Getting Started - Longer Distance Camping

[Surgtech94]

We aren’t new to camping but new to venturing into longer distances. We are thinking about going out to Durango Colorado, from Michigan. We’ll be camping in a regular RV campground. What do we need to know, do etc? Normally we just camp in Michigan,with our dogs. We usually have our groceries bought and just gas up and head to our destination. We’re not sure if we’ll take the dogs, but it’ll be some sightseeing, hiking, photography. Thank you in advance for any tips, information , advice. Thank you

[MikeDupont]

Another vote for taking the dogs. Just like children, they are part of the family and should be trained to a minimum social standard before being allowed in public tho.

[blaczero]

ken56 wrote:
A few years back we did the big circle tour from Tennessee, 9000 miles and the only reservations we made were for our destinations where we stayed 3 days or more. We used RVPARKY app and would start looking for a park on our route and about 3pm would call ahead to a park to check availability, we were never turned away.

Have an understanding on how much you have to drive for a day to make the timing of your trip work. I usually make the first day and the last day my long drives...like 8 to 10 hours and then the other days are I drive for 6 hours. It's nice to pull into your campsite at 3pm and relax the rest of the day but I know that is a luxury and some people can't do that.

Don't worry about the small things because they work themselves out. Don't over think it. It's just like what you do now but with a couple gas stops thrown in. It's supposed to be a fun getaway so don't get stressed out. Try taking secondary roads when practical.

We were the same way the last few years, but not so much this year. There is a massive influx of new RV'rs and new campgrounds have not caught up. If you're not planning ahead you're in a Walmart parking lot!

[ken56]

A few years back we did the big circle tour from Tennessee, 9000 miles and the only reservations we made were for our destinations where we stayed 3 days or more. We used RVPARKY app and would start looking for a park on our route and about 3pm would call ahead to a park to check availability, we were never turned away.

Have an understanding on how much you have to drive for a day to make the timing of your trip work. I usually make the first day and the last day my long drives...like 8 to 10 hours and then the other days are I drive for 6 hours. It's nice to pull into your campsite at 3pm and relax the rest of the day but I know that is a luxury and some people can't do that.

Don't worry about the small things because they work themselves out. Don't over think it. It's just like what you do now but with a couple gas stops thrown in. It's supposed to be a fun getaway so don't get stressed out. Try taking secondary roads when practical.

[valhalla360]

CA Traveler wrote:
Plan ahead for reservations like now for the summer.

I would limit reservations to key stops...holiday weekends, prime locations...where you are likely to have difficulty getting in.

For the rest, I would prefer to keep it open. You don't want to feel pressure to keep making miles to meet up with a reservation. If the weather turns bad, will you really eat the $50/n reservation fee or keep on going in marginal conditions?

Also, sometimes, you see something new and want to stop. It's one of the great things about an RV. If you are on track to get to your reserved site at 7pm, are you going to stop at the silly road side attraction?

[valhalla360]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Not much else. Make sure the rig is in good operating condition.

I would carry a good tool kit including things like zip ties (several sizes), wire, duct tape, etc.

Of course, but even if only 50 miles from home, it makes sense to have some tools.

[Tvov]

Surgtech94 wrote:

....
Thank you. We were also talking about Disney, we Disney regulars. Did you stay in the Wilderness Campground there?

Yes! Our last trip was 10 years ago, but Fort Wilderness Campground is fantastic and lives up to its' reputation as one of the best campgrounds in the USA.

There are a lot of forum threads you can review here about FW. When you are ready to start planning the actual trip, ask questions about routes and whatnot.

[time2roll]

Longer trip for us is less advance planning and more decisions on the go. Leave more room to find new foods and adventure etc. as you go.

[rexlion]

That's really a bummer. I grew up in Michigan and I get back there nearly every summer for a visit. Not so long ago I was able to show up at McLain on a Sunday afternoon without reservation and snag one (of only two remaining) open sites... right along the lake. Happy memories. The new policy is discouraging.

[Surgtech94]

rexlion wrote:
New trailer, eh? Congrats. Be sure to camp near home with it for a night or two to make sure everything's working and all that. Nothing worse than getting 300 miles into a planned vacation and finding out they never hooked up the plumbing or whatever.

If I were you, I'd avoid Chicago traffic. I usually take I-65 south a half hour or more, cut over to US41 and continue south to US24 which I take west to I-57. Or continue west to I-55 if you like. You can go through or around St. Louis (your choice) with much less hassle than Chicago, and follow I-70 to Colorado.

For camping spots, you might want to look at (online or phone app) Ultimate Campgrounds, or RV Parky, or similar. You might like forestcamping.com for extra details on national forest sites. Also check out freecampsites.net for some less conventional ideas. Personally, I favor the state parks, forest campgrounds, and BLM and municipal CGs; I don't care for private parks. I have a 17' trailer that doesn't need hookups.

There is one IL state park I've been to, Beaver Dam SP north of St. Louis, and it was quite pleasant.

My strategy is to decide about how far I want to go each travel day, then use the above resources to pick a preferred CG plus an alternate or two. Then I go without reservations and if the first choice is full (which hasn't been often, for me) I fall back to the next one along the way. If I'm going to need to travel later than about 4 pm or if I'm trying to head to a popular destination, I will get reservations.

