First Time Rvers Taking Cross Country Trip

Discussion in 'Destinations and RV Parks' started by jillmaui, Jun 9, 2007.

  1. jillmaui

    jillmaui
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    Aloha! We live in Hawaii and are taking a trip to the mainland for the summer. We are renting an RV in California and driving across the country. We have a basic plan but are flexible. So far, I am trying to find an RV park or resort (Lake or pool...some water...) near the Grand Canyon, New Mexico, Amarillo Texas....we are going along Rt. 40. I get scared reading reviews of scary people knocking on doors and things like that- we are a family with lots of kids and want to have fun in the nicest possible places. Please send me your advice if you have any. We are not as concerned with paying $30 instead of $20, things like that- we would rather be comfortable and pay a little more. I would love your advice, thanks!
     
  2. John Blue

    John Blue
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    jillmaui,

    Aloha!

    It this Jill from Maui? We love Maui and visit this island a lot. Welcome to forum. Did you check map on first page and open each state you plan to visit? Click on state, this will give you a list cities or towns, pick one and under each you will see all the campgrounds someone has be to in the past. All campgrounds may not be on this list, only ones that someone has wrote a report on.

    Grand Canyon: You can use campgrounds inside NP or Grand Canyon Railway RV park at Williams. Number of other parks in town and all are OK. Main street in Williams is the old route 66 from years ago.

    New Mexico: This is a very large place, what place, places, or cities did you have in mind? We have been to about ever place in this state.

    Amarillo: We have used Wonderland RV Resort in past and found it to be very nice. Amarillo is full of RV parks and great places to eat.

    You will not find a lot of water in states on your list. This is the dessert, no surfs up here.

    Keep them Maui gold pineapples coming, they are so good to eat! :p

    Send more information if you need more help.

    Have fun!
     
  3. jillmaui

    jillmaui
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    QUOTE(John Blue @ Jun 9 2007, 03:48 PM) [snapback]7254[/snapback]

    jillmaui,

    Aloha!

    It this Jill from Maui? We love Maui and visit this island a lot. Welcome to forum. Did you check map on first page and open each state you plan to visit? Click on state, this will give you a list cities or towns, pick one and under each you will see all the campgrounds someone has be to in the past. All campgrounds may not be on this list, only ones that someone has wrote a report on.

    Grand Canyon: You can use campgrounds inside NP or Grand Canyon Railway RV park at Williams. Number of other parks in town and all are OK. Main street in Williams is the old route 66 from years ago.

    New Mexico: This is a very large place, what place, places, or cities did you have in mind? We have been to about ever place in this state.

    Amarillo: We have used Wonderland RV Resort in past and found it to be very nice. Amarillo is full of RV parks and great places to eat.

    You will not find a lot of water in states on your list. This is the dessert, no surfs up here.

    Keep them Maui gold pineapples coming, they are so good to eat! :p

    Send more information if you need more help.

    Have fun!



    Aloha John from Florida!! Thanks for your reply! I had seen the Grand Canyon Railway, their website looks nice, but i wasn't sure. We will do that one. As far as New Mexico, we are traveling Rt. 40 so something probably with a POOL because we are leaving our ocean behind and we're like fish out of water....maybe RV Resort rather than RV Parkinglot... something with things to do for the kids...Albuquerque? or keep driving to Santa Fe? we are going on from there but I am just trying to plot the first couple states at this time. We will be going up and over to Cape Cod, then down to Florida for Disneyworld. We are only going one way and flying back from there. I will mess around with the map on this site as well. Thanx!

    Jillmaui
     
  4. Beastdriver

    Beastdriver
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    jillofmaui:

    In addition to the good advice from John Blue, let me add the following:

    First of all, DO NOT depend on the Trailer Life Directory or Woodalls to select campgrounds. Depend solely on this site. If it does not have several good reviews on this site, then don't stay there.

    Secondly, don't drive more than 200 miles in a day. You should get to a place, unwind, do your hookups and chores, and relax for awhile.

    Thirdly, plan your stops and then look for the closest highly rated park, with the amenities you need, on RV Park Reviews.

    Fourthly, don't worry about the horror stories you hear. They are very unusual. We've never had anyone knock on our door at night or threaten us.

    Fifthly, plan your trip on a leisurely basis--leave plenty of time to stay at stops you like. People who rush from place to place rarely have fun with the RV life.

    Sixthly, despite planning your trip leisurely, make reservations for the best sites at the places you know you will stay. Despite high fuel prices, reservations are still a must for the best sites.

    Once you have a plan for crossing the country (about where you will be stopping and when), I am sure that folks on this site will be pleased to recommend specific locations to you.

    Have fun!
     
  5. jillmaui

    jillmaui
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    QUOTE(Beastdriver @ Jun 9 2007, 05:34 PM) [snapback]7256[/snapback]

    jillofmaui:

    In addition to the good advice from John Blue, let me add the following:

    First of all, DO NOT depend on the Trailer Life Directory or Woodalls to select campgrounds. Depend solely on this site. If it does not have several good reviews on this site, then don't stay there.

    Secondly, don't drive more than 200 miles in a day. You should get to a place, unwind, do your hookups and chores, and relax for awhile.

    Thirdly, plan your stops and then look for the closest highly rated park, with the amenities you need, on RV Park Reviews.

    Fourthly, don't worry about the horror stories you hear. They are very unusual. We've never had anyone knock on our door at night or threaten us.

    Fifthly, plan your trip on a leisurely basis--leave plenty of time to stay at stops you like. People who rush from place to place rarely have fun with the RV life.

    Sixthly, despite planning your trip leisurely, make reservations for the best sites at the places you know you will stay. Despite high fuel prices, reservations are still a must for the best sites.

    Once you have a plan for crossing the country (about where you will be stopping and when), I am sure that folks on this site will be pleased to recommend specific locations to you.

    Have fun!



    Well thank you so much! I will certainly consider all of your recommendations! I am just so overwhelmed!!! But the 200 mile thing is good to think of, that helps with figuring out what nights we will need to stay where- I will solidify my plans and then look for more specific recommendations.
    So you really think this site is the best, ha? I'm glad I found it. Thanks again for your advice!!!

    Jillmaui
     
  6. John Blue

    John Blue
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    Aloha jillmaui.

    We think and travel the same way as Beastdriver, travel slow and enjoy the main land. As you cross Arizona on I-40 stop at Meteor Crater exit 233 and see that very large hole in the ground. Fuel (Flying-J) at Winslow exit 253 also good food and place to park RV. Next stop at exit 311 and see the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest.

    In NM stop off and spent some time in Albuquerque. American RV Park is one of the best at exit 149. They have a nice pool to surf in B) . In Albuquerque you could spend a month and not see everything. Old Town has tons of stuff to see and very large city park and zoo on the Rio Grande river. Kids would love this place. Sandia Peak Aerial, Balloon Fiesta Park, Casino at bien Mur I- 25 exit 234. People at park have all information you will need.

    We also have never had anyone knock on our door at night or threaten us.
     

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