Community Forums

vraines · 06-02-2013, 06:33 AM

I am retired, so I try to avoid tight schedules that might increase the risk factors.
a. We frequently stop for one night at a campground
b. Never camped at a WalMart
c. Use rest areas only during daylight hours for short naps
d. Used trucks more,than once for more than an hour or two.

I avoid try to avoid night travel in the motor home. Just check out the stats on police roadside checks. Over 10% of drivers checked have a significant problem. DWI, warrants, no insurance, permit revoked, etc. Stats may not be much different in the day, but I have a better chance of avoiding them. I drive my toad a lot of night, but I some how feel safer in it.

Sealevel Ram · 06-02-2013, 06:57 AM

We travel to the West often, and our habits have changed over the years.
As we have gone up in size of MHs, we have more often sought out quicker places to stop for an overnight. We prefer Wammarts/Sams to rest areas or truck stops, but we have used those occasionally. Cabelas, Bass Pro are good also. Most Cracker Barrels are too small.
It is just more convenient for us.
Have had more trouble in campgrounds.

dsbike · 06-02-2013, 07:27 AM

We use WM for overnight stops. Easy on and off the highway.

However with your route up I95 & back you do have a few good choices for easy highway access campgrounds and wall marts in that stretch.

I don't like to drive at night, I have when necessary but I tend to get tired quicker. I can drive all day with no problems but as soon as it gets dark out it somehow has a negative effect on me.

baraff · 06-02-2013, 07:28 AM

I don't drive at night. Five hundred miles or ten hours is my limit, whichever comes first.
We'll overnight at a Cracker Barrel, but usually park in the back of the lot out of the way and not in the RV/Bus spaces; just too tight.
I like the clientele better at Cracker Barrel, we've seen some really shady, strange characters at WalMarts, which doesn't inspire a lot of confidence as a safe place for an overnight stay.
Plus, I can always get a decent meal at a reasonable price at CB, great after a long day on the road.

HHg · 06-02-2013, 07:35 AM

We typically plan our trips and make reservations accordingly well prior to departure. Nothing worse than driving all day and not having a place to sleep. Now the best laid plans are always subject to Murphy's Law! We have slept at Walmarts (I'm getting more partial to them) and a few State Rest Stops.

Hhg

Iangolf · 06-02-2013, 08:22 AM

We are sort of in the same boat as you. 8-10 hours+ is common due to limited time. Usual one week RV trip is over 3,000 miles round trip.

Preference is to stop at a campground since everyone likes to take showers in the am, etc... With 5 total (3 kids) little too much for the tanks.

Have done the Walmart stop a couple of times since we were trying to make up time. Power naps are usually at rest areas. Have not stayed at a truck stop yet.

Usually the first night on the road is to a campground in which we have made a reservation. After that until we reach our destination I estimate how far we can it that night and reserve a campsite for late arrival.

For example over spring break our first night stop was a KOA in Denheim Springs, LA. The next day we stopped at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola and latter that afternoon figured Lake City, FL was a good place to stop for the night. Called ahead and reserved a site for late arrival. The next day we would reach our destination (Ft. Wilderness) where we had a reservation.

Yes, we could have stayed in a Walmart parking lot however wanted showers in the am and did not have to worry about getting the Genturi out for the night.

CampDaven · 06-02-2013, 08:46 AM

Early in our days, we chose the "Bridge Too Far" and ended up tired and disappointed. Since then, when we had vacations there was always enough new things to see and do within about 1 to 1.5 short days of home.
We chose fun and relaxation so that the Vacation Penalty was well buffered on our return.
Thus, never needed a WM, etc.

Chuck&Pam · 06-02-2013, 10:06 AM

Ok, here goes...
I am now "simi-retired" meaning that i still have to work more often than not. When i am on a working schedule, we travel into the night and always find a Walmart to park in, usually around 10:00 PM to Midnight. Then back on the road in the morning. I really kind of like driving at night and as mentioned earlier, usually much less traffic.

When I do not have a work schedule to meet, we slow down. I use Passport America and find a RV park that is very close to the route, with easy access. Get there about 4 or 5 pm and take it a bit easier.

pops2 · 06-02-2013, 10:41 AM

Being an ex-longhaul truck driver one of the worst things is to have a person on your tail, especially at night, as their lights tend to reflect on my mirrors.
I also do not want to have to worry about braking and have someone that is in a daze want to bump my back end because he/she is not paying attention

PyrateSilly · 06-02-2013, 10:53 AM

We have stopped over nite at campgrounds, state welcome centers, rest areas, truck stops, and any large parking lot not just a walmart. A lot of rest areas and state welcome centers now are offering free wi-fi and when we were traveling it was pretty good. With the free wi-fi we could check on road conditions on our route and weather conditions coming up.
There have been a few spots that we drove in, took a look around and just left for the next. Thinking and remembering it's been mostly campgrounds that have given us that feeling of this is just not a place to stop at.

rgvtexan · 06-02-2013, 10:56 AM

Passport America for overnighters $10-$20 for elec, water, dump. Most with wifi, some with cable. Dry camp in Nat Forest, Casinos, BLM, Friends, Relitives. Never used a WM. We take 6-12 days between WA & TX.

MattC · 06-02-2013, 04:07 PM

Well Luckys,
You are asking a collection of unanswerable questions.

The single biggest factor is what are YOU comfortable doing.

In the last 30K+ miles, I would guess that we paid for an overnight campground less than six times. Events don't count.

When we travel, we are in travel mode. Our coach is very effectively self contained. For a couple (more or less thousand miles and most of a week of travel mode, we will stop for gas, water and waste dumps. We work our own leg stretching and dog walking into that schedule. As I write, we are homeward bound from a mni-rally and we will be off to another Thursday.

Even with two drivers and a coach with an exemplary ride, a 550 mile day is long. We have done more but that was not fun. We stop at rest areas, truck stops (often noisy), Cabela's (preferred) and Wally's (Ok and you can provision as well). If you don't need a "camp ground" (25~40$us/night) why buy one. Do you often buy a lunch you don't plan to eat? Why drive 15~30 miles off your route just to stay where some people think you should?

So, Learn what works for YOU.
Most of all, be safe out there.

Matt

rssnape · 06-02-2013, 04:17 PM

I don't like to drive at night, but with the exception of rush hour around cities, if I set the cruise at 62 in the right lane there is always a big empty hole in front of me as everyone is flying by me. For me pretty relaxing driving! and if I end up in rush hour I try to make my stops then and walk the dog eat a meal and stretch my legs until things open up.

ka7suz · 06-02-2013, 04:31 PM

We like to start early in the morning. Soon after sun up. Less traffic getting away from city commuters, we quit early too (3 or so). We find we seldom need to make reservations, (we are 'out west') and can get a nice spot, be all set up, fed and rested while others are just pulling in. We have never stayed at a Wal-Mart, nor plan to. Years ago we stopped at state hwy rest areas, but the trucker traffic was sometimes a little noisy.

JoAnn