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reinita's avatar
reinita
Explorer
Oct 12, 2013

Help plan Christmas trip from Michigan to Florida?

Hi,
If I can get the time off, we are planning a trip from Lansing, Mich., to Naples. Fl., the weekend before Christmas and coming back a week later. We have a 32-foot Sunseeker Class C.
Lots of initial questions:
How long might it take? We figure two very long days with one overnight stop on the way down and again on the way up.
When should we de-winterize? We typically have the RV shop winterize for us in late October and de-winterize in April. We don't know how todo it ourselves.
When would we winterize upon our return?
Where would be a good spot to stop halfway?
We've done 12-hour travel days before, so we know what we are getting into.
Any other concerns or tips welcome!
Many thanks
  • Anticipate where you will be approximately when you are going to want to stop and start looking at campgrounds to see if they are open at that time of year. Once you get into the southern states you should be fine, but north of Virginia and it is likely many will have closed for the season.
  • One of your biggest concerns should be, if you'll be able to find a spot to stay when you get there, unless you're staying with family. You're talking Florida in Dec. A lot of people made their plans and got their reservations a long time ago.
  • I wouldn't make reservations on the way down or up. I would drive as long as I could the sleep at WM or rest area, Cracker-barrel. It should only be about 1100 miles you should be able to get 700 in the first day. After that won't have to worry about freezing. You could make it to Ocala CW and sleep there and fill water.

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