In my previous blog, I talked about the importance of taking care of your gear and making sure everything is ready for the next trip.  That works well for those last-minute day trips but for longer excursions, there is no substitute for proper planning.

Depending on where you are going and what type of camping you are doing, this plan can be done quickly or may take some time.  Regardless, having a plan going into the trip will lower your stress level on the road. 

To start, assuming you know the destination, plan the route.  There are a number of resources to plan your route; I use a combination of Good Sam Club, AAA, and good old Google maps.  I do my best to limit my driving to 300 miles per day or 5 hours – for every four (4) hours of driving time, I add an hour (I travel with dogs that need to pee and need time to refuel), which means my limit for time on the road is about six (6) hours.

As an example, the map above is my route for a 4-week excursion that is coming up.  Although I have some hard points (places that I need to be on a particular date), everything is else is flexible and I will adjust the plans along the way.  The plan is to travel 2919 miles, with 61.5 hours of drivingtime (or about 77 hours of travel time).  The overall plan is to see what I can see and enjoy the times with family and friends along the way.  But the key is that I have a plan to start with, which will make deviating from the plan a lot easier.

Once I have the route planned, I start searching for campgrounds and fuel stops (I’ll save the details for another blog).  Although this can be tedious, the payoffs are immeasurable.  

NEWS ALERT: Your plan is going to fail!!!  

No matter how much planning you do, something is always going to happen.  It is impossible to plan for every major contingency, so don’t even try.  The key is to be flexible with your plan – remember it is about the journey not the destination.  

IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT THE ROUTE

You also should plan your meals (at least for the first part of the trip, if it is an extended trip). There is not always a McDonalds or Cracker Barrell in some of the places you explore. And remember, you can not always count on there being a shopping center, or even a convenience store, nearby.   So, don’t forget to include in your plan those small necessities that you always have you running to the store. 

I try to plan out at least 3 to 4 days of meals and then create a shopping list of the things I will need.  For the trip I mentioned above, I have a 7-day meal list and a shopping list to make sure that when I go to the store that I get everything I think I will need.

I have also generally looked at my route to identify when I am going to be able to re-stock on the road.  Sometime towards the end of the first week, I will take a few minutes to roughly plan my meals for the following week and then use the “Notes” app on my phone to create my shopping list.  I will simply repeat this process as the trip progresses.  

NEWS ALERT: Don’t forget your medications.  If possible, try to have at least an extra 7-day supply of your prescriptions.  When that is not possible, you will have to have a plan to get your prescriptions filled on the road.

WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TO WEAR

First remember you are going camping, not to a Broadway Show.  You are not going to have to change after cocktails, before you go to dinner.  It is important to know a little about the environment that you’ll be traveling through and have the proper clothing with you. Yes, this calls for more planning.

On my trip, I will be experiencing temperatures ranging for 100 degrees in the desert Southwest, to below freezing temperatures in the mountains of Wyoming.  I use the Weather Channel long range forecaster to get an idea of what to expect.  So, my wardrobe will include everything from shorts and t-shirts, to hats and gloves.  With limited space, I will have to plan on what clothing I will need (yes, make another list) and leave behind what I don’t.   You also need to consider what activities you planning to do on your trip and make sure you include any special gear that you will need. Remember, the right socks and shoes will make your trip a lot more enjoyable.

NEWS ALERT: You are going to forget something!!!  But while on the road, you can decide if you really needed it the first place.  If so, you should be able to find a stop along your route.

The good news is a number of RV Campgrounds also have laundry facilities.  You can throw a couple loads in, while you cook dinner and be spic & span, ready for the road next day.

TIME TO ROLL

It’s travel day. A quick run down of your list to make sure you have put everything in your RV (yes, I have left home with a bunch of salad fixin’s still in the refrigerator in the kitchen). One last suggestion – Don’t sweat the small stuff — and it is all small stuff. It is time to explore and have fun. Take lots of pictures – you will thank me later. #dofunshitalways #dfsa #resist.