How to Plan an RV Trip Across America: From Camping Experts

Road Trip Planning for the Ultimate RV Adventure

Welcome to the exhilarating world of RV travel! There’s something magical about hitting the open road, where the freedom of the open road blends seamlessly with the allure of exploring national parks, scenic drives, and charming small towns. Whether you’re dreaming of a monumental cross-country RV trip or enjoying a weekend escape to local state parks, the best road trips start with thoughtful planning. This isn’t just about plotting a route; it’s about crafting an adventure filled with unique experiences and unforgettable stops. Sara and I have learned creating memories that last a lifetime takes planning!

Our approach is practical, drawing from our extensive travels across 26 states and numerous national parks like Badlands, Yellowstone, and Glacier. Each journey has been a learning experience; today, we’re sharing that expertise with you. We’re not just suggesting routes; we’re inviting you into the heart of family adventure.

Whether you’re planning a monumental cross-country voyage or a delightful excursion just miles from home, the best road trips are planned. We’ve navigated through the diverse landscapes of America, from the rustic charm of Kentucky to the Alpine slopes of Glacier National Park.

So, let’s dive into how to plan an RV trip across America, meticulously covering every detail across the vast expanse of America, a neighboring state, or a cozy local campground.

Stay tuned as we unfold the secrets to a successful and joyous RV trip, peppered with our personal insights and practical tips. Welcome aboard the adventure of a lifetime!

TL;DR: Mastering RV Trip Planning

Over years of navigating long road trips, we’ve curated a trusted list of tools and resources that make planning easier.

Essential Tools for RV Planning: Among our essential RV trip planning tools are digital and traditional options like Facebook, RV Life Trip Wizard (a must-have for RV travelers seeking the best RV parks and campgrounds), Google Maps for finding alternative routes, or Reserve America for booking state parks, these resources ensure your adventure is seamless. A good old paper atlas also finds its place in our toolkit.
Planning Process Insight: Our planning starts about 12 months ahead, considering destinations and routes, and is fueled by tools like RV Life Trip Wizard for detailed campground information and reviews.
Practical Tips and Resources: We share our step-by-step planning process through detailed blog posts and YouTube tutorials, offering practical insights and visual guides for fellow RV travelers.

Want to accelerate your RV trip planning for 2025? Check out our FREE guide on using ChatGPT to create the perfect cross-country RV trip plan.

-> Click here to download and get started today!

Whether it’s a cross-country adventure or a seasonal trip, our planning is thorough, ensuring each journey is as enjoyable as it is memorable. Embrace the true spirit of American RV travel with us at Our Campfire Unplugged!

What Tools do we use to Plan RV Trips?

Here’s a quick list of the various tools, apps, websites, etc. we use to plan our RV trips:

Facebook (App / Website)
RV Life Trip Wizard (RV and Motorhome Trip Planner App / Website)
Reserve America (Website)
Kentucky State Parks (check your state’s park website) (Website)
Good Sam and/or KOA (Websites)
Google Maps for road trip planning
Paper Atlas (Good ol’ paper)

Where do We Start?

In planning an RV vacation, let your imagination and dreams guide you. We find the only things stopping us are time for travel and budget available for travel. Put on your dreaming cap!

Cross-country trips

Map of RV Trip Wizard - plan your RV Trip

Our definition of a cross-country trip has changed from when we first started camping. And it will continue evolving. Initially, when learning how to plan a road trip in America, I envisioned going from coast to coast while stopping at every National Park and ball of twine.

I learned quickly that wasn’t realistic for us. I now understand how to plan an RV trip cross country, seeing it as a multi-state journey with overnights in various states. Imagine this: starting your cross-country RV trip at the shores of the Great Lakes, soaking in the history of Gettysburg, marveling at Niagara Falls, and then wrapping up with the thrill rides at Cedar Point. Or picture escaping the winter months with a journey to the warm coastlines of Florida and Charleston. These are just a few examples of how RV trip planning can turn your bucket list into reality.

Lake Erie and Cedar Point — Lake Erie with Cedar Point in the distance.

That’s what’s so great about RV travel, there is no one single answer. You get to do what works for you and your family. In many ways, RV travel provides an opportunity to embrace a modern-day American Adventure.

I digress.

Sara handles the fine print details (e.g., calling and reserving campsites)!

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Seasonal Trips

Our family RV trip planning involves working together on our seasonal camping agenda. We have kids, so planning for the entire year at once is challenging. We want our kids to be involved in activities at school, so we have to patiently wait for schedules to come out so we can align our trips.

Sara recently created an RV trip planning guide detailing her step-by-step process.

Below, I’ll demonstrate how to plan an RV trip using tools like RV Life Trip Wizard. We love RV Life Trip Wizard and recommend it to all the RV travelers we know.

Epic Cross-country Trips!

Planning our RV Trip Across America generally starts about 12 months out.

RV travel itinerary planning begins with deciding on the region and destinations. From there, I begin picturing maps in my mind of what our route might look like. Then, I use a paper atlas (like a Truck Atlas) to determine if my envisioned route aligns with the best RV travel routes.

