first time family road trip

[thejackson3]

first road trip



I'm a new member here, so hello, everyone! I've posted this in a couple of the other categories so I hope I'm not violating any rules here.:confused:

Me & husband & 6 y.o. daughter have rented an RV (23-25') and are planning our first ever (hopefully annual) RV road trip from Texas to Virginia this summer. (Everyone I tell this to thinks we're crazy!) We made these plans last year before gas prices went beyond the $3 mark. The gas bill is going to be painful, but we're still going forward w/ the plans. We're driving one way and flying back. We plan on staying at KOA's or maybe state parks along the way. We've never done this before so we're looking for suggestions, hints, tips or any other info ya'll would like to share!

Looking forward to hearing from ya'll!

[bukhrn]

first road trip



I'm a new member here, so hello, everyone! I've posted this in a couple of the other categories so I hope I'm not violating any rules here.:confused:

Me & husband & 6 y.o. daughter have rented an RV (23-25') and are planning our first ever (hopefully annual) RV road trip from Texas to Virginia this summer. (Everyone I tell this to thinks we're crazy!) We made these plans last year before gas prices went beyond the $3 mark. The gas bill is going to be painful, but we're still going forward w/ the plans. We're driving one way and flying back. We plan on staying at KOA's or maybe state parks along the way. We've never done this before so we're looking for suggestions, hints, tips or any other info ya'll would like to share!

Looking forward to hearing from ya'll!Make your reservations early, summer can get pretty busy, as far as campgrounds go.
Do some research on campgrounds in the areas you want to be in, KOA's aren't always the best choice, they are among the priciest, check out what others have said about campgrounds in any given area;
http://www.rvparkreviews.com/

Don't worry about the pain of fuel prices, I figure my trip will cost about $4000. for gas. Have a nice trip.

[nomadgirl]

Have you tried RV.net? This is a good forum but not as busy as the Rv.net so you may get more responses and quicker too. I agree with the last poster, check the campground reviews, KOA is pricier and not because they are the nicest. National Parks and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) sites can offer some suggestions for places to stay for a lot less and some free, with the cost of fuel we're choosing to stay at some of these campsites. Some may not have electric, water and/or sewage but you should be self contained with the RV. You might want to check on how to Boon Dock or dry camp as it is different from camping with full hook ups. RVTechlibrary has some great info on boon docking.

If this is really your first road trip or first time camping for more than a couple of days be sure to camp close to home a few times before heading out so you know what you'll need on the road. Be safe and Have fun!

[thejackson3]

Thank you for your recommendations. After I posted the thread I checked out some of the other category posts here and read about some experiences different folks have had w/ their stays @ KOA's. Will definitely keep those in mind and check out some other options. I'm sure as my planning goes along I'll have more questions and I look forward to hearing from "those who have gone before us"!

[janetgary]

First off...Welcome...
Now, when we are planning our trips I like to have some back-up materials to help in the decisions and to feel a little more secure. All the information you can get is the way to go.
Personally I love the "Trailer Life Directory" put out by Good Sam and lists all the campgrounds, has maps etc. Lots of info. You can get it at Camping World. Also we like "The next exit".It will tell you what is at each exit of the interstates. Very helpful for gas stations or diesel, restaurants, campgrounds, and even Walmarts to get the items you forgot.
When we are traveling around in our 40' MH we do not want to guess where the next truck stop is for diesel. You can get this also at camping world. I would think that most bookstores would carry it also, or order online.
Have a safe trip ! Janet

[lilricky]

Jackson3 - we must be crazy too! We are going on a 2 week rental in CA this summer.
1) I'm a native of NC - the best place ever! Visit the Blowing Rock and Boone area of the mtns of NC, just south of VA. Stay at the Julian Price Park on the Blueridge Parkway - not sure if they take reservations. You can drive down the Viaduct part of the Blueridge Pkwy going north, the park is on you left, beautiful lake with a walking trail around.
2) the Creeper Trail in VA -do a search is awesome for a leisure 17mi. slightly downhill bike ride. From White Post, VA to Dimasus, VA.

3Q: Did you purchase the rental company's insurance coverage or use your own insurance policy with an extra binder? We can't decide.

Hope you have a great and safe trip.
Lil Ricky

[seeyagal]

Hi Jackson,
Trailer Life has all the listings of RV parks. State parks are nice, sorry to say my view of KOA is Keep On Adding! Too pricey!!

If your hubby has never driven anything bigger than a SUV be aware of things to the side of you, above you, how tall your RV is for underpasses, making right hand turns...make square corners so you do not hit trees, light posts, traffic signs to the right of you.

When parking him make sure he can see you in his left mirror and you can see him. Whoever is back up into the site DO NOT MOVE till you see the spotter in the mirrors. I stress this because there was a man who was not watching and he backed over his wife and killed her!

Watch your sides and above you and even below you. Stumps,tree limbs have a way of suddenly being there.

One thing you may not have on board but good to have is a first aide kit .

Most of all have a great trip and take lots of photo's!
Seeyagal

[thejackson3]

Thanks, Lilricky for the VA tips. I'm planning on driving the Blueridge Pkwy but may wait till we get to our friends house and take their vehicle instead of trying it w/ a class c. Will check out that park you mentioned.

AFA insurance, it's one of the things on my list to check out. It might have been you on another post that mentioned the same thing and someone else replied to go w/ the rental place.

This trip sounded so easy when I came up w/ it in Sept. of last year! I'm nervous and excited all at the same time.

[thejackson3]

Thanks for the tips, Seeyagal! I'm adding them to my things to remember!

[budinfla]

Welcome!
First of all don't worry about the price of gas-- you can't do anything about it and it still may be cheaper than taking the family car and staying in motels and eating fast food. I mean just suppose you travel 400 miles in a day. You will need maybe 50 gals of gas- that will cost you $175. You pay $30 a night for a campsite so you have spent $205 for the day. If you drive your car and get 23 mpg you will need about 18 gals of gas which will cost you $63.00. Now you have to get a motel and that will cost you, in the summer, maybe $100, plus you have to buy food for all three-- looks like a break even deal to me! So just enjoy-- take your time, see the sights and walk back and get an ice cream out of the fridge,let your child take a nap and walk around a bit. You'll never want to travel in the family car again.
Don't worry about forgetting something-- you will and you will either buy another one or borrow one from a fellow camper or the office. You are not going to a foreign country.
One more thing, get a pair of cheap walkie talkies-- they are great for getting the rig parked and communicating around the park
Have fun and welcome to the wonderful world of RVing

[thejackson3]

Thank you, Bud, for laying it out there like you did. Looking at it from that perspective makes me less apprehensive about those gas prices!