TRAVELLING FROM VIRGINIA TO BROWNSVILLE, TX

[theogre1969]

We bought our 3320bh to do a lot of camping, we went 5 times in 3 months....which is a lot as we hadn't gone camping ever in 10 years previously.....but in November, I have to tow it to Brownsville, TX. 1743 miles. Is it feasible to just pull into a campground without a reservation and expect a spot? Or should I plan out 500 mile days and book a reservation ahead of time? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

[2112]

theogre1969 wrote:

Going to work, work, work in South Texas. I cant wait. I am so excited, you have no idea. A new adventure in my life.

Welcome to Texas :C

[theogre1969]

Trailering Texans wrote:
Buy a Good Sam RV Directory. Buy a couple of battery powered lanterns. Fill up your fresh water tank. Charge your batteries. Drive till you get tired the first night. Pull into a Walmart. Look for the other folks in RVs parked out on the fringes. Park near a light. Go inside WM and use the facilities, buy something to eat that doesn't require heating up or much clean up (Deli, etc Or maybe just eat in their McD's if they have one.) Go out to trailer, eat dinner by lantern light, go snuggle under the covers and read your book by lantern light til you fall asleep. Get up the next day and start over. If you think you need a shower and a hot meal by the second day check out your Good Sam Directory and find a park along the route. Call ahead and make sure they have a spot. Try to stop by 6 or 7pm. Set up. Have a hot shower, cook dinner, watch tv, fill up water tanks, dump. Get up the next day and repeat day one. Hope you enjoy South Texas!!

Going to work, work, work in South Texas. I cant wait. I am so excited, you have no idea. A new adventure in my life. I like your ideas the best. I think I will go your route...thank you for the advice.

[theogre1969]

txredfish1 wrote:
It could depend on what part of November you arrive. Winter Texans start arriving in November. A lot of them already have reservations way ahead of time. I would certainly call ahead a couple of days before arrival and get reservations at least for a couple of nights to insure you have a place to stay.
I live near Corpus Christi and RV parks begin to get crowded from November to April. If you are sure about a particular campground, then you should make reservations for a few days prior to when you think you will get there. Paying for a couple of extra days prior to arrival is better than not having a place or having to wait for an opening. Just some things to consider.

I am staying long term at VIP La Feria when I get to the RGV area.

[prichardson]

At that time of the year you should not have a problem finding overnight stops without reservations. Long term in Brownsville may be another story as the Snowbirds will be starting to arrive. I think you will find that 500 miles is a very long day.

[jmaotto]

I don't think you will have a problem finding an RV park, especially if you travel during the week. I usually call ahead maybe a couple of hours before arrival to check for a vacancy. You will rest better with a full hookup.

[wtmtnhiker]

We traveled around the south and southwest for 2 years without making a reservation and always found a spot. When we were getting tired we would get out our Woodall's and start calling. We were never turned away. We were were on the road December to March/April. Making a reservation obligates you to be somewhere at a certain time. There may have been times when we would have wanted to drive farther or stop sooner.

[Trailering_Texa]

Buy a Good Sam RV Directory. Buy a couple of battery powered lanterns. Fill up your fresh water tank. Charge your batteries. Drive till you get tired the first night. Pull into a Walmart. Look for the other folks in RVs parked out on the fringes. Park near a light. Go inside WM and use the facilities, buy something to eat that doesn't require heating up or much clean up (Deli, etc Or maybe just eat in their McD's if they have one.) Go out to trailer, eat dinner by lantern light, go snuggle under the covers and read your book by lantern light til you fall asleep. Get up the next day and start over. If you think you need a shower and a hot meal by the second day check out your Good Sam Directory and find a park along the route. Call ahead and make sure they have a spot. Try to stop by 6 or 7pm. Set up. Have a hot shower, cook dinner, watch tv, fill up water tanks, dump. Get up the next day and repeat day one. Hope you enjoy South Texas!!

[txredfish1]

I don't know your plan or if you have traveled coming to TX from VA in November. I have traveled from eastern KY to Corpus several times. I like the southern route versus a northern colder route due to weather in November which sometimes can be unpredictable. When leaving Corpus we take state Hwy 35 around south Houston, to Bay Town TX, to Beumont TX, to Baton Rouge LA, to Mobile AL, to Chattanoga TN, Knoxville TN, on to eastern KY. Return the same way. Your exact route may vary from mine depending on what you want to see or visit, and where you are leaving from in VA. But you get the idea. This way I bypass the larger cities like Houston and Atlanta. Houston is OK on Sat or Sun, but other than that you might want to avoid. When traveling through TX by the way of Houston, Hwy 59 and 77 are very good hiways. The only reason I take hiway 35 from Corpus, I live about 30 miles north of Corpus right off hiway 35.
Going to 77 to 59 is a little out of my way.

[txredfish1]

It could depend on what part of November you arrive. Winter Texans start arriving in November. A lot of them already have reservations way ahead of time. I would certainly call ahead a couple of days before arrival and get reservations at least for a couple of nights to insure you have a place to stay.
I live near Corpus Christi and RV parks begin to get crowded from November to April. If you are sure about a particular campground, then you should make reservations for a few days prior to when you think you will get there. Paying for a couple of extra days prior to arrival is better than not having a place or having to wait for an opening. Just some things to consider.

[BarneyS]

theogre1969 wrote:
thank you everyone for the tips.....unfortunately time is not my friend. Once I get to Brownsville area I have to set up the trailer for full time living and explore the area as I have never been there. Never been a car sleeper. Don't like to get to the point of exhaustion. I guess I will try for 500 miles a day. that should be a safe distance. Get a good nights rest and get back at it the next day.

500 miles per day is going to translate into 10 hours of driving time. You will average around 50mph if you stop for gas and potty breaks a couple of times.
Barney

[PenMan]

We came home from NC last year in November. Two nights in Cracker Barrel parking lots. Total distance was about 1900 miles in 3 days. Didn't need electricity but ran heat one night (12 volt, propane).

[theogre1969]

thank you everyone for the tips.....unfortunately time is not my friend. Once I get to Brownsville area I have to set up the trailer for full time living and explore the area as I have never been there. Never been a car sleeper. Don't like to get to the point of exhaustion. I guess I will try for 500 miles a day. that should be a safe distance. Get a good nights rest and get back at it the next day.

[tomman58]

I look at the map and see about how far I want to drive each stop. Note if I do 8 to 12 hours we stay at least 2 to 5 days to regroup and check out that stop IE: Tunica Mississippi for casinos. We don't hurry cause we don't have to and we do drive destination to destination.
I always use RVREVIEW to zero in on a spot that is enroute and holds something worth seeing or doing along the way.
Over the years our normal fall outing takes us to Maryland then to NC then to Las Vegas then to Tucson AZ then to Fl. We have a plan before we leave, it is all generated on Microsoft Excel and is distributed to the family so they can keep an eye on us.
I do reserve if in the holiday or weekends, I always call and ask the RV park how busy they are and if I need to reserve.
Happy Trails

[2112]

I can only comment on state parks in Texas and western LA. They are 50% full at best during the weekdays in Nov excluding Thanksgiving. 80% full or more during the weekend.