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Hey!
So we're planning a road trip arriving in LA on 29th November 2008 from London and leaving Miami on 12 December heading back to London.
We plan on renting an RV in LA and taking the Southern Pacific Route 10 ending up in Miami a couple of weeks later. If anyone can provide any advice/tips/must see's on our way that woud be great!!
This will be out first road trip so any advice appreciated.
Cheers,
James
Welcome to the RTA forum!
While Interstate 10 does run along roughly the same path as the old Southern Pacific Railroad, I don't know that I've ever heard it refered to as such.
Regardless, you should be able to have a very nice trip. There is quite a bit of information on the forum that should help you get going. We've got a thread has some great ideas for things to do along I-10 in the Western US, and here is one that focuses on the Miami area. You'll also find lots of information, like tips for renting an RV in the planning section of this website.
Hey Michael, thanks for the reply!
Yeah I may have made that route name up, reading too many forums! ;-)
So we plan to rent the RV from December 1st 08 in LA and drop it off in Miami on 12th December 08. I know some places are going to be pretty much a fly by trip as we're going to have to cover some serious miles in 12 days. Has anyone done the Interstate 10 route all the way across in such a short period?
Cheers!
James
Hi James,
Quite an adventure to look forward to.
I see you plan to rent an R.V. [which, by the way is my favourite way to travel] but I was wondering how much you have looked into this and how many are travelling with you and whether it will be best suited for your needs.
The cost of renting one and the associated costs that go with it, extra fuel, campground fees e.t.c. start to break even [maybe even slightly more] when 4 people are sharing compared to hotel and car hire fees.
For a fairly quick jaunt across country it will also be slower going and less manoeuvrable if you are visiting lots of city's along the way.
If it's a "lifestyle" choice then you can't beat it, as I said earlier, it's my favourite way to travel but it isn't for everyone and it does have it's drawbacks as well as it's good points, I hope that helps.
Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for your reply. Yes we look forward to it, we only have the flights booked so far into LA from London then out of miami back into lodnon 2 weeks later.
We've been looking at renting an RV as it seems the best suited for our needs but are open to suggestions. Fetch.com seem to be the cheapest for Rv rental which is booked through CruiseAmerica although if you have any other suggestions that would be great. I think the total cost was roughly $1600 but that didnt include mileage & of course gas. That is based on 4 of us sharing the RV, price is based on a 7 berth C30 Rv. We plan to visit a fair few cities on the way but not also very interested in the smaller towns on the way. So a couple of days in LA, then passing through San Diego, AZ, New Mexico, San Antonio onto new orleans and a couple of days in florida before we fly home.
Have you travelled in America in an RV before?
James
Hi James,
Yes I have, and loved every moment of it.Quote:
Have you travelled in America in an RV before?
I only asked as if there was just the two of you or it was for financial reasons it may not have been for you. I would suggest googling R.V. rental companies and see whats on offer and compare prices, Cruise America and El Monte are amongst the biggest, but there are others out there. The extra charges to watch out for are; One way drop of and preparation fees, kitchen and bedroom kits, Insurance waiver to reduce cost to you if any damage, and as you say, mileage fees that add up to quite a bit. Sometimes the cheapest qoutes can quickly turn out to be the dearest. Don't expect more than 10 m.p.g and allow $20- $30 a night camping fees.
They are so well equipped and pretty much have everything you need, and most sites have table and benches with a fire ring, ideal for sitting around at night and enjoying quality time.
Hi Dave,
I'm only a few pages into your report and it looks quality!! Some great pics there looks like you had a great time. Yes I have noticed the extras they like to apply such as one way fees etc.
Are there many RV parking spots that don't charge? We're trying to minimize costs as much as possible. Also have you any suggestions as to the size of Rv we should be looking at? We have 4 lads staying on the trip and although space is not overly essential we'd like it to be comfortbale living in it for 2 weeks. We've been looking at a 7 berth C30 which is 30ft long, how tricky are they to drive do you know?
Sorry or the all the questions and thanks for your replies!
James
James, if your looking for a good deal for an RV, speak to Jackie at cruiseamerica - she'll sort you out!!
Ok Nick, will do ;-)
Hi James, No need for apologies, keep asking untill you have what you want.Quote:
Originally Posted by tincancowboys
I am unsure if you mean there are four in total, or 4 plus 4 lads?
The C30 will do 4 of you easily and feel quite spacious. You will have 2 double beds [ A fixed one at the rear and one above the cab] the other sleeping is made up in the dinette/lounge area. If you need this it may feel a bit cramped,especially in the morning and eves when you are all trying to get fed and washed, although the sites have shower blocks e.t.c.
