My H would like to take an RV trip. I am not a fan. Things I don’t like about motor homes- I hate getting stuck behind one on a windy one way road hence I don’t want to be that person holding up the traffic. I dislike the generator noise that the RV and trailers make in the campground hence once again I don’t want to be that person. As a longtime tent camper I just can’t see myself becoming an RV person.
Another consideration is that you can’t take a motor home on some roads. If you go to Glacier National Park large vehicles are not allowed on the Going to the Sun road. And if you want to stop along the way it can be hard to find a place to park.
If I got anything I would get a teardrop or something similar size that I could park in the campground and have my vehicle to go exploring.
Late last summer H and I did a road trip from Ca to Glacier with stops along the way. We tent camped and alternated with hotel stays. We also upgraded from our back packing tent to a large tent and added an air mattress. It was pretty comfortable. The one thing that to car camp comfortable you end up with a very full car.
We loved Glacier and highly recommend the KOA campground in St Mary on the east side of the park. They have separate tent camping so no RV noise. They also rent out cabins. Super nice showers.
I noticed a few Jucy brand van campers. They are really popular in New Zealand and I suspect they have started to pop up in the US. https://www.jucyusa.com/our-vehicles/jucy-mini-rv-rental/
We got a (queen size bed) teardrop over a year ago. We first went camping in our local National Park to practice when our puppy was 15 lbs. Most NP’s don’t allow dogs on trails just in campgrounds and on roads. We recently went to a state park in Utah and she is now 75 lbs. I had to get a king size comforter as she put a dip in the comforter when she decided to sleep between us so we could wrap ourselves! We store our teardrop in our garage. It has a heater but not AC. Also has hot water and enclosure outside for shower if you want. No toilet. Most of the bathrooms in the campgrounds we used were very nice and clean and had flushed toilets. We have friends who have a 25 ft travel trailer who still use the showers and toilets in the campgrounds.
We went without the dog last year to Northern Cascades NP. Our teardrop is self contained with a battery, it is 12 feet long and we detach to use the car, both of us drive it and it does not affect our gas mileage, has a bed and drawers and kitchen. I make reservations at places near showers and toilets. We have tried private campgrounds, state park campgrounds, and national parks and all have their strengths. Dogs we have found are allowed on trails frequently in state parks. NP not found any yet but I understand they are working on some trails accessible. NP in Canada are more liberal. Our dog travels very well in the car with us.
I think that Washington, Colorado and especially Utah are beautiful for camping! Our method is very economical as the sites are from $10 half price for seniors over 62 pass in national parks to about $35 for state parks to $100 in the big private campgrounds, fun way to visit areas not accessible other than tents. When we went camping in Washington our D and SIL camped in a tent at the same site. Food is actually good for a day or two the new freeze dried kind they sell at places like REI.
Books that were very helpful were the MOON series for camping. Some campgrounds fill up very fast on line. I recommend reservations.
@rockymtnhigh,could you give a link to your teardrop?
We have an older 20’6" Class C (retirement vehicle for my wife’s parents) that has been over the Going to the Sun road 3 times. It is the largest allowed. It has also been across the country 7 times, none with me in it. I would not recommend anything larger without adding a tow vehicle. It sleeps 5 snugly. The Class A RVs are more for what we term “interstate camping,” not really capable of dirt roads and smaller, swervier mountain roads.
I have to say, once you get the hang of the routine it is a nice way to travel, bathroom, refrigerator, and stove with you at all times. Last summer, we brought it fishing down near Mt. St. Helens and rock climbing to Smith Rock, Oregon. The summer before we were in Montana, Idaho and eastern WA. Two summers ago was Banff/Kootenays and North Cascade NP.
As someone who also takes the minivan tent camping, car drivers just have to deal with RVs during the summer in the northwest, and don’t be worried if you can only go 40 up the hills. There will be turn-outs.
Not cross country , but we did take a tip from NJ down to Key West when our kids were young. It was a great trip. We used to have a Tioga although I don’t remember the size. It was very family friendly vehicle and we had a great time. Now as almost empty nesters, we crave this kind of travel again, only with our two corgis tagging along. There are so many things to see in our own county, and I would LOVE to take a long trip to Canada too…oh well, it’s fun to dream
I fantasize about traveling about with a teardrop! SWOON! At this time, there is no way I justify spending the money.
One night I was nosing around the internet, and ran across this place in MN that makes very basic camping trailers, with a variety of upgrades available. http://www.escapadecampers.com/4x8
We’ve always been car or mini-van campers. Would love to upgrade someday! A girl can dream!
Those Teardrop trailers look surprisingly inexpensive.
We have a sweet little Cargo-lite trailer, which is essentially a queen bed in a little orange trailer w/ an A/C. Fan, etc. Very light and fun to sleep in - but I will need a van w/ a potty for a long extended trip. going outside in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is no fun!
