Trip planners

[Empty_Nest__Soo]

We’re still new to long-distance travel in the coach, and I am curious to hear others’ experiences with trip planning.

I’ve used both RV Trip Wizard and the Good Sam trip planner. My impression is that both have advantages over the other, but neither is that great. My biggest complaint with Good Sam is that they seem to include absolutely no Passport America parks (50% discount) unless they also participate in Good Sam discount (10%), and of course Passport America membership is not mentioned through Good Sam.

I’ve drafted a plan for our next trip on both, but getting either one to print is a challenge. 😞

It sure is a bother to have to use 2 different planners, plus the Passport America book of RV parks, plus maps.

Has anyone found an RV trip planner that offers better all-around function?

Wayne

[2gypsies1]

None of the programs or publications have all the parks - not even RVParky or RVParkReviews (which we use a lot). You just have to do research on various formats.

[Kaz]

Empty Nest, Soon wrote:
OP here.

I’m mostly looking for something that would simplify finding RV parks along the route. We are currently planning a trip to Florida for the winter. We have had our reservations in Florida for many months, but need to plan an itinerary for the 800+ mile trip.

To me, the ideal planner would combine features from the Good Sam and the RV Trip Wizard sites, and maybe a couple of others. It would accept limits of how far I want to drive in a day, show me parks only within a few miles of the route, include information on the rates the parks charge and a link to the park website, and it would include Passport America parks. I would be able to print out the itinerary, and also download it to my Garmin 760RV.

Wayne

That would be ideal. If such a thing ever exists, I'd buy it in a flash. For now, though, I actually do everything you're trying to accomplish, but it's a belabored process. I rough out a trip using Microsoft S&T, using my driving speeds and limits on distance, plus any deviations from the "fastest route" that I want. Then I use a variety of search methods to get the list of candidate parks (Microsoft S&T (which allows me to search along the route and within a set distance of any given point), http://www.rvparkreviews.com, and others). Then I make my reservations (or not, if I'm willing to risk it), finalize the route plan (sometimes including gas stops and rest breaks), print it from S&T, export it from S&T via a .gpx file, load it into MapSource, and then download that to my Garmin Zumo 665. (I use the 665 because I've got the XM antenna that gives me XM radio and XM-Nexrad weather as I drive along the route.) Whew! What a process! But maybe that illustrates what it takes (at least for me) without the all-in-one solution you seek.

We're doing a 1760-mile/34-day trip to Florida next February and I was able to get the route done, including reservations, in a couple days of work. For me, that's not too bad for a trip of that complexity; in the opinion of my DW, that's loony. Either way, something like what you have in mind would be a blessing.

Skip

[Naio]

Empty Nest, Soon wrote:
OP here.

I’m mostly looking for something that would simplify finding RV parks along the route. We are currently planning a trip to Florida for the winter. We have had our reservations in Florida for many months, but need to plan an itinerary for the 800+ mile trip.

To me, the ideal planner would combine features from the Good Sam and the RV Trip Wizard sites, and maybe a couple of others. It would accept limits of how far I want to drive in a day, show me parks only within a few miles of the route, include information on the rates the parks charge and a link to the park website, and it would include Passport America parks. I would be able to print out the itinerary, and also download it to my Garmin 760RV.

Wayne

As aeveryone has said, there is no app that has every park. But east of the rockies, rvparky is probably your best bet. You can't print, but you can carry the results on your phone.

[Empty_Nest__Soo]

OP here.

I’m mostly looking for something that would simplify finding RV parks along the route. We are currently planning a trip to Florida for the winter. We have had our reservations in Florida for many months, but need to plan an itinerary for the 800+ mile trip.

To me, the ideal planner would combine features from the Good Sam and the RV Trip Wizard sites, and maybe a couple of others. It would accept limits of how far I want to drive in a day, show me parks only within a few miles of the route, include information on the rates the parks charge and a link to the park website, and it would include Passport America parks. I would be able to print out the itinerary, and also download it to my Garmin 760RV.

Wayne

[Naio]

I, too, use multiple sources. PA and RVParky apps, rvparkreviews and Allstays websites... it is sometimes time consuming to find a spot.

Tip: BLM campgrounds are often very inexpensive, and don't show up anywhere except on the website for the local BLM office.

[Second_Chance]

BobandShaz wrote:
Try RVparkey we used it with the above programs. We have used many and it seems none are 100% at finding everything.

X2 on RVparky. Being retired military, we also use militarycampgrounds.us - but most of those show up on RVparky, too.

Rob

[dahkota]

Empty Nest, Soon wrote:

It sure is a bother to have to use 2 different planners, plus the Passport America book of RV parks, plus maps.
Wayne

I would use the Passport America App rather than the book. The book is almost outdated when it prints. The App is much more up to date.

[BobandShaz]

Try RVparkey we used it with the above programs. We have used many and it seems none are 100% at finding everything.