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At least once a year our destination is a landmark National Park. Since we live in the middle of the US, this usually means traveling a long distance to get to “A Park That’s a Place”. And that results in looking for a Place to Park for overnight stops.
There seems to be two schools of thought for long distance motoring. Some of our RVing friends just turn the key and take off. They pull over when they are tired, where ever that might be. Other folks we know study the map for months, research every possible detail, and have their entire trip planned hour by hour. I fall uneasily in the middle.
This year we’ve got a big western tour scheduled. Since we’re spending a good chunk of time in two National Parks, straddling a holiday weekend, I wanted the security of reservations. About a year ago, I sheepishly called Yellowstone to inquire about securing a site at Fishing Bridge Campground.
“I’m calling really early,” I said apologetically to the agent.
“Oh, no,” she replied. “Most people call 18 months in advance!”
With our National Park reservations safely tucked in, we decided the rest of the trip will have a loose itinerary. Cross Missouri. Traverse Nebraska. Hang a right at Wyoming. It’ll be fun vagabonding. Pull over wherever, just like a couple of hippies.
But as our departure date nears, I find myself nervously checking Google Maps and the pulse of my own temperament. I’m a Baby Boomer of a certain age. My tolerance for discomfort has reduced considerably. Way back when, cruising with a carful of college buddies, it was no big whoop to drive until O-Dark-Thirty and pull into Bubba’s Roach Motel for the night. But I’m a lot pickier now. I’ve got a nice RV rig and dog that needs a walk, and I’m a bit saddle sore. The last thing I want after a hard day’s drive is to spend my evening in a scorching Wal-Mart parking lot in the dead of summer. I want some semblance of comfort and scenery.
So I’ve been reviewing the maps and the campground apps. I’ve printed off the directions and paper-clipped little piles for each city we expect to stop. I can’t help it, I’m compelled to plan. Chances are we won’t stay at any of these places, we’ll be farther down the road than we expected or we’ll have spent too much time at a fabulous flea market and miss our overnight mark by several hundred miles. But just knowing I have a folder full of contingencies makes me happy.
There are many campground directories available and also smart-phone park finder apps to help those of us who have the compulsion to plan. And even if you’re flying loose and free with no discernible time table, these are wonderful reference sources.
We like the routing services provided by Good Sam Club. For a reasonable annual fee, they offer excellent assistance via phone, internet, and smart apps to help you locate services and campgrounds.
They say it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. But I have to add that it’s also a good place to park at the end of the day!
Website: www.goodsamclub.com
July 11, 2023
