My Australian family and I are planning an RV trip across the USA from 31 Mar - 19th Apr 2012. We're up for a trip that covers the US landscapes, scenery, town culture and big cities... everything and anything!

We've a pretty good outline:
San Fran to
Yosemite to
Las Vegas (via Bakersfield route) to
Grand Canyon to
Albuquerque to
Colorado Springs to
Witchita (via RT50) to
Kansas City to
St Louis to
Memphis to
New Orleans (via Great River Road) to
Jacksonville to
Orlando (Disney World)

a) Is this achievable in RV at this time of year?
b) is this achievable in RV in 3 weeks?
c) any other suggestions of things to do in between?
d) any suggestions of roads to take to see the most?


Any tips would be great!!!

cruiseamerica.com Mileage charges petrol and drop off charges

will totally destroy any budget u might have...

Nice RV sites cost $20 and up so carrentals.com SFO MCO

always best for me...

You can stay in 3-4 stars betterbidding.com from $35/nt

Save a fortune thousands of USD

Route classic.mapquest.com roadtripusa.com for me

SF carmelcalifornia.com treebonesresort.com yosemite.com

395.com through death valley to vegas(weekday arrival

cheaper) Grand Canyon pick up historic66.com route to

VisitSedona.com Santa Fe bigtexan.com

Amarillo Dallas Lafayette neworleansonline.com Boloxi

Mobile orangebeach.com down the coast to sandestin.com

seasidefl.com on to Tallahassee and Orlando would be

your best straightest shot... if you go up to Kansas CO

too much backtracking if you will look at a map...

Good personal experience a number of times with this route

in 3 weeks you do not have as much time(21 days) as you

think... Happy Travels!

Wow! You'll be driving over 3,000 miles in three weeks - plus whatever driving you'd be doing at each destination. So at least 150 miles to drive each day at, say, 50 mph. You'd be driving at least three hours each day. Assuming you don't have to deal with snow, which is still a possibility at that time of year.

Doesn't leave much time for exploring any of these places.

Renting a camper van for a cross country trip is not a very good idea IMHO. If I were to rent a camper, I would use it within 500 miles of where I rented and return to origin.
This might work for San Francisco to Yosemite and return.
Fly from SF to Las Vegas and rent a car to go see the Grand Canyon. Fly from LV to Albuquerque and rent another car to see whatever you want to see within 500 mles.
From Albuquerque, you have at least 2 options, fly to another city or take the Southwest Chief (Amtrak train) east to your next city. This will be an expensive trip even without paying a large drop off fee on a camper van.

I wouldn't attempt to do Yosemite or Colorado Springs in an RV when you have the potential for snow. Grand Canyon might be iffy as well. The RV will turn out to be a nightmare and far more expensive, IMOP.

Your trying to see way way to much(unless you have been here before). You could easily spend 3 weeks in California alone. Heck you could spend 2 weeks easily in just Florida.

What do you plan on doing in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Wichita, and Kansas City? I can't imagine doing anything much in Kansas. And really not that much even in St. Louis, Colorado Springs, or ABQ.

I would be more inclined to stay south(especially for that time of year) and do Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Carlsbad Caverns, Dallas--then on to Memphis and New Orleans.

Really you aren't going to have time to do very much, the way this is set up.

I would imagine that fuel, rv rental, and rv rental spots will cost between $4,000 and $5,000. Not to mention, how it always amazes me at how many of those RV rentals I see staying at hotels/motels when I pull in the parking lot.

Why not rent the RV in San Fran. Do San Fran, Yosemite, Monterey/Coast, LA/Disneyland, and San Diego.

Or Everglades, Florida Keyes, Miami, NASA, and Disneyworld.
2 weeks in Florida would be better than 3 weeks of driving.

I would just forget the RV altogether.

Agree with the others, besides which this is a bit too early for camper van travelling - even for Albuquerque much less Colorado Springs!

Can you give us a bit more information? Why you choose camper van? Why this time of year? Why those particular cities - like Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Kansas City, Memphis - which aren't very high on foreign tourist destinations (and for good reason)? How many of you traveling?

Yes - why a camper? Do you think it is a money saver? Or is it just the idea of an 'adventure'?

