Trip Planning

Topic: Trip Planning (Read 1003 times) previous topic - next topic

Trip Planning

May 19, 2014, 10:18:43 am

I have started planning our first extended trip (6 - 8 weeks) from East Texas to New Mexico to Colorado and I must say I am a little overwhelmed.
Is it best to just decide on the first couple of stops and then wing it from there? or is it best to have it mostly planned out?
In my work life I always had a plan (MS Project) and at least one contingency plan for my engineering projects. I am not sure that is the best idea for RV trip planning
How do ya'll do it?

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #1 – May 19, 2014, 10:30:20 am

I can relate to MS Project. The only advice I would give you is pic a couple destinations that you would like to go to and plan from there plus a few days at each stop, use them or bank them for use on a upcoming stop. For sure seek the "ball of twine" mentality, talk with locals to find the gems.

I know its hard not to set an alarm, so I still do but choose to get up or not. I like the quite time and really enjoy no-crowds for earlier arrivals.

My dad taught me the happy hour rules, everyday but travel days its a new task but an enjoyable one.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #2 – May 19, 2014, 10:32:58 am

Having done it both ways, naturally the answer is "it depends". But in the long run I like to have a 'flight plan" and like any good flight plan it will include alternates and back up plans as required by the complexity of the trip. This particularly true with fuel. I don't fuel just anywhere and I like to have as many maneuvering options as possible.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #3 – May 19, 2014, 10:52:01 am

Yes, I am learning that planning for fuel stops is very important. I have learned truck stops and large travel centers are best for me. Accessibility to the pumps is the most important for me.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #4 – May 19, 2014, 11:20:08 am

We have always had a "general plan" which includes a single purpose or a specific destination in mind, but let the side trips work their own magic as long as they fit into the general plan (unless they altered it completely). I guess you could call it the "Stumble Upon" method.

If we wanted to see the Grand Canyon, for instance, we might route ourselves down via Utah and if circumstances and mood dictate we could visit Moab and then check out all the other sites in that area on our way down. We might make sure we could at least park and check out the north rim before continuing south. Then we might find a part of old Route 66 and explore that.

What we've never done is make a plan knowing in advance where we'll be on any given day, where we'll fuel up or where we'll eat. In the 5th wheel I had extra fuel tanks in the pickup (with a hand pump for transferring the fuel) that extended the range considerably and allowing more freedom. Smartphones and apps have made this a whole lot easier. We can spot a good price for fuel and then use Google Earth to see if we can get in easily. Sometimes we disconnect the Jeep and drive ahead with that, keeping in touch via handheld radios, to scout it out. It's nice to have the DW there to guide me to the right pump.

In the future we plan to use the Escapee's parks quite a bit but we much prefer to boondock or just stumble upon an interesting area and then use that as a base for exploring the area by toad (or, previously, in the pickup towing vehicle). Walmart and Cabela's (and the others - bless 'em all) make good ad hoc stopping places to regroup. Or just a rest stop.

It all works out surprisingly well but there are downsides. Our in-laws made fixed plans with reservations in parks along their route for virtually every day. This made it easy for us to find them if we need to contact them or meet them. Our method..... not so much (but cell phones and SPOT simplify that now).

We have, on occasion, become so interested in what we've stumbled upon that the overall reason for the trip was abandoned and another substituted in its place. We have planned at least six trips to the Grand Canyon. Made it once.

Craig

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #5 – May 19, 2014, 11:22:20 am

I will plan for reservations at the end stop and any destination stop. So this next trip to Spokane WA will only have reservations at the end at Blackwells. I made reservations at Grizzly too for a few days in Yellowstone. So I have a bit over two weeks reserved on a five week trip. I do not plan my fuel stops though I try to fill up by half a tank. I find some of the smaller chain truck stops out west are the best.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #6 – May 19, 2014, 02:48:51 pm

Colorado State Parks are usually very busy. I would definitely make reservations for State Parks...If that's your game. Otherwise private lots usually have space unless there is "something of interest" going on at the time such as a festival, and so on.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #7 – May 19, 2014, 05:17:11 pm

