Welcome to full-timing. I think you find that some wing it and some plan it out. One thing you'll find if you wing it is if you will be going South for the winter you may have a tough time finding good sites. We plan for the winter months staying in south Florida. The rest of the year we may or may not plan it out , just depends on where we are going. I don't like to make reservation when I'm traveling because if I change my mind and I do, I don't have to worry about cancelling the reserved site. You'll get more answers on here I'm sure and you'll figure out what works best for you. Best of Luck and travel Safe.  Gummy

Gummy has the right answer. In 2 + years we only plan a week ahead (at most) and have had no problems anywhere (including AZ, TX, FL in the winter) I think we had a problem getting into Victoria Palms in Donna TX (they only let us stay 1 week when we wanted 2) but thats the only problem. Do whatever works for you. In fulltiming there are many CORRECT ANSWERS.

We tend to not plan too much, we like the ability to stay in an area if we like it and move on if we don't. Although we may sometimes be unable to get the spot of our choice, we have never been unable to find a spot in the area we are interested in and that includes florida and Arizona in prime seasons. There are on rules, it's your life and you should do what makes you happy.

We had a general idea of the direction we were headed, but we mostly wing it and we rarely make reservations.  For example, we had every intention of spending the winter in Florida, but having spent a lot of time on the east coast we decided one day that we would just head west.  We had a great time in Arizona last winter.  We don't like the pressure of having to be somewhere at a particular time.  If we are enjoying an area then we might spend a week or two.  If we have noisey neighbors or don't like a park, then we just move on.  If you make reservations and decide not to stay, then it is unlikely that you will get all of your money back.

Happy Travels!
Colleen

We do a mix we'll have a few places booked where we know we have "must" make dates.  But in general we're planning two weeks to two months out at most.

Mallo

This post has been very helpful!!

We do volunteer work so we schedule projects or jobs ahead of time. We try to allow time between projects so we can enjoy our travels without being in a hurry. We are seeing most all the states but generally do not make reservations except around holidays.  We try to be flexible and have changed our course to see things of interest on our way to a destination.  Our first time out we set up too tight a schedule, not allowing enough time between destinations.  We had to learn to slow down.

phyllen,

I am also a planner. I like planning, and have already made plans through the end of this year. I know the route we would like to take, the distance we would travel each day, (150 to 200 miles),  the places we would like to stop and visit, I have researched campgrounds along the route, and have pretty much decided how long we would stay at different campgrounds.

Now, after I have done all of that, I have to tell you that all of these plans are in pencil, and I have a big eraser. There are at least 2 weeks not accounted for and we do not make any reservations.

When on the trip, if we decide to stay someplace for a week, we have the time. Or, if we decide to by-pass some attraction, we do that. If while traveling, we decide to change our route, we do that. We never know exactly when we will be getting somewhere, (which drives our kids crazy),   but just have a general idea.

Yes, I like to plan, and I enjoy making very detailed plans, but we don't stick to them.

My advise to you, is to do what feels right for you. Make plans if you want, but do them in pencil. Oh, and don't forget the eraser. 

Most of all, enjoy!!

Jim

This topic is really pretty much a personal thing. Some people like structure in their lives, while others are trying to get away from so much structure. It really just depends on what makes you feel comfortable. That said, we have done both in the almost 5 years we have been fulltimers. At first I needed the structure and the planning out to make me feel comfortable but I have almost totally gotten over it now. At this time I am more comfortable just winging it. I am getting to love the freedom to just go anywhere I want and do anything I want without having to be there any given time. Of course some things require that type of structure as doctors don't like drop-ins too much. Also if we require maintenance on our RV we will have to schedule it with a repair facility and that will demand some structure but as much as possible we just wing it.

I think Jim & Linda's approach sounds great.  We're not full-timers (yet!), but I am a planner.  Right now, because our trips involve getting back to *work* on a designated day, we plan pretty thoroughly.  Also, we tend to stay in the MI/IN/OH area, and campgrounds really fill up fast in the summer!  I make reservations for everything!

I do like the idea of having a plan, but a flexible one, and hope to move to that approach when we full-time.  I think there are always going to be places in the country and times of year that require reservations, though.  I guess that's something you learn from experience.

Marci