KatherineW

I want to take a trip with my son to NYC by RV. We want to visit a museum or two. Is there an RV camp ground nearby? What is the best route from Miami? Son is 12. Our first time in a camper. Anyone taken this trip before? Any advice?

J62

NYC is not an RV friendly destination.

vincenzo32951

I'm not familiar with RV sites, but the only campgrounds I know of near NYC are, I think, the Liberty Campgrounds in NJ, just across the river from Battery Park and near the Statue of Liberty. I also think you can catch the ferry there and go into the city. Double-check that, as I'm giving you hearsay and have never done it.

Best route: Generally, it's I-95 to the NJ Turnpike. There's some debate about whether to take an alternative route when approaching Washington from the south, but it's a coin toss.

tomfuller

I agree with J62. There are several tunnels that you can't take a vehicle with propane tanks through.
Fly, take a train or rent a car but don't drive an RV into NYC.
Are you planning this trip for this winter?

nytraveler

Sorry for 2 people this i s a terrible idea.

The closest RV park is in New Jersey and the cost of a night there is in the range of $90. Also it will take you about 30 minutes to get to and fro Manhattan. Check transit info on the Liberty RV Park web site for choices of how to get to Manhattan. I believe the ferries are $10 per ride per person - so $40 for the two of you to get from and to NJ.

nytraveler

You can't actually get an RV into NYC - only around or through the outer areas on a couple of major highways. Be aware that once you get to DC and north you can't drive on anything called a parkway - they are for passenger cars only. Lanes too narrow and some bridges too low for an RV to get underneath.

Frankly for 2 people I would think a car and budget motels would be MUCH cheaper than renting an RV, paying huge amounts for gas and tolls (much higher than for cars) as well as finding /paying for campgrounds and then for transit into the cities you want to see.

traveler24

Terrible idea...for NYC...great idea for State Parks in outlying areas..Gulf coast,up-state New York..etc.
My teenager( few years ago) loved the trip up from Florida to NYC..Into Grand Central Station..and you are right in middle of everything. We stayed in Brooklyn because it was a little cheaper,,convenient subway ride to several great Museums.

janisj

WHEN? If in winter or early spring -- forget about it.

How much of the trip is intended for visiting NYC, and how much is it really a road trip? If you want to spend any time IN NYC -- forget about it.

Plus unless you want to pay ENORMOUS drop off fees, you'd have to do a round trip itinerary back to your starting point. With only 11 days -- forget about it.

Since you have never driven an RV before -- I'd definitely forget about it

Gretchen

What has already been said--no, not for two people on any level.

Ackislander

I think this is a lovely idea, but like everyone else, I don't think it is a good one.

Wanting to spend this time with you son is terrific, but if you take five days going north and five days going south, you only have four days in NY. Basically the same if you drive a car and stay overnight on the way.

If you can get to Fort Lauderdale, you can take JetBlue to NY JFK. Get on their mailing lists because they have frequent sales that make travel very economical.

Enjoy NYC with your son, then take the train to Philadelphia. Go to Independence Hall, see the Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross's house. There is a Holiday Inn in the historic district. If you had driven, you would just be arriving in NY.

Next day, get back on the train and go on to Washington. Visit the museums and Memorials on the Mall, see the White House and Capitol, maybe go to Arlington National cemetery. Stay three nights, four if you can. There is more than plenty for a 12 yo boy here. You have been gone 9 days. Fly back to FFL or MIA.

You have had a memorable trip in less time and for a lot less money than renting a camper. Not cheap, but cheaper.

As with JetBlue, AMTRAK fares are quite a bit cheaper if you reserve in advance. If your son is crazy for technology, you might book one segment of your NY-DC segment on the Acela. But the Northeast Regional trains are almost as fast and a lot cheaper.

I would say if anyone else reads this that there are RV's and there are RV's. We tend to think of big Winnebago types, but there are plenty on van chassis that would provide comfortable quarters for a mom and son in warm weather, but you still can't take them through the Baltimore tunnels or into NYC and it is still a long commute into the city from a campground. If he really wants an RV trip, go to the outer Banks or the Panhandle.

In sum, yours is a nice idea, but not a good one.

traveler24

Really good resource is RV.net/forum. Lots of experienced people willing to share their experiences..

WhereAreWe

I wonder how these people got an RV into NYC if you can't get an RV into NYC. Magic?

http://nypost.com/2013/12/15/upper-w...r-rv-invasion/

http://www.salon.com/2013/07/03/my_r...per_west_side/

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov...g-nyc-20131117

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wMR2oYZm8s

Gretchen

Someone said, you have to go around to the bridges. Can't go through the tunnels.

nytraveler

There are ways of getting into the city without using a tunnel - bridge tolls are about $15. But parking one in the street for more than 24h hours (If you can find a spot - since it's about 3 cars and would probably take hours of searching)is illegal and if neighbors complain you will be fined every day and there are no services (elec, water, sewer).

So - you can do almost anything - until you are caught.