RVing versus hotels for a trip out west fromVA

We too are in Virginia, a co worker takes her husband & two children to California Every July, They tent camp and really enjoy it. They get to see so many more things & nature that you would never see staying at motels. They have done it two years & are planning to again do it this year.

With a truck camper and state & federal campgrounds you could do it at a fraction of the cost of restaurants & motels. Personally I wish I was in a position to do just that & hope to one day.

Thanks to everyone for all of the helpful information. I do most of the driving, which I enjoy, so I would rather drive a vehicle that I am comfortable with. I love our truck camper and the options that it offers. It has a full bath and a small kitchen so we can stop just about anywhere. My brother lives in Silver City NM so we will stay a few nights there then see sights along the way to Mountain Home ID where my son lives. We just came back from a month long trip and I think that my #1 squeeze felt cramped as we stayed most of the month in 1 spot. Thanks again and safe travels.

I don't understand the issue. If it is cost, The car will usually lose. If it is comfort, and the truck is not comfortable, get one that is. If it is convenience, you can't beat having your own bed, bathroom and kitchen. If you are looking for scenery, how much more can you see from your truck than you can from a car?

I have lived most of my life at the bottom right corner of a spreadsheet. Let me tell you, if you own the hardware, an RV is tough to beat. Sure the fuel rate sucks, but what you don't spend on food and lodging can destroy that pretty fast.

We now travel in an antique Class-A. We have never enjoyed it more. I can't fly anymore because I set off the alarms, but I don't miss it either.

Matt

dukenurse wrote:
Honey is having second thoughts about driving from VA to NM, ID then home with sightseeing along the way. We have a diesel truck with a self contained slide in. We don't have any time constraints and only want to drive 300 or les miles per day. Your suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Connie

For me this is a "NO CONTEST" We love our Coach and the DW has no problem with extended trips (90-180 days). Do to time constraints we still do both, hotel and Coach, but given the choice -- my bed - my bath - my house - I would always pick the Coach if possible.

If you are comfortable in the slide in then go for it, if worst comes to worst you could always take a few days and chill out in a Vacation area along the way (we still talk about staying in Yellowstone Lodge with the RV parked outside) just had to say we did it, smaller unit that was not really made for long periods. A couple years after we married we took the PU/Slide in on the coast to coast dash through all the Parks and sights possible - Loved it but most of the pictures had the truck mirror in them - stayed in a few hotel rooms along the way and planted the seeds for many return trips.

One of the great things about being self contained is the ability to put in a couple of long days wen there is little to see and just spending the night at Wal*Mart, then to only drive 25-50 miles between sites and CG's. Flexibility (travel days_ and familiarity (Bed and Bath) are both great reason to go for it.

If you need advice on specific sites just do a search or start a new post.

BOL,

I have done several cross country trips using automobile, truck camper, and motor home. I have always enjoyed using my own facilities and not having to unload and repack everyday. I agree with others that I can stop when I want and eat when I want. I do not believe that I could go back to using motels again. I usually drive about 200 miles a day. That is enough for me. JMO

I'd also take the camper. Lots of great places out west where hotels are A) non-existent or B) If there are any, they'll be pricey.

valhalla360 wrote:
Since you already have the truck camper, just take it. If the mood strikes, stay at a hotel or if the mood strikes stay at a campsite.

If you want to save a little money, make dinner. If you want to splurge go out to a restaurant.

You will spend a little more in fuel but I think if you run the numbers you will find it will easily be offset with the cost savings from days camping and eating in the RV.

Agree. Years ago had vw camper followed by a Rialta. Many times we wanted a break from the confines of the RV and stayed at a motel. Lots of options with a TC.

Been there, done that twice. You'll love it.

You should check out the usual stops. Petrified Forest NP, Grand Canyon NP (both South and North, very different places), Bryce and Zion, Arches, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Death Valley. Heck, take the entire spring, summer, and fall, and you might scratch the surface.

We follow the 2,2,2 rule if possible. Drive 200 miles a day, arrive before 2 PM, and stay 2 days. If you insist on driving 300 miles, arrive when you get there, and move on the next day, you can get from West Virginia to Seattle in 2 weeks. Ditto Los Angeles to Virginia. But the real joy is taking your time and being able to see and explore the fabulous sights along the way. This is a great continent we share.

There is a book my daughter bought for us when we got our RV back in 2008: "Road Trip USA" by Jamie Jensen. It's about 900 pages detailing 11 different cross-country trips via 2-lane roads, mostly, with tips of where to stop and what to see on the way. So far we've managed hurried trips on 2 of them, can't wait for the DW to retire so we can take more.

Clicky

Since you already have the truck camper, just take it. If the mood strikes, stay at a hotel or if the mood strikes stay at a campsite.

If you want to save a little money, make dinner. If you want to splurge go out to a restaurant.

You will spend a little more in fuel but I think if you run the numbers you will find it will easily be offset with the cost savings from days camping and eating in the RV.

Here is my take on it. You're going to be driving each option, so you're going to be sitting in the truck for the 4,000 odd miles of the round trip. That's around 60 hours, a week on the road each way. That's 14 nights in a hotel, eating out three meals a day, and I figure the cost difference between that and camping at $100 per night, so the hotel trip will cost around $1400 more than camping (including fuel difference for pulling the trailer). Plus you get to sleep in your own bed, eat your own food that you prepare, etc.

Downside of camping is that you need to tow the trailer, you need to do the housework of maintaining the trailer, making the bed, doing laundry, cooking, washing the dishes. Figure two hours a day on housework and taking care of the rig.

Other things - you can be equally "free" with either. I often stop for an over-night tucked in the back of a truck stop - free, use the truck stop facilities, have a meal in their restaurant, shop at their store, fill up with fuel. I stop at a "camp ground" maybe one night in three on a long trip. When I do a long trip with hotels, I pick up the State visitors guide at the visitors center when I enter each state. It has nothing in it but discount coupons to all of the hotels and motels along the interstate, exit numbers, other amenities, and I use that as a guide to where I plan to stop each night. Makes me equally free. So I've done trips each way, and enjoyed both. They are quite different, though, and I sure do get tired of hotels and restaurant food after a couple of days on the road.

Brian