Forum Discussion

BCam's avatar
BCam
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014

North America loop

We're planning a 2-month (? - retired with no commitments) loop tour from Sacramento, across to and up/down the eastern coast, including parts of southern Canada. We've done the Southwest and up the west coast, although we don't mind going up or down the west coast again (our kids live in Seattle area).

We've done Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley.

We're use to dry camping in state parks, but don't mind occasional upscale parks, too, especially near cities.

Definitely want to hit the Smithsonian.

Any suggested routes? Places to be sure to see? Time of year to do trip? Ways to plan.

Thanks.
  • Well since you are retired why race around & try yo do it in only 2 months?

    From MD we have done the loop around doing the Pacific Northwest twice. Each trip was at least 10,000 trailer miles. Each trip was over 120 days. Both trips seemed a bit rushed. Neither one was what you could call laid back & easy going.

    If starting from CA head out in April/May towards the Gulf Coast, up the Atlantic seaboard & back across either through the middle or north to Seattle then back down. Figure on at least 4 months to do it.
  • Be prepared to experience a different world `out here'. We have never dry camped in more than 10 years of RVing. One reason is that the opportunities don't seem to exist where we want to go.
    So my only advice is to carry Mountain Directory East and West for your planning.
  • I would suggest taking US 2 across the northern US. We took it all the way to Michigan, then dropped down and came around the Great lakes to Niagra Falls then into Bangor.
    Proceeded south along US 1 into New and York and south to DC. On that trip we came back west on US 36-38. Another trip was to angle down to Corpus Christi and then around the Gulf of Mexico to Key Wets, up the east coast to Virginia and then snaked down the Smokey Mountain Trail.
    Hate to tell you but each of these trips was over 2 months.
    I would make a list of your planned route, send a tourism request to each state and province to give you a better idea of sites you want to visit.
  • If you are going up the east coast don't forget Acadia in Maine, and if you are that close to Price Edward Island, I would highly recommend it too. Hopewell Rocks is great too in New Brunswick. Consider Cape Bretton Island, in NS.

    Also if you go to Nova Scotia get some good local maps at the welcome center and a GPS would be good. Unless you like getting lost in NS.
  • DW and I are also planning a trip up the east coast as far as Nova Scotia, so we will be following this thread with interest. As to time, we are thinking after labor day ought to be good, although we may need to start out (from Arkansas) in late August. Definitely want to be in New Hampshire/Vermont during last week of September.

    Have only a vague idea of trip now, but in South Caroline: Charleston: yes; Myrtle Beach: avoid.

    North Carolina: have already done Blue Ridge Parkway (a must-see), so was thinking of driving the Outer Banks. Don't know anything about it, but sounds interesting.

    Virginia: Will do Williamsburg (a must-see) again. Would like to take the tunnel up to Delaware. DW loves historical places. Have already spent much time in Washington, D.C. so won't visit it this time.

    Philadelphia: Art Museum and historic districts. Have no idea where we are going to camp.

    New York: give a wide birth. Have been there several times by plane, train, and Liberty Harbor. Not for this trip.

    Rhode Island: See how the swells live at Newport, if they will allow anyone in a Ford F350 pickup to even enter.

    Still looking at New England, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.