RV Vacations For Dummies

Dennis C. Brewer has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Michigan Technological University and is the author of several books. As a self-described traveler and snowbird, Dennis is a lifelong camping and RV enthusiast. He and his wife, Penny, visited 43 states in their Fleetwood Class A Motorhome so far.

Part 1: Getting Started 9

Chapter 1: All the Best Reasons to Take an RV Vacation 11

Counting the Reasons to RV 12

Containing costs 12

Enjoying maximum convenience 13

Controlling the destination 13

Finding your rhythm on the road 14

Having room for lug-along stuff 14

Being close to events 15

Bringing your pets for free 15

Changing your mind if you want to 15

Keeping it clean 16

Reaping the scenic rewards of driving 16

Keeping the kids entertained 17

Discovering Something for Everyone 17

Saving Money in a Campground 19

Finding Top Locations around the USA 21

Choosing some of the best campgrounds 22

Seeing museums that are well worth the visit 22

Stopping in national parks along the way 24

Chapter 2: Making Destination Decisions 27

Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons 27

Scoping Out Your Perfect RV Vacation 29

Part 2: Paying Attention to the Details 35

Chapter 3: Building Your Travel Budget 37

Adding It Up: Your Vacation Budget 37

Transportation 38

RV and camping supplies 39

Campgrounds 39

Food 40

Attractions and activities 40

Shopping and entertainment 40

Testing the Waters: RV Rentals 41

When to rent 41

How to rent 42

How to get the best rate 44

Taking the Plunge: RV Purchases 44

Why you should visit an RV show 45

How to deal with dealers 46

Where not to shop for an RV 46

How to finance your purchase 47

Chapter 4: Enjoying Your RV 49

Driving Your RV 49

Focusing on the basics 50

Going beyond the basics: My tips 52

Controlling your speed 54

Saving Money on Fuel 54

Detecting Gas and Smoke 55

Equipping Your RV 56

Monitoring Electrical Hookups 59

Preparing for Winter Camping 59

Furnishing Your RV 60

Cleaning Your RV 61

Outside the vehicle 62

Inside the vehicle 63

Holding tanks 64

Storing Your RV 65

Chapter 5: Settling In for the Night 67

Understanding Campground Recommendations 67

Using Campground Directories 68

Comparing Private and Public Campgrounds 70

Choosing a Site 71

Parking Your Rig 73

Hooking Up 74

Sleeping by the Side of the Road: A Good Idea? 77

Chapter 6: Meeting Special Travel Needs and Interests 79

RVing with Kids 79

RVing with Pets 80

RVing for People with Disabilities 82

RVing for Seniors 83

Joining an RV Club 84

Caravan tours and rallies 85

RV clubs 85

Chapter 7: Odds and Ends 87

Mapping the Way 87

Staying Connected on the Road 89

Cable TV 89

Satellite TV 89

Cellphones 90

Online services 91

Buying RV Insurance 91

Staying Safe and Secure on the Road 92

Carrying a Gun 93

Part 3: Exploring the East 95

Chapter 8: The Coast of Maine: Lobster Land 97

Choosing Your Route 98

Planning Ahead 98

Must-See Attractions 101

More Cool Things to See and Do 106

Our Favorite Campgrounds 108

Good Eats 111

Lobster central 111

More than lobster: Markets and meals 114

Fast Facts 115

Chapter 9: Western New York: Cooperstown to Niagara Falls 117

Choosing Your Route 118

Planning Ahead 119

Must-See Attractions 121

More Cool Things to See and Do 125

Our Favorite Campgrounds 127

Good Eats 130

The full-meal deal 130

Nibbles along the way 132

Fast Facts 133

Chapter 10: The Blue Ridge Mountains: Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway 135

Choosing Your Route 136

Planning Ahead 137

Must-See Attractions 138

More Cool Things to See and Do 141

Our Favorite Campgrounds 143

Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds 144

Great Smoky Mountains National Park campgrounds 145

Shenandoah National Park campgrounds 146

Good Eats 147

Shopping along the Way 149

Fast Facts 150

Chapter 11: The Gulf Coast: Tallahassee to New Orleans 151

Choosing Your Route 152

Planning Ahead 153

Must-See Attractions 156

More Cool Things to See and Do 159

Our Favorite Campgrounds 161

Good Eats 163

Seafood markets 163

More markets 164

Snacks and full-meal deals 165

Fast Facts 166

Chapter 12: The Natchez Trace: Natchez to Nashville 167

Choosing Your Route 168

Planning Ahead 169

Must-See Attractions 170

More Cool Things to See and Do 173

Our Favorite Campgrounds 175

Good Eats 178

Shopping along the Way 181

Fast Facts 182

Part 4: Discovering Mid-America 183

Chapter 13: Texas Hill Country: Bluebonnets and Barbecue 185

Choosing Your Route 186

Planning Ahead 187

Must-See Attractions 188

More Cool Things to See and Do 192

Our Favorite Campgrounds 194

Good Eats 196

Barbecue joints 197

Beyond barbecue: Old-timey good eats 200

Fast Facts 201

Chapter 14: The Heart of Ohio: A Circle around Circleville 203

Choosing Your Route 204

Planning Ahead 205

Must-See Attractions 206

More Cool Things to See and Do 212

Our Favorite Campgrounds 214

Good Eats 216

Meals of chili, sauerkraut, and Amish cooking 216

Snacks of chocolate, cheese, and ice cream 218

Shopping along the Way 219

Fast Facts 220

Chapter 15: Northern Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Country 221

Choosing Your Route 222

Planning Ahead 223

Must-See Attractions 224

More Cool Things to See and Do 228

Our Favorite Campgrounds 230

Good Eats 233

Shopping along the Way 234

Fast Facts 235

Chapter 16: Lake Superior Circle Tour 237

Choosing Your Route 238

Planning Ahead 239

Must-See Attractions 240

More Cool Things to See and Do 243

Our Favorite Campgrounds 244

Good Eats 247

Fast Facts 248

Chapter 17: The Ozarks and Branson: Hot Springs to Springfield 251

Choosing Your Route 252

Planning Ahead 253

Must-See Attractions 254

More Cool Things to See and Do 257

Our Favorite Campgrounds 260

Good Eats 263

Fast Facts 266

Part 5: Seeing the West 267

Chapter 18: Montana and Wyoming: Tracking Buffalo Bill 269

Choosing Your Route 270

Planning Ahead 270

Must-See Attractions 273

More Cool Things to See and Do 278

Our Favorite Campgrounds 280

Good Eats 285

Fast Facts 286

Chapter 19: New Mexico: Billy the Kid Meets E.T 287

Choosing Your Route 288

Planning Ahead 289

Must-See Attractions 290

Carlsbad Caverns 291

More Cool Things to See and Do 296

Our Favorite Campgrounds 298

Good Eats 300

Shopping along the Way 303

Fast Facts 303

Chapter 20: The Oregon Coast: California to Washington 305

Choosing Your Route 306

Planning Ahead 307

Must-See Attractions 308

More Cool Things to See and Do 312

Our Favorite Campgrounds 314

Good Eats 318

Full-meal deal 318

Regional specialties 319

Shopping along the Way 321

Fast Facts 321

Chapter 21: California’s Central Coast: Malibu to Monterey 323

Choosing Your Route 324

Planning Ahead 325

Must-See Attractions 327

More Cool Things to See and Do 331

Our Favorite Campgrounds 334

Good Eats 337

Santa Maria barbecue 337

Markets and meals 339

Fast Facts 340

Chapter 22: Route 66: OK to L.A 341

Choosing Your Route 342

Planning Ahead 343

Must-See Attractions 345

More Cool Things to See and Do 350

Our Favorite Campgrounds 352

Good Eats 355

Shopping along the Way 357

Fast Facts 358

Chapter 23: ALCAN Trip: Seattle to Fairbanks 359

Choosing Your Route 360

Planning Ahead 362

Must-See Attractions 363

More Cool Things to See and Do 365

Our Favorite Campgrounds 366

Good Eats 370

Fast Facts 371

Part 6: The Part of Tens 373

Chapter 24: More than Ten Cool Places to Visit in the United States and Canada 375

Alabama 376

Alaska 376

Arizona 376

Arkansas 377

California 377

Colorado 377

Connecticut 378

Delaware 378

Florida 379

Georgia 379

Hawaii 380

Idaho 380

Illinois 380

Indiana 381

Iowa 381

Kansas 382

Kentucky 382

Louisiana 382

Maine 383

Maryland 383

Massachusetts 383

Michigan 384

Minnesota 385

Mississippi 385

Missouri 385

Montana 386

Nebraska 386

Nevada 386

New Hampshire 387

New Jersey 387

New Mexico 387

New York 388

North Carolina 388

North Dakota 389

Ohio 389

Oklahoma 390

Oregon 390

Pennsylvania 390

Rhode Island 390

South Carolina 391

South Dakota 391

Tennessee 391

Texas 392

Utah 392

Vermont 392

Virginia 393

Washington 393

West Virginia 393

Wisconsin 394

Wyoming 394

Alberta, Canada 394

British Columbia, Canada 394

Manitoba, Canada 395

New Brunswick, Canada 395

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 395

Nova Scotia, Canada 396

Ontario, Canada 396

Prince Edward Island, Canada 396

Quebec, Canada 397

Saskatchewan, Canada 397

Chapter 25: Ten Greatest Travel Gadgets 399

Smartphone 399

NOAA Weather Radio 401

Dedicated Hotspot Device 401

RV-Specific GPS Device 402

Digital Tire-Pressure Gauge 403

Multimeter 403

Rechargeable Battery-Powered Vacuum Cleaner 404

CB Radio 404

Small Oil-Filled Electric Heater 405

Emergency Signs and Lights 405

Appendix: Quick Concierge 407

Index 415