2015 shakedown...2016 cross country trip

martinto wrote:
Any experiences/recommendations for a pc based mapping and trip planner with references to CG's along the way?

In addition to the Discovery Owner's Form already mentioned by Matt, you can download Points of Interest from the POI Factory, Ultimate Public Campground Project and U.S. Campgrounds websites. There will be duplicates but each database will have some that the others do not.

For finding places of interest on the fly on the internet I use:
National Parks,
National Wildlife Rufuges,
State Parks,
Scenic Byways,
National Historic Trails,
Legends of America,
Roadside America,
Ghost Towns,
Slot Canyons,
Pow Wows,
Flea Markets,
Rock Art,
Native American Ruins,
Factory Tours,
Waterfalls,
Scenic Railroads, State Fairs,
Lighthouses,
Breweries in the United States
Wineries in the United States,
Trip Advisor
State Tourism Websites
Frommers Guide
Fairs and Festivals
More Fairs & Festivals
Scenic USA
Road Trippers
We also stop at Visitor and Welcome Centers, hit the brochure rack at campgrounds and ask campground staff and locals what to see and do. One of the links above is to the State tourist bureaus of every state. You can request information from them and often download a digital copy of there tourist information brochure(s).

For finding campgrounds on the fly using the internet I use:
RV Park Reviews
Passport America
Allstays
RV Parky
Woodalls
Free Campgrounds
Free campsites
U.S. Campgrounds
National Forest Campground guide
Ultimate Public Cammpground Project
Corps of Engineers Campgrounds
In my experience no one of them lists every campground.

If you are specifically looking for free/boondocking sites, checkout these websites:
Bob’s Cheap or Free Campgrounds
Dean’s List
Boondockers Welcome
Harvest Host
Two other sources that are for sale are:
Days End Directory
Don Wright’s Guide

First get a good road atlas and highlight things you want to see. Then you can easily make your route and then consult references for campgrounds. Don't overdo it with making reservations for such a long trip. They aren't necessary unless you really want to stay at a particular campground at a particular time. In 16 years of full-timing we rarely made reservations.

Also consider the many public parks along the way especially crossing the Plains states. Many of the small towns have a city park which are great places to stay. There are also county parks, national forest campgrounds, state parks and national parks to consider.

Have a good time planning....that's part of the fun!!

Thanks folks. I appreciate the feedback. I happened across "RVParky.com" which seems to be just the thing I need. I can map a route with desired stops and pull up a llinks of the campgrounds near that stop. You can then review and select fir your plan.

Martin,

I am a guy that gets asked this a lot. Maybe because my job description has often been "Navigator" (and it is still something I am pathological about. With Streets and Trips out of publication, that pretty much leave Delorme Street Atlas in the field. It has a steep initial learning curve, but it is a very powerful package.

There are some camp grounds included in the database, but the better thing to do is get SA rolling and then go to Discovery Owners OverlaysAnd pick out what might interest you. That is for you basic planning. This is only partly effective for campgrounds. It you TT is on the large size, there is a clearance overly.

If you are going to travel this way, you need to think about internet access. We traveled for years by making sure we had stops at free wifi places. With that and the RV Psrk Reviews and RVParky, you can find a place pretty easily. SA can tell you where you will want to end the day. If you have a smartphone, most can be made to hot spot (your own wifi), and then you don't need to find a McD's or Panera.

Matt

Follow your nose, wherever it goes. That was not your grandpa, that was the bird from the Fruit Loops commercial......LOL !

My grandpa told me to just follow my nose and I would get to where I'm going.

As long as time is not a factor then I would say to meander as you wish in any direction you wish and stay off the major interstates. The secondary routes that pass through all those little gems of towns you would never see if you stayed on the interstates hold a lot of pleasant surprises, IF you stop and wander about their streets. I will leave it to you to discover them on your own.

Sounds like fun! Take your time and enjoy it, and posts some pics here!!

If over 62, get Senior National park pass for $10 and get in all parks for free and half price for camping. Go to recreation.gov for reservations.
If you like casinos, go to casinocamper.com and find all casinos that offer free overnighting, some with hookups.
Go to Oregonstateparks.org to find their camping parks.