About six months ago, I wrote a post entitled “Are cross-country RV trips becoming a thing of the past?” I asked the question based on what I had been reading on RVtravel.com, other RV-related websites, social media, and blogs, along with what I have been hearing from others during my travels. In that article, I covered campground crowding, fuel prices, escalating costs of RV parks, reservation hassles, loss of spontaneity and more. Never did I say whether I agreed, or not, with what others had said—I was just posing the question. However, I will say, what I had been seeing online did dull my personal hopes of enjoying a future cross-country RV trip.
“I question if cross-country RV trips are still viable or will remain just a dream.” Per Dave Helgeson December 2023.
Boy, did I ever touch a nerve with readers. Some agreed with many of the reasons I shared, others have adapted to keep their cross-country RV trips alive, while many vehemently opposed what I shared and gave me a beating. Below are just a few select responses from those that disagreed:
Don’t hold back your dreams. You can do it!
“I must say, I can’t possibly disagree more with every reason that was stated in the article to not travel cross-country. I’m emailing my response because it exceeded the word limit under the article. I preface all of the following to say, we are campers who like to travel in retirement with the comforts of home, as opposed to snowbirds or full-timers. We have made two cross-country trips (third scheduled) since we retired. It was our dream. None of the reasons listed in the article stopped us.
“Gas prices were higher than when we started out on our first trip in early spring 2022 from Michigan to the Southwest. We determined that if a mere gas increase would keep us home from our dream trips, we had managed our finances wrong and should’ve kept working! In the end, we spent $3,600 total, for diesel fuel, for a 62-day trip which included sightseeing when not pulling the trailer. As far as the environment is concerned that is a conscientious choice for each individual.
“As far as accommodations are concerned, if you invest properly in the things needed (solar, lithium batteries, etc.) they will pay off in the long run by widening the scope, as far as price and availability, of places to stay. Our average on both trips, the second to Yosemite, was $27/night and our third trip in the spring to the Northwest is averaging $25/night. We do NOT stay at full-hookup sites or resort-style campgrounds… EVER! We use Harvest Hosts, Hipcamp, free federal properties, free national forest properties, state properties, and we use an app called iOverlander for other types of free camping.
Plan far in advance
“We also plan far in advance. The challenge to keep our average price per night low is fun for me! It also helps that we are not ‘fly by the seat of our pants’ people; it is not a comfortable way for us to travel. With that said, we do have a couple of first-come, first-served campgrounds we will be staying at on our next trip, we are trying to expand our horizons… Haha 😀 Picking days during the week, rather than the weekends, staying away from popular areas at high season and traveling during months when schools are still in session are all suggestions you have probably already heard, that we have utilized.
“All of this takes time. Being retired, we have nothing but the luxury of time to invest in planning these trips, but we do not have the luxury of unlimited time to get it all in. We have always planned on enjoying our retirement doing what we love… seeing the country in our mini vacation home on wheels. And that’s what we are doing! I am hoping that this diatribe will encourage others to get out there… don’t hold back on your dreams. You can do it! If you don’t, well, that just means more space for us 😉 Lol!
“Thank you for this opportunity for me to vent and encourage others!” —Michelle T.
Just do it!
“Just do it! Traveled over 3,500 miles East to West on dirt, the rest on hardball from N. Carolina to Port Orford towing my 15ft Aliner. JUST DO IT! “ —Len
Cross-country trips are alive and well
“Useless article of zero value with no facts. Cross-country RV trips are alive and well. This is our third cross-country trip in 6 years. The joy of our chosen lifestyle is the beauty of this country and the people who live here (some notable exceptions). We always end up with 6 to 8 families traveling our itinerary and loving every minute. But if owners only focus on the negatives, then what do they expect?” —Engineer
Don’t live in a fantasy world
“Not for me, as I do at least two such trips a year for the past eight years. I don’t live in a fantasy world with unrealistic expectations or unfounded fears, as the author seems to, but rather embrace the challenges of life and gain even more satisfaction when I succeed in watching a grizzly bear swim across String Lake from the comfort of my kayak. As to climate change and sustainability, the furthest things from my mind. The people I meet along the way seem to all be on the same page. Maybe the author should get out and see for himself. My biggest concern is the rise in bad driving.” —Uncle Swags
Affects some, not all
“This article was just a thought that may affect some, NOT all. If it does not affect you, why knock it? Continue as to what you can afford. Affordability is what you will spend. Just don’t go out and do more than you can. Take time to smell the roses and see what you can.” —Don N.