The "how tricky to drive" question is hard to answer, a lot will depend on your driving experience and what you have driven before, however it shouldn't take to long to adapt but I wouldn't push to far in your first couple of days while you get the feel for it. I didn't feel that lenght was an issue on the driving side but you will need to adjust to the extra width of the back. Although the wing mirrors are a good guide, the rear wheels sit wider than the fronts. Also with the longer R.V's there is a lot of overhang from the rear wheels, so when moving from petrol pumps and parking spaces you have to ease out gently rather that turn sharply. [Think of Laurel and Hardy walking around with a plank of wood on there shoulder] or else you will side swipe everything close by. Of course, with the lenght you are not going to be able to turn it around so easily so a wrong turn could mean some extra miles before being able to turn.
As for "free" camping or otherwise "boondocking" there are certain places such as truck stops and some Walmarts, but you need to ask the manager at that store. If they allow it you would be expected to go to a quiet corner to sleep but not to set up camp as such, i.e. don't get the BBQ and chairs out.
To do this you will be relying on the water you have stored and possibly the generator [normally at extra cost] so you will need camp sites to fill and empty your tanks, a fairly straight forward task.
Thanks to all replies so far and to Dave, cheers really helpful! So we've got the flights booked and the RV - decided on the C30 so should be plenty of room for 4 adults sleeping comfortably!!
We have sort of pencilled in a route and some things to do/see on the way but we're pretty much open to any variations on this journey, depending on any recommendations people may have on things to do/places to stay. If there's somewhere worth staying more than what I've got here just say!!
Route goes something like this:
Arrive in LA Friday, in LA Saturday and Sunday catch a Lakers game Sunday PM.
Monday - pick up RV then make our way to San Diego. We hope to stay in around San Diego - if anyone has recommended places to stay (RV parks) that's be good. Also I know its not far to the Mexican border - is it worth a visit to Tijuana? Are we able to cross the border easily enough or do we have to sort anything beforehand?
Tuesday hit the long drive to Tombstone for the night, is there anywhere else round here worth checking out staying for the night?
Weds drive to El Paso and stay there for the night.
Thurs- Another monster drive to San Antonio, via Fort Stockton. Stay in San Antonio for the night.
Fri - drive to & stay houston
Sat - Drive to & stay in New Orleans
Sun - Drive to & stay in Panama city
Mon - Drive to Orlando via Daytona Beach
Tues - Theme parks, stay in Orlando
Weds - Drive to miami
Thurs - miami/contingency day
Friday - fly back to the uk
Thanks in advance!
James
How are you going to get around LA? It will be very challenging to see much without a car. You might need to get a regular car for a few days prior to picking up your RV.
You will not be able to take your RV into Mexico but you can easily take a bus into Tijuana. Is it worth it? Sure. I'm unclear on foreign visitors leaving the US and getting back in on your travel visa. I think it's OK but you will want to double-check on this to ensure you don't get stuck in Mexico.Quote:
Monday - pick up RV then make our way to San Diego. We hope to stay in around San Diego - if anyone has recommended places to stay (RV parks) that's be good. Also I know its not far to the Mexican border - is it worth a visit to Tijuana? Are we able to cross the border easily enough or do we have to sort anything beforehand?
Yup...lots of places. Tucson and Bisbee (a bit south of Tombstone) are great. At almost 500 miles, you will have a few hours for sightseeing this day but not too many. Especially if your plan is to get into Tombstone in time to enjoy the Earp stuff. If you have time, you might enjoy a stop in the Sonoran Desert National Monument where you can enjoy the saguaro cactus and more.Quote:
Tuesday hit the long drive to Tombstone for the night, is there anywhere else round here worth checking out staying for the night?
This is a fairly easy drive of about 300 miles. You might want to head NE a few miles at Las Cruces to take in White Sands National Monument.Quote:
Weds drive to El Paso and stay there for the night.
Your drive to Houston is a pretty short driving leg. Are you planning on spending some time in Houston? The NASA stuff at the Johnson Space Center is pretty cool.Quote:
Thurs- Another monster drive to San Antonio, via Fort Stockton. Stay in San Antonio for the night.
