RV Vacations For Dummies

Hit the open road with help from expert travelers

Keep RV Vacations For Dummies by your side as you navigate the highways of the United States and Canada. (But don’t read and drive.) This Dummies guide will clue you into the most RV-ready roads, camp sites, and attractions to make planning your journey a bit easier. Choose from journeys through New England, the American heartland, the Rocky Mountains, or any of the other adventures detailed in this book. Get to know the can't-miss tourist attractions and the best places to park while you enjoy time off the road. This updated edition features all-new maps of the RV-friendliest routes out there, plus the latest on post-pandemic destinations. Ready, set, RV!

• Learn the art of planning an RV vacation that won’t wear you out
• Hook up your RV at campsites and explore local attractions
• Find a list of popular RV routes and cool places to visit
• Be prepared for mechanical issues and other hiccups in your travel plans

This Dummies guide is a must for RV owners and RV renters in need of guidance on well-planned travel routes, campground destinations, and attractions.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started on RV Vacations 7

Chapter 1: All the Best Reasons to Take an RV Vacation 9

Chapter 2: Deciding Where and When to Go 23

Chapter 3: Managing Your Money 39

Chapter 4: Eating on the Road 55

Chapter 5: Finding Campgrounds and Boondocking 79

Part 2: Exploring the East 107

Chapter 6: The Coast of Maine: Lobster Land 109

Chapter 7: Western New York: Cooperstown to Niagara Falls 131

Chapter 8: The Blue Ridge Mountains: Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway 153

Part 3: Seeing Sights in the South 177

Chapter 9: The Gulf Coast: Tallahassee to New Orleans 179

Chapter 10: The Natchez Trace: Natchez to Nashville 207

Part 4: Meandering through Mid-America 231

Chapter 11: The Heart of Ohio: A Circle around Circleville 233

Chapter 12: The Ozarks and Branson: Hot Springs to Springfield 259

Part 5: Wandering the Wild West 283

Chapter 13: Montana and Wyoming: Tracking Buffalo Bill 285

Chapter 14: New Mexico: Billy the Kid Meets E.T 315

Chapter 15: California’s Central Coast: Malibu to Monterey 345

Chapter 16: Route 66: OK to L.A 375

Chapter 17: The Oregon Coast: California to Washington 403

Part 6: The Part of Tens 433

Chapter 18: Ten Cool Factory Tours 435

Chapter 19: Ten Zany Museums 443

Index 453

Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon are a husband-and-wife writing team that has spent of much their lives traveling and living in RVs. They are the authors of the bestselling RVs & Campers For Dummies. Christopher is also author of Freemasons For Dummies.

Make your next RV vacation your best one yet

It’s hard to resist the lure of the highway, especially when you’re traveling in the comfort of a recreational vehicle. This book is your helpful guide to a fun and stress-free adventure in your RV. Whether you’re riding solo or with the whole family, you’ll find tips and advice that will help you plan the perfect getaway and avoid the most common hiccups encountered by travelers. The book features popular RV itineraries throughout the U.S., ideas for stops and attractions, and suggestions for campgrounds along the way. With the advice you get from this book, you’ll see all the can’t-miss sites along with a few hidden gems out on the road.

Inside…

• Decide where and when to go
• Explore north, south, east, and west across the U.S.
• Create a travel budget
• Stock and prep your RV
• Choose the best campgrounds
• Go a little wild in the boondocks
• Visit popular and lesser-known attractions