More for us!
“Cross-country travel a thing of the past? Sure, for those who can’t or won’t be flexible, that will leave more options for us.” —MrDisaster
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
“Yeah, yeah, the sky is falling, and the world ends tomorrow. Until then I’m going camping.” —Sven Y.
Just “grumpy old people”?
“Earlier, I read about a survey RVtravel.com did on the ages of readers and the majority are oldsters like me. When I read articles like this and then all the comments, I wonder how many of those readers are grumpy old people. I made a vow many years ago to NOT turn into a grumpy old man. If you want to take a cross-country trip (yes, I have), then go for it. The main difference these days is you do need to plan ahead. Be positive, eliminate the negative.” —Ron C.
Your age and your perspective matter
“I think this article is based upon two factors: your age and your perspective on things. We have been doing the camping RV thing for 45 years now, have gone through 13 different types of RVs, and currently enjoying our DP motorhome. Age is where a person has gone through all the scenarios of cost, both in RVs and fuel. Perspective in that enjoy what you can, while you can. Overall, I think this article is not one of the better ones published and I found very little of use in it.” —Mike W.
Now that I am done licking my wounds, I am ready to respond with “Are cross-country RV trips becoming a thing of the past?” Part 2
First, I want to thank everyone who commented.
Second, I am encouraged that a large majority of those who responded stated no way are cross-country RV trips becoming a thing of the past, and shared their reasons as to how and why they will keep enjoying cross-country RV trips.
Upon reflecting on the over 150 comments received, I discovered age matters.
- Age plays a big role in one’s perspective if cross-country RV travel is still worth it. You will see in the last three comments I shared above, age is mentioned and plays into one’s decision to keep traveling cross-country in some of the other comments. As someone born in the 1960s, I am considered a “youngster” among RVtravel.com readers, based on this poll. I now realize my perspective may not be the same as the 85 percent of readers who are older than I am. Since I was taught to respect my elders and the wisdom they possess, I value their insight now more than ever.
- The points covered in my original article were mainly compiled from across the internet with no knowledge of the age or mindset of the person(s) sharing them. Upon returning to the sources I used in the original article, some of the more controversial reasons given, like “environmental concerns,” I now know are held by a much younger generation than RVtravel.com readers. Here is one such green topic that surveys show are supported by more than half of campground guests. I suspect it would barely move the needle with RVtravel.com readers.
Cross-country RV trips are alive and well!
Cross-country RV trips are alive and well for those old enough to understand it’s “now or never,” fully comprehending the positive aspects of living the RVing dream of cross-country RV travel outweigh the reasons I shared in my original article. For that, I thank the RVtravel.com readers who took the time to comment. I now can confidently proclaim cross-country RV trips are not becoming a thing of the past!
Thoughts? Please share using the comment box below.
Dave will be presenting two daily seminars at the 2024 Hershey RV Show from September 11th – 15th. Be sure to stop by and say “hi”. He would love to meet RVtravel.com readers.
##RVT1154
Being another one born in the (early) 1960’s, I would say my attitudes are like those of the older people. I consider myself a “practical environmentalist” – I don’t litter, recycle when I can, but don’t participate in the soul-destroying drivel spouted by so many elites these days. I am not super wealthy, but I don’t apologize for spending money doing things I love. Most of what I spend pays people who make less than I did, so I am helping their economy run.
elites that have no problem jumping in their private planes
Only after buying some truly virtuous carbon offsets which allow them to sleep at night on thousand thread count sheets with bellies full of milky white veal and Russian caviar in 14,000 sq.ft. houses with 12 HVAC units and gas stoves for private chefs to cook the veal….. those elites?
all in moderation…good for you. Do your best and enjoy the fruits of your labors
Have two cross country trips planned this year. First, from our home in NC to Newfoundland. Second, from home to the southwest. Never been to either area and we’re looking forward to both trips. As my 100 year old grandmother used to say, “You’re as young as you feel.” Way to go Nana.
