Hi everyone, while I'm in the process of figuring what will get me around, I am currently thinking of a van with a tear drop camper towed behind. But, what I want to know is how I can plan my route. It's actually for traveling the USA and teaching free skate lessons in small and big cities (rollerbade/rollerskates)
I run the Skate Instructors Association and am creating in a grassroots way, a tour to hit almost all the continental US states. I'll be traveling with 30 pairs of skates and gear, two small dogs and one other person. I have dozens of skaters who say we can stay with them, along the way, and plenty of nights we will need to find a place. I'm 56, if that matters. While I get that the dogs may present challenges, leaving them home isn't an option.
Are there any great computer programs to plan my trip? I've got a list and locations of members I want to stop and see and then about 35 states that I want to try to go to. Traveling July/Aug/Sept. What are some great ways to actually plan the geography.
Your advice seems like spun gold, thanks for your concerns, ideas, comments and encouragement.
Trish

Start in the north and work south. July and August will be awful in the south so save those for September. Still could be hot but better than July and August.

Are these lessons for adults or kids? School being in session in September might hamper your efforts.

I think it sounds like a neat trip. With a few caveats...

Have you done camper trips with the dogs before? Because:

1. If campgrounds allow you to stay with the dogs, they will likely call the authorities if you leave the dogs in the camper unattended. I'm not sure it will matter, as you don't mention hiking or anything like that, but dogs are frequently not allowed on the trails in state parks and not allowed in NPs at all. So you can't take them with you and you can't leave them in the trailer while you go. It's tough. And you can't take dogs in the bathrooms at the campgrounds usually, so you and you companion will be taking turns.

2. It's ILLEGAL to leave your dogs in in the car during the summer in many states, even to run in for groceries or bathroom. I mean, you can be fined, arrested, ordered to show up in court.

3. Cities are a huge problem. Most places I know of with roller rinks are decent sized cities...where your options to park that camper are either hard to find or expensive or both. You'd be better off with a sedan or small SUV to pull that camper, if at all possible. Van might be difficult to find parking for. The places where I wouldn't mind having a camper are unlikely to be on your list.

4. Also consider when you're staying with people- where are you going to park the camper? I do know a number of people who are into roller derby. They tend to be 20-30 single gals, they don't tend to own houses. You might be able to find street parking for a car, but no way for a camper. Admittedly, I live ina pretty densely populated area, but again, cities are a problem.

If it were me, I'd skip the camper, and stay in motel 6 or tent camp. A major benefit of tent camping is that it's pretty easy to find spots for a tent. Some of your contacts may not have room for you, but they may know someone with a big lawn. A big benefit of motel 6 is traveling light.

So I know you said the dogs are necessary, but it's going to be much easier on both you and them to find a family member or friend to watch them. You're traveling at the hottest time of year, and given your budget, a/c is pretty unlikely. It might widen your pool of people to crash with as well- people with allergies, for example, will be able to house you.

Couple of ideas for computer help... one is to use google maps - sign in and you can create your own map. Here is an old one I did for an Italy trip: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gD...aA&usp=sharing

You can manually select places or upload a spreadsheet with information including location. I think this helps to see the big picture and start to figure out what is near what and routes that might make sense.

You can also do something similar with http://batchgeo.com - you have to upload all of the info via a spreadsheet.

I would be happy to help you with the technology side of things if you would like.

WRT to the dogs:

-- How are you going to get them to the US? Cargo? In the cabin? Cost?

-- There are strict regulations governing taking dogs TO Europe, having to do with microchips and vaccinations. You need to check the regulations for going to the US, and for taking the dogs back to Europe.

WRT time of year. It will still be very hot and humid in the southeast well into September, if not into October. You will need AC, both for your accommodation and transport. It will be hotter and more humid than you are used to in the northeast as well, and I would want AC there in July and August.

Since this is a volunteer activity I assume you will be OK on a visitor's visa/visa waiver but you might check:
https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html

[I am pretty sure the OP is an American living in U.S.]

Could be, I figured a US person wouldn't need this kind of help.

Google shows her skate association to indeed be US based.

I like googlemaps and have the app on my phone to get voice directions as I drive.

If the teardrop camper contains a bathroom, you will need to know how long you can go without using a dump station but you will probably find dump stations at large truck stops as well as campgrounds. I think out fresh water storage and gray water limited us to 3 days "boondoggling" it.