On our longer trips, Donna plans the trip from start to finish. Researches campgrounds and things to do in that area. We try to stay awhile at each destination with few parking lot overnight stays. We usually have a specific place we want to go but why drive by one great experience to get to another. If we find we want to eliminate a stop or delay a departure for a day or two Donna calls ahead and changes the reservations. Most places will not charge you if changes are made in a predetermined time frame...always ask when making reservations. This gives us flexibility and peace of mind that we have a place to stay.
By spending a day or so at a location, you find places that you can fuel the coach when you depart.
We do sometimes just wing it but mostly have some kind of plan.
That's our two cents worth! Have a great trip!

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #8 – May 19, 2014, 06:42:55 pm

We're also planning a trip. We're opting for reservations for each night, but part of that is that we'll be out near (but not over) a holiday. Since we've not yet been able to just travel with no particular needs, reservations seem to be the best for us. If we know where we need to be we'll find a park that will be able to accommodate us. When we were coming back from HWH last month we did not have a reservation, but that was because we didn't know when we would be leaving Moscow. Once we were on the road we figured out about where we would be at quitting time, found a park around there, and called ahead to see what would be available. We were told that we would have plenty of sites to pick from, and that was true.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #9 – May 19, 2014, 07:25:00 pm

We will be spending blocks of time on Whidbey Island at the Naval Air Station and a month in Anacortes, WA at Pioneer Trails RV Park. I have confirmed those reservations. Our journey from Tucson to Seattle, however, is set in Jello! I doubt I will do more than call ahead when we know where we will be landing each night unless we are traveling over the 4th of July holiday. Then, I will try and get a reservation somewhere. We rarely plan each night ... and almost never have to call more than one park to find a spot. But that is just us.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #10 – May 19, 2014, 07:28:50 pm

OH!

Trip planning is closely related to just how much control and schedule you need to be comfortable. Make reservations at important stops like John suggests. We use the Allstays Camp and RV app. With that options become available. We just got back from almost 9 weeks. We had reservations for 5 days before we left. Our window going forward was a week or two. It is easy to call ahead to see if there will be room where you want to stay. If not then you have an opportunity to try something new. City and county parks have proven to be some of the best finds. We really like Corps of Engineer campgrounds. State fair grounds usually have campgrounds. So do a lot of county fairgrounds. If your first choice isn't available then the second or third might just be a better place. We never shy away from a few days or more of dry camping.

I use GasBuddy to look ahead for fuel by price and location. I don't like to get much below 70 gallons but with our big range it is usually pretty easy to find price and easy in and out. I won't try to get into a tight spot just to save a few cents. Most of the time we find the station on the map in satellite view and then you can see entry and exits and traffic flow through the station. If you don't wait till it is imperative that you buy fuel then you can drive by a place that doesn't look so hot.

Take your time. Don't drive by the coolest thing in the world because you are in a hurry. Look for interesting things and events everywhere you go. They are everywhere.

We figure 70 miles a day or less (average) is a pretty good pace for us.

Roger

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #11 – May 19, 2014, 10:17:51 pm

Hate schedules, lived by those in my previous life, therefore we seldom make reservations. I know that must have inconvenienced us sometime or other, but it mustn't have been too bad as I don't remember. Prefer the flexibility of no schedules, but that is just us. We are fulltimers and the only reservations that we have are doctor appointments in October.

Roland

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #12 – May 20, 2014, 07:18:42 am

I like to plan most of my stops. I want to know that I have a no-hassle spot for me at the end of the day.
We'll plan about a month lot at a time.

I'll first use my Delorme Street Atlas to connect the end points.
Example: This year it is Austin,Tx to Marquette,Mi.
I adjust for known stops along the way (like NAC or kids or friends or sites I way to visit...).
I have told it I don't want to drive more that about 4 hours so I get a little icon at the 4 hour mark. I'll then look at Allstays Camp&RV to see what is around that distance.
Our order of preference is Corps of Eng., City/County/Federal parks, Independents, and finally KOA.