Hoping to do NC to Newfoundland next year. Grandfather was born in St. John’s, never met him.
We are 79 & 76 & travel cross country frequently, as we’ve been fulltime (200K miles) in the last 15 years. The summer/fall of 2022, we went from AL to AZ to MI to WA to AZ again to TX to AL, over 11K miles, twice across country & back. Our current trip this summer/fall is from AL to MI to AK for the summer to AZ to TX to AL, over 12K miles in our triple slide truck camper with lots of solar & battery plus a 50 amp DC to DC charger. I inherited my love of travel from my grandfather.
Much of the argument in the original article can be summed up by a famous Yogi Berra quote. “It’s so crowded nobody goes there anymore”. We take a month long trip from New York to the West every fall after school is back in session. We’ve never had a problem finding a campground and often it’s inside the National Park. Articles like this aren’t going to scare us away from doing what we love.
Do it twice a year… Dave’s map shows E-W travel. We do N-S between Canadian & Mexican borders (or pretty near). Starting the shore to shore trip north a week from today; Gulf of Mexico to the middle of Lake Superior. We were born in the mid-50’s. Hope to get decade doing it, but we take each day as it comes.
We were born in the 1940’s and grew up in the “Age of the Cross-Country Road Trip” 1950’s. Our parents had un-air-conditioned station wagons loaded with kids and luggage and stayed at “tourist courts” to be able to afford those trips. Sure, gas was 25¢ a gallon, the average car cost $2,000, and a nice house cost $20,000. But our dads (no working moms) made less in a year than an average middle-class worker today makes in a month.
If our parents could afford to take cross-country trips back then, we can certainly afford them now!
I retired 8 years ago and drove away 5 days later. 52K miles on my Class-A plus another 50K or so on my Jeep sightseeing. I sold that setup last August and now own a Winnebago Revel. I’ve put 18K miles on it since then. I have documented my travel on my website maps here, https://rollmeaway.com/wheres-jimmie/
I’ve transitioned to part time travel but still go out for months at a time.
I tried to count the number of times I have driven cross-country in my life so far and came up with five. I had planned to do it again, but health issues with my wife have unfortunately scuttled that plan. Still, hope springs eternal ….
We are currently on an 8 month trip starting in AZ to Lake Sammamish, WA and headed to New England next where we will fill up all the states on our national map. We are in our late 60s and never hesitate to hit the road in our Class A despite high fuel costs.
Thank you, Dave! 🙂 Sorry that some of the comments you got were so rude. Facial expressions while speaking are so important for context. Sadly, the web gives little of that. As to DW and I, our cross-country trips are currently essentially precluded by the deteriorating health of DW’s parents and my mother’s age (92+, Daddy died at just short of 91). Despite that, we do have a 3-or-4-month-long trip to Alaska penciled into our 2025 schedule. It depends on their (and our) health trends leading up to a potential mid-to-late May departure. We do plan to take longish trips of a couple of months 1 or 2 times annually. We bought the RV, so we may as well use it. Thanks again, safe travels! 🙂
Cross country travel is in our family DNA. My grandmother and her brother were in the San Diego area on a visit from their home in Maine sometime in 1929 or 1930, and they picked up my future grandfather hitchhiking back east to Portsmouth for submarine school…they married and the two of them through the years went back and forth from San Diego to Maine visiting family 33 times. My dad back and forth probably 10-12 times or more. I’m at only at 3 times so far, but I’m only 67 so there’s hopefully more trips ahead! 🤞
While I hope to share a campfire, a story and a beer with you someday Bill, I would really have enjoyed all 3 of those with your grandparents. I bet a lot of good stories happened on both sides of the hitchiker part of their story. Happy trails.
Hopefully sometime in the near future we’ll meet for that campfire and a beer, and swap a few of those stories. It worked out well for my grandparents, married 73 years!
Each year we go a different route from our home in Az. Back to Boston to visit the family. Being retired is the best advantage. Then again after a great career of 54yrs being a long haul trucker. We can now stop at those places I passed many times saying I’m going stop and visit someday. Now is the somedays.
