Help preparing for first long distance RVing vacation

You don't need to do anything different on a long trip then on a short one. Make sure you have enough meds and don't hurry. A few 10 hrs days can be done but it's not a vacation it's just going somewhere to rest because your tired when you get there.

When we travel long distances, we usually will drive for two or three days and then take a two day rest instead of the normal overnight stop.
The rest of the suggestions given above are right on in my opinion.
Have a great trip! :)
Barney

I know it's on your list of obvious things, but how about a new set of dependable tires? We are making the trek to Florida in June. I've never pulled the TT that far, and one of the first things I'll invest in is a new set of tires. I still have some research to do on them, but new skins are top on the list. I've read too many horror stories on here of the tires that are put on these rigs from the factory.

Great advice, we haven't yet planned our route although it will probably be I-80 across Nebraska. We'll probably leave out late Friday afternoon, get a few hours up the road for a bit of a head start, then spend Saturday making hay until we hit Wyoming. That way on Sunday we can take our time getting to our destination. Maybe stop off in Guernsey to see the Oregon trail wagon ruts and signature cliff, or detour to Little Bighorn and drop into West Yellowstone from the north or come in from the south through Jackson and past the Tetons. The final route will be one of the last things we decide on and even then it could be subject to change on a whim. Sometimes it's the things that you weren't expecting to see that are the most memorable. We went out west a few years ago. My wife had never even heard of Mesa Verde national park. She still talks about it today.

We have made a number of trips from the Pacific coast to the Mississippi River and back. For us planning on an overall pace of 50 mph with stops is a relaxing drive and we try to avoid days with more than 10 hours on the road. I still work full time, but still limit a day's travel to 500 miles unless bad weather is chasing us. Try to enjoy the journey as much as the destination and long trips will be more enjoyable instead of what seems like work due to hard seat time trying to push schedule.

The preparation for our short weekend trips and long 3000-5000 mile trips really does not vary with the exception that I try to pack enough clothes to avoid doing laundry while away. For me, this is vacation and some household chores can take a back seat until I get back in the grind of the work week.

re think what you pack, the weigh adds up quick.

I think the one thing you really need to plan for is "the unplanned". What do I mean? Well, don't become so ridged in your schedule and travel plans that you're completely rattled or disheveled if something happens to change or alter your plans. That could be anything from a mechanical failure, to a ... "Hey! Why don't we go (there) instead of (there)! But we can't because we have plans to go (there) and want to stay stick with our plans!" ... um ... be flexible. Nothing is written in stone. Its your trip, make it meaning for you.

I think the next thing is, take your time and smell the roses, or the baked bread, or the fried chicken! In other words, if and when you see something interesting or unplanned along your route, take some time and go ahead and stop. It's these momentary and instantaneous decisions that REALLY make the trip.

We were traveling to Florida for Christmas week (2015). We were somewhere between Indiana and Florida and we passed a road side sign that advertised a foot high pie! I made a comment to my wife. About 5 miles up the road, I pulled in. She wasn't expecting this. Turned out to be a delight, and a really GREAT pie! We talked about that stop for days afterwards. And every now and then, my wife makes a pun, it's always something about "a foot high"... Price less moment that would have been missed if we would have simply stayed on schedule and pushed onward instead of stopping (to eat the pie!)

So, take each day on your trip as that is is the only day of the trip, and get the most out of each and every moment. You'll have a wonderful time! And lots of experiences to share with the grandkids some day.