I'll use Federal recreation, camping and tour reservation information - Recreation.gov for federals
and Campgrounds and Camping Reservations - ReserveAmerica for the city/county.
Reservations are easy. Cancelations/revisions also.

Anal as I am, once I have found the campsite, the next step is to Ping-Pong between the campground map and a satellite view to see if I can pick a specific site with an unobstructed view of the Southern sky for my dish.

As already said, it's a matter of what is comfortable for you. The DW says "No First-Come-First-Served". I'm happy to know where I'll spend the night. I've got enough things to worry about. There is no need for me to manufacture another.
We say we like to "drive 3 hours and stay 3 days". We joke about it but there is a large measure of truth.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #13 – May 20, 2014, 07:36:58 am

We traveled for almost 11 months in 1980 (our first retirement). We don't recall ever making reservations anywhere, even in the National Parks. You probably couldn't then. There were no cell phones or internet. We were in Yellowstone for 6 weeks because it was interesting. It took us a month to go from Portland, OR to San Francisco. We (and our RV) were smaller then and sites were easier to find.

Today is a bit different. I'm with Roland. The more scheduled I get the more constrained I feel. Our winter trip just recently completed had as its entire itinerary, SE USA. We started planning next yeat's winter, SW USA. One or two more lines and we will have it done.

We try not to think of travel as a vacation or a trip. We are just somewhere else, living in the moment, doing and enjoying whatever is there and then going to the next interesting place. The longer we stay anywhere the more we discover there is to see and do and the more likely we are to spend a day reading or doing a puzzle or writing or drawing or whatever and be perfectly content not having "done anything" else.

A line from another Forum member says it well, Do what makes you happy. I like that.

Roger

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #14 – May 20, 2014, 10:25:46 am

Now it is a bit more difficult to wing it on RV trips. It used to be care free. Pick a place and go there. Now it seems everybody is everywhere.

Like Yogi Berra put it very well, "no body goes there any more. It's too crowded."

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #15 – May 20, 2014, 03:05:10 pm

Doris and I will be leaving in July, for a trip west,Wyoming,Montana,Oregon,Idaho,Northern California,Lost Wages and where ever we end up,will be home first of Nov.for the election,SIL has the route all planed out,all I have to do is follow the BIG Blue CC.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #16 – May 21, 2014, 10:20:47 am

thanks for all of the input. It looks like there is no correct way to trip planning. Since we like to tour the back country in our Wrangler, I ordered a book from Amazon that has a lot of 4 wheel drive trails in Co.
I think we will use that to help us decide on where we want to go and where we want to stay and plan from there.
Again, thanks for the suggestions.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #17 – May 21, 2014, 01:27:03 pm

Quote from: Old Hippie – May 21, 2014, 10:20:47 am

thanks for all of the input. It looks like there is no correct way to trip planning.

There are as many correct ways as there are rigs going down the road. As long as you keep the greasy side down;D

Roland

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #18 – May 22, 2014, 07:54:36 am

I SAY AGAIN, I SAY AGAIN, NOW LISSEN UP

KICK THE TIRES, LIGHT TO FIRES, 1ST ONE OUT IS LEAD. BRIEF ON GUARD !!!!!!

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #19 – May 22, 2014, 10:12:36 am

Hey Bill, were you part of the Wobbly Warriors in Springfield, IL in the mid-70's? That's how they operated.

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #20 – May 28, 2014, 11:35:29 pm

Isn't that why we're self contained so we dont have to have rigid schedules in retirement? I only go as far as comfortable in a day and tie up for the night almost anyplace. Take up several spaces in almost any large parking lot and no-one bothers you. Have to make a fuel stop about every third day and dump tanks and take on water. A little planning is needed there. If you have to fuss over it all, there is probably something missing in your approach to it all. Stay cool, stay safe, and have a great time. ---- Fritz

Re: Trip Planning

Reply #21 – May 29, 2014, 09:52:46 pm

OK Bob ---- We have an RV spot under our pole barn where you can tie up and finding something to work on is no problem. You could probably save enough diesel coupons to get you back south again sometime!! Have a great day ---- Fritz

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