Planning a cross country trip to NC

[Big1]

Okay guys, I'm starting early the DW and I are going to see my mother around March or April and I want to start mapping out my route. We are leaving from Seattle to N.C.

Do you use RV Trip Wizard, how is it, is it worth the $49 dollars or what do you use in planning?

I do have one plan out with Camping World Software, but I wanted to be sure.

Thank you, guys, for your reply.

[Riverman]

Free campsites the entire trip, plus on a trip planner too:

https://freecampsites.net/#!Seattle,...oundtrip=false

[bill3kirk]

I use RV Trip Wizard in conjunction with other utilities. We tend to stay at a lot of KOA's (don't need any comments from the peanut galleries ) and I use their online route utility to find and book all my reservations along the way. We have been travelling back and forth from Carbondale, CO (Aspen area) to Wilmington, NC every spring and fall for the last eleven years. Weather can be a dodge ball game whether you go through the heart land or take the southern route. I 70 at Vail Pass can be a crap shoot depending on the month.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by bill3kirk

I use RV Trip Wizard in conjunction with other utilities. We tend to stay at a lot of KOA's (don't need any comments from the peanut galleries ) and I use their online route utility to find and book all my reservations along the way. We have been travelling back and forth from Carbondale, CO (Aspen area) to Wilmington, NC every spring and fall for the last eleven years. Weather can be a dodge ball game whether you go through the heart land or take the southern route. I 70 at Vail Pass can be a crap shoot depending on the month.

Okay, we are thinking about traveling sometime in March or early April.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by Riverman

Free campsites the entire trip, plus on a trip planner too:

https://freecampsites.net/#!Seattle,...oundtrip=false

Yes, yes, this is what I'm looking for, this is what I want to do, is to come down as we travel.

[RPR]

We check out what we might want to see or do between starting point and ending point on that type trip. We may not end up going the shortest route according to one of the app. Sometimes we wonder in the general direction so we can do and see things.

[Insist on live music]

I just started using RVTripWizard for a trip Western NY to FL panhandle. I find it a bit quirky at first but didn't balk at price though I intend to get several years use of it, while your trip is not recurring. Different strokes for different folks. Other planners . . . Harvest Hosts.com, AllStays, Campendium, Boondockers.com, HipCamp.com

[Big1]

Yeah, and all I want is to plan a trip there and back, spending one day in between stop, we have a KOA campsite to stay when we get there.

I just wanted to plan a trip down the major hwy and no low bridges.

[ScoobyMike]

If you plan to drive I80 the weather may have an adverse effect on your travel plans. I have been stuck twice on I80 in Wyoming due to "surprise" storms.

[ScoobyMike]

Another thought. I use the Motor Carrier Road Atlas to plan my routes. They use color to highlight routes that are not big rig friendly and they also list all low bridges in each state.

[TnHiker]

Originally Posted by bill3kirk

I use RV Trip Wizard in conjunction with other utilities. We tend to stay at a lot of KOA's (don't need any comments from the peanut galleries ) and I use their online route utility to find and book all my reservations along the way. We have been travelling back and forth from Carbondale, CO (Aspen area) to Wilmington, NC every spring and fall for the last eleven years. Weather can be a dodge ball game whether you go through the heart land or take the southern route. I 70 at Vail Pass can be a crap shoot depending on the month.

Bill. I just initiated a thread today on the 5th wheel page asking about the drive from Grand Junction to Denver on I70, if you have a chance look up that thread and make a comment for me. It will be in June so weather is probably not an issue. I would really appreciate your input. I had originally planned to go from Grand Junction to Canon City and Royal Gorge but decided my wife's nerves might not survive that trip and thought she would fair better on the interstate. Thanks, Happy Camping and God Bless.

[kirkelli]

I use two apps on my phone, RV Parks and Free Space. RV Parks has a GPS option but i normally figure out where we are staying then load my trips on my onboard GPS system. We now try to shoot for the free or cheap RV locals and so far haven't been disappointed.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by ScoobyMike

If you plan to drive I80 the weather may have an adverse effect on your travel plans. I have been stuck twice on I80 in Wyoming due to "surprise" storms.

Yeah, I think but I have to look at my route again that I will be taken some parts of I80 or just above it.

[berwin]

I have used AllStays for several years with good results.

[harryjr]

The best part of RV Trip Wizard is the ability to place a travel radius (miles or hours) on the map when planning. It's the only app that I've found that has that feature. Does that make it worth $49/year? Each year I say no. Then I start planning and when the headache starts, I pony up the $49. YMMV

[Big1]

Originally Posted by ScoobyMike

If you plan to drive I80 the weather may have an adverse effect on your travel plans. I have been stuck twice on I80 in Wyoming due to "surprise" storms.

So at what time of the year do you know how will it be around March?

[Big1]

Originally Posted by ScoobyMike

Another thought. I use the Motor Carrier Road Atlas to plan my routes. They use color to highlight routes that are not big rig friendly and they also list all low bridges in each state.

Where did you get it from the MCRA?

[Big1]

Originally Posted by berwin

I have used AllStays for several years with good results.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by harryjr

The best part of RV Trip Wizard is the ability to place a travel radius (miles or hours) on the map when planning. It's the only app that I've found that has that feature. Does that make it worth $49/year? Each year I say no. Then I start planning and when the headache starts, I pony up the $49. YMMV

I have been thinking of that I might have to just pony up and buy a year subscription.

[TaftCoach]

I've always felt the subscription cost was small compared to all the other expenses on a major trip.

[Big1]

Okay guys this is my layout let me know what you think, we will start out at the last week of March.

1. Caldwell, ID

2. Rawlin, WY

3. Oakley, KS

4. Springfield, MO

5. Lebanon, TN

6. New Bern, NC

These are each stop at the KOA's Campground, we are getting close so I don't want no hiccup. Thank you, guys, for your comments.