One of my gym instructors coaches roller derby and skates. I agree from seeing her team that they tend to be younger but they know people who might be able to offer parking space for a camper.

The inexpensive state campgrounds in New England that do not have facilities for a self contained camper but might have a dump station. As long as you plan ahead, you should be fine. There are some beautiful "rest areas" where we have pulled over to enjoy lunch and stretch our legs. Overnight camping is not allowed but usually there is easy pull thru parking for vehicles towing campers. Sometimes we've just used a simple pull out area by a road that might have a couple of picnic tables for a lunch stop. This website looks like it has some good advice about free places to overnight:
https://rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguide.com/rv_travel-2/

We don't have dogs but I would guess your dogs could be crated and taken inside a roller rink or outdoor skate park. You should check the facilities' rules about animals.

If the dogs are a non-negotiable component of your trip, despite the thoughtful caveats outlined by marvelousmouse, then I suggest a heart-to-heart talk with your prospective (human) travel companion, getting him/her to commit to being the full-time caretaker of the dogs.

You'll be busy setting up and running your lessons/seminars/demonstration sessions, with time-consuming logistics, meetings with the right people to pull it off, standing in line at city hall for permits where they may be required (with 30 skates you don't qualify as a hobbyist...), and on and on. No time to deal with dogs.

I had assumed US but just not an avid camper. She doesn't mention whether or not she owns that camper already. If she did, I don't think method would be a question.

OP- I usually map it out by hand- it tends to be a lot quicker. You may want to consider that 56 days sounds like a lot of time...but really isn't given that you want to hit at least 35 states, and we don't know how long you need to be in each lessons location.

Michelhuebeli- yes, that was my first thought. This trip would be possible if the companion can watch the dogs, but it's a lot to assume otherwise.

The lessons are for kids and adults... and intending that we could stop in a few schools and give lessons in PE classes! Trish

Every thanks for the replies so far. Really assists me in planning. I am 56 in age, not going out 56 days. Actually I'll be 80 days on the road. I do intend to bring a dog nanny, if possible. And I get it will be easier to find someone to take care of them. One is 15 and I have a concern that he will expire while and because I'm gone, which is why I am intending to bring them. And, it's not decided. I do not have the vehicle I'm taking, but intending it to be a small ish vehicle (mini van or reg van) and tear drop camper, so just towing 1,000 pounds. I like all the suggestions you have made and I will not overlook the true concerns of the dogs. I used to white water and camp extensively, so used to camping, but never anything like this before. IowaMom, let me know if I can reach out to you for the mapping/computer part. I'd love some assistance in that [email protected]

Also, wanted to mention this is not derby skating. Its the wide variety of skating on inline and quad skates. So, see freestyle slalom skating, skate park, artistic, jam, dance, and basic skills through advanced. I'll be outside in skate areas, doing street skates/urban skates, in rinks, because I love them, and wherever else skaters congregate. Thanks, T

Trish - I just sent you an email...

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I would not take a geriatric dog on a road trip like this.

If you are worried he might "expire" being cared for at home, going camping and on the road for 80 days doesn't sound like the greatest idea really.

"One is 15 and I have a concern that he will expire while and because I'm gone, which is why I am intending to bring them."

Heck, that's tough. I'd make the same choice in your shoes, then. Best wishes!

Regarding giving classes/demonstrations in PE classes in schools. Schools are a lot different than when you and I attended. Everyone doing anything must pre vetted/criminal record checked, etc. Liability is a concern for everything. Being the founder of a skate association is not going to allow you to bypass this.

I think you need to give a lot of thought (if you have not already) to exactly where you are going to give these free lessons and demonstrations within each city/town. Public places are not likely to let some unknown person show up, collect a pack of kids and start skating. For example, our local youth association fund-raised and built a skate park in town. But you would not be allowed to just show up and skate with the kids. Probably you could arrange something ahead of time - but you would have to do this is every venue.

Without a dog nanny I don't see how this is possible from a basic needs point of view. How would you go into a food store, stop on the road to use a bathroom or get lunch, go into City Hall to get a permit. None of these places will allow a dog.

I would opt for a regular size van and a tent - mixing your lodging between staying with skaters, tent camping and inexpensive hotels. Towing something gets you little except more aggravation. In a pinch you could sleep in the van.

Good points, gail. I also wonder about liability insurance.