My wife and I are total RV newbies and are planning a trip to Fort Myers Florida this January. Any advice from you veterans on routes, first night stop etc. We are pulling a 35' 5th wheel with a Ram diesel 2wd.

We just made our second trip from central NY (near Syracuse)to Ft. Myers Beach. I recommend staying on I-81 as long as possible, thus avoiding I-95 and the traffic congestion surrounding Washington DC, Baltimore MD and Richmond VA. Stay on I-81 past Roanoke VA, then take I-77 to Columbia SC, then I-26 towards Charleston SC until it intersects I-95. From just across the FL/GA border, I take the exit for Yule and SR A1A which leads to US 301. US 301 to Gainsville where I get on I-75 for the last of the journey to Ft. Myers. If you don't want to deal with the SR-301 two lane roads, you could stay on I-95 to I-4 to Tampa to I-75, but the SR-301 is about 100 miles shorter.You'll have a hard time finding open campgrounds until you reach southern PA. South of there should not be a problem. On my first trip, I made reservations for each night at campgrounds along my route. Found that weather, traffic, potty stops, etc can really affect how far you travel each day. Now we just go until about 1 hour we want to stop and use the RV GPS to find campgrounds 60-100 miles ahead on our route.

I always use 81s to 66 to 17 drops you off on 95 in Fredericksburg va I am from pa

First advice would be to watch the weather forecast for your route down. If your not on a fixed schedule, try to give yourself about a 3 day window (depending on your driving habits, time/miles) to get south of the mountains of Virginia. Can't recommend a route for your as we take I75 south from Detroit/Windsor. We generally try to leave early in morning to get to KY for the first night. This is about 10hrs driving for us, but it is generally the first open campground in winter.Dewinterizing is normally done in TN or GA, depending on temperatures and forecasts. We use bottled water in the RV and pink for flushing.Beverley and Ken

Our first long trip was from NY to Orlando this past Spring. I'd recommend staying two nights wherever you end up stopping along the way versus what I didn't, stop for the night, set-up to break camp the next morning to do another days driving.Our stops were in Virginia Beach, VA (First Landing Campground) and Savannah, GA (Savannah Oaks Campground) but we never got to really enjoy those locations because we had only plan a one night stop. When we do it again we'll plan on two nights in each location to spend some time exploring the area.BTW, once we got through Southern New Jersey we took route 13 south through DE, MD and VA bypassing I-95. It's two lane roads that will take you through some towns but you avoid the congestion that is typical on I-95.Enjoy!

The first open campground on your route is Twin Groves KOA in Pennsylvania. After that they will be scarce but you should have no problems finding one.EXIT 100, I81http://www.twingrove.com/Best routeI81 to I77 Charlote - Columbia I26 to I95

Pulling a 5th wheel from Ottawa to Fort Myers

DHDW_2dogs
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
I also tow a 35ft 5th wheel and live close to you (I live near Brockville, Ontaario) The first night |I stay at Flying J truck stop in Carlisle, the second night at the Flying J in Kenly SC or Latta (Dillon) SC, the 3rd night at the Flying J in Brunswick Georgia or in St Augustine Fl.

This year we are leaving earlier (leave Nov 26th) but last year left Dec 30th,

If you want more info PM me
Lorne_Lorraine
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
Fizz wrote:
az99 wrote:
Pa. is very cold in January to stop here and camp.

We have done this trip a few times.
Twingroves is the first and only open campground within comfortable driving distance.
You're not camping, just stopping for an overnight.
Two hours before arriving stop and turn on the furnace.
Twingroves has a restaurant.

Here's another nearby possibility. This one (Jonestown KOA) at I81 Exit 90 is just a few miles past the exit for the Twin Grove Campground. Handy to the Interstate and good fueling opportunities. We've been up and down I81 in the winter many times and always stay in our camper the first night southbound in December or January whether in PA, MD or VA. As suggested, watch the weather ahead but we have had to delay our departure only twice since 1980. The worst for snow is usually the snow belt between Watertown and Syracuse then clear sailing. Friends of ours swore they saw snow flurries through there in July! They were just kidding,...........I hope.

We always do I81, I66, US17 and I95.
tmac60
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
Thanks for all the help and great advice everyone. People told me RVers are great folks and I can see that already.

Cheers
Fizz
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
az99 wrote:
Pa. is very cold in January to stop here and camp.

We have done this trip a few times.
Twingroves is the first and only open campground within comfortable driving distance.
You're not camping, just stopping for an overnight.
Two hours before arriving stop and turn on the furnace.
Twingroves has a restaurant.
jeb5
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
Try this link to check for weather on your route. You need to check at least once a day to learn about changes.

This site has always told me about a window of good weather to travel. I will not pull our 5th wheel in ice or snow. Slush--Maybe

http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/interstate/
Parrothead_Mike
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
The suggestion of watching the weather for an open window is right on. Last year, our first RV snowbirding venture, we decided to leave on a specific date due to scheduling issues. That's not how we're going to do it this year. Last year was February 1st, and the day or two leading up to that planned departure date gave us about 10" of lake-effect snow here in SW Michigan along with temps 15 degrees F below freezing. Thankfully it was lake-effect snow because we headed southeasterly and ran out of the snow quickly.

This year we're going to look for a window of about 7-14 days. Watching weather.com is the best predictor in my mind. Look at your geographic area and also keep an eye on those locations (pick major cities) down the route you plan to take. Check them at least twice a day because forecasts are changed regularly. As someone said, getting past the VA mountains will be your goal. (We don't go that way so I'm not familiar with routes.) Watch the weather and once you see a good 3 day forecast hit the road. Good luck and have a great time.
az99
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
Pa. is very cold in January to stop here and camp.

Also use the advice of 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. Stay away from 95 in Baltimore,Washington and Richmond. The traffic is horrendous 24 hours a day.

Watch the weather as you have a lot of mountains to go over down 81 and 77 and potential for snow to Charlotte.

I would leave it winterized and stay in a hotel if you need to stop before you got far enough south. Nothing will ruin a vacation quicker than frozen/broken pipes before you get there.
Good Luck
Dick_B
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
Sorry, Florida is closed to Canadians this winter...LOL
Fizz
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
The first open campground on your route is Twin Groves KOA in Pennsylvania. After that they will be scarce but you should have no problems finding one.
EXIT 100, I81
http://www.twingrove.com/

Best route
I81 to I77 Charlote - Columbia I26 to I95
2edgesword
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
Our first long trip was from NY to Orlando this past Spring. I'd recommend staying two nights wherever you end up stopping along the way versus what I didn't, stop for the night, set-up to break camp the next morning to do another days driving.

Our stops were in Virginia Beach, VA (First Landing Campground) and Savannah, GA (Savannah Oaks Campground) but we never got to really enjoy those locations because we had only plan a one night stop. When we do it again we'll plan on two nights in each location to spend some time exploring the area.

BTW, once we got through Southern New Jersey we took route 13 south through DE, MD and VA bypassing I-95. It's two lane roads that will take you through some towns but you avoid the congestion that is typical on I-95.

Enjoy!