I have been doing research for hours, days, etc. Everyone tells me how inexpensively this can be done - as mu husband is a disabled veteran, we have the access pass. But I can't find the right places to use it. Either they are booked or have no hookup and we dont at the moment have a generator. If I were alone I could handle just pulling in to a first come first serve, but he is ill and we have several children. Can someone tell me how to start? I am using the goodsam trip planner, but the federal grounds arent on there, and the local lands dont indicate if they take the pass. . Do I call every site? I'm so confused - Am I overthinking it? I tried reading the FAQ but a bunvh of the links didn't work. Can someone give me the basics of getting to point a (NY) to point b (CA) without spending 60 bucks a night? Help? Please!

Most federal forest campgrounds will not have hookups. Federal park campgrounds will be more likely to have hookups, but will fill up months in advance.COE campgrounds may have hookups, but your access pass won't work for them, so you'll have to pay the fee.BLM lands can be free, but as you'll be boondocking (no developed campgrounds) there will be no hookups.Private campgrounds and RV Parks are the most likely to have hookups, but you won't be able to use your access pass for them and prices can exceed $60/night in some places.State parks may be your best bet under these conditions. They are more likely than federal forests to have hookups and their prices will often be less than private campgrounds. HOWEVER, like federal parks, they can fill up quickly. If you can't get early reservations, then you'll want to check frequently for cancellations and grab the reservation as soon as you find them.Your biggest dilemma is not having solar/generator so you can bypass the hookup sites. Could you afford and/or have space to add a couple more batteries? If so, then you might be able to 2-5 nights with no hookups for 1 night with hookups - instead of paying $60/night every night, you would pay $0-$20 for the 2-5 nights without hookups and then $60 for the one night with (dropping your expenses by $80 to $300 every 3-6 days.

www.recreation.gov has all the Corps of Engineers and BLM campgrounds. You can search by sites with hookups. They will more than likely be booked up on weekends and holidays. You can usually find sites Sun-Thurs during the week. Some state parks offer discounts for disabled but it varies by state. We also use Passport America (fee to join) which is half priced camping but there are many restrictions on days, dates, etc but we feel it's worth it. If you have time to stay at one location, many commercial campgrounds have monthly rates. I use www.woodalls.com to find commercial campgrounds.

oops. forgot. If your husband is 100 percent disabled veteran and has a DOD card get it from any military base you are entitled to stay at military campgrounds. www.militarycampgrounds.us

ps. your America the Beautiful Access Pass will work at any Corps of Engineers campground, National Park, BLM campground. You get the campsite at half price. I use Google Maps to map our route. I then look about where we want to stop for the night or a few days and note the town. I search on www.woodalls.com for campgrounds in that area, by distance, then I check the reviews on www.rvparkreviews.com before we decide. I use the CoPilot iPhone app for our GPS. You don't need a cell connection to use it.

There is FREE overnight parking (not camping) at WalMarts, Cracker Barrels, Home Depots,some Supper Markets. Ofcourse, there are no hookups, so extra battries and/or generator would be required.

Hi Everyone - Newbie here....MORE questions :) | Good Sam Community

38 Replies

bikendan
Explorer
Jul 01, 2016
AlysshaLynn wrote:

Can I just stay in a non electric site as long as I have the generator? I don't want to irritate people. I feel like staying at a Flying J will be a little cramped for us, but also setting up the tent and such just for sleeping seems like a lot of work for one night. I am just running around in circles here.

Expect campground staff or ranger to show up to shut that generator down.
Im sure it will exceed campground noise limits.
And as was said, you won't be able to run it overnight in a campground.
Flying J, yes.
ddndoug
Explorer
Jul 01, 2016
If you're not needing a ton of electricity, that would be fine, but unless you have an inverter you won't have 110V AC power but you will have 12V from your house batteries. If you're only staying one night and then back on the road the next morning, as long as your charging system is working properly the RVs charging system should charge up your house batteries when you drive down the road.

Camp grounds have quiet hours that usually start somewhere between 9 & 11pm and last until after daylight hours. During those quiet hours, you aren't allowed to run your generator.

I apologize if you already know this, but I know you're new to all of the RV stuff and I'm not sure how familiar you are with electrical needs and sources.

Doug
AlysshaLynn
Explorer
Jul 01, 2016
ARGH!!! Sorry.... According to hospice I have to tell them every city I am staying in the whole trip (in advance) to stay connected to their service. I have been at it for hours! And have basically gotten nowhere.

Can I just stay in a non electric site as long as I have the generator? I don't want to irritate people. I feel like staying at a Flying J will be a little cramped for us, but also setting up the tent and such just for sleeping seems like a lot of work for one night. I am just running around in circles here.
Sillybugs2
Explorer
Jul 01, 2016
No advice to give but wishing you safe and fun travels. Thank your husband for his service.
ncrowley
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2016
We have found that the information in rvparkreviews is invaluable. When you read a number of reviews, you have a pretty good idea if the park will work for you.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jun 30, 2016
Alyssha Lynn, It sounds like you're a very strong woman who is not afraid to try new things. Not many women would try to do what you are. You're awesome!

Just go. Take each day one at a time. You'll learn as you go and will learn the mode of travel that's good for you. Everyone is different.

Best of luck to you and have an enjoyable trip!
AlysshaLynn
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
It is mounted on a small trailer on the back of the RV. It will stay there :) I am thinking we will alternate between a hook up and using the generator on the way out. I am not expecting to use the AC all night.

After reading more and processing I am thinking national campgrounds with water every other day. Then the alternating day a Flying J to fill water and dump and stuff like that.
I am sure there are obvious flaws in my plan but its a place to start :)
bikendan
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
AlysshaLynn wrote:
Well we did get the generator up and running, although I need a different adapter to hook it up to the RV. It is loud - but I don't really have anything to compare it to. I don't expect to run it all night.... is it a problem to run it for an hour in the am and an hour in the pm?

how and where will you load it? can you pick up 100+ pounds?

2 hours a day may not be enough to recharge the batteries, especially if you're not used to conserving battery power.
and if you need a/c, you'll have to run it more than 1 hour.
AlysshaLynn
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
Well we did get the generator up and running, although I need a different adapter to hook it up to the RV. It is loud - but I don't really have anything to compare it to. I don't expect to run it all night.... is it a problem to run it for an hour in the am and an hour in the pm?

Thank you for the RV review site - i will check that out. Obviously its better if I am stopping in a truck stop or walmart for money and noise issues - however are there places that I can still put up a tent for more room? I guess boondocking would be that - but no playground or lake for kids right? I guess I am looking for the perfect combination. Of course in a campground I don't need the generator. I am soooo overthinking this. LOL kl

Thank you CampinCandice - you have strengthened my resolve :)
SpeakEasy
Explorer
Jun 29, 2016
Are you familiar with this website: RV Park Reviews?

There's no substitute for doing your research, but I have been finding this tool to be a very helpful resource.

-Speak