Your trailer is packed, you're ready to go... but where? And how can you make sure you get there safely and in a timely manner? Here's some tips for you on how to plan your destinations and route.
The first, and probably most important thing, is to know your limits of how much you and your traveling companions can drive in a day. Take some drive-around road trips. Make one part of your first "shakedown" adventure. You may have been able to once drive from one coast to the other in a day and a half, but with a trailer and a family, that probably won't happen. Even with car camping, we've found our limit to be 900 miles in a day. This is something you'll have to measure on your own. Remember that the specific route also needs to be taken into account, as traffic in a major city, such as Chicago, Seattle, or Washington DC, will slow you down. Peak traffic times, such as holiday weekends and rush hour need to be considered. Put in some contingency time. You can always boondock at a rest area if you're early, but you'll lose money, and potentially a reservation, if you're late.
Speaking of reservations, if you're going to be staying at campgrounds or National Parks, you're going to need a reservation. Try to figure out the upcoming season in advance, and get a basic idea of your route that way. Holidays book up quickly, so you may want to use that time to visit some family or friends. Maybe consider booking weekly or monthly to take advantage of better rates, or apply for some work-camping jobs through a month or season. Cancellations are going to happen to open up some sites, but you can't always depend on that. Sometimes you may want to boondock on public lands, but be aware that those sites are first come, first serve, so be sure to have a backup plan. Give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place, and maybe you'll want to check out something along the way. Flexibility is always a good thing.
The concept of a "boondock" has been mentioned a few times. This is where you stay for free without utilities at a given location. Sometimes, this is done on public land, such as a National Forest. If it's an overnight rest, there are some other options. Wal-Mart has been known for offering free overnight parking at many of its locations. This is assuming they own the land, and there isn't a city ordinance to prohibit doing so. This trick is something that car campers will typically use as well. There are a few things to keep in mind, though:
There are a few other places known to offer this service, such as Cracker Barrel, Cabela's, some truck stops, and self-parking areas at some casinos. The same guidelines apply to these other places. There are plenty of apps and websites dedicated to boondock parking, such as Walmart Atlas.
You don't have to kiss us, nor smile for us, but we certainly hope these tips will help you in planning your next adventure. Remember to follow both your internal and external compasses.
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