How do you folks plan travel for long distances?

I am a planner but not a reserver. Reservations are for high demand destinations, events & maybe weekends. The route, sort of, is planned. Approximate areas of overnights are looked at for possible CGs, don't reserve. There is plan A, plan B then Walmart if only in transit.

We try to roll in by mid afternoon so chances of getting an unreserved site are pretty good. A call when a half hour out or so does the trick for stopping or carrying on.