How To RV Across America

Above, at the Double J Campground near Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I went cross-country from Los Angeles to Metropolis, Illnois for Noel Neill's memorial service in 2016, I made reservations at some RV parks along the way. That only scratched the surface in planning the trip.

I got plenty of maps and tour books from the Automobile Club. Before leaving Los Angeles, I made sure my refrigerator was fully stocked. What was planned for a two-week trip, ended up stretching into three weeks. I had one mishap in St. Louis, Missouri that necessitated the purchase of two new tires. That cut into the funds and I had to wait out the Veterans Day holiday in Topeka, Kansas before I could replenish my cash and proceed on. Despite that, it was a good trip.

RV Life has posted an article on how to RV across America.

It begins with:

So you finally have the time to RV across America? The sights you will see are going to create so many lasting memories! Before you leave, here are 12 things you need to know to avoid making memories of RV catastrophes. As a full-time RVer myself, I’ve learned that many cross country RVing problems can be avoided with a little planning. 

The Top 10 Things to Know Before RVing Across America

Most of your RV trip planning can happen before you get on the road.  Here is where you want to do a little research. My list of ten things to know before taking a cross-country RV road trip can make your planning easier.

 To read more, go here.

What's The Best RV Road Service?

Above, The Beast on Rim Drive at Crater Lake National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Emergency road service (ERS) is one of those things that is "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." This goes especially for RV breakdowns.

So far, I have not needed emergency road service for my motorhome, but I have needed it for my Mustang and Jeep on occasion. I have AAA with RV service added to it.

RV Travel conducted a survey of their readers on what's the best road service providers. They posted their report on the results.

They begin with:

It’s a perennial question among RVers: Which emergency road service (ERS) is the best? If you Google the question, seems like everyone has an opinion. Trouble is, too many who bugle “such and such” a road service as the best have a stake in the game. Some get kickbacks if you click the link from their site and sign up. How can you get an objective look into what’s truly the best service for you?

You helped us answer the question of best road service

We’ve done our best to answer that question by asking it of our readers. Hundreds of RVTravel.com readers took our survey. We didn’t just ask, “Which one do you like best?” We dug for details. How easy was it to deal with the dispatcher? How long did you have to wait for the service truck to arrive? Did the service truck even arrive? These and other questions help you look past the hype and get down to the details you’ll need to make an informed choice. And yes, we asked just how likely (or unlikely) was it that you’d recommend a given emergency road service to a friend or family member.

In our survey, we offered options to report on various ERS providers. Readers could choose from AAA, Allstate, Coach Net, FMCA, and Good Sam. We also offered an “other provider” block for other services. Among the “other” providers, respondents often included the Escapees Club road service, and service by Progressive. There were a few others, but sadly, the number of responses made them statistically difficult to evaluate. Please know we appreciate your answers, even if the service you evaluated doesn’t appear in our results list.

So, without further ado, let’s look at what you told us.

To read the results, go here. 

Gallup: Grandpa's Grill and Gasoline

Above, now I call them "Greedway". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a good thing I went into Gallup today to take care of some business with the electric company, the gas price at the Flying J here went up to $3.71/gallon. In Gallup, the price is $3.86/gallon at Speedway (now I call them Greedway). But I was lucky to find an Allsup's gas station who was selling it for $3.56/gallon. 

Before going to the electric company, I stopped at Grandpa's Grill for breakfast.

Above, this morning's breakfast at Grandpa's Grill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The matter over my electric bill came out in my favor and I am credited over $400. So, until that is reached, I won't have to pay anything.

While there, I managed to lock my keys inside the car, so I had to call Auto Club to open the car. Since I have now used up my four service calls, I have to figure out another way to get the Jeep to Gallup to get the brakes fixed. Maybe someone with a flatbed trailer here can tow it in or I can get Auto Club to come up with a flat rate on a tow into Gallup on my dime. 

Before heading back to Jamestown, I did some shopping and got stuff I'll be needing for the next few days since it may be snowing starting tonight. The clouds are already coming in.

Life has its challenges.

Best and Worst Times To Hit The Road For Christmas, New Year's

Above, Christmas in California two years ago before the pandemic.

Like last Christmas, I am staying put at home this year.

Last year was basically due to the pandemic. This year, it is due to the car repairs I had to do with the Mustang this past month. In total, the amount was slightly over $1,100. On top of that, gasoline prices are over a buck more per gallon than last year.

There are those brave souls who will travel during the holiday and SiouxlandProud has posted information on the best and worst times to hit the road.

They begin with:

(NEXSTAR) – If you haven’t yet made plans for your Christmas and New Year’s travels, you may not want to wait any longer. Roughly one in three Americans are expected to travel for the holidays, and with the vast majority relying on cars to get them to their destination, AAA is already warning of delays on roadways.

While gas costs roughly $1.25 more per gallon this year compared to last year, AAA estimates over 100 million Americans are planning to get to their holiday destination via cars. In 2020, just 78.5 million hit the road for Christmas and New Year’s.

AAA reports only marginal travel delays are expected throughout the holiday week, but major metro areas may see travel take twice — or in some places, three times — as long as normal.

For those living or commuting through Boston, Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco, traffic congestion is expected to peak on Dec. 23, according to data from INRIX, which provides connected car services and transportation analytics. New York and Washington D.C. can expect traffic congestion to reach its peak on Dec. 27 while Seattle’s peak congestion is forecasted for Dec. 28. Atlanta, Houston and Los Angeles will face the most traffic on Jan. 2.

Using data from INRIX, AAA has predicted the best and worst times to travel for each of the 11 days between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 nationwide.

So, if those of you who are reading this and are planning to hit the road, you may want to take a good look at the full article.

To do so, go here. 

RV Travel Agent

Above, do-it-yourselfers like me use materials from the Auto Club and other sources. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Have you ever heard of an RV travel agent?

Nope, me neither.  But that is what a new article in RV Travel talks about.

Frankly, I prefer to do my own travel planning. I've done plenty of it over the years and I also have a good time doing so.

The article starts off with:

It was one of those “Why didn’t I think of that!” moments. I came across a post online about a guy who “loves planning RV trips.” From planning the route to reserving the RV sites to suggesting fun things to see and do all along the way, Doug Setzer just might be your guy! Like a travel agent for other types of travel experiences, Doug specializes in planning trips for RVers.

To read more, go here. 

Motley Fool: 7 Tips For Seeing Hawaii On A Budget

Above, the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The state of Hawaii is opening up for tourists from the mainland and foreign countries. But, before going, check for any restrictions and requirements so that one can actually step foot there. I've read of some nightmarish problems of people who had CDC-approved proof of COVID-19 vaccinations who got rejected and had to go back to the mainland to get the "required" documentation and come back.

But, that aside, Motley Fool has an article on seven tips for seeing Hawaii on a budget. One tip is to seek out package deals. I did so five years ago and saved a lot of money through the Automobile Club. The package included round-trip airfare from the mainland, hotels, ground transportation and inter-island airfare.

Motley Fool begins their article with:

It's possible you'll enjoy your vacation more if you don't have to go into debt for it.

Like most vacations, the cost of a trip to the Hawaiian Islands depends on how far in advance you plan. Price is also determined by the steps you take to minimize "big" costs, and what you do once you're on an island. Here, we'll outline some of the easiest ways to visit Hawaii on a budget.

To read more, go here. 

AAA: Gas Prices Highest Since 2014

Above, May 12 price of gasoline at the Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to the 2020 elections, we are now paying the price for the folly of electing (or maybe not actually electing) His Fraudulency Joe Biden.

One price we're paying is the cost of gasoline, which has gone sky-in some areas. Much of the blame goes to Biden's cancellation of the Keystone Pipeline and other actions.

KOB 4 News reported:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Gas prices are on the rise.

Triple-A reports that gas is the highest it's been since 2014.

It's tough news for the 34 million Americans who are expected to travel by car for the Memorial Day weekend. 

Tishika Powdrell said she's not surprised at the holiday price hike.

"It’s expected. They’re trying to make their money," she said.

To read more, go here. 

AAA Gasoline Price Averages

It's been a while since I took a look at the nation's average gasoline prices.

The Automobile Association of America (AAA) has a website that shows how much each state's gasoline prices are.

Thankfully, I left California for New Mexico nearly three years ago. California has some of the highest gasoline prices. New Mexico is among the lowest (there are some states even lower).

Here's a map from AAA of how the states rank:

To read more, go here.