RVing versus hotels for a trip out west fromVA

[dukenurse]

Honey is having second thoughts about driving from VA to NM, ID then home with sightseeing along the way. We have a diesel truck with a self contained slide in. We don't have any time constraints and only want to drive 300 or les miles per day. Your suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Connie

[A_hitch_and_hop]

We live in Florida and made a 9500 mile trip this past from Florida to So. Cal. Then up the coast to Seattle, took a cruise & land tour to Alaska, then returned back through Glacier NP, SD, and followed the Lewis and Clark trail back to Omaha. I pull a 25 ft.FW and get 10.5 MPG. We drove from 9:00 to about 3:00 on the days we moved. Some days less as we stopped and stayed longer at a scenic overview. It was a no brainer as to comparing $$$'s. I saved also by using my Golden Age pass and Passport America membership. Since we tend to use the showers and restrooms in the campgrounds we have extra storage in the shower for clothes. There are many small county and city museums in the towns you will be driving through so don't pass them by. They can also point you to city parks where there are RV camp sites.

As some one said earlier, Motel managers get upset when you build a fire in the lobby. It is also nice to have breakfast setting out side watching nature. Many small parks are nature preserves and the wild life are used to humans and will often pass very close to you as you set outside. Take your time and don't pass by a sight. You may not pass that way again.

[Mountain_Trippe]

Atlee wrote:
We drove fm VA to LA, a 7900+ mile tripe this time last year. We went south, stopping in Vicksburg, San Antonio, Fredsricksburg, TX, Carlsbad, NM, Tombstone & Tucson, AZ, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Los Angeles, back to Grand Canyon, then diagonally across the country to KC to visit son's in-laws, then on to Michigan to visit daughter then home.

The nice thing about the trailer we pulled was I got to sleep in my bed every night, not in a bed someone else slept in the night before.

dukenurse wrote:
Honey is having second thoughts about driving from VA to NM, ID then home with sightseeing along the way. We have a diesel truck with a self contained slide in. We don't have any time constraints and only want to drive 300 or les miles per day. Your suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Connie

Did you stop and stay in truck stops or Wal marts along the way? We are getting ready to make a 8,000 mile trip and was just wondering.

[dukenurse]

HHfundays, Actually I am the wife and I am happy to drive. It is my husband that is not looking forward to the drive. I do 90% percent of the driving so he shouldn't worry. My mind is made up to drive and stop every 250-300 miles for the night.

[HHfundays]

Ok... This would be a no brainer for me. I'd take my mh any day over a hotel room. Last weekend we actually left a hotel because it just gave me the willies. Nothing beets my own bed!

either way it sounds like your driving. Why is your wife second thinking your plans? Her reasons may be valid and a happy wife means.. happy life:)

Either way, have a great trip! Spending quality time together is what it is all about. Enjoy

[Thunder_Mountai]

For us, it is mostly about the food. Just can't deal with eating all our meals out. We're not food snobs. We just like well prepared, healthy meals. Then there are all the wonderful things about motels... bad beds, bed bugs, dirty showers, bedspreads and blankets that haven't been changed in a month, someone else's fecal matter on the TV remote, not to mention the porn movie filmed there last night or the meth lab last week.

[JimFromJersey]

Add my voice to the large chorus of folks saying "Take the Camper!". Apart from the freedom it offers to stop, stay, or drive off in a huff, the costs will, at worst, be a wash, and may be even better. Back in 2012, DW and I and Brother-in-Law had a trip to Salt Lake City - they were going for a convention, I was going to take pictures. We only had two weeks. I looked at three possibilities - air, car/hotel, & RV. It worked out such that, so long as gas was below $3.50 per gallon, it was cheaper (tho not by much) in the RV for all three of us. With gas now down around the $2.00 level, it's even better. Car Rental and hotel costs killed the air option, and after considering it closely, even our large Caddy Deville would have been cramped with three adults and all our******for two weeks. Hell, I nearly assassinated my BIL once or twice as it was.. 🙂

Food costs were lower, and since we spent eight or nine of the 14 nights in free camping spots (Flying J, Walmart, etc) it was great. We did rent a car for the four days we were in SLC, but other than that we were completely self contained.

http://lens-flair.net/blog/the-road-to-perdition-vacation-2012/

[bee_46]

To me a journey in the RV is a trip. It still requires cooking, some cleaning and, of course, the drive. However, sleeping in my own bed each night and having a bathroom available make it an easy call for land trips. To offset a trip, I like to occasionally throw in a cruise, which is a true vacation. Someone else cooks, makes the bed, cleans the room so I can relax. So this summer we will take a trip cross country followed by a cruise in the fall. The best of both worlds.

[Jim_Shoe]

For me, the decision is easy. Bathroom on board. Lots of other reasons, but that's the only reason you need.

[padredw]

For us, the biggest attraction to driving cross country in the RV and staying in campgrounds is the people you meet. The managers of motels tend to get upset if you start a campfire in the lobby just so you can meet your neighbors. Another advantage is the campground. Usually secluded and somewhat natural. Yes there are exceptions, but most motels we've stayed at are on frontage roads facing fast food joints, auto parts stores, shopping malls, gas stations, etc..

Well said, Chris. This is what tips the scales.

[Tracus]

I agree completely with padredw's reply. Before buying our current Class A we compared expenses of driving a hybrid car (45-50 mpg) and staying at motels versus driving the Class A (8 mpg) and staying at campgrounds while driving cross country. It turns out to be pretty much a wash. The hybrid reduces the fuel costs but then we add in the motel costs plus meals at restaurants and that nearly equals costs for fuel in the RV, campground fees and preparing our own meals.

For us, the biggest attraction to driving cross country in the RV and staying in campgrounds is the people you meet. The managers of motels tend to get upset if you start a campfire in the lobby just so you can meet your neighbors. Another advantage is the campground. Usually secluded and somewhat natural. Yes there are exceptions, but most motels we've stayed at are on frontage roads facing fast food joints, auto parts stores, shopping malls, gas stations, etc..

So there you have my two cents.

Chris

[padredw]

Many times I have entered the costs for a particular trip into a spreadsheet to get as near a comparison as possible. Some things I've noticed:

* The longer you stay in one place--or several days in a few places--the better the RV comes out.

* traveling long distances and moving each day, the better the automobile comes out.

These two results are determined by the fact that fuel costs more in the RV than in the auto, while lodging in motels costs more than staying in a campground.

* It is surprising how often the costs are not far apart, once the factors above is taken into account.

So, bottom line: The choice has usually been based on factors other than cost--which many have already commented on. These are usually highly subjective and personal. In our case the RV usually wins out!

[justlou]

I have been faced with the same situation. Sometimes momma doesn't see things through the same pair of glasses as you, and after a month long RV trip maybe she wants a change. Not every hotel is a high price bug infested dive. Maybe a non RV trip is in order. Remember, if the wife isn't happy, your going to be miserable.

[littlemo]

Absolutely Truck Camper! I am so envious! Have a great time!

BTW, I want to stay at City of Rocks State Park
near Silver City next time I am out that way! Looks awesome!

[Richert]

Didn't read all the posts, all good advice, don't hurry, just have fun. Did anyone mention the National Park Golden Eagle pass? If not get one. Lots of stuff will be free if you have one. We did this trip twice, once motel/hotel next time in MH, I am planning to always do a trip in the MH, motel/hotels are not always as clean and fresh as we would like.