Planning First Trip..What do I need to know?

[travelingjw]

We are planning a one week trip down hi-way 1 in California. Could you recommend your favorite sources for the following questions:
1. How do I avoid bridges, windy roads, etc.
2. How do I pick places to eat where we can "park" with a trailer.
3. How do I find gas stations that have enough room for me to get in and out.
4. Trailer parks: What is best source for recommendations? Are there one's that show bias because of advertising revenue or a funding source?
5. When I sell a home I can recommend my clients look at www.spot.crime.com for crimminal activity; is there an RV site that people use.

Really excited but want to be safe. Thanks for all your help and suggestion.

[alcain4]

There are a few apps for your smart phone that show gas stations, parks, restaurants, etc.. that are RV friendly. RV PARKY and Park Advisor are two we use. Good luck and have fun.

[North of 49°]

Google Earth is your friend. It will give you a bird's eye view of anything that you might have a concern about, which routes are the best, gas stations with easy access, stores with large parking lots, etc. You can even do the street view to clarify things if you need to. It will let you know what to expect before you get there.

[Desert RVers]

As the others have suggested, using an app and/or google earth can be a big help. We tend to use camp directories along with technology to find places to stay. We've had good luck as far as feeling safe is concerned. You mention wanting to avoid bridges and windy roads, but Highway 1 is mostly a winding road with bridges. Highway 101 is a nice highway to drive if you are looking for an alternate. Have fun!

[Murff]

"We are planning a one week trip down hi-way 1 in California. Could you recommend your favorite sources for the following questions:
1. How do I avoid bridges, windy roads, etc."
Avoid Hi-way 1

"2. How do I pick places to eat where we can "park" with a trailer."
Avoid Hi-way 1

"3. How do I find gas stations that have enough room for me to get in and out."
Avoid Hi-way 1

"4. Trailer parks: What is best source for recommendations? Are there one's that show bias because of advertising revenue or a funding source?"
Avoid Hi-way 1

Well, you didn't say which part of Hi-way 1. However, it is so curvy in some places, it will feel like you are going to see the back end of your 23MRB! Gas is expensive due to the few stations.

I'd probably stick to a nice trip on Hwy 101.

Murff


__________________

[Tunce the traveler]

What month are you planning on doing this and if it's in the summer then spots could be hard to find. I've done the coast many times and there's so so much to see that just 1 week won't be getting you very far. Find the California magazine Mile by Mile and and follow the guide.

[TaftCoach]

All Stays and RV Parky are the two apps I use the most. Google Street, Google Earth.

Practice before you go and enjoy the surprises and challenges

The views expressed may not be mine in five minutes.

[travelingjw]

HI, poor communication on my part. I am concerned about low bridges, not traveling over them. And windy roads, only the ones that present a challenge when pulling a trailer.

[Murff]

Originally Posted by travelingjw

HI, poor communication on my part. I am concerned about low bridges, not traveling over them. And windy roads, only the ones that present a challenge when pulling a trailer.

Rand McNally makes a GPS for RVers but a bit expensive. You might try downloading a Trucker or RV GPS to your smart phone for the low bridges and highways to avoid.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_asi_...qid=1485561019

Murff

[NVGun40]

You are not indicating what TT and TV combo you are using.
Along with some of the advice you have been given, I would recommend paying close attention to the road width, and turns and your TT behind you.
I say this because of a trip several years ago where we saw the trailer in front of us take one corner too sharp which nearly turned disastrous.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dewey02]

There are RV GPS units that will automatically re-route you if your rig is too tall to fit under bridges along your planned route. We have a Garmin 760 RV LMT model and you enter in the length and height of your vehicle, then it will route you along a route where you will fit.