Never RV'd before, need help with cross country routes

[brandydan]

Hi everyone, we are super-super new to the whole RV way of life.

We are relocating from southernmost TX (Cameron County, pretty much seconds away from the border) to northern New Hampshire (as in north of the Presidentials). We have 9 pets; 6 cats, 3 dogs. All are used to doing day trips in the truck.

We have been preparing for this trip for a very long time, but only recently have been able to gather all the things necessary for our trip. We have a Toyota Tundra, 5.7L with tow capability, we purchased a 26' TT, have been taking literal lessons with setting things up, etc.

We KNOW we are way out of our comfort zone, but since we are in no hurry to get to NH, we know that we don't have to rush. Our plans are to travel no more than 300+/- miles a day, and overnight at RV sites along our routes. We pretty much know that it may take anywhere from 5-7 days taking into account weather, traffic, and as we get closer to NH, hills/mountains.

But the routes are a problem. When we input the start and end addresses, the only routes are along the coast of TX, along the Gulf Coast states, then enter the I-95 corridor all the way north, cutting through New England. I've done the NY to FL route in cars before and I personally have zero interest in doing that route with a TT, 9 pets and an almost-guaranteed cranky husband.

I can try to tweak websites to head north through the middle of TX, cut through middle America then through Ohio, PA and NY, at the middle area of NY turn east through VT and NH. But I have no idea how to find where the RV sites are located, or even how to add them into a map.

Can anyone point to perhaps a site or sites where things like this can be inputted? According to my sister, who RVs with her husband along the CA coast, she says it's easy to simply call ahead to any RV site, let them know that we need a pull-through for one night, and voila, there will be one ready. But I know that this is not normally true, and considering that we'll be heading out late August/early September, we may need to have reservations before we even pack the TT.

Outside of 'don't do this, you guys aren't ready' (we know that), can anyone point us in any direction to a site/sites that can help us figure out the route that will take us away from the nightmare that newbies like us really want to avoid with regards to traffic?:@

[GeoBoy]

If you are going thru Arkansas, take 40 to Nashville, relax a couple of days at the KOA and enjoy downtown Nashville. Then take 40 east to 81 north to 88 in NY. Take 88 to 90 to Albany, then take 87 north to Rt. 7 east to Bennington, VT. Then take Rt. 9 out of Bennington to Brattleboro and right across the river is NH. Have a safe trip.

[brandydan]

Hi everyone who was super helpful with all the travel (and lots of commonsense) advice; we had to head back east for a wedding and are now in the last steps of packing up our 'old' home.

We postponed our move to mid-September (realtor wants us to finish a few projects first), and I have downloaded and have been working on a few of the routes heading back to the northeast - it's actually fun (in a denial kind of way) to figure out different routes, where to stay, what we could see/visit that will be a nice break from the road. We found an old map of the US in a local antique/junk store and have all the routes set up.

We know this isn't going to be easy, have limited our daily driving to 4-6 hours total, called every RV site to be sure that we can stay overnight with our pets, even made sure that the two of us can handle the roads. We even opted to have contingency plans in case the weather decides to jump in and we decide that being scared of traveling in pouring rain would be a day that we stay in an RV site with a large stack of DVD movies. At the minimum 7 days, at the max, whatever it takes as long as we get to where we're going safely.

We have decided that there is simply no way on Earth that we will get anywhere near I-95. So far, we might tackle Houston (we've driven there several times through the years to know the least-aggravating way to get through the city), probably exit through Texarkana, and probably go through AR, KY, TN, OH, a pinch of PA, then figure out how to go east through NY to VT then fling ourselves into northern NH just before the leaves change (then 3 feet of snow, probably in the same week).

Everyone here has been really helpful with their advice, and we're also trying to figure out other (probably more scenic, less-traffic-jamming) ways, plus going through all the recommended websites.

This is scary and exciting and we know we are way over our head but know that as long as we try to prepare but leave a bit of wiggle room, this may be the first of many RV trips.

[ependydad]

I'd use Google Maps to get some ideas on routes and then RoadTrippers.com to make it an interesting drive. After that, I'd use the RVParky.com Trip Planner (from a computer, not a tablet or smart phone) OR manually break it down into chunks and would use the AllStays app for determining stopping locations.

Other general trip planning ideas:
http://learntorv.com/lets-go-trip-planning-apps-and-websites/

[RGar974417]

I would suggest heading into Missouri and take I-44 to I-70 into Pa. Then take Pa Turnpike to I-81 north into New York.Then I-88 to Rt 7 to I-91.I would suggest getting the Pilot/Flying J app. They have stations that have separate pumps just for RV's. Not all their stations have the lanes but most Flying J's do and some Pilots do.

[obgraham]

Others have discussed the apps available (I use most of them too), and even given you some route ideas.

My view is that you need to decide just what kind of a trip it will be. Do you want to run Interstates the whole way? Certainly the LAST route I would take would find me running up the East Coast on I-95. What a horror!

My preference would be to seek alternate roads: US highways and State Routes are a lot less stressful, though maybe longer in time. But that's where you will find the campgrounds and RV parks. On the Interstates many are just parking lots.

I would head up through middle America -- either the Mississippi route, or more Easterly through Tennessee and Indiana. Then turn East at the top. As little time as possible in the DC-to-Boston corridor.

The East part of the US is the least amenable to RV'ing, though we've all done it when necessary. (OK, that's just opinion!)

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

I'm more 'cautious' about Austin than Dallas for traffic problems/ congestion and delays.

Though having lived in the Dallas area for close to 27 years before we went full-time, I'm comfortable with Dallas traffic even while towing. And know dozens of ways to get off the freeway and get through almost any part of the city.