With my rough sketch of the route, I begin looking and planning for about 500 to 600 miles out, where we will stop for an overnight or maybe a few days, depending on what activities are available.

For example, on our Gettysburg trip, each leg of the trip led to a destination we wanted to visit. Our Epic Western Adventure of 2023 required a few stopovers from Kentucky to the Black Hills of South Dakota!

Want to learn more about the Black Hills of South Dakota?

Mount Rushmore near sunset — Mount Rushmore

It’s time for the Magic of RV Life Trip Wizard

RV Life Trip Wizard: Your Secret Weapon for RV Travel If you’re wondering how to streamline the planning process for a cross-country road trip, RV Life Trip Wizard is your answer. This indispensable tool allows you to search for RV resorts, campgrounds, and scenic stops based on your preferences—whether you’re looking for family-friendly amenities, proximity to national parks like Glacier or Yellowstone, or simply gas stations along the way. RV Life Trip Wizard enables searches by private campgrounds or state parks, review rankings, amenities, etc. Using RV Trip Wizard, I can select several RV parks and use the pictures to find campgrounds that look nice.

Also, the Wizard includes user-generated reviews. I find these helpful because visitors taking time to leave a review either liked the place and enjoyed their stay or had some particular issues.

Both are helpful.

Plus, users typically submit pictures. I do my best to contribute back to the community. Consuming content is good, and contributing is helpful for all of us. After all, we all want to read first-hand unbiased reviews of campgrounds.

I created a FREE step-by-step tutorial, which is available HERE. This simple PDF document illustrates my steps and some quick notes on how I planned a quick trip from Louisville, KY, to St. Louis, MO.

The video and instructions illustrate a one-stop trip. For a multi-stop trip, repeat the process until you complete your route or journey. It’s the same rinse-and-repeat process.

Drawbacks

The biggest drawback is I can’t find a way to book campsites directly in RV Life Trip Wizard. Once we figure out our campgrounds, we must book using the campground’s website (e.g., Reserve America, KOA, specific site, etc.).

February 2024 Update – RV Life Trip Wizard includes a link to the campground’s website. This makes reserving a campsite easier!

Looking for a Free RV Road Trip Planner

One free option is Adventure Genie. This tool uses AI to help plan an optimal route and suggest campsites along the way.

Without registering, I created the simple map below. I must investigate the stops and campgrounds, but this process speeds up planning!

A paid version is available for approximately $50 that offers tons of benefits including building sample itineraries.

A Beginner’s Guide to RVing: Your First Step to Adventure

Are you new to RVing? Don’t worry – every RV traveler started somewhere! Planning your first RV adventure can feel both exciting and overwhelming, but with the right approach, it can be the beginning of a lifetime of unforgettable journeys. Here are some beginner-friendly tips to ease into RV life and ensure your first trip is a success.

Start Small: Perfecting Shorter Journeys

For first-time RVers, diving straight into a cross-country RV trip may feel daunting. Instead, consider starting with smaller trips closer to home. Sara and I discovered the best part about staying closer to home is uncovering the hidden gems we overlook because they are “local”. Whether your local area is Lake Tahoe, St. Louis, the Great Lakes, or the Rocky Mountains, local trips are a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with RV travel while building your comfort zone.

State Parks: Local state parks often have well-maintained campgrounds, plenty of amenities, and activities perfect for families or solo travelers. They’re an excellent choice for a stress-free introduction to RVing. Added bonus…state parks offer very affordable nightly rates!
Day Trips: Planning day trips to scenic locations is a great way to build confidence in driving, parking, and managing your RV without the commitment of an overnight stay. Pro Tip – On our annual cross country rv trip(s) we choose a “home base” for our camp and then plan day trips to fun nearby attractions!

The Best Routes for Beginners

When planning your first RV trip, choose routes that are easy to navigate and not too remote. For example, on our cross country rv trip (Kentucky to Yellowstone) we designed a Southern and Northern Route. Our Northern Route included a memorable stop in Medora North Dakota over the 4th of July holiday where we had to wear our winter coats!

Why Start Small? Shorter trips are the best way to test your RV setup, figure out your packing list, and refine your planning process. Plus, they’re a great way to gauge how much time you’ll need for future adventures.

Tools to Make Planning a Breeze

Having the right tools can simplify RV trip planning for first-timers. Tools like RV Life Trip Wizard, Google Maps, and even a trusty paper atlas can help you map out alternative routes and find the best RV parks or scenic drives. For extra peace of mind, consider a satellite phone for communication in remote areas. We learned the hardway that Google Maps only works with an internet connection! In Spearfish Canyon near the Black Hills of South Dakota we lost our cell signal when we stopped to checkout some waterfalls. That meant we lost our Google Map when we resumed our journey to the Devil’s Bathtub! We improvised by “borrowing” wifi from a nearby hotel!

Pro Tip: Involve the Family

If you’re traveling with family members, involve them in the planning process. Let kids choose a stop or two from the itinerary – it’s a great way to build excitement and keep everyone engaged.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Starting small doesn’t mean your trip has to be any less adventurous! With thoughtful planning, beginner-friendly routes, and the right tools, your first RV trip will be a memorable journey. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to plan your bucket list cross-country adventure.