Plan Your Cross-Country RV Trip for this Summer
Driving across the country is something everyone should do at some point in their lives. If you have an RV, you have an even better reason to make this trip. Take a few weeks or the whole summer to trek across the country and back, visiting landmarks and national parks along the way. You can save thousands of dollars by sleeping in your RV instead of having to rent hotel rooms every night. If you are thinking about taking a cross-country RV trip this summer, start planning it now.
1. Plan Out Your Route
When you are taking a cross-country RV trip, plan it so you’ll see many different places. Choose one route to head across the country and choose a different route to head back home. There are many possible routes to choose from, so think about which places you would like to hit on the way out and back, and how much time you have.
For instance, if you have always wanted to go to New Orleans, take the southernmost route along I-10. You will pass through Louisiana, Texas, and then be in the perfect position to see the incredible White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.
On the way back east, take a more northern route and stop at must-sees like the Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. By planning out your routes in advance, you’ll make the most of your time and be able to fit in all the places you want to see the most.
2. Make Reservations
While you don’t need to make reservations for every night of your cross-country RV trip, you should make reservations in advance for popular national parks. Campgrounds at parks like the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and Yellowstone fill up during the summer months, so make sure to reserve your RV sites soon.
3. Get Off the Interstate
While you’ll likely take interstates through midwest states to save time, once you get out west, opt for the scenic routes. If you have the choice to drive through California on I-5 or State Route 1 along the coast, opt for the coastal route. It will take longer, but driving along California’s sea cliffs is worth it.
Pick out the places you want to visit on your cross-country RV trip and figure out the most scenic way to get there. When exploring your routes, use the street view feature on Google maps to see what a certain road or area looks like.
4. Set Priorities for Your Cross-Country RV Trip
On your cross-country RV trip, you will visit many places and make many memories. However, expecting to visit every place on your list may be unrealistic. As you are planning out your trip, talk with your family about what your priorities are.
Are there certain national parks that you must see? Are you interested in visiting historical landmarks? Are you taking this trip to spend the summer doing your favorite hobby, like hiking, mountain biking, or surfing? When you focus on your top priorities, you will feel less rushed and get more enjoyment out of your journey. Make a list of the places you want to visit the most, and then strategically plan your route around them.
5. Cross-Country RV Trip With Kids
If you are taking your kids on a cross-country RV trip for their summer vacation from school, it will be an adventure they will never forget. However, when kids are in the mix, you’ll need to make some additional considerations.
Driving for 15 hours straight might be an option if you are alone or with your spouse, but young children will go stir-crazy sitting in the RV for that long. Keep your long driving stretches to a minimum and bring plenty of ways to entertain the kids like games, books, and movies.
If you plan to hit several national parks on your cross-country RV trip, get them a national park passport that they can get stamped at each one. Don’t forget to keep plenty of snacks on hand. If you keep having to get off an exit because the kids are hungry, it will take you twice as long to drive across the country.
Before driving your RV across the country, it is important to have it inspected. You want it to be in top condition when you are taking it on such a long journey and living out of it. RV Onsite Services provides RV inspections and repairs to Raleigh and the NC Triangle. Contact us to schedule an appointment.