Not towing a car, Where can we go?

[sking]

We bought a small 19CB Coach Freelander. We got that specific model due to our needs, and our available parking space.
Now we are looking for places to go where we do not need to have an additional car. Are there places where we can just explore right out of our RV? Or where public transportation can take us? We don't mind going to the store once in a while, but will prefer to be park at the campground and just walk around.
We are in Illinois and so far, have encountered campgrounds far removed from everything.
Maybe something like Zion National park? where we can take their awesome bus? Are there more places like it?
Thanks

[Dance_Chick]

Bar Harbor ME...LL Bean sponsors a very extensive, FREE bus/shuttle system picking up and dropping off at campgrounds taking you to the town and into the park. You can hop on/off anywhere you wish. Also, I believe there was a trolley from our CG in Nashville.

[tracyb-oh]

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. There are several campgrounds where the trolley stops and you can get practically everywhere you want to go.

[Harvey51]

We are 20 feet long - a little bit wide and long for a car size parking space but we nearly always manage without trouble. One time was when we had to visit a city hospital with parking full and the supermarket nearby was pretty crowded and had ugly little parking spots. I spotted a school, it was after 4 pm, and I pulled into a nice big spot, went to the office, showed my teacher's union card and told my story. They were happy to let me leave the motorhome. Good thing I asked - that part of the parking area got closed by a gate.

As for breaking camp, we never bother hooking up. Since I installed a 100 watt solar panel the batteries have never gone below 90% charge (never been plugged in and no generator has roared), the water lasts a week and the waste tanks 5 days. Breaking camp means picking up any levelling blocks I'm using (often none).

Short motorhomes are wonderfully mobile! The only shortcoming for me is the bench seat is not long enough to stretch out on.

[Jim_Shoe]

Be sure to know the height of your rig as well. There are places in the eastern U.S. with tunnels with curved roofs. The Blue Ridge Parkway has three tunnels with a minimum clearance of less than 12 feet, and that's driving on the center line. Some gas stations have low roofs as well. Don't turn your rig into a "Convertible".

[bikendan]

Sam Spade wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
You definitely won't be able to go 'everywhere' unless you rent a car or unhook and drive your RV.

I think they have nothing to "unhook" and have a 19 foot RV.

He meant having to detach from the campsite hookups.

[bglz42]

We drive our 19CB everywhere! It is shorter than my pickup... we also carry a vintage Honda scooter on a front mounted carrier. It is great for short hops and park roads...

[bsinmich]

My Roadtrek is 19' and I go anyplace I would take my car. I don't have the width of a C but 19' is 19'. I also park in handicap spots in most places. Mine is n longer than the fellow with the 4 door pickup andd they park all over.

[rhagfo]

2gypsies wrote:
You definitely won't be able to go 'everywhere' unless you rent a car or unhook and drive your RV.

We like to explore the whole area that we stay. That means driving the secondary roads and seeing things. There is lots to see outside the major parks or attractions, too.

Yes taller than my PU, but no longer. It is more like our old F250 CC LB with Caveman camper. We never dropped the camper to go exploring.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

The only time we hauled a toad (Wrangler) behind our 28' Class C was when we wanted to do some offroading. Otherwise, we never really had an issue. Some National Parks had length restrictions - for those times, we'd drive a rental car. Easy-peasy, and easier to find a spot to stop at those scenic (tight) turnouts.

Realistically, your 19' B is smaller than the "daily driver" pickup truck most 5th-wheel owners use. We found with our 22' long truck, we couldn't always park in a quaint seaside restaurant's tiny parking lot - but if you're willing to walk, there's always *someplace* to park.

[2gypsies1]

If you boondock 15 miles down a gravel road I would guess you wouldn't be making many trips with the RV to get out and do things. Everyone is different. 🙂

[Roy_Lynne]

As you see, lots of us do not tow an additional car. Some compensate with bikes but more often than not, we just need to plan a little better as forgetting to buy coffee can be a real tragedy.
Of course it really depends on the kind of camping you want to do. Some of us like to boondock, away from everyone and every thing. Some want to go to resort style RV parks and others still, its the journey, not the destination But all kinds you can do toadless.

[doxiemom11]

How about carrying a couple of bicycles with you. Also look for some of the city parks ( Gibson City, Johnston City , Arthur 3 I know of in IL) where you can park the rv and you are actually at the edge of or in the small town. Most have some type of hookups, sometimes a dump station, bathroom & showers. They are usually inexpensive also. Both Gibson City and Johnston City have water & electric on site with a dump station - don't know about Arthur as we haven't made it there yet. You can then walk to anywhere you want.

[NCWriter]

X2 Everywhere. Being doing it for more than 5 years in slightly larger RVs, never have towed. Numerous small villages and back roads.

[NCWriter]

Inside Zion NP, the shuttle picks up at the Visitor Center next to Watchman Campground.