Hi, New with some questions

[nycsteve]

Hi All
My name is Steve and live on Long Island in New York. We just purchased a 350 Ford 350 diesel and a Lance slideon camper. First rv for us not counting a 4x4 Suruban I used on the beach. I plan on using the camper locally on the beach, we have a bunch of nice spots on the Island , and I'm getting some good pointers from a friend . What I'de like to ask here is , are there any good books or websites to help plan longer out of state trips? We will be visiting our son near St Louis in the summer and want to extend the trip to a few weeks. We're undecided which way to jump after St Louis. Im interested in lists of campgrounds and the like and was hoping someone could suggest a good source of info for a beginner.
Thanks in advance for any help
Steve

 

[TexasClodhopper]

Re: Hi, New with some questions



Hello, Steve. Welcome to the forum! Of course, spend a lot of time reading previous posts here on the forum. There are a lot of "destinations" hidden within posts (not to mention tips and tricks.) Use the 'Search' feature at the top of the page (be sure and make it search ALL posts.)

Sallyberetta and I use the Good Sam services for planning our routes (along with a good map/atlas and GPS). In addition you get some 'discount' at associated RV parks. Their atlas of the USA has those parks marked in red for you. Here's a little snippet of a route by GS for a trip from NY to St. Louis MO (1062 miles from Montauk):

301 5:37 Junction With I-76 PA-Tpk$ 761 13:31 Turn West on I-76 PA-Tpk$ for 63mi 310 5:46 Rest Stop (Ebound) 752 13:22 323 6:00 Driving Checkpoint: 6 hrs 739 13:08 324 6:02 Rest Stop (Wbound) 738 13:06 326 6:04 Approaching PA-Tpk Blue Mtn Tun 736 13:04 328 6:05 Approaching PA-Tpk Kittatinny Tun 734 13:03 339 6:18 Approaching PA-Tpk Tuscarora Tun 723 12:50 354 6:34 Rest Stop 708 12:34 359 6:39 Approaching Vicinity of Breezewood PA 703 12:29 Avg Diesel Price for Next 3 Mi: [3.18]Cont. West on I-70 I-76 PA-Tpk$ for 16mi 379 7:00 Driving Checkpoint: 7 hrs 683 12:08 379 7:01 Rest Stop 683 12:07 380 7:01 FriendshipVillCG&RVPk-Bedford (PA) more info 682 12:07 Cont. West on I-70 I-76 for 71mi 380 7:01 Mountain Directory Advisory (MDA) # PA-Tpk $DirectoryDetails 682 12:07 403 7:25 Approaching PA-Tpk Allegheny Tun 659 11:43 413 7:37 Rest Stop 649 11:31 416 7:40 HickoryHollowCG-Rockwood (PA) more info 646 11:28 435 8:00 Driving Checkpoint: 8 hrs 627 11:08 448 8:14 Rest Stop (Wbound) 614 10:54 451 8:17 Junction With I-70 611 10:51 Cont. West on I-70 for 611mi 491 9:00 Driving Checkpoint: 9 hrs 571 10:08 502 9:11 Rest Stop (Ebound) 560 9:57 507 9:16 Entering West Virginia (max speed limit 70 mph) RoadConditions555 9:52

Perhaps some others here have other suggestions, so hang on for the long ride!

 

[Guest]

Re: Hi, New with some questions

Damn Tex ,, i knew u could read,, but type and analize stuff like that
I bet Tex will be the next Bill Gates :laugh: :laugh:
JK around with u ,, Tex knows rving,, so we all listen to him ,, Bty Tex i hope u still know what MB means :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[TexasClodhopper]

Re: Hi, New with some questions

Nah, I'm just a rookie here.

 

[Guest]

Re: Hi, New with some questions

Tex is a rookie???? yea right,, i bet he as flagged more rv stupid stuff then all of us on here combined ,, Opps forgot DL ,,, he is the pro on Cummins diesel smoke smell ,, but Tex has it down pat ,, if u have an rv issue ,, i bet Tx has seen it or done it ,,, Ok Tex that will be $39.95 for plugging u'r commercail :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[nycsteve]

Re: Hi, New with some questions

Thanks Tex. I checked out Good Sam and a link for rv parks on thier site. Thats what I was looking for, a list of rv parks. They have to be the only spot to dump the used water (nicest way I could think of to say it)
I'll keep lookin, cant wait to get out on the maiden voyage. Im ready to roll on Nov 12.
Steve

 

[hertig]

Re: Hi, New with some questions

Most Flying J truck stops have dump stations, as do some larger truck stops. Also, the Good Sam trip planner can as an option list dump sites along the route.

 

[DL Rupper]

Re: Hi, New with some questions

The TrailerLife Campground Directory is a must. Use it to locate a good campground and then go to www.RVparkreviews.com to see what real RV'ers think of the park you want to go to. Sometimes the ratings in the campground directories are inflated depending on how big of AD they purchased.

 

[C Nash]

Re: Hi, New with some questions

Why spend the big dollars for a GPS when we got Tex and if we get lost just follow DL's diesel fumes :laugh: