One of my favorite things about RVing is going to touristy places like Disneyland, Las Vegas, and National Parks. I love having my creature comforts like a bed and pillow that I’m used to, a bathroom that I cleaned (so I know it’s clean!), a medicine cabinet where my stuff is, and my own food. Winter time is a great time to start planning your summer trips and making reservations. Here are some things we’ve learned along the way.
- Most touristy cities have an RV park – If they don’t have an RV Park in the City, then they have one not too far away. We’ve stayed in San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Durango, and lots of other fun cities. Usually the RV parks are on the outskirts of town and you’ll need to drive in. Do your homework! Many cities such as Seattle, have RV Parks that are on the outskirts of town or in a neighboring suburb. Most of the time you’ll need to unhitch and drive into the city. If you’re traveling in a Motorhome, you’ll want a vehicle you can use inside the cities. You’ll need to think ahead about parking in the city and coordinate it with whatever activities you want to do.
- Not all cities have great RV Parks! – Again, do your homework on the RV Park! For instance, I’ve driven by and heard reports about the one that pops up first in Google for Seattle. It’s the Kent KOA and I would never stay there! There are others that are nicer that might be maybe a 10 or 15 minute longer drive into Seattle. For instance, the one in Bothell, is really nice! Even though it’s 40 minutes from home, friends from our town actually stay there for a get away! Sometimes there are just slim pickings and you have to suck it up and close the blinds in the RV when you’re there! One time, we were on a trip when one of the Harry Potter movies came out. The kids and my husband decided they wanted to go see the movie. So, they left me with the trailer. I was going to do laundry and enjoy some alone time. I gathered up the laundry, opened the trailer door, looked around, set the laundry back down in the trailer, locked the door, closed the blinds, made cookies, and watched TV. Forget it! I wasn’t going out there! It was too weird! I’ve seen way too many episodes of “Criminal Minds” and “NCIS” and I’m sure my imagination was getting the better of me. I’m sure I was perfectly safe doing my laundry there, but I wasn’t about to find out for sure!
- There’s an app for that! – Check out RVParky. It’s an RV Park Review app. I have found it to be pretty accurate so far. Also, join RV Facebook groups. People post pictures of where they are and talk about campgrounds a lot. I have a list going in my phone of RV Parks in places that I’d like to go someday. For instance, I can’t wait to stay at a place called “Flying Flags” in Buellton, California; Jim and Mary’s RV Park in Missoula, Montana; or The Devil’s Tower KOA… not to mention Disney’s Fort Wilderness RV Park in Orlando, Florida. In the RVParky app, you can find out information about Walmart and Cracker Barrel parking lots where you can camp for free for a quick overnight. That’s a silly thing that’s on my bucket list! I’m not really sure why. Maybe just so I can say I stayed at a Walmart.
- National Parks and RVing – Depending on the size of your rig and the park, camping inside the National Parks can be a challenge – especially if you’re planning a summer trip! A lot of National Parks have small sites, not enough hook-up sites, etc. We have had great luck finding RV parks just outside of places like Yosemite, Glacier, Zion, and Yellowstone to name just a few that have full hookups and larger spaces. When possible, I will pay for upgraded sites (KOAs often have Premium sites). They tend to be wider, sometimes have patios, have fire pits, etc. Do your homework! When visiting a National Park, don’t try to do it in a day! Allow at least a day to get to get set up and get the lay of the land, a day or more (I like 5 – 7) to explore the National Park, and then a get-a-way day. Sometimes it takes a while to get inside the National Parks because there’s a line. In Zion, we had to park in a lot just outside the gates of Zion National Park and walk in and then, take the shuttle once we were inside. Take some time to get the hang of how the National Park operates and how busy it is. Then, allow enough time to enjoy it. (Of course, I’m a biased National Parks geek!). I am looking forward to being able to go to National Parks during the off seasons. We were in Yosemite in January of 2018. We were staying at the Awahnee for my 50th birthday. While taking sunset pictures of Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge, we ran into a couple that was staying in one of the campgrounds with full hookups in a 5thwheel. It was much easier for them to get a reservation in January than say, July.
- Disney Trips – We love bringing our trailer to Disneyland! It sounds insane, but hear me out! We stay about 3 miles from the park in an RV Park called Orangeland. It has citrus trees growing in it and you’re allowed to pick fruit and eat it. When you want to get rid of your trash, you leave the bag on in front of your rig and someone comes to pick it up. It has a nice pool. It’s a fine place to stay! The drawback is, you have to drive to Disneyland. Also, I remember Orangeland being a little spiffier a few years ago. But, for a place to crash after a long day at Disneyland, it’s just fine! Here are the BIG benefits:
- Your own bed and pillows that you’re used to – I can’t say enough about getting a good night’s sleep when you’re doing Disneyland! I am a crazy amusement park closer! So, I need my endurance! A good night’s sleep is key to me having enough stamina.
- Your own breakfast food – We usually eat lunch and dinner inside Disneyland or in Downtown Disney, but we make breakfast in the trailer. With a family of 4, we figured this saved us at least $50 per day on breakfast. We also have our own pot of coffee, “normal” food, and get a better and healthier start to the day. It prevents what we like to call, “vacation gut,” a condition where you feel like you’ve eaten too much greasy food and you have a rock sitting in your stomach. If you’ve read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” it’s like being the caterpillar that ate too much and needs to eat through a nice green leaf. This is a great way to make sure your day is off to a great start and to prevent yourself from feeling like an overly stuffed caterpillar.
- Your own stuff and a little peace and quiet – Hotels are nice, but it’s great to come back after a long day to your own stuff. Your rig becomes your second home and coming back to it after a marathon day in an amusement park is restful! I am a creature comforts person. I like things like my bathroom drawer where I know where my stuff is, my kitchen and my cups, my fridge, etc.
- It costs a fraction of what a hotel costs near Disneyland – It has similar amenities such as a pool, but no room service or maid service. I’d rather save the money and make my own bed!
We can’t wait to go to Disney World in Florida with our trailer. They have their own RV Park called Fort Wilderness. As a Disney Geek, I have made this a bucket list item! My husband is totally on board and is my partner in Disney Geek-ness!
Taking your RV to Touristy Cities can save you money! RV parks are generally a fraction of what a hotel room costs per night. Depending on how often you go out to eat, you’ll probably save quite a bit of money on food. We often save money on evening activities because we capitalize on the opportunity to have a campfire and enjoy s’mores. When traveling with a family, the cost of gas is generally less than the cost of airfare. When it’s just two people, it depends on how far you drive and the cost of gas. Sometimes if you can get bargain airfare, and it’s a toss-up.
One of the best parts of seeing touristy places with an RV is the road trip! You’ll get to see a lot more our great country out the window of your car than you would out of an airplane window! You can also make stops along the way visiting bonus places, like maybe a winery or a chocolate factory! Maybe you’ll stop at a fruit stand and buy a homemade pie (one of our road trip traditions). The road is yours! Start planning! Enjoy the trip … and the destination!
Next Trailer Girl Blog – The Economics of RVing ….As Told by Someone Who Majored in Recreation
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