Planning Your Cross Country Trip: RV Style
04-04-2016
If you have not done it already, and you want to take a cross country trip, it’s time to start planning. There are many things that you must be thinking about. Where will we go? What are the best routes to take? When is the best time to leave? What should I bring? When all these questions start going through your mind do not lose focus on the things that can make or break your trip.
Prep and Plan
Sitting down with a map and plotting your trip is important, but before you do that you need to make sure you have some prep time behind the wheel. If you have driving an RV for a while it may seem silly to practice driving your rig. However, it is not. Knowing how to control the swaying motion some RVs have will help you maneuver through unfamiliar roads. Knowing where your fenders are and how to park your rig is something you can get through practice. Now that you have done a little prep, it is time to make your plan. I suggest making a plan that you want to stick with but that also can be changed if you like. Having the opportunity to go where the road leads you and exploring new places is part of the adventure of cross country travel. With that said be sure that you have a rough idea of where you want to go and an ETA for each destination. Try the trip planner feature on MobileRVing.com!
Money, Money, Money
Next, you may want to set a budget for your trip. With pretty much everything online these days, it becomes very easy to do some research on the cost of overnight camping in different states. Calculate the miles you will be driving and research gas prices in the areas you will be traveling. Food and personal items will be similar to what you use when you are not traveling, but you may want to stock up on some things before you hit the road. One of the most important things to think about is the possibility of repairs that may be needed on the coach while you travel. You never know what could happen on the road so keep a chunk of emergency money stored away in case of…well you know…an emergency. There are ways to make money on the road as well. See my article “Ease on Down the Road to a Mobile Income” for ways to supplement your income while on the road.
Be Flexible and Take It Easy
Most importantly, take your time while you travel. If you are rushing to meet some rigid deadline, you may not enjoy the little things that make our country so unique. Plan some little excursions to areas that have something exciting you have always wanted to see. Once you get there, slow down and enjoy your surroundings. Find a quiet little town and stay for a few days. You may discover an amazing little café that has the best steak dinner you have ever tasted or a hole in the wall pub that makes its own beer. Do your research and stroll through the country at a slow pace. You may just discover that you truly belong in a small town or you are the perfect person to raise cattle.
“Take your time” is the name of the game when you are taking a road trip, especially one that could last a few months. You have no reason to sprint through your trip. Enjoy the road, your fellow travelers, and the most beautiful country in the world. One more important little tip, when planning your travels do not trek through Nevada in the summer or through Denver in the winter. Plan your trip with the weather in mind and you will be able to get as much out your journey as you can.
Happy Trails!
Prep and Plan
Sitting down with a map and plotting your trip is important, but before you do that you need to make sure you have some prep time behind the wheel. If you have driving an RV for a while it may seem silly to practice driving your rig. However, it is not. Knowing how to control the swaying motion some RVs have will help you maneuver through unfamiliar roads. Knowing where your fenders are and how to park your rig is something you can get through practice. Now that you have done a little prep, it is time to make your plan. I suggest making a plan that you want to stick with but that also can be changed if you like. Having the opportunity to go where the road leads you and exploring new places is part of the adventure of cross country travel. With that said be sure that you have a rough idea of where you want to go and an ETA for each destination. Try the trip planner feature on MobileRVing.com!
Money, Money, Money
Next, you may want to set a budget for your trip. With pretty much everything online these days, it becomes very easy to do some research on the cost of overnight camping in different states. Calculate the miles you will be driving and research gas prices in the areas you will be traveling. Food and personal items will be similar to what you use when you are not traveling, but you may want to stock up on some things before you hit the road. One of the most important things to think about is the possibility of repairs that may be needed on the coach while you travel. You never know what could happen on the road so keep a chunk of emergency money stored away in case of…well you know…an emergency. There are ways to make money on the road as well. See my article “Ease on Down the Road to a Mobile Income” for ways to supplement your income while on the road.
Be Flexible and Take It Easy
Most importantly, take your time while you travel. If you are rushing to meet some rigid deadline, you may not enjoy the little things that make our country so unique. Plan some little excursions to areas that have something exciting you have always wanted to see. Once you get there, slow down and enjoy your surroundings. Find a quiet little town and stay for a few days. You may discover an amazing little café that has the best steak dinner you have ever tasted or a hole in the wall pub that makes its own beer. Do your research and stroll through the country at a slow pace. You may just discover that you truly belong in a small town or you are the perfect person to raise cattle.
“Take your time” is the name of the game when you are taking a road trip, especially one that could last a few months. You have no reason to sprint through your trip. Enjoy the road, your fellow travelers, and the most beautiful country in the world. One more important little tip, when planning your travels do not trek through Nevada in the summer or through Denver in the winter. Plan your trip with the weather in mind and you will be able to get as much out your journey as you can.
Happy Trails!
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Author: Tammy Daly
