Things Every RV'er will want to use
This list of tools will make your vacation planning easier and having them available will improving your vacation experience.
These deal with the basic in planning your vacation in a way that allows you to develop a plan of what you want to see and to organize it so that you can maximize your enjoyment while on vacation.
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Yes, I know lots of people say they can get the same information by using your phone and Google or Bing maps. They are wrong…. Purchase a Garmin. It will cost you a couple of hundred dollars, but your vacation will cost a lot more than that.
Going cheap on your planning is not a good investment. I use a Garmin for directions when traveling. I use it along with Garmin Base camp to plan my travel.
Yes. if all you are going to do is go someplace and stay there you do not need a Garmin but if you are using this site then that most likely is not the case.
A Garmin is so much better than your phone. It is worth the cost believe me.
Use Google Earth to planning you vacation. Find something you want to visit? Mark it using a Purple teardrop for “I really want to see this” the Green teardrop for “ if I’m in the area this is worth a stop” and the Light Blue teardrop for “could be something of interest”. When you look at Google earth it is easily choose your next vacation. I just select where the most Purple Teardrops are. (Click of an example)
RV Life & Campgrounds is a location where fellow RV'ers and Campers provide invaluable information on locations they have used. Check it out RV Life & Campgrounds.
The tent camping reviews are not as complete as the RV reviews because they have only been collecting camping reviews since 2017.
When you stay at a site take the time to write a review in RV Life & Campgrounds it will be a help to others.
Google Maps and Bing Maps: For vacation planning these are tools Keep in mind the same searches will provide a little different results in most cases. These tools are free so there is no reason not to use them both. I use a Garmin for directions when traveling. Garmin is so much better than your phone. It is worth the cost believe me.
If you traveling by RV and are not a member of the Elks Lodge you are not taking advantage of a great opportunity. Majority of Elks Lodges have RV parking with power and water available for members only.
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Vacationing without a Garmin GPS is like walking through a house in the dark with only a candle to light your way. Garmin GPS RV models will provide lots of RV specific information and help keep you safely on your route. For example they use the size and weight of your RV or towable trailer to provide you with traffic warnings and restrictions. click to view current RV Garmin
Garmin's BaseCamp app is the best trip planning tool you will ever use and it is free. It allows you to plan and save trip routes while at home on your computer then transfer them to your Garmin. I used it in my European vacation. We vacations by car for a month. We drove from Paris to Rome stopping in Germany, Switzerland and numerous places in Italy all the time having turn by turn directions.
Elks Lodge is one organization that I recommend all RV'ers join. Simply because they have a network of friendly RV camping spots available at a nominal fee. The Carmichael Elks Lodge maintains the Elks Lodges Travel Guide. It is put together as a joint effort of Elks Lodges and makes it easy to find RV facilities available at Elks Lodges. Not all of the RV facilities are listed but it is pretty comprehensive listing.
I have found if the Elks Lodge that own their facilities will let you dry camp there overnight if local rules allow.
MC Enterprises RV & Travelers Directory Provides a list of dry stopping places that have restaurants available. It is not as complete a listing as ALLSTAYS listings are. However If you have a favorite restaurant, then this will let you select it and find out what the parking is like using their apps google maps connection.
I have found these all to provide useful information and place it at you finger tips on your smart phone, computer tablet. Click on the dropdown.
List Walmart that allow overnight stays. This app can be access from your computer using Allstays Walmart Computer link.
This is a listing of Military Camping & RV parks. This app can access on your computer using Allstays Military Camping & RV link.
Tip: most of Military parks are open to DOD Civil Servants and retire DOD Civil Servants if they have a DOD badge. Even if they say they are not open to retired Civil Servants they often will let you stay. Most need the money. Call them to confirm if they do.
This is a listing of Camping & RV parks. This app can access on your computer using Allstays Camping Computer link.
Provides a listing of Dump Stations which can be handy if you are dry camping. This app can be access on your computer using Allstays Dump Stations link.
Truck stops are in the business of selling fuel and providing for the needs of travelers. They offer amenities for travelers so that truckers & RV'ers will stop.
I'm personally a little put off by truckers that think that truck stops are only for them.
More than a few truck stops have changed their name to "Travel Centers" that should give everyone a hint they are for all travelers.
Be courteous don't put your jacks down and minimize putting your slides out use only one parking space.
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