That's why I recommend US-77 vice I-35, and US-79 toward I-20 or I-30. Cutting north on US-69 at Jacksonville or going as far east as Henderson and US-259.

No need to cut back to Waco. TX-31 is a good road - I usually drive it a couple times a year from Waco to Shreveport.

[CharlesinGA]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
The Good Sam Trip planner with work. You can break the trip into shorter legs.

The shortest route is probably up US-77 to I-10 at Schulenburg, east to I-12 in Baton Rouge, north on I-59 at Slidell, La to I-75 at Chattanooga, TN to I-81 at Knoxville, TN, to I-84 near Scranton, PA to and up I-91 from Connecticut to a cut across highway in New Hampshire.

I would prefer to avoid that route because I don't like driving I-10 across east Texas or Louisiana, and would not want to follow 75/81 through TN and VA. But I haven't driven that route - someone else might be more familiar with it, and that could be a fairly flat route.

I've taken I-84 out of Connecticut to Dallas via Dayton OH, Louisville, KY, Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN, Little Rock, AR, Texarkana, AR/TX. Not bad hills anywhere along the route.

If you go north from Harlingen to the Dallas area, I'd recommend you follow US-77 north to US-79 - thus avoiding the traffic delays near Austin. (Though sometimes I use US-281 to the west of Austin).

I-75 has some ups and downs but nothing horrible, The route you suggested was basically what I was getting ready to suggest.

As I-10 is supposedly so horrible (I have read that over and over, so it must be true) I would make my way to I-20 and pick up I-59 at Meridian. Possibly avoid Dallas by cutting the corner on TX 31 from Waco to Tyler, I drove that a number of years ago and it was not too bad.

Yes, the cats kinda alarmed me too. I have two females and that is enough. Both longhairs and one is huge, 18 lbs, so I have all I want.

Charles

[skipro]

And, for what its worth, you might consider I-40 to I-81, to I-84, to I-91. Then cut across VT into NH.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

!. Use Google Maps for initial planning. Add cities, check miles and adjust.
2. Get iPhone app CoPilot for RV's. Get a Walmart Rand McNally Road Atlas for backup.
3. Do not go thru Atlanta.
4. Get an Illinois iPass transponder for tolls if you don't have one. It's good in most northeast states.
5. I would go up thru San Antonio, at Waco take TX 31 thru Tyler TX to I-20. In Birmingham take I-59 thru Chattanooga to I-75 then to I-40, I-81. In Scranton PA, take I-84 to Newburgh NY. Then north on I-87 to I-90 east to I-91 north. Check for construction in Springfield MA.
6. We use www.woodalls.com,and www.rvparkreviews.com to locate campgrounds. We also use the CoPilot app to locate stops but always check reviews. Once you get the route nailed down and approximate stops, we can help with campgrounds.
7. The route above is the way we have been twice from Florida with no problems in Class A towing a small pickup. But - there are many options. So this is just my 2 cents.
8. Relax, enjoy your trip. It's about the journey not the destination!

[Tvov]

So you are thinking to just do an easy drive? No stopping or touristy things? Besides being a lot of driving, you will be seeing things all over the place that you may want to stop and check out. You may want to think about including extra days for sight seeing.

Having that many pets... Tell campgrounds you have 3 dogs, and the cats will be staying in the camper (I am assuming the cats are staying inside). I don't think that will be an issue - I think most camp grounds are worried about dogs running around, not pets that stay inside. Also! Even campgrounds that say "no pets" may let you overnight on a cross country trip! So make sure you call and ask. You might be "stuck" in an overflow parking area, but you'll have access to showers and laundry machines.

Good luck, see you on the road!

[ken56]

Holy cow! 9 cats? 3 dogs? OMG. Bless you. We travel with 2 feline fur babies and that is challenging enough. Why not just do it the old fashioned way and get a map of the U.S and then you can see all the routes at the same time and choose one? The thing is, for me anyway, is that the journey is the fun part of getting to wherever you are going. For the distance you are going to cover is there any sites you wish to stop at and enjoy the areas you pass through? You stated time is not an issue so explore what may be worth seeing on your way to NH.

I use the RVPARKY app when on the road to find parks on our route. We never make reservations but we do call ahead to check availability when we find a place we want to stay. We have never been turned away yet.

As for a trip planner I use the Good Sam one. You need to be a member to log in and use it. The other one that's free is Passport America's' ....camp4less.com. You might consider joining PA as it offers 1/2 price fees at participating campgrounds, great for an overnight stop.

[suprz]

Bit of advice, as a general rule of thumb. Stay off of any road that states "parkway,," one that comes to mind is in CT, "merrit parkway" generally they don't allow trucks on parkways due to low bridges. You more than likely won't fit under and end up stuck, or worse, rip the A/C off the roof

[doxiemom11]

We use rvparkreviews, allstays, and many other sites. We unlike many others do not like to travel the interstates but instead choose US routes so that we can have a more relaxed pace and don't have to fight all the semi's. We have found them to be good roads - many are 2 lane, others 4 lane and 55-65 mph (except TX which has higher speeds). We are also members of Passport America so always check their site for available campgrounds on our route. We do not make reservations. Another option with the number of pets you have would be Corp of Engineer Parks. You should be able to find the listed on Allstays website also along with Walmarts you can park at, truck stops, city and county campgrounds etc. Good luck with your move.

[profdant139]

brandydan, if you have a sense of humor and lots of time, this is going to be a fun trip. Take good notes, and let us know when you sell the screenplay for a million dollars!

Working title: "8 Wheels & 40 Legs."