Fri - drive to & stay houston
Both of these days are about 350 miles so you should have some time to enjoy New Orleans in the evening and, again, the next morning. You won't get to see a lot of NOLA during that time but it should give you time to take a taste of it. Of course, the French Quarter is a must.Quote:
Sat - Drive to & stay in New Orleans
Sun - Drive to & stay in Panama city
Unless there's something specific in Daytona Beach that you must see, you could shave off some miles by going through Gainesville/Ocala. If you're just anxious to get to a beach, I would save it for the Orlando-Miami leg.Quote:
Mon - Drive to Orlando via Daytona Beach
Tues - Theme parks, stay in Orlando
I have no idea how you will see even a smidgen of the theme parks in the Orlando area in just one day. But I'm sure you'll have fun trying. Good luck with that.
Hi Judy, thanks a lot for your suggestions, very helpful. We are aware we've got some big drives on our hands, we're setting some milestones along the way and are fairly flexible in between so anyone else with other suggestions/must sees on our route please share them!
We will perhaps look ar renting a car in LA - would you suggest arranging one before hand or picking one up in/around the airport when we arrive? Any recommended car hire companies in that area appreciated.
Pretty much all of the route is an open book at the minute, we definately want to go to and stay in New Orleans, we'll be in LA for a few days before we pick up the RV and fly home from Miami so are hoping to have a couple of days there at the end. Those are the definates on our trip anyway. We'd like to visit the Space Centre in Houston, but are open to any other suggestions for staying in around there.
We are looking at going to Islands of Adventure in orlando, if anyone thinks there's a better/more enjoyable one let us know!
Thanks again,
James
Howdy,
Glad to see you got your R.V. and flights sorted out.
You have quite an adventure coming up. One place that may appeal to you is the Carlsbad caverns where you can do cave tours and if it appeals, watch the bats exit the cave at sunset.
It's located a few miles East of El paso, so it maybe O.K. for a stop over in the area.
Here's a link to some campgrounds in the area and if you look in the left hand corner you can change states and it will give you a brief idea of what's in that selected area from the list of things on the left. Here's a good Field report covering some of the area you are going through.
Dave.
We generally recommend 500-550 miles at the top end for folks who want to mix some sightseeing during the day but who still need to burn some miles. However, in an RV, you will likely be driving a bit slower than a passenger vehicle and will need to be on the road a bit longer to cover the same miles. All of your distances are do-able with the caveat that this depends on how many hours of sightseeing you plan to do that day. It will probably take you about 9 hours, give or take a bit, to cover 500 miles. This allows time for very brief stops for food/fuel/bio breaks, and very quick stops at places like scenic overlooks, etc. So, depending on your departure times and what time you want to arrive at your destination, you could still have a few hours to sightsee in a bit more depth each day. I typically plan for a 7am-7pm travel day so this would give me 3 hours for more in-depth sightseeing, for example. Hope this gives you an idea of how to adjust your travel days.Quote:
Originally Posted by tincancowboys
Definitely arrange ahead of time. You will get far better deals. Any of the major rental agencies (Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, etc.) will be fine. Be aware that you will have a one-way drop-off fee.Quote:
We will perhaps look ar renting a car in LA - would you suggest arranging one before hand or picking one up in/around the airport when we arrive? Any recommended car hire companies in that area appreciated.
I think you're off to a good start with your planning. As long as you know that you're doing what I call a "whistle-stop tour", i.e. you'll see a lot but not have a lot of time to explore most places in depth, you should have a great time. If you're seeking a more in-depth experience, you will either need to travel less far or add days.Quote:
Pretty much all of the route is an open book at the minute, we definately want to go to and stay in New Orleans, we'll be in LA for a few days before we pick up the RV and fly home from Miami so are hoping to have a couple of days there at the end. Those are the definates on our trip anyway. We'd like to visit the Space Centre in Houston, but are open to any other suggestions for staying in around there.
It would be easier for us to give you specific suggestions if we have a better idea of what types of places and experiences you're seeking. There are literally thousands of places between LA and Miami worth exploring but, obviously, you can't hit all of them. Help us help you by giving us some specifics.
Gosh...I'm a theme park fan. I love them all. It's been quite awhile since I've been to the parks in Orlando. Islands of Adventure wasn't even at Universal Studios yet so I have no experience there. I can tell you that Universal tended to have more wild rides than Disney so, if that's what you're seeking, I don't think you are going wrong. But, gosh, the Disney experience is pretty cool, too. Maybe someone will pop in with more recent experience at both to give you better advice.Quote:
We are looking at going to Islands of Adventure in orlando, if anyone thinks there's a better/more enjoyable one let us know!
You might do some poking around here, using the search function, to get more ideas for your trip and keep coming back here with more questions. And, like I said, give us specifics on what you're seeking so we can tailor advice to your desires.
Happy planning!
Judy and Dave, thanks a lot for your suggestions and advice - will definately use it for our trip!
Anyone else feel free to chirp up :-)
James