usa roadtrip
 

Im planning a roadtrip starting around July around the US. Im going to try to go to every state, i dont know how long itll take but that doesnt matter to me. Im doing it just cause i want to see new things. im wondering if anyone has had any experience similar to this? Im getting a bus with a bed, stove, fridge. so mostly no eating out or hotels to save money. Im trying to estimate the cost for 2 people and one dog. Anyone have any tips from their personal experiences? where am i allowed to park overnight? are campgrounds common? Im thinking ill spend money on gas, food, activities, but im probably missing something. any tips help.

Sounds like a great trip.

Yes, campgrounds are common in many if not all states. Do not expect them to be near city centers, but rather in more rural / wilderness areas.

Each state has a state park system where I'm sure you can look online to check them out. They will not be free, but will definitely cost less than a hotel.

There are also many privately run RV parks /campgrounds around the us.

Walmart stores allow overnight parking at their stores. Our local walmart typically has 2-3 RVs parked outside on weekend nights. No services, but you can at least park.

You say "getting a bus". do you mean buy, or rent a small van? If you are buying then you will need to register and insure that vehicle. I have no idea what it takes to do that as a non US resident.

Even campgrounds are 20-40 a night, especially private ones. The cheapest ones are usually public campgrounds with limited facilities. With a fridge, I would think you'd need either a generator or hookups. You'll need advance reservations in states like California for the summer. 48 states is at least two months. I think you're going to have to be a little more specific about your goals, and what you want to see. I spent one July just camping and road tripping through California. Where are you from? I'm a little concerned you don't understand the scale of the US.

In wilderness areas, we have something called dispersed camping - this is allowed on national forest land and land controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). You can Google the rules around that. You'll find the most opportunities for that in the west.

The fridge is the ringer I think.marvelous is correct--a generator.
OP, have you done extensive camping previously?
It is pretty difficult to give ANY possible budget. Gas will be a considerable expense and sometimes it's relatively cheap and other times, not. The MPG of the vehicle (a bus) will be awful so it will be expensive.
$25/night for camping as an average might be doable--some will be more, few will be less.
Seeing every state is virtually if not literally an impossibility, IMO. So why not make a great trip to the US and choose some sites and enjoy it.
Where are you coming from--your written English is certainly good if text savvy.

Do you mean a real bus style vehicle or smaller RV? If this is just because you wish to travel that way, great! If you are doing this to save money, it may or may not.

Are you planning to buy the bus or rent one?

Where are you coming from? If you are from the US, no problem. I do not like having animals chipped, but if you are doing road trips with a pet, it is a good idea to have it chipped.

If you are coming from another country, then you have entry rules for the pet.

With July being excruciatingly hot in many places, plan carefully because you can't leave the dog in the vehicle while you are sightseeing. Maybe you are going only to rural areas though.

Where are you coming from? If you enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program you can only stay 90 days in the US. B2 visa gets 180 days.

If you're coming into the US, make sure your dog is properly vaccinated. Here's a link to the CDC guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/brin...ates/dogs.html

I've done many road trips in the US, and I think OP should really look at a map and some climate charts first.

In July, I'd focus on W/NW regions of the US: Northern California, Oregon, Washington, (possibly include the Southern parts of BC and Alberta), Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado.. get some heat in Utah to see a few of the dozen spectacular national parks, go through NV with A/C on full blast, and maybe spend bit more time in coastal Southern California.

If I wanted to avoid hotels and motels, I'd rent (never buy) a compact camper van with some high clearance like a pickup truck with a mounted cabin instead of a "bus" or a full-sized RV to be able to navigate also unpaved roads to remote campsites.

I have neither a dog nor a camper, but I thought I read on Fodor’s that dogs are not allowed in the National parks. Does anyone know for sure? What about state parks?

>>I thought I read on Fodor’s that dogs are not allowed in the National parks. Does anyone know for sure? What about state parks?<<

Dogs are allowed but they REALLY limit one's visit. In general they are only allowed on certain paved trails and can never be left unattended in either a vehicle, tent, or hotel room. So that means if one has a dog they can't explore most of most parks.

State parks vary from state to state and park to park. Some are as strict as National parks and some aren't.