece of the driveway and a meal you do not have to cook.
Tom

[_Ryan_]

As far as smartphone apps go check out GasBuddy. It will show you the cheapest gas in your area as well as other locations down the road. It is constantly updated with new information from users so you will rarely find its prices outdated.

[jonw]

We just got back from a trip from Mass. to California for the Dam Gathering.

Here's a link to our photo album if you want: http://www.jonweinberg.com/Calif2013 (requires Flash)

I roughly figured out where I'd be each night based on what I wanted to see along the way and the mileage I wanted to drive per day, and allowed a few extra days to spend more time at places that became more interesting, or to go on side trips based on info from locals where we were.

Both for planning (via their website) and on the trip itself I used an app called "We Camp Here" that was invaluable. I know that if the campground I wanted to stay at was full I could find another nearby to go to.

We mostly stayed in state and national park campgrounds. It helped that we went on the off season before school summer vacation. We might not have been so lucky during July and August. The only reservation we made was for a campground outside New Orleans as we were there on a weekend during the French Quarter Festival. Even so they were not full.

Hope this helps...

[nuyork212]

Thanks everyone for your input...

Gage - that book is on the list to get...

Now I travel every other year to NYC.... I stay in NJ ( Fort Lee ) area in hotels... Hopefully I can save a few bucks soon once I get a teardrop.

I need to find a campground in the Fort Lee / Jersey area close to the GWB......

Showers and electric a must........ This is just a plan for next year possibly....

[nuyork212]

[quote="jonw"]We just got back from a trip from Mass. to California for the Dam Gathering.

Here's a link to our photo album if you want: http://www.jonweinberg.com/Calif2013 (requires Flash)

I roughly figured out where I'd be each night based on what I wanted to see along the way and the mileage I wanted to drive per day, and allowed a few extra days to spend more time at places that became more interesting, or to go on side trips based on info from locals where we were.

Both for planning (via their website) and on the trip itself I used an app called "We Camp Here" that was invaluable. I know that if the campground I wanted to stay at was full I could find another nearby to go to.

Great pics on that photo album!

[nuyork212]

Well if you plan on running the hiways for the most part. A must get book would be The NEXT EXIT. I've been clear to the East Coast twice and that book helped with gas station locations and camp grounds, also stores and restaurants. Wouldn’t leave home without it.

Just ordered the book...Thanks Gage...Check your PM...