oscarpower

Hello Everyone! We'll be going to White Sands next Monday 11/4/13 and have looked at a couple of campgrounds mentioned on the Good Sams book. Any recommendations? I researched the following: 1. Boot Hill - north of Alamogordo 2. Desert paradise - South of Alamogordo 3. White Sands RV - South of Alamogordo We also looked at the Oliver ST Pk, but there was only one site available and we need at least 2. Also, if you have any comments on what to see or not go to, in the area, it will be much appreciated! Thank you! Jocelynn and Quico Power 28' Coachmen/Concord w/ tow

I-80 will be! Thanks :-) Thou no c/grounds necessary for now, as we ate going to our daughter's house at Ft. Collins, CO.

You think so? Our plan was to reach St Josehph, MO Tuesday night and Wednesday continue N to I-80

You think so? Our plan was to reach St Josehph, MO Tuesday night and Wednesday continue N to I-80

Ouch! Definitely We'll take I-70. Us Floridians are not used to driving in snow, least of all an RV. Hopefully I-70 is okay! Thanks for the input!

Well, Sunday is here! We should leave GNV,FL around noon, crossing most of GA today. Monday night we should decide the definite route to go West. With all that freak snow, I'm afraid to take I-80... must probably will take instead I-70. Hope the Butler's have arrived safely at their destination! We signed up for Perry, GA's rally next March. Hope to meet you there, thank you for your advice! Safe travels!

Ouch! But yes, I think I know where you were driving.. I don't think we will plan to go all the way there this year (we did, last year!) We'll drive west up to Cheyenne, WY and there South to Ft. Collins. We'll be there for awhile and maybe go a couple of days to Mt. Rushmore area before going south again. Enjoy your trip, too! And thank you!

Hi Tom... We are getting our "T-2" ready and should leave FL on Sunday the 5th...hoping to cross Atlanta on a less-traffic day, then continue N, NW. Thank you for your note! Jocelynn W Power Gainesville, FL 2004 Concord/Coachmen w/tow

The second week of October we will be passing thru Kansas, going up to I-80 and across to Ft Collins, CO. I've been told that the weather is crazy these days and it might be dangerous if it snows... What is your opinion of I-80 in that time? Then, the second weekend of October, that is the 12th, we were thinking of going from Ft. Collins to Mt. Rushmore which is about 5-6 hrs away.... would that be crazy? We have a 28' m/home and are towing a small car. Thanks!

Awesome! I did not see your reply until just now, probably I missed the "notification". However, I did divide the trip in four segments/weeks/maps taken from the park and the community sites. The campgrounds I have planned are: Natchez (3nights/MP8.1), Timberlake (3n/103.4), Jeff Busby (MAYBE 1n/193.1), Davis Lake (5n/243.1), Piney Grove (7n/293.5) and Camper's on I-65 between Columbus and Nashville. I called several to have an idea on availability and they all said the same "call a few days before, usually there is". These have E/W/d except Busby which is dry. I have planned to go N on I-75 and come South from Nashville, so we could be at Hohenwald's Oktoberfest on the 12 and the fall festival of Tupelo on the 24th. Taking it easy and enjoying the views and fall colors. You were lucky to see the Falling Waters with water! We did go a couple of years ago and there was no water at all! And I had heard of Pelican Nest. If the snowbirds have not filled it by the first wk of November, maybe we'll stop. Sorry about the jacks. Last year, on our way to the NW, a storm half way there broke our canopy, but luckyly we could roll it back and continue. Thank you for your input! I feel more confident now with what I have prepared. Hope you can eventually continue the Trace. Safe Travels, Jocelynn and Quico Power

By now you probably went to the Trace. Please let me know your experience.... how many days you stayed vs how many days you think you should have stayed? The campgrounds you visited... which towns you think should be visited for longer periods... I was thinking the trace should be "divided" in three areas and spend about 3-4 days in each area...what do you think? Thanks!

Whatever you do, just don't stay at Pennekamp SP. It is called "mosquito land" and the beach is very shelly/rocky. I have not being to others, but have heard that Bahia Honda is beautiful, thou hard to get sites. From Key Largo to Key West, there are 100 miles and at most of them you have to drive at 35 MPH... maybe at some up to 50MPH. The keys are beautiful....Safe travels! Jocelynn W Power

Welcome to Florida! I'd like to recommend Turtle Beach Campground in Sarasota, FL. It is a "tiny", county RV park and one of the few with reasonable prices, right on the beach. We often go during the summer, when rates are between $32 and $42 for full hook-up. Winter rates are between $45 and $60. The rate depends on how close you are to the beach, however, with only 44 sites (22 on each side) how far can you be? This is no fancy resort... just a beautiful place close to the water. You can "look" at the beach by going to their live camera on their site: www.scgov.net/turtlebeachcampground . On the way down the Florida Coast, spend a day or two at the Rainbow Springs State Park. It is one of the most beautiful in the area. Enjoy your trip! Jocelynn and Quico Power Gainesville, FL

