Much of our RV trip planning is done using the computer. Even though we have a
GPS travels are usually charted using Microsoft Streets and Trips. In addition to loading POI markers (points of interest) to our GPS, I also put them on the computer. The ones I use most for this include Wal-Mart, Flying J, various campgrounds and Elks. This helps with planning overnight stops along the route.
Finding unique places to stop and visit is what we enjoy doing and even though we can chart the common places on the map, the other places take a little more work. After all, we don’t just want to drive from Point A to Point B. We want to see things. You can research many places for hours on the internet. In addition to eateries, a couple good ones are RoadsideAmerica.com and the AAA.com tour guide. However, sometimes I find the old fashioned way still handy. Sitting outside in the gorgeous sunshine with a laptop doesn’t quite work as well as holding a book in your hand. For one thing, there is no glare with a book.
If you’re a member of Good Sam (and even if you’re not), you probably received an email recently advertising the Trailer Life RV Road Atlas. They were promoting it for about half off by ordering it through them online. We saw this same book at Camping World and it was about half off there too. After thumbing through the pages, I was determined to add it to the collection of other travel books we are currently carrying around.
There were a few things I really liked that ultimately made the decision to purchase the map. One was because it was spiral bound. The pages were easier to turn and there was less of a chance that the back binding would break from over-use. However, that wasn’t the only reason it went in our little cart. Routes were marked that could accommodate oversized 
vehicles including RVs and trucks. In addition, interesting sites, places to visit, tourist attractions and many campgrounds were indicated right on the map. For instance, the map of Nevada showed many BLM sites, museums, historic monuments, landmarks, ghost towns and state parks. At times it is so much more more convenient to grab a map than check the computer. With new book in hand, I can sit outside in the warm sunshine with this map.
Our Western Edition Free Campgrounds book printed in 2007 is very much outdated. Actually the book doesn’t only list free campgrounds. At the time of printing of our copy, campsites costing under $12 a night were listed in the book. Many BLM camping areas are also in the book. However, the $12 price on many of these places are history. A couple of the places listed in that price range have now climbed over $20 a night. Obviously, it’s time to replace the book.
Our Jeep is finally out of the shop. Thursday morning we had hoped to be on the road north again. However, we’ve been so wrapped up with gatherings here that we really haven’t had time to plot. Only the rest of the day will answer the question of whether we will actually get on the road today or not.
Good advice as usual. We do the same as you do without Streets and Maps. We do it on the computer (sometimes even print the maps and instructions). Then we look up particular places on the way for POI's. But we always have our trusty Walmart Roadmap book with us.
ReplyDeleteWe do our route planning using Street Atlas USA on my computer but carry the free state highway maps for the ease of folding them to see just the part that interests us. Plus the highway maps give us much more of a close-up look at the sections we plan to travel than atlas-type maps usually do. Isn't it great that there are so many resources available to RVers that we can each pick what works best for us?
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