Community Forums

jcwold · 03-18-2023, 10:13 AM

Planning a cross country trip in May/June.

I've seen RVLife and WanderLog and the RV Trip Wizard irv2 recommends. An preferences?

I currently just use Google Maps/Calendar for planning, RVParky for finding parks along route and CoPilot GPS for navigating. (I wish Google Maps had RV features)

Also like GasBuddy, but mostly just Google search for truck stops which can handle RVs like TA/Loves/FlyingJ/Pilot.

Thanks!
Jason

rk911 · 03-18-2023, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcwold

...I currently just use Google Maps/Calendar for planning, RVParky for finding parks along route and CoPilot GPS for navigating. (I wish Google Maps had RV features) Also like GasBuddy, but mostly just Google search for truck stops which can handle RVs like TA/Loves/FlyingJ/Pilot.

Thanks!
Jason

+1. I always preferred that way for trip planning. For me, planning the trip "manually" was part of the fun. I felt that I had a better handle on where we were going, the length of each segment, fuel, etc. We preferred the Flying J for fuel stops not just for the RV lanes, but most had large enough parking lots enabling us to make that a lunch stop as well. I'd say you're better off sticking with your current method of planning. Safe trip.

KenZ71 · 03-18-2023, 12:37 PM

I use tripwizard for planning routes and stops. Check TSD Open Roads for Diesel prices.

I like tripwizard for the fuel alerts based on tank size and MPG from my profile. Also able to right click in the map for local fuel prices which usually are higher than TSD.

SoonToBeFT · 03-18-2023, 04:13 PM

Googlemaps, Google search what to do by state, region, towns etc, RV Parky and various other resources to find overnight (not CGs) places to stay.

Love RV Parky for planning our trips.

BZTS561 · 03-18-2023, 04:23 PM

Use them all, but keep going back to Furkot. I like the pick a start and finish feature with the trip settings set to my desired drive time and speed, and it does all the planning of the stops along the way. Using the campground feature, all the RV parks, state parks, etc are shown along the way when you open the Sleep tab. Decide to venture off the selected route and it is easy to amend your trip to your personal liking. Shows your route with elevation graphs, downloads to Google maps easily, shows when you should gas up based on customized settings for your vehicle.

wog099 · 03-18-2023, 09:42 PM

I use Google Maps and the TruckRouter app to find a general route to take, as I can visually see alternate routes while planning. I do not use Google Maps while driving, but use my Garmin GPS while traveling to keep me on RV type roads and keep me out of trouble with low bridges, etc. I don't use the Garmin GPS to plan my route because it may take me hundreds of miles out of the way to keep me on the best "RV" route, so I plan my route then enter the stops on the Garmin to keep me on course.
I am not familiar with FurKot, but looked at it after reading the Ops post and seems like it may be useful.
To find campgrounds I use either or both, Campendium and RV Life Campground Reviews.
I have used RV Trip Planner a little, but did not take the time and effort to learn how to use it efficiently. It looked good though.
Not saying this is the best way to plan routes and travel; it's just what I am comfortable with.
Thanks,

be-happy · 03-19-2023, 04:18 AM

Planning an extended trip is always fun for me. I get a first look at the trip from Google Maps, just for cities and road info. I will start picking cities along the route for time and distance. I like to only drive 4-5 hours a day and find I have to add 1 hour to google time line.

Once I found a city I will go to RV Life campgrounds and review to find a place to stay. https://campgrounds.rvlife.com/

I have just stared using RV Life trip wizard this year to plan a 60 trip. It has alot to offer, but is somewhat time consuming to learn how. Once the site is mastered its great and well worth it. https://rvlife.com/

Good Luck

Skilletface · 03-19-2023, 05:56 AM

[QUOTE=jcwold;6449265]Planning a cross country trip in May/June.

I've seen RVLife and WanderLog and the RV Trip Wizard irv2 recommends. An preferences?

I currently just use Google Maps/Calendar for planning, RVParky for finding parks along route and CoPilot GPS for navigating. (I wish Google Maps had RV features)

Also like GasBuddy, but mostly just Google search for truck stops which can handle RVs like TA/Loves/FlyingJ/Pilot.

The RVLife/RV Trip Wizard and Goggle Map method is what I finally settled on for several reasons; Trip planning is easily accomplished on a PC or IPad (larger screen), RV Trip Wizard can be operated on a cell phone and synced to most modern in dashboard sound systems and one less device on the dashboard and the support here for Trip Wizard can not be beaten.

Google Map comes in when I want to drill down onto a site location and not necessarily a campground, attractions as well, also, not every campground will populate in Trip Wizard just cut and paste from Google Map to Trip Wizard and then that site will populate.

There are many features in RV Life/Trip Wizard and with some diligence on your part this can be a very good choice.

The best suggestion I can give is, pick one or two and take the time to learn how they work and stick with them as you will get caught in the weeds when jumping from one to the other.

traveldawg · 03-19-2023, 12:28 PM

My choice(s) / methods are:

Use RV Trip Wizard to plot starting point and stops along the way (and back home again). I use the driving radius tool to determine stops based on time/distance (per my settings).

Using google.com I search for "things to do" for cities/areas/etc. for stops I am interested in. There are literally dozens of choices returned as search results. This is probably where I get 80% of my ideas.

Once I get ideas as to what to see, how much time to spend, etc. I make notes on that stop in RVTW in the comments section.

For campground reviews I rely primarily on https://campgrounds.rvlife.com. I suppose RV Parky and Dyrt provide reviews and stuff too. But the go to has been campgrounds.rvlife.com for years and most others are still trying to catch up (but it is still worth checking some of them just the same if you feel it might five more info).

Finally - the night before travel day I put in my next destination into my Garmin GPS, double check the route (maybe use AllStays Camp and RV to double check low clearances and let the GPS guide me. I haven't found any app as good as a dedicated RV; and besides; you just spend thousands on a RV (and truck or car to tow) so now isn't the time to cheap out on app gadgets.

There are, however, useful travel apps.... Passport America, Harvest Hosts, Compendium, TripAdvisor, Roadside, iExit...... etc......