Hello! You know how it is... you plan trips and things happen and you have to cancel or change plans? Well, that has happened to us this year! Earlier in the year we planned on driving up to Maine, then a daughter was having a baby last month and requested our help in Colorado.... and guess what? A close family member got gravely ill and we had to cancel both trips. Hoping that she gets well enough for us to leave, we are now considering a short/closer one to OBX and Jamestown, VA. Anyway, I spent hours researching best routes for each trip and reading forum suggestions and decided I needed to keep track of all so as not to do the research all over. For now, I have copy/pasted and filed them under "My Documents/Travels/name of State/Route recommendations or campgrounds" . Any of you keep/save these in other ways? I also prepared a spreadsheet with mileage from point a to b, aprox. driving time, where to stay, if full hook-up or what...cost, etc. But I am not happy with my spreadsheet. I remember reading once in one of FMCA forums of someone having a similar spreadsheet... ??? We started motorhoming 8 yrs ago. When I retired last year, we took our first long (3 months) trip from Florida all the way up to Glacier Park, then South to NM and back, stopping anywhere and everywhere. It was an awesome trip! Our 28'Concord/Coachmen keeps "calling us: let's go, let's go... " and we are so looking forward to it! Jocelynn and Quico Power Gainesville, FL

So glad to have read all those comments! We had planned on going to Maine this summer, but did not want to go that far by ourselves. I was apprehensive on crossing Washington and NYC... Definitely I will save these comments and go next year! I'd like to recommend you to buy "The Exit Book". It has all the nations interstates exits and what you can find on each one. For example, it tells you the gas stations available, the Walmarts (where you can overnight for free), restaurants etc. Last year we went all the way to Glacier Pk in Montana and this book was our bible! Good luck and I look forward to your comments after the trip! Jocelynn and Quico Power

We plan to visit the NC Outer Banks mid-to-late September. One of the least expensive private campgrounds (with E/W and Wifi) that looks "friendly" seems to be the Sands of Time c/g at the town of Avon. Any comments on this place? We are slowly driving up the coast from Florida, stopping at several places before the OBX, then crossing towards the Smokies or Natchez and down again to FL. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thank you! BTW, we are planning on getting to the OBX thru Swanquarter, NC ferry to Okracoke, as JURISINCEPTOR suggested on our previous posting last....April? Jocelynn and Quico Power 28' Coachmen/Concord with tow no kids, no pets

So glad I read these postings! We plan to go to the Black Hills, Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore after Labor Day (and family visit in Colorado). Hopefully the hot summer weather is gone. Most probably up there is not humid like in FL, so it might not be so bad for us Floridians! Should any of you see us, come and say "hello". We have a 28' Concord/Coachment towing a Hundai... and the FMCA plate is on the front bumper. Safe travels! Jocelynn and Quico Power Gainesville, FL

Thank you, all of the above, for your replies and advices. I will surely follow them when we leave next week.

Hello! We need a secured rest area or a service station opened 24 hrs or a Walmart.... someplace to stop overnight on our rushed way North... would you know where we can stop? We need to arrive North of Colorado ASAP. I was thinking of going this time thru ATL/ST.Louis/Kansas/Lincoln,NE/I-80 to Cheyenne/Ft. Collins. (Somewhat cooler than I-70?) From Gainesville to Tennesee is approx. 8 hours (including gasoline stop), but we should not drive more than 5-6. I'm thinking that by-passing ATL after 7 PM might be easier traffic-wise, but don't know where to stop. We'd prefer to avoid a campground since it's just a couple of rest hours.... Or.... we could stop just before ATL and passing it late morning... Any suggestions? Thank you! Jocelynn and Quico Driving a 28' Concord/Coachmen with tow.

We have not stayed there, but... It all depends what you are looking for and how much you want to spend. We often go to Turtle Beach RV Campground. It is a tiny one right in front of the Siesta Key beach. No amenities... Just the beach! You can google it for more info. Jocelynn and Quico Power Gainesville, FL

Thank you Rich! That's a lot of good info.... I plan to copy it and save it, for right now, we have decided to go next year instead of this one. Two other friends also would like to go with us, but they cannot make it this year. We'll keep in touch! Jocelynn

Planning on visiting the South Texas area, mainly the Gulf shores during late summer (August ). Any suggestions on a campground with electrical and water hook-up, beach-side? Thank you.

Yes, very nice...but you forgot to mention that it is only for Class A RV's.... :-(

Thank you both for your replies. I will definitely take both into account! Happy travels!

We would like to visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina next August. Any suggestions on: -- best route from Florida (where to stop, what not to miss!) -- where to stay -- what to see We have a 28' motorhome and a tow car...no kids, no pets.... Thanks! Jocelynn and Quico Power Gainesville, FL