Community Forums

ChrisinNJ · 10-20-2013, 05:50 PM

My Husband Keith and I purchased our first RV almost a year ago and we are having a blast! We are looking for information on camping in areas we have never visited so I thought I would join the forums.

We travel with our 3 kids, and our dog. So far we have visited Cape May NJ (Beachcomber Resort and Seashore Campsites), Ocean City MD (Castaways) NY State, (KOA Newburgh and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Woodridge) and we will soon visit Disney's Ft. Wilderness Resort!

We are hoping to travel to Mt. Rushmore and maybe the Grand Canyon next summer, and we are looking for some tips for how to break up the travel, where to stay, and what to see along the way. I am not sure what forum is the best place to post for that information, so if someone wants to point me in the right direction...

Edited to add, we have our coach, 2008 Fleetwood Excursion and we are shopping for a toad that will seat 5 .

Thanks!

Christine

bdickson · 10-20-2013, 05:56 PM

**JohnRR** · 10-20-2013, 05:58 PM

Enjoy your travels.

Toyduck · 10-20-2013, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisinNJ

My Husband Keith and I purchased our first RV almost a year ago and we are having a blast! We are looking for information on camping in areas we have never visited so I thought I would join the forums.

We travel with our 3 kids, and our dog. So far we have visited Cape May NJ (Beachcomber Resort and Seashore Campsites), Ocean City MD (Castaways) NY State, (KOA Newburgh and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Woodridge) and we will soon visit Disney's Ft. Wilderness Resort!

We are hoping to travel to Mt. Rushmore and maybe the Grand Canyon next summer, and we are looking for some tips for how to break up the travel, where to stay, and what to see along the way. I am not sure what forum is the best place to post for that information, so if someone wants to point me in the right direction...

Edited to add, we have our coach, 2008 Fleetwood Excursion and we are shopping for a toad that will seat 5 .

Thanks!

Christine

We are pretty simplistic in the way we do it. We live out west and travel east for our summer trip(s). We just pick a route to travel east, then another different route to return west, and just keep our eyes open and stop when we see something we like or are interested in. No pre-planning otherwise. There is always something new to see!

ChrisinNJ · 10-20-2013, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toyduck

We are pretty simplistic in the way we do it. We live out west and travel east for our summer trip(s). We just pick a route to travel east, then another different route to return west, and just keep our eyes open and stop when we see something we like or are interested in. No pre-planning otherwise. There is always something new to see!

OK, you sound just like my husband. He figures as long as we have a fridge full of food and a toilet, we don't need plans. I am more the planner and worrier. I am nervous that we will get out there and not be able to find a campground, so I like to have some basic plans in place.

Thanks for all the welcomes!

Stickdog · 10-20-2013, 06:37 PM

How much time do you have to devote to this adventure. Round trip would be roughly 5200 miles assuming your in the New York City area, you gave no location. If you figure your average speed at 50 miles per hour your looking at 104 hours just to get from location to location. A eight hour driving day would take 13 days for the trip. We took 13 driving days from the Oregon coast to south Florida 3500 miles or 269 miles a day and average 50 miles per hour and 5 1/2-6 hr driving days. We did break this up with several 2-3 day stops along the way for sightseeing.
A long days drive is one thing but day after day is not a pleasure.

ChrisinNJ · 10-20-2013, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stickdog

How much time do you have to devote to this adventure. Round trip would be roughly 5200 miles assuming your in the New York City area, you gave no location. If you figure your average speed at 50 miles per hour your looking at 104 hours just to get from location to location. A eight hour driving day would take 13 days for the trip. We took 13 driving days from the Oregon coast to south Florida 3500 miles or 269 miles a day and average 50 miles per hour and 5 1/2-6 hr driving days. We did break this up with several 2-3 day stops along the way for sightseeing.
A long days drive is one thing but day after day is not a pleasure.

We are planning on 2 weeks, but could take 3 if we need to. It is 1880 miles each way (google maps shows it as a 27 hour drive), so just under 4000 miles round trip. We were planning to get there in 4 days, spend 3-4 days there then take it slower on the ride home.

Stickdog · 10-20-2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisinNJ

We are planning on 2 weeks, but could take 3 if we need to. It is 1880 miles each way (google maps shows it as a 27 hour drive), so just under 4000 miles round trip. We were planning to get there in 4 days, spend 3-4 days there then take it slower on the ride home.

Your original post said : "We are hoping to travel to Mt. Rushmore and maybe the Grand Canyon next summer, "

I added in the mileage to GC and return trip.

Bruce C · 10-21-2013, 03:38 AM

from NH.

Steve N Sal · 10-21-2013, 04:39 AM

Howdy and welcome to the forum. Glad your enjoying your travels. Sounds like you have plenty of time to plan. Look at a map and draw a Northern route out and Southern route home. Google places of interest along the route on your computere and choose what you will most like to see. Trust me there will be more then you'll have time for. Take your time and enjoy, I'm sure you'll want to go back West many times to take in all history and scenery there is to see out there. You could also post a question in one of the "RV Camping Forums" for more information. Good Luck and Be Safe!

darcan · 10-21-2013, 06:49 AM

Welcome from South Dakota. We live on the east side of SD but travel out to the Black Hills frequently. There are lots of campgrounds along the I-90 on the way out to Mt Rushmore; both private and state. Once you are out near Mt Rushmore, you may have more trouble finding a site because it is very busy in the summer but there are tons of nice campgrounds. www.campsd.com will show you the State Parks in SD. Good luck. Trip planning is part of the fun!

Toyduck · 10-21-2013, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisinNJ

OK, you sound just like my husband. He figures as long as we have a fridge full of food and a toilet, we don't need plans. I am more the planner and worrier. I am nervous that we will get out there and not be able to find a campground, so I like to have some basic plans in place.

Thanks for all the welcomes!

My DW was the same way, but she is getting better

Will you be towing a vehicle? Or are you using a trailer? There might be parking issues at Mt. Rushmore during the busy season (Sturgis/July 4th) for a larger MH. During those time periods a reservation would also be recommended. However for the rest of the drive, relax and enjoy whatever comes up.

Medico · 10-21-2013, 03:56 PM

Welcome and glad to meet you!

Park · 10-21-2013, 04:58 PM

From southern NJ.

We did the same thing with our kids and grand kids. We tented with my daughters when they were growing up. Then we purchased a small 24' TT with the grand kids years ago and have never looked back.

Do it your only young once and the kids get a education they can't receive in any classroom.

Over the past years we have been to Glacier NP, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Southern Cal, Arizona, Disney, not to mention Beachcomber, and Seashore campground and a bunch of other places in between.