Please Help Plan My Cross-Country Trip
Hi everyone, I am planning a trip for my family from Detroit, MI to the Fresno, CA area. This is a long-range plan; we are not going to take the trip until around June 2015. I am trying to do as ...
Forum Discussion
Jason,
Great trip! Just some overall big picture frame work to start from:
1. Total round trip =4784 miles
2. Driving 6 hrs. per day at 60 mph will = 360 miles per day (yes, you can drive more than 6hrs. per day but remember that you won't have a lot of opportunities to park and relax your butt and back:) based on your RV planned trip. Also remember that the continuous days of driving with only a short time to rest up will take a physical toll on you and the family)
3. It will take you approx. 13 days to drive to and from your home town to SF.
4. This leaves you approx. 8 days to set up and camp over night and sight see.
5. I would then set down with family and discuss the possible places you are planning to visit. Then I ask the family members which of the places really appeals to them. In my opinion, the 8 year olds might not be as interested in the same sights as you are as an adult. What is there to do for the 8 yr. olds at each of the sights? Will they have a short attention span and get restless at some sights??? For example, I found Rushmore interesting and enjoyed the historical significance BUT this is from an adults perspective as opposed to Yellow stone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam which allows the kids the opportunity to move around and see the sights. While Las Vegas is a fun place to visit as an adult, I am not sure what you would do with the kids if you and the wife wanted to go and do what most adults go to Vegas for, gambling, eating and drinking. So I think it is important to select the places you want to set up and sight see based on the total family's perspective. As far as visiting San Francisco, I would leave my trailer in the Fresno area and then drive to SF and stay in a motel/hotel overnight to allow time to visit SF. Driving a RV trailer anywhere within 50 miles of SF is not my idea of a fun trip. Can you drive your trailer to SF? absolutely, but be prepared for congestion and heavy traffic.:( I like to ride the Blue and White ferries to SF and then spend the day at Fisherman's Wharf and riding the cable cars. China town is also fun to walk around in. Personally when driving my RV I enjoy the central coast towns more, i.e. Pismo Beach, Santa Cruz, Morrow Bay and Santa Barbara. All have better weather and access to the ocean.
Finally, I would make reservations well in advance, 6 to 9 months, as you will be traveling at the peak of the busy season for RVers.
Email me privately if you want more specific details and information. Enjoy your trip as it will fill you and the family with many memories.
Great trip! Just some overall big picture frame work to start from:
1. Total round trip =4784 miles
2. Driving 6 hrs. per day at 60 mph will = 360 miles per day (yes, you can drive more than 6hrs. per day but remember that you won't have a lot of opportunities to park and relax your butt and back:) based on your RV planned trip. Also remember that the continuous days of driving with only a short time to rest up will take a physical toll on you and the family)
3. It will take you approx. 13 days to drive to and from your home town to SF.
4. This leaves you approx. 8 days to set up and camp over night and sight see.
5. I would then set down with family and discuss the possible places you are planning to visit. Then I ask the family members which of the places really appeals to them. In my opinion, the 8 year olds might not be as interested in the same sights as you are as an adult. What is there to do for the 8 yr. olds at each of the sights? Will they have a short attention span and get restless at some sights??? For example, I found Rushmore interesting and enjoyed the historical significance BUT this is from an adults perspective as opposed to Yellow stone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam which allows the kids the opportunity to move around and see the sights. While Las Vegas is a fun place to visit as an adult, I am not sure what you would do with the kids if you and the wife wanted to go and do what most adults go to Vegas for, gambling, eating and drinking. So I think it is important to select the places you want to set up and sight see based on the total family's perspective. As far as visiting San Francisco, I would leave my trailer in the Fresno area and then drive to SF and stay in a motel/hotel overnight to allow time to visit SF. Driving a RV trailer anywhere within 50 miles of SF is not my idea of a fun trip. Can you drive your trailer to SF? absolutely, but be prepared for congestion and heavy traffic.:( I like to ride the Blue and White ferries to SF and then spend the day at Fisherman's Wharf and riding the cable cars. China town is also fun to walk around in. Personally when driving my RV I enjoy the central coast towns more, i.e. Pismo Beach, Santa Cruz, Morrow Bay and Santa Barbara. All have better weather and access to the ocean.
Finally, I would make reservations well in advance, 6 to 9 months, as you will be traveling at the peak of the busy season for RVers.
Email me privately if you want more specific details and information. Enjoy your trip as it will fill you and the family with many memories.
