Trip Planning Books

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I should have said earlier we like to take the less beaten path, not in a rush so much anymore. Keep em' coming. K

Get a Woodalls for the region you will be traveling in

When planning my trips I rely on tourism information from the states I plan on visiting. All the information can be obtained along with a road map by checking with the states on line. A simple matter and many states can be contacted in a very short time. I also rely on ideas from the wonderful trip reports in this forum.
The Tahquamenon Falls in MI, Mount Rushmore (be sure to go to the evening program!), Custer State Park, Wind and Jewel Cave National Parks, Badlands National Park (great boondocking on Buffalo Gap National Grasslands just north of the Park), both the North and South Units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Cottonwood Campground - last time I was there a herd of Bison moved through the campground at 5:00AM),Fort Union Trading Post and Fort Buford in North Dakota near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. These are just a few on the places I have found in the areas you mention. There are also two nice museums in the Dover, Ohio area (Warther train carvings and also another Warther Museum with ships carved in ivory)
Hope this helps.
Grant

Do a Google search for `______ tourism' and put the city, area, region, etc. in the blank space and read what the experts have to recommend for their location.
My rule is to spend at least three nights in one place in order to really experience it. Be sure you are not biting off more than is comfortable to tour. For example we spend three nights at Roosevelt National Park including two Ranger tours. What's the synergy between the Bison and Prairie Dogs?

In additon to spots already mentioned
In the UP:
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Porcupine Mountain State Park (I think this is a must do, especially the primitive campground)
Apostle Islands
Isle Royale National Park (no auto access)

North Dakota.
Theodore Roosevlet National Park

South Dakota.

Black Hills Area (Many sights to see, lots todo)
Badlands National Park

Deb and Ed M wrote:
A trip to the UP of Michigan requires a visit to Pictured Rocks National Seashore! You can see the beautiful coastline from the ground; a boat ride, or by kayak tour. I agree that the Soo Locks are fascinating; and since the Tahquamenon Falls lie between those 2 points, you might as well take a look, too. They're not quite Niagara; but you can PLAY in the river along the Lower Falls (or at least we could when my kids were little, because they thought it was a riot!)

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There is no Pictured Rocks National Seashore

LAKESHORE

A trip to the UP of Michigan requires a visit to Pictured Rocks National Seashore! You can see the beautiful coastline from the ground; a boat ride, or by kayak tour. I agree that the Soo Locks are fascinating; and since the Tahquamenon Falls lie between those 2 points, you might as well take a look, too. They're not quite Niagara; but you can PLAY in the river along the Lower Falls (or at least we could when my kids were little, because they thought it was a riot!)

Get a Walmart Rand McNally Atlas. Shows all the Walmart stores and whether they have gas stations. The Atlas shows parks and points of interest.
I use www.mapquest.com or www.googlemaps.com to route
I use www.woodalls.com for campgrounds then check them out on www.rvparkreviews.com before final selection.
Stop at state welcome centers and look at their books and brochures.
Once we decide on stops I search that area for things to see and do.
Detroit - Ford Museum
Mackinaw Bridge and Island
Soo Locks at Sault St Marie - watch ships go through the locks. (free!)
Whitefish Point Michigan Lighthouse and Shipwreck Museum (Edmund Fitzgerald)
Mount Rushmore SD
Branson, MO
Corvette Museum and Corvette Factory Bowling Green KY.
Once you get your route nailed down, let us know and we can recommend campgrounds.

Most (probably all) States have a tourism guide to encourage visitors to come and spend $$. For example, I did a search for "Michigan tourism", which came up with the Michigan's official travel and tourism site at http://www.michigan.org/. Their current travel guide is for Winter 2014, but the Fall and Spring/Summer 2014 guides are also available from this webpage. You can order a hard copy through the mail, or do your research using the online copy.

No reason to buy books with all the free info available.

Try these websites -

https://roadtrippers.com/

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/

Have a good trip!