Multi-week trips too much?

[bartletts]

We have been RVing for about 20 years with most of our trips over a long weekend. We recently retired, moved from a TT to a 5th wheel and upgraded to a newer truck.

We are contemplating a 2500 mi trip taking 20 days with lots of cool stops every few days. Most drives will be 3 to 4 hours between destinations and we will generally stay 2 to 3 nights at each. Destinations include Hot Springs, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinatti, Columbus, Branson, Broken Bow and a couple of other 1 night stop overs.

Are we planning too much?

[jacwjames]

No, if that's what you want to do go for it.



I've been doing longer trips the last 4 years, usually 4-6 weeks. I will drive several days hard to get to an area and then slow down the pace.



Just depends on what you want to do.

[Camp CA]

Since you are destination campers you trip plan is reasonable with 3-4 hour trips and staying a few days at each campground to see the sights.

[Lt Dan]

Your plans sound reasonable and very doable. I've planned for trips as long as 8-10 weeks at a time with no issues. A few stops were one nighters but most were from three days to a week at one location.

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by bartletts

We have been RVing for about 20 years with most of our trips over a long weekend. We recently retired, moved from a TT to a 5th wheel and upgraded to a newer truck.

We are contemplating a 2500 mi trip taking 20 days with lots of cool stops every few days. Most drives will be 3 to 4 hours between destinations and we will generally stay 2 to 3 nights at each. Destinations include Hot Springs, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinatti, Columbus, Branson, Broken Bow and a couple of other 1 night stop overs.

Are we planning too much?

Depending on your plans, you may be able to skip a stop, like maybe Cincinnati to Columbus.

[Psneeld]

20 days is most likely 1/2 the time I would do that trip, especially if all those stops were places I wanted to get to know a bit.

I live in FL but have a son in both NJ and TX. So, unless like the trip lasts summer to the North West Coast, We usually do a 2500 mile round trip to Texas and a 2000 mile trip to NJ.

The Texas trips can go both ways. Stop frequently and fish while still in FL taking up to a month or more, or race to Dallas and back in 19 days which we did the last time and hated it. Even though it was 4 days out and 5 days back with a 10 day stay near Dallas to visit with my son and family drives over 4-4.5 hours start to wear on my brain. If I have to do a long drive, I prefer at least some of it is off interstates.

The NJ trip is always a bit different as there are many friends and family not only along the way but also at my old marina in Jersey. That stop with my other son deserves a couple weeks as we fish a lot there and the best fresh seafood dinners in the US are right there in the marina parking lot on the weekends.

Bottom line is everyone has different places to visit and stays are even very variable.

In my planning, the only mistake is setting a schedule that forces long days or catchup long drive if weather or some other issues presses the issue.

[Where-2]

You don't say how recently you upgraded your truck / RV. If you have not already done so, take a least one short trip before going on your 20-day trip to work out any bugs and get comfortable with your new RV.

[d23haynes57]

Your plans are making some of us envious. You may find at some point that a motor home may have been a better choice. As you go plan less and what you feel like each day! That is freedom.

[m0v1]

Fuel range and the number of stops to refuel would be one of the bigger challenges for us with your setup. How big is your truck's tank? Does your fiver have a generator so you can dry camp? If not, that may be another big challenge for extended trips.

About 6 weeks is the limit my wife is happy on the road. We have found 1,000 - 1,200 miles per week is a reasonable amount time to keep the kids strapped down and keep things fun while still being able to cover a lot of ground.

Our rig has a huge fuel tank (I am reluctant to even share the spec for fear of getting called out again) and I still may extend the range with some light propane injection. It is amazing how sometimes going just 100 more miles might result in fuel being nearly a dollar cheaper per gallon!

[d23haynes57]

Originally Posted by m0v1

Fuel range and the number of stops to refuel would be one of the bigger challenges for us with your setup. How big is your truck's tank? Does your fiver have a generator so you can dry camp? If not, that may be another big challenge for extended trips.

About 6 weeks is the limit my wife is happy on the road. We have found 1,000 - 1,200 miles per week is a reasonable amount time to keep the kids strapped down and keep things fun while still being able to cover a lot of ground.

Our rig has a huge fuel tank (I am reluctant to even share the spec for fear of getting called out again) and I still may extend the range with some light propane injection. It is amazing how sometimes going just 100 more miles might result in fuel being nearly a dollar cheaper per gallon!

I carry 150 gallons. I stop often as I can only drive about 3 to 4 hours at best. So depending on the station and credit card whenever I stop, I just take another $150 to $175 of fuel. Gives me walk around and refresh time. What I like is that I can reach a destination with near 150 gallons of fuel for generator and heat and 140 gallons of freshwater. Without the need for AC I can go an easy three days on battery. I do not have solar, yet. My fridge, stove still on propane.

[ejw7213]

You are retired now. No reason to not take as long or as short a trip as you desire. We retired 3 years ago, and our outings are getting longer and longer because we can. You do you and enjoy. No reason to hurry or rush.

[Sunnyfalls]

Being retired, we typically do one or two 3 month dry glamping trips each year from Southern Oregon to Costa Rica or to northeast Canada/US. We typically only drive 300-350 miles per day and travel 10-14,000 miles per trip. As such, economical, high MPG travel and comfortable, long duration dry glamping capability is how we designed our RV arrangement. We also do shorter trips too, and while the Pacific Northwest has amazing and highly enjoyable destinations, there's nothing especially challenging about these trips.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

[ViperJD]

Bartletts, agree with PSneed, more time is better. Because we don't full time (most of us), we have to pack and unpack at the beginning and end of each trip. If you go for longer trips, you get more time enjoying and less time working. Since you are retired, you might add 1 day to each stop on your plan and see if that works better for you. Like others, I don't mind driving hard if the destination is worth it. If it is the journey we are looking for, we slow down and enjoy the going and coming as well. 2 months has become our standard, but we have done 6 months 3 times and that was good also! Almost felt like full timers (until we had to unpack at the end). All the best,

[Triangle Drifter]

Next week we set off on another 5 month plus trip. Trailer distance is estimated at more than 12,000 miles. Add truck only miles and we may be up to 15,000 miles. Very few 'travel' days will be longer than 4 hours. A route is planned but very few reservations are made Reservations are made for 5 bluegrass festivals and a ferry to Newfoundland.