Happy T minus 41 working days and counting............
Just Googled our planned summer trip, so now I am looking for some advice and tips from all you "Full Timers" out there. Yeah, I am a glutton for punishment, crazy, etc....so we can skip that.......
The plan.....the house (Left Coast) to Boston (Right Coast) via Chicago, Cleveland, and upstate NY, for some clam chowda and Labstah...then down to Savannah with stops in and through NY, PA (philly Cheesestakes), DC (Smithsonian), and SC.....after that, back to Memphis for some BBQ.
Returning through NM, Stop off at the Grand Canyon, and then back home.........
total trip 7,543 'ish miles and 38 days to do it in........I would love ALL comments and advice......especially your average daily miles on the road when you plan and have taken long treks. (Mr. and Mrs. Mc Fall......Mr. and Mrs. Bruss......I bow to your websites)
Any known good layovers would be helpful too.........many thanks in advance.......
Snowman
Colorado_Kid said
12:24 PM Apr 28, 2009
I am not exactly sure of your exact route but you could take the Cog Railway up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.
If you are taking I-95 South from Philadelphia than you take a side trip in Virginia and visit some Civil War battlefields. In Fredericksburg there are four battlefields: Fredericksburg (Marye's Heights), Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania.
thebearII said
03:55 PM Apr 28, 2009
At the Grand Canyon, you'll be close enough to Brice and Zion canyons. They are worth the trip if you can spare the time or route through them on the way to Grand Canyon.
I like to leave about 9AM and stop in time to get setup with plenty of daylight left. Whatever miles I can travel during those hours are fine with me. 500 mile per day would be about the max for me. 200 to 300 is great. 70 miles is perfect, but it would take a long time to go 7500 miles at that rate.
Speedhitch said
04:29 PM Apr 28, 2009
Let me see to travel 7543 in 38 days you would have to drive 198.5 miles a day. At an average speed of 55 you would drive about 4 hours. You would have about 4hours to site see at each stop. If you travel 397 miles a day you can have one day to site see at each stop. If you travel 595.5 miles a day you can site see 2 days at each stop...I guess it is up to you on how long you will be staying any one place. The further you drive the fewer the stops but then what all will you miss in between??? Main thing is take off and have fun don't sweat the small stuff...Keep us all informed some of us may meet you along the way...
Speedy
leno said
04:29 PM Apr 28, 2009
The best clam chowder and lobster would be found in Maine. If you don't have time for that then Boston (preferably Cape Cod)
TheBobGuy said
06:49 PM Apr 28, 2009
Hi Snowman and Kudos to you...great trip! Let us all know where you are, perhaps our paths will cross!! We will be in VA much of the summer, but plan to head North to Maine in August. There is an Escapees rally "lobster fest there in August.....consider it...will be a lot of fun!
Aside from that....on the coast of Maine in the little town of Belfast, is Young's Lobster Pound...and there is no finer lobster experience! Take your own crackers, butter, utensils, wine and setups...eat on the tables wharfside where they take the lobsters off the boats! Pick your lobsters (or mussels, shrimp, corn on the cob, etc) and they put it in a nylon bag, then into a stone vat of boiling water with your number on it. This is one of our all time favorite experiences while RVing!!
Alternatively, you can pick your lobster and take it with you and steam it in your own pot on that Three burner stove you have!! :) (We've done this also with much joy!) Is yours a Camp Chef??
By the way, we want an invitation to breakfast too!! :)
Hope the see you on the road!
Molly & Bob
TheBobGuy said
06:55 PM Apr 28, 2009
Oh, and if you have time, go to Martha's Vineyard.....it is well worth the trip! Park your rig on the mainland and spend a few days in one of the beach front B&B's for an amazing experience and MORE great seafood. Eat at Jimmy Sea's, if you love seafood and garlic!
If you make it to Virginia, look us up! We have a quaint spot on the Rappahannock River with two RV slots and lots of fresh seafood for the taking. You're welcome to stay with us!
Safe travels!
Molly & Bob
TXRVr said
09:04 AM May 2, 2009
I’m headed out for a 2100 mile trip next week and am rather sure that it will take me 14 days by stopping to visit only 5 places enroute. All things being equal, a 7500 mile trip would take about 49 days..not including any maintenance issues. But then you did say you were a glutton for punishment.
The St Louis Gateway Arch is a neat place to visit if you’re already going to be in Memphis. Be that as it may, why go to Memphis for BBQ when you can get the best here in Texas?
Jim01 said
12:13 PM May 2, 2009
Hmmmm, It would take us about 3 months to cover 7,500 miles and see the sights.
However, if you are going from Chicago to Cleveland, and you go through Indianapolis, (and you're into racing at all), the Indy Motor Speedway has a nice museum and you can take a tour of the track in a van. There's lots of space to park your RV.