Richard, I do the same AZ to Maine for the last 11 years , different route’s to see lots of different places, This year Grand Tetons and Yellowstone and up through Canada. I also was a Truck driver ,,, Happy Travels
We have close to 7,000 miles slated for our Class A this summer. Starting from S.NV to the beaches of Mustang Island from S. NV in 3 weeks and then into mtn. areas of W. Canada mid July after dropping off some some personal protection along the way.
Even though they could both be better, I really don’t care about crowding or fuel cost or the prices of parks we will be staying at. I care only that it is a safe and problem free summer filled with only great new memories.
I do care that others may have to change plans due to higher costs however. It is tough right now for many, keep the faith.
We just finished our 22nd (23rd?) crosscountry trip. Our first was in 2002 and I think we missed one year – last year – flying across, because of timing needs (I was an officer of an RV Coop). The driving time is wonderful because our lives are so full we seldom have long hours together without other things to do. Planning is mostly a matter of deciding where we will stop the next night and choosing a Boondockers Welcome, Harvest Host or Elks lodge to head for. We try to stop early, well before 3, so we can meet people and relax each day. We try to travel off season and not plan on relocating on a weekend, nothing new there. We were almost 60 when we started this.
I’m am just returning home from a 4 month trip around the US. I have traveled about 13,000 miles! From NW WA State, down west coast, thru AZ, NM, TX, TN, KY to NC. After a few weeks I continued up the east Coast with stops in MD, PA, MA, NH. Then traveled thru the Midwest states, spent a week in MI, saw eclipse in OH, then headed west thru CO, UT, ID, OR and back to WA. My focus was on visiting friends and family all across the country. I found places to stay on a day to day basis, rarely made reservations, stayed in fairgrounds, rest stops, Harvest Host, friends’ houses, some RV parks. Boondocked about half the time. I’m 77, travel solo, retired. I’ve been doing 2 to 3 month trips for years
We live in one of the few nations on earth where traveling cross country in a motor vehicle will cover 3,000 miles. Crossing mountain ranges, deserts, prairies and forests. Who wouldn’t want to do that and discover the vastness that’s out there? Every day of your life is precious, time is your greatest asset.
Cheers Gary. 👍
Then add in a trip to Alaska taking you through an entirely different country with welcoming people and then ponder any other country on earth with better access to almost an entire continent. It is part of why we RV.
Safe travels.
I love getting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Keep it up, I want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. I have learned so much from RVtravel. Everyone has their own perspective and concerns about rving and you have to factor in age/retirement/status/etc. My major concern is safety and I plan accordingly.
This may not be a thing of the past because 150 respondents say otherwise but that generation is dwindling. Newer generations may not be as interested in spending $3600 just for diesel fuel. The pandemic brought out the explosion with the RV industry but no more. It’s not a thing of the past but it’s not like more and more are doing it, in essence, in the past. Not today or in the future, the past 🤔.
We’re 73 and have camped up and down the East Coast for 40+ years. In June we are finally heading out West to SD,WY,UT,NM and who knows? from NC in our 24 ft TT. Can’t wait!
Looking forward to seeing the beautiful west
Post of the day Carol. 👍👍👍👍
Reading this just before planning our trip from Florida to Colorado for 6 weeks, then slowly onto NY, where we will live until it’s starts getting cooler, then go back home to Florida. I haven’t had any problem booking sites, less than one month before we are leaving. My only problem are the few areas where RV parks and campgrounds are sparce. I’m about to book an air bnb for one of those areas bc we refuse to camp right on the highway. I’m also worried about tornadoes & wildfires. Hoping to get lucky there. Otherwise, we are making it happen and we are 54 and 62. Still working but only when we want, and will do some of that work from the road.
According to my iPad, a year ago today found us at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. We left the Pacific Northwest in mid-April on a trip that took us to SC, as far south as Key West, and across the plains to Moab, UT and Kanab, cramming in as many NPs as we could, before arriving home in June. This fall, we hope to depart on an 8 week trip that will include the fall colors of the NE. As long as fuel prices and supply don’t go crazy, we will keep seeing this great land.