Have you decided that this is the year you’re going to get back on the road in your luxury RV? With the summer months quickly approaching, there is no better time to get out your pen and paper and start planning out your next big road trip, but where do you start?
Leave that to us. This article will show you exactly how to plan your next big road trip, step by step. So read on, and you’ll see exactly what you need to do to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch.
Figure Out Your Final Destination
This is easily the best part of planning any good road trip because the options are limitless. Depending on your geographic location and expected trip duration, you can choose almost anywhere.
First, consider how much time you’ll have for the road trip, how far you’re willing to travel and go from there. Then, consider great historical monuments or fun cities you’ve never been to before.
Be sure you plan for enough time to explore your final destination when you get there, so you don’t have to worry about getting there and turning around to head home. Nothing is worse than being on a fun vacation and feeling strapped for time.
Planning the final destination is the most exciting part of planning the road trip, so use your imagination. You’ll also want to consider campgrounds or RV parks near your destination, so you have somewhere to stay while you’re there.
A good RV park will have ample room, be easy to access, and have amenities like electricity and running water. These couple features will make your stay and vacation comfortable and fun.
Strategically Plan Your Route
One of the other exciting parts of planning a road trip is planning out your route, you may consider using a route planning tool like Route4Me Route Planner to help you create a road trip itinerary that is tailored to your interests and ensures that you make the most of your adventure. No road trip is complete without planning out fun stops along the way. If you drive from point A to point B, you’ll have a lot of boring windshield time, and the trip will feel more like a chore than a vacation.
When planning your route, you need to know the main interstate highways that will connect you from your final destination. Generally, there will be several ways to get there, some being longer than others, but you should consider the time commitment you want and plan out the route with the most sights to see or fun stops along the way.
If you’re heading out west, consider stopping at cool monuments like Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, or Yellowstone along the way. This is a great way to maximize your trip and pack the most sights into your limited time on the way to the final destination.
Many people often consider stops on the way to their destination and take another route home to break up the monotony of a long road trip. This way, you have exciting things to look forward to both on the way there and the way home, making the whole trip one you can remember forever.
Check to Make Sure All Vehicles and RV are Ready to Hit the Road
Nothing can turn an exciting trip into a nightmare quicker than running into mechanical issues on the road. Being stuck along the highway with a broke down vehicle is stressful and dangerous, depending on where you might find yourself.
Before you go, you’ll want to consult a good mechanic to look over your vehicle and make sure the tires are in good shape, the engine is running well, and evaluate its overall roadworthiness. Be sure to get an oil change and make sure all of your fluids are topped off and good to go.
For your RV, you’ll also want to check the tires on the trailer to make sure they won’t have any issues while pulling down the highway. In addition to the tires, you’ll want to check the trailer bearings and make sure they are packed full of grease and in good shape. A blown trailer bearing is an absolute nightmare and can cause immense issues that could cause you to have to send your RV home on a flatbed truck. This is expensive and disappointing.
A little easy and inexpensive maintenance can go a long way to ensuring that your trip there and back home is safe, easy, and fun.
Plan for Rest Stops, Food, and Gas
Much like planning out stops for recreational reasons, you’ll also want to take into account stops for rest, food, and gas. Long hours on the road are demanding, and you’ll need to be in good shape to navigate the streets safely.
Planning out a couple of good spots to stop to rest and get some food will be paramount in the grand scheme of your trip. Also, find places that are easily accessible to the highways you’ll be traveling, so it’s not too much of a hassle to get to.
The nice thing about traveling in an RV is that you can bring your food along as well. Most luxury RV’s are equipped with a full-service kitchen, so you can feel free to bring along some easy-to-cook meals and park at a rest stop along the road to enjoy a nice, almost cooked from home meal.
Gas is another pretty important consideration. You’ll want to have a good idea of how far you can get on a tank of gas. This way, you can be sure there aren’t any long stretches of highway without gas stations, and you end up stranded with no fuel. Research and plan out every gas station along the way, so you aren’t left hoping to see a gas station sign along the way.
In Closing
A road trip is such a fun experience. Everyone should think about doing it sometime in their life. If you’ve got a luxury RV, you already have a leg up to make it the most rewarding experience of your life!