Jim
hogans1947 said
11:05 PM May 2, 2009
We are just getting ready for a cross country trip, also. Haven't figured up the miles, that's way too scarey. We have been full-timers for 2.5 years and normally plan about 300 miles/day when we're on a big trip. Leaving the beach tomorrow (Camp Pendleton San Diego County) and after a family get together in Big Bear, Ca. will head east on I-40 to be at the beach in Hilton Head, S.C. on Memorial Day weekend, Louisville, Ky. June 1st., then to Illinois for a couple months. Trying to keep a little flexibility in case there are problems. Happy traveling to everyone !!
Brenda
Judy said
09:24 AM May 3, 2009
My suggestion would be to make up a calander or itinerary of your trip and just do the highlites of things that you want to see. Leave space for problems that can occur. We have been on the road for 3 yrs did the coast to coast thingy twice and our last one took us from N.M. to Pa. to Florida and back to N.M., we did 2200 miles just from Fl. to N.M. alone never driving much over 300 miles per day took a week. southwestjudy
snowman8 said
11:38 AM May 4, 2009
OhhhRAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Mrs. Hogan......
Thanks to everyone that answered. I've mapped the route on Google with the stops, and we've fine tuned some of the stops.
I'll save the Maine visit for our next return down the road. I'd really like to see the fall colors back East, so maybe next year for that.
Some of these places I've already been to, but would like for our family to experience too. We loved Boston (Spring 2006) not going to enjoy the humidity that we'll be hitting during this timframe. Had 4 years of that in N.C. it's very different than the Tropical humidity in the South Pacific.
I'm figuring that I will have to secure some campsites by reservation and just make sure we're there for those dates (I.e. Washington, D.C.)
I'm thinking about doing Woodall's premium travel log for the trip, so we can share with the family as we progress down the road.....Does anybody here have that? How do you like it?
Snowman
-- Edited by snowman8 on Monday 4th of May 2009 11:49:57 AM
-- Edited by snowman8 on Monday 4th of May 2009 11:50:37 AM
pierreandcolleen said
08:32 PM May 5, 2009
When in Memphis, don't bother going to Beale Street for BBQ. That was the least safe I have felt in the 9 months we've been fulltiming. We had several people come up to us asking us for money, the street is poorly lit, and not a cop to be seen. I did enjoy Graceland and the Civil Rights Museum. The following are my blog posts from Memphis:
Have fun in the adirondacks - there are lots of hiking trails there if you like that sort of thing.
When visiting the Grand Canyon, you might also want to visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Arches National Park.
Enjoy your trip!
-Colleen
Jack Mayer said
07:32 AM May 6, 2009
About Memphis: I agree about Beale St and BBQ. The best BBQ is at Interstate.
Best place to stay in Memphis is at Tom Sawyer RV park. It is right on the river, and you can sit and watch the barges go by. LARGE sites, and reasonable price for the area. FREE laundry. Wifi that works.
Judy said
10:02 AM May 6, 2009
Gotta say Jack is right about the Tom Sawyer RV park. I loved this place so didnt want to leave. I would sit on the benches along the river and watch those barges wondering where they were all going an what they were loaded with. At night Iwould watch them coming and going with the beautiful lights. out the back window of our fiver. Talk about being right on the ole river!! I even waved to them and if they were outside they would wave back. Even told DH it would be fun to be a hired hand on one of them like doing the cooking!! southwestjudy
brainranger said
08:21 PM May 6, 2009
We have to disagree when it comes to Memphis and Beale St. It's only open to foot traffic at night. A carnival atmosphere here and almost like a mini Bourbon Street. The ambiance was something that I'll relish for some time. We felt as close to the local fare as could possibly be.
If you want barbecue though, go about a 1/2 mile down the road to Nealy's. They're featured on the Food Channel and you can't eat all they give you to eat.
Thirty years ago, a restaurant was started in a bungalow that has expanded to include some 21 dining rooms. The original bunalow is in there. Folk's Folly has become one of the nation's top steak houses and is legendary for their service. Morton's and Ruth Chris are left far behind!
It is located just off I-240 East at Exit 15. Take Poplar Avenue west from the loop to Mendenhall and turn right. You are there and in for the gastronomical treat of your life.
This is one of the only places I can better steak than I cook. Bon Appetite!
GSF63 said
05:41 PM Mar 24, 2011
We stayed in DC last summer at Cherry Hill Campground and it's a very nice park. The sites are not the biggest but my 39 foot 5er fit in easily. Two pools for the kids and the best thing is that it's two miles to the beginning of the green line. There is lots of parking and it's a fast ride right into the mall area of DC.
rclvnv said
03:04 PM Apr 20, 2011
Have to agree about Cherry Hill Park. Stayed there three weeks last summer. A bit tight and pricey,but you get what you pay for.Bus station to Metro right at entrance to Park (you do not want to drive in metro DC, if you can possibly avoid it.) Our daughter lives in Arlington,close to Metro,so it was good for us. Park staff is very accommodating,as well. Going again this summer,but unsure of dates.May also try to get space south of metro area, in VA,a private campground in a county park, I'm told. Anyone been there?
Happy T minus 41 working days and counting............
from all you "Full Timers" out there. Yeah, I am a glutton for punishment, crazy, etc....so we can skip that.......