Some people will decide each morning how far they want to go, then pick a CG at that distance and phone for a reservation. That's another strategy that removes the pressure of having to meet a whole string of set-far-in-advance reservations. Another thing is, if you can't get into a CG you really want to go to but can camp within a couple hours of it, you can break camp early and hit the preferred place before noon, and often someone will have left and opened up a site; this is how I was able to get into Yosemite's Glacier Point CG for 5 days in 2013.

I assume you're going in the summer, right? Mountain passes can be snowy in spring and fall. Good luck, take your time, relax and enjoy Colorado's mountains and woods! Be sure to drive the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, then loop around to Telluride.

Thank you for all the information and advice. It will be very useful. Yes we’re going to camp here in Michigan and probably will go out west early September or late August. Our Michigan State Park System is that all parks are 100% reserveable. Which is a pain when ppl come in and they’re full, but there are empty sites. Hate they went to this.

[rexlion]

New trailer, eh? Congrats. Be sure to camp near home with it for a night or two to make sure everything's working and all that. Nothing worse than getting 300 miles into a planned vacation and finding out they never hooked up the plumbing or whatever.

If I were you, I'd avoid Chicago traffic. I usually take I-65 south a half hour or more, cut over to US41 and continue south to US24 which I take west to I-57. Or continue west to I-55 if you like. You can go through or around St. Louis (your choice) with much less hassle than Chicago, and follow I-70 to Colorado.

For camping spots, you might want to look at (online or phone app) Ultimate Campgrounds, or RV Parky, or similar. You might like forestcamping.com for extra details on national forest sites. Also check out freecampsites.net for some less conventional ideas. Personally, I favor the state parks, forest campgrounds, and BLM and municipal CGs; I don't care for private parks. I have a 17' trailer that doesn't need hookups.

There is one IL state park I've been to, Beaver Dam SP north of St. Louis, and it was quite pleasant.

My strategy is to decide about how far I want to go each travel day, then use the above resources to pick a preferred CG plus an alternate or two. Then I go without reservations and if the first choice is full (which hasn't been often, for me) I fall back to the next one along the way. If I'm going to need to travel later than about 4 pm or if I'm trying to head to a popular destination, I will get reservations.

Some people will decide each morning how far they want to go, then pick a CG at that distance and phone for a reservation. That's another strategy that removes the pressure of having to meet a whole string of set-far-in-advance reservations. Another thing is, if you can't get into a CG you really want to go to but can camp within a couple hours of it, you can break camp early and hit the preferred place before noon, and often someone will have left and opened up a site; this is how I was able to get into Yosemite's Glacier Point CG for 5 days in 2013.

I assume you're going in the summer, right? Mountain passes can be snowy in spring and fall. Good luck, take your time, relax and enjoy Colorado's mountains and woods! Be sure to drive the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, then loop around to Telluride.

[Surgtech94]

Tvov wrote:
Going longer distances camping isn't that much different than nearby.

What are you driving?

For planning purposes, use 50 miles per hour... this seems to work, not for your average speed, but for figuring traveling distances. It may seem odd, but figuring roughly going average 65mph on the road, then add in fuel stops, coffee - bathroom - rest stops, it actually works out to 50 miles per hour most times.

If you get tired driving, take a break! Figure in plenty of travel time so you can take breaks when you want to. We've gone to Disney World twice (Connecticut to Florida) and I found that stopping about every 1 1/2 hours for a break worked for me. Also, I filled up the trucks fuel tank roughly every 3 hours, so fit in with every other rest stop. Once I hit 1/2 tank of fuel, I started thinking about the next fill up and stopped if it was convenient. At 1/4 tank I stopped at the first gas station.

Figure out a possible route, then make a thread about it in this forum. People here will give advice, and most likely someone will have driven that route recently and can give a road condition update.

Plus, I find it fun helping others plan a trip!

Thank you. We were also talking about Disney, we Disney regulars. Did you stay in the Wilderness Campground there?

[Surgtech94]

Thanks everyone. We have a new(going to pick up April 1st), KZ Connect C231RBKSE, and will be towing it with a 2020 1500 Dodge Ram. Well probably leave the dogs home . Not sure, though, they’ve been camping all their 11 years. We are in Mid-Michigan. Do you just use Something like Apple Car Play for Maps? Not sure when we’ll go, maybe mid September

I think I’m most worried about is timing, getting there the day, not a day early or late. We will probably stay out there about 5 days and then drive home, not sure, don’t want the drive time more then the camping time.

I appreciate all in advice, tips and information.

BTW, we always seem to bring too much of everything, food, clothes. I agree never seems like much till you unload it lol

[Seattle_Steve]

Lots of doggie poop bags. Rare to find an RVer that uses them, but you should bring them anyway.

[coolmom42]

Make sure your tires are not out of date. They may have tread but be ready to come apart from age. Anything over 4 years old is suspect.

Also keep tires properly inflated. They will get hotter in the summer, and low pressure makes it worse, leading to blowouts.