In the States there are really terrific budget chain and independent motels/hotels in every town. Many even have kitchens/kitchenettes. Renting a car, going wherever you want and staying in motels will almost certainly be easier and definitely cheaper.

If one already owns an RV and tows a car - that is a bit different. But renting/insurance/drop off fees/petrol/RV parking will cost a fortune. Bad weather, finding places to park in cities, etc . . . Just lots of headaches.

Thanks all... this has given me a lot to think about!

I suppose the RV idea came from the typical opportunity to 'Road Trip' with the family. But we certainly haven't done it before - I did live in NJ for 2 years and so have done the upper east coast, but wanted to see the rest of the country.

The drive through Colorado > Kansas > and then down the Mississippi was a mix between wanting to mix up the landscapes, and also feeling that we simply had to get across the country!

I hadn't realised that the weather would still be such an issue in April.

Time to do some more maths and research.

Thanks again.

Do you have any suggestions on Car Rental companies that are great for this kind of trip? Even if we still cross in 3 weeks but stay lower?

Or the budget hotel chains?

How many of you will be traveling? It makes a big difference in costs whether there are just two of you or six - and so our recommendations will be scaled accordingly.

Just an aside, here. those of us who live in the San FranCISCO area hate "San Fran". Along with "Frisco". It is San Francisco or The City, to us.

"Or the budget hotel chains?"
I personally like La Quinta
http://www.lq.com/lq/index.jsp?iata=...srch=1&sissr=1

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

I like LQ. But I always try to stay the the LQ & Suites. They are normally a little bit better.

There would be 5 adults. Two couple and a sister... but all family.
Happy to share rooms and split rooms.

Hi simbek - a few years ago, we spent 24 days driving from NYC to San Diego - we were in a rental car, with only one driver, and didn't feel at all rushed and saw heaps! It was a great experience and we'd do it again in a heartbeat. As well as numerous one-nighters, we spent 3 nights in NYC, 2 nights in Chicago, 3 nights in the Black Hills, 2 nights in Santa Fe, 3 nights in Palm Springs and 3 nights in San Diego. For accommodation, I recommend Marriott Residence Inn or Springhill Suites - particulary with the RI, you can get 2-bedroom suites, which will easily sleep 6. Also, Hilton's Homewood Suites have 2-bedroom suites, and Embassy Suites have rooms with 2 queen beds and a sofa bed - again, easily accommodating up to 6 in a room. We've also stayed at rental houses - many of which will rent for only 2 or 3 nights. On separate occasions, we've even rented 3 and 4 bedroom houses at Yosemite for only 2 nights.
You're going to have a whale of a time with the planning! Have fun!

You have some good advice here and finding lodging at that time of year should not be a problem. One source I have used for walk in motel/hotel coupons is Roomsaver.com, they also have magazines at visitor centers on the highway. The magazines give small maps that show where lodging is and also often what is included in the deal.

You also need to be aware that some of the places you want to see may not be completely open at that time of year. Yosemite will probably only have the valley open, Grand Canyon only the south rim.

Your trip sounds like a lot of fun and when you are in a National Park try to get lodging in the park. Call and if they say they are full, call back as people make reservations way ahead of time and cancel as time gets close.

Also if you are going to more than a couple NP's get a park pass for $80. It lets everyone in your car into all parks and is good for a year.

Thanks for the details on the number of people.

You've received some excellent tips.

wildblueyonder has given you excellent recommendations for places to stay. Be careful, not every hotel that calls itself "suites" necessarily has room for more than 2. Sometimes it just means that there are facilities for cooking - a refrigerator, a cooktop, knives, plates, etc. However, the list of hotels that wildblueyonder has provided usually can accommodate more than 2; there is usually a pull-out couch for the 3rd and 4th persons plus a small kitchen.

For driving, with 5 people, you'll be more comfortable in a mini-van. A minivan has four bucket seats and a bench seat in the third row plus plenty of luggage space in the back.

As with the others, I do believe you'll be happier not going the RV route.

All of this advice is invaluable. Thanks so much!
We're really looking forward to the trip, and these thoughts just help it get better!

I'm sure I'll have more questions...