Just Googled our planned summer trip, so now I am looking for some advice and tips
The plan.....the house (Left Coast) to Boston (Right Coast) via Chicago, Cleveland, and upstate NY, for some clam chowda and Labstah...then down to Savannah with stops in and through NY, PA (philly Cheesestakes), DC (Smithsonian), and SC.....after that, back to Memphis for some BBQ.
Returning through NM, Stop off at the Grand Canyon, and then back home.........
total trip 7,543 'ish miles and 38 days to do it in........I would love ALL comments and advice......especially your average daily miles on the road when you plan and have taken long treks. (Mr. and Mrs. Mc Fall......Mr. and Mrs. Bruss......I bow to your websites)
Any known good layovers would be helpful too.........many thanks in advance.......
Snowman
If you are taking I-95 South from Philadelphia than you take a side trip in Virginia and visit some Civil War battlefields. In Fredericksburg there are four battlefields: Fredericksburg (Marye's Heights), Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania.
I’m headed out for a 2100 mile trip next week and am rather sure that it will take me 14 days by stopping to visit only 5 places enroute. All things being equal, a 7500 mile trip would take about 49 days..not including any maintenance issues. But then you did say you were a glutton for punishment.
The St Louis Gateway Arch is a neat place to visit if you’re already going to be in Memphis. Be that as it may, why go to Memphis for BBQ when you can get the best here in Texas?
However, if you are going from Chicago to Cleveland, and you go through Indianapolis, (and you're into racing at all), the Indy Motor Speedway has a nice museum and you can take a tour of the track in a van. There's lots of space to park your RV.
Jim
We are just getting ready for a cross country trip, also. Haven't figured up the miles, that's way too scarey. We have been full-timers for 2.5 years and normally plan about 300 miles/day when we're on a big trip. Leaving the beach tomorrow (Camp Pendleton San Diego County) and after a family get together in Big Bear, Ca. will head east on I-40 to be at the beach in Hilton Head, S.C. on Memorial Day weekend, Louisville, Ky. June 1st., then to Illinois for a couple months. Trying to keep a little flexibility in case there are problems. Happy traveling to everyone !!
Brenda
southwestjudy
Thanks to everyone that answered. I've mapped the route on Google with the stops, and we've fine tuned some of the stops.
I'll save the Maine visit for our next return down the road. I'd really like to see the fall colors back East, so maybe next year for that.
Some of these places I've already been to, but would like for our family to experience too. We loved Boston (Spring 2006) not going to enjoy the humidity that we'll be hitting during this timframe. Had 4 years of that in N.C. it's very different than the Tropical humidity in the South Pacific.
I'm figuring that I will have to secure some campsites by reservation and just make sure we're there for those dates (I.e. Washington, D.C.)
I'm thinking about doing Woodall's premium travel log for the trip, so we can share with the family as we progress down the road.....Does anybody here have that? How do you like it?
Snowman
-- Edited by snowman8 on Monday 4th of May 2009 11:49:57 AM
-- Edited by snowman8 on Monday 4th of May 2009 11:50:37 AM
When in Memphis, don't bother going to Beale Street for BBQ. That was the least safe I have felt in the 9 months we've been fulltiming. We had several people come up to us asking us for money, the street is poorly lit, and not a cop to be seen. I did enjoy Graceland and the Civil Rights Museum. The following are my blog posts from Memphis:
http://colleenandpierre.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/elvis-has-left-the-building/
http://colleenandpierre.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/memphis-tn-day-2/
Have fun in the adirondacks - there are lots of hiking trails there if you like that sort of thing.
When visiting the Grand Canyon, you might also want to visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Arches National Park.
Enjoy your trip!
-Colleen
I loved this place so didnt want to leave. I would sit on the benches along the river and watch those barges wondering where they were all going an what they were loaded with. At night Iwould watch them coming and going with the beautiful lights. out the back window of our fiver. Talk about being right on the ole river!! I even waved to them and if they were outside they would wave back. Even told DH it would be fun to be a hired hand on one of them like doing the cooking!!
southwestjudy
It is located just off I-240 East at Exit 15. Take Poplar Avenue west from the loop to Mendenhall and turn right. You are there and in for the gastronomical treat of your life.
This is one of the only places I can better steak than I cook. Bon Appetite!
We stayed in DC last summer at Cherry Hill Campground and it's a very nice park. The sites are not the biggest but my 39 foot 5er fit in easily. Two pools for the kids and the best thing is that it's two miles to the beginning of the green line. There is lots of parking and it's a fast ride right into the mall area of DC.
Have to agree about Cherry Hill Park. Stayed there three weeks last summer. A bit tight and pricey,but you get what you pay for.Bus station to Metro right at entrance to Park (you do not want to drive in metro DC, if you can possibly avoid it.) Our daughter lives in Arlington,close to Metro,so it was good for us. Park staff is very accommodating,as well. Going again this summer,but unsure of dates.May also try to get space south of metro area, in VA,a private campground in a county park, I'm told. Anyone been there?
Richard