VH, we have rented from Jucy, an ooutfit that started in NZ and has expanded to AUS a nd tgr US. It’s US rentals are based in SF, LA and Las Vegas. They rent out minivans that gave been retrofitted with a double bed in the main passengrr area, stove, sink, fridge and upper level additional sleeping area (sleeps a total of four).We saw them in NZ and have rented them twice in CA while visiting S1. We stay at campgrounds with toilets/showers and eat at the picnic tables at the campsite, though there was also a table set-up in the van.
We find it quite comfy for 2-3. Because it’s built on a minivan platform, it’s not beastly to drive.
campervannorthamerica dot com. Also escape campervan but those are painted Just found via google. The jucyusa seem really interesting, as they have fridges (the other did not in the smaller ones). Definitely something for the future, as I like camping, just want to sleep in something more substantial than a tent and love the idea of a minivan size vs an RV.
The trip sounds fabulous. I would think about how much “cooking” you really plan to do yourselves. For example, if you really are planning to eat dinner out every evening…do you need an RV with cooking setup?
I made this trip back innthe Stone Age…with two friends in a Ford Econoline van that had been retrofitted as a sleeper/camper. BUT we were poor college grads and we cooked all of our meals on an open fire or camp stove.
And when you “camp” you do have to sort of set up and take down your campsite…even if it’s only unplugging the plug. Younalso have no control over the “neighbors” and nothing to shield you from noisy ones.
At this point in my life, I would prefer NOT to do the camping thing…and there are plenty of hotels and the like on the route you are choosing. In addition, there is Airbnb, or VRBO for places where you will be a little longer than a night or two. Also, the lodges in some of the parks are great, and if you can get a room in them, well worth the visit.
To me…this is a once in a life time across the country trip…and I would not do it as my first camping RV trip. So…last suggestion…I promise…rent a RV locally and go somewhere for a long weekend or so…and longer than a two hour drive from home. Try it out before you make a plan to go across country,…and back…in any kind of RV.
"We have a sweet little Cargo-lite trailer, which is essentially a queen bed in a little orange trailer w/ an A/C. Fan, etc. Very light and fun to sleep in - but I will need a van w/ a potty for a long extended trip. going outside in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is no fun! "
@anxiousmom , amen to that ! My husband and I took a camping trip last fall on our bikes…rode about 60 miles with a lot of cargo weight ( two dogs in a trailer, tent, camping gear , food, etc ) I didn’t realize that I depleted my magnesium until I got middle of the night, excruciating leg cramps and had to walk a distance I wasn’t happy about to use the bathroom . Lesson learned
In the 1980’s we had a pop up camper and traveled for nearly 3 months from Oregon to Massachusetts and then
back to Denver where we were moving with our 6 month old. The entire time we stayed in a hotel 2 nights at the end
when she was crawling and could not in the campground due to splinters. We had a Porta potty inside that poor
H had to dump every few days.
H did grow tired of setting up and tearing down day after day but traveling with a 6 month old was super easy.
We drove about 4-5 hours a day and then stopped.
You’re a better woman than I, @oregon101.
Hmmm…I forgot about the nighttime bathroom needs. To be honest…that would be a top consideration for me…and therefore, I would,vote for…rent a nice comfy car…and go hotels!
Traveling with a pop up is too much work. they are great if you stay for 4-5 days but using one while travel cross country is just too much work. You need something that is already set up and ready to use. Just plug in electric and water and go. Unfortunately there are no easy answers and no silver bullet, hence the vast majority of options. There are pluses and minus to all options.
This seems like a bucket list item for you and your husband - I think you should make it happen if it still sounds appealing after reading the pros/cons here! It’s a few days out of your year/life. I agree that trialing a unit for a weekend sounds like a good idea.
I think the teardrops are a great idea. If the purpose is a unit you can sleep comfortably in and maybe whip up easy food items and is CLEAN, this might meet your needs. I like the idea of being able to detach in a location and be able to go to dinner or exploring with just your car.
I’m mystified by the idea that traveling with a pop-up is too much work. Traveling with a pop-up is much less work than keeping up a house. Heck, traveling by bike and camping every night is less work than keeping up a house (not counting the actual work of cycling).
How about a compromise? In our ‘younger’ years, we occasionally camped in our passenger van, but only every other night at most. Yes, it was just big enough for a bed, by taking out the two rear seats, and placing a mattress topper on the floor. BUT it allowed us to camp anywhere a tent was allowed. Never had to pitch and take down a tent. Easy drive through mountains, cities, or wherever. Looked forward to a motel stay and real shower. Combined meals on the road with cafes. Basically lazy camping, but economical and fun because we like exploring national parks as well as cities.
I had a few trips to Mexico years ago with friends who had converted mini vans. Cooking, bed, and storage were all contained. Bathroom were usually not a consideration, as perhaps folks just used the campground facilities or dug a hole.It was perfect, safer feeling than a tent for sleeping, and cooking facilities, and a place to eat were great when there was rain. Best of all, they were easy to drive.
For those who say hotel, know that in the rural west, hotels are not always available in parks, are expensive and it is a very different experience than being in nature, with your own campfire and picnic table and hike just down the road. Two desirable parks that I can think of have no lodging, are Arches, and Rocky Mountain NP.