Hello Forum,Happy New Year! I'm flying on Wednesday to San Diego to look at an RV which I then hopefully will buy - and use to get back to Sedona, Arizona. If this happens it will be my very first RV trip. From San Diego to Sedona are 440 miles. I'm sure I will not be able to drive this distance in one day, especially not if I'm starting my trip in the afternoon. I hope I can do it in 2 days - first day San Diego to Ehrenberg or Quartzsite, second day back home to Sedona. Is that realistic?If I get the feeling that I should not drive all the way to Ehrenberg on the first day, where could I best stop for the night? I guess the best route from San Diego to Ehrenberg is taking the I-8 to El Centro and then the SR 111 or SR 115 and finally the SR 78 to Ehrenberg. Does that sound ok?Several months of research and looking and test driving might come to an end on Wednesday. Or not, if I don't like the vehicle. We will see.I would be happy and greatful if I could get some tips for the trip back to Sedona here. Thanks.Nick

Load RVPARKY or another similar app on your phone to let you locate a campground anywhere along the way. You simply type in a town name, and the closest ones will come on a map screen, complete with pricing and contact info. And congrats and good luck.

What kind of an RV is it? If it is a towed RV (trailer or fifth wheel), build in a lot of extra time for getting it parked just right -- not easy for a newbie. (It'll get easier over time.)Be sure to take good notes when you take delivery -- the various systems can be a bit daunting at first. I would also use rvparkreviews.com in addition to the one suggested by kerrlakeRoo.In any event, let us know how it went!

I wouldn't rush my first trip in a RV - especially a used RV. I would take it slow and keep and eye/ear out for anything that maybe wrong - use the extra time to get familiar with the rig and each of it's components. Good idea to bring some basic tools in case you need to fix something en-route. Some people love to plan trips to the nth degree - others like me tend to wing it and drive until they see something interesting or get tired. RV allows you the luxury to do either.

First time out I would stay on I-8 and plan on spending the night in Yuma. You should be fine for one night boonedocking without a campground but Yuma has every level of campground from resort to parking lot.It is 3-4 hrs from San Diego (3 in motor home/4 pulling a trailer at 55) and it has a lot of RV repair shops, if you have a blowout or some other issue. The next day go up to Gila Bend and take 85 to I-10 and the 303 around Phoenix to I-17. Take your time at first and double check Steps in, windows closed, antenna and vents down, chocks, levelers, etc picked up, and if it is a trailer the hitch is properly hooked up and safety chains/cable attached.

Route from San Diego (CA) to Sedona (AZ) | Good Sam Community

resucami
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
All for nothing. The RV was not at all as described in the ad and in many emails and phone calls with the owner. Well, this is probably part of the game when searching for a not-so-expensive used RV. Thanks for your help, anyway. I will be probably back with questions about the next candidate.
resucami
Explorer
Jan 02, 2018
brooks379 wrote:
You are buying the RV to drive it so enjoy the drive.

Exactly. That is why I planned from the beginning to do this in two days. It's getting kind of exciting now. I probably have to fly with a suitcase to San Diego as I will certainly need a good blanket for the night.
brooks379
Explorer
Jan 02, 2018
115 and 78 are good roads. I always go to El Centro and take 111 to 78 to I 10 an easy drive. I would want to get out of SD before 3:30 pm because of traffic going east on I 8. East bound is down hill on the big mountain east of SD.... all in all it is an easy drive to Sedona IMHO. You are buying the RV to drive it so enjoy the drive.
resucami
Explorer
Jan 02, 2018
ohhell10339 wrote:
By far the best route is to take 1-15 north, use CA 60 to connect to 1-10 east...

Interesting alternative. It's 40 miles and - according to Google Maps - 30 minutes longer than taking the I-8 to CA-115/CA-78 to I-10. See also here: http://vimweb.net/vimweb/SanDiego-Ehrenberg.html. (If I go this way I would probably prefer to stay overnight in Ehrenberg as I, for now, do not plan to take advantage of the latest legal developments in California.)

Are CA-115/CA-78 not recommendable?
ohhell10339
Explorer
Jan 02, 2018
By far the best route is to take 1-15 north, use CA 60 to connect to 1-10 east, cross the state line, and then head northeast on US 60 to Prescott, Cottonwood, then Sedona. Relatively few grades to climb, towns all along the way.

And no, it's not a one-day trip in an RV. Blythe is a good halfway point to stop for the night.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2018
"9 mpg, based on my experience, is probably rather on the high side to expect. I'd expect about 7.5 to 8 mpg (probably closer to 8 here), and let anything better be a nice surprise. "

I have put 41,000 miles on ours from coast to coast over the last 4.5 years, often towing my Harley and consistently average 9.5 to include a little generator run time. I typically cruise at 60 - 63 and 65 max on the interstates. Keep in mind I have the E-350, GVWR 11,500 with the 4:10 differential which gives better mileage and smoother ride than the E-450. Under 25' the E-350 is the way to go unless you plan on loading and towing heavy.

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

:C
DrewE
Explorer II
Jan 02, 2018
Desert Captain wrote:
Don't fill your tank in San Diego {or anywhere else in California for that matter}. Put enough in to get you to Yuma and top it up there. Gas will be about 80 cents a gallon cheaper in Arizona. A 26' C will likely be a Ford Chassis with the venerable V-10 and a 55-gallon tank. Expect 9 mpg driving around 60 and remember the generator won't work if the tank is below one quarter.

Just drove from San Diego to Tucson yesterday and the roads are all good.

:C

9 mpg, based on my experience, is probably rather on the high side to expect. I'd expect about 7.5 to 8 mpg (probably closer to 8 here), and let anything better be a nice surprise.
JohnG3
Explorer II
Jan 02, 2018
All Stays Camp and RV is another smart device app that uses your position to find what services are near your location. RV parks, fuel, food, entertainment, points of interest and rest stops. No need to enter your location. Also lets you scroll your route to see whats as far ahead as you want to drive that day.

Went from Sedona to Orange County last month and the 10 to the 303 is a great shortcut.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Jan 01, 2018
Don't fill your tank in San Diego {or anywhere else in California for that matter}. Put enough in to get you to Yuma and top it up there. Gas will be about 80 cents a gallon cheaper in Arizona. A 26' C will likely be a Ford Chassis with the venerable V-10 and a 55-gallon tank. Expect 9 mpg driving around 60 and remember the generator won't work if the tank is below one quarter.

Just drove from San Diego to Tucson yesterday and the roads are all good.

:C
resucami
Explorer
Jan 01, 2018
Thanks. I really appreciate your input. The vehicle I'm looking at is a 26 ft Class C, and I expect it to be in good shape. I would walk away from it if it turns out to look bad.

I don't think I will be leaving San Diego before 3 PM and I doubt that I then want to drive 460 miles in one go, most of it in the dark. Depending on when I actually leave and how I feel I might, however, drive on that day only to Yuma (170 miles) and then the next day - starting much earlier and taking some breaks - from Yuma to Sedona (290 miles).

I will let you know how this goes!