Cross Country Trip

[jayB]

My wife and I are talking about taking our pop up on a trip from Pennsylvania to the Portland Oregon area. She thinks we are nuts for attempting this trip with two kids (ten and seven) and the dog.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this a trouble free journey and easier on the both of us?

[4Campers]

When our kids were small we used to take frequent stops where they could run and play for a bit. Games in the car were fun, but became boring after a short time. New toys on the road are the best, even the toys that come with kid meals. Of course all selected because they were not noisy or active toys. We did set up the pup occasionally on long trips, but the hassle is often too much spending an hour or so setting up just to sleep then close down in the early morning to head out. Spend a few extra bucks and take a night in a hotel while on the long drive, a place with a pool really makes the kids sleep well after the days drive. Other option is to consider covering less distance daily and have stops set up along your route you want to visit, and spend a night or two. Other wise, my best advice is don't push it and try to cover too many miles in a day. Just when you have the day planned for covering 450 miles, one of the kids will need the bathroom every rest stop and darned if fifty miles down the road the other will be begging to stop or me!

[OC Campers]

When my kids were 7 and 3 my parents and I went on a 10,000 mile cross country trip from Los angeles, to the UP of Michgan, to Dallas and home to LA.  The kids had a ball.  We tried to only drive 500 miles a day.  We also stopped and did lots of tourist stuff.  I also purchased a lot new toys, coloring things, books etc. and didn't show them the items till we were out on the road.  They also got to bring along there Game Boys (just for the car ride).    They still remember that trip even though it was 10 years ago.  

Jacqui

[wavery]

Sounds like a trip that could have lots of potential for positive and/or negative experiences.

What kind of camper and tow vehicle do you have. That info may help people give a lot more helpful advise to increase the positive and decrease the negative.:sombraro:

[copcarguy]

We have driven from NY to Sacramento twice. The first time we took I-80 both ways. The same highway for 6000 miles can be tedious lol. We learned to just do 500 miles a day, and then stop at a hotel with a swimming pool. Trust me, swimming at the end of a 500 mile day feels just oh-so-good. The second time we took I-80 out and I-50 part-way back, which made for a change of pace - 50 follows the Pony Express route, we saw ghost towns, and stopped at the Dinosaur National monument in Vernal, Utah. It is a VERY lonely road, you might not pass someone else for 45 mins or more. I wasn't towing that trip and being so desolate, I found myself cruising over 110 mph on several occasions since there is nothing to judge your speed, just a straight road to the horizon.
 
This trip is something you'll never regret / forget doing - GO FOR IT!

[wavery]

We have driven from NY to Sacramento twice. The first time we took I-80 both ways. The same highway for 6000 miles can be tedious lol. We learned to just do 500 miles a day, and then stop at a hotel with a swimming pool. Trust me, swimming at the end of a 500 mile day feels just oh-so-good. The second time we took I-80 out and I-50 part-way back, which made for a change of pace - 50 follows the Pony Express route, we saw ghost towns, and stopped at the Dinosaur National monument in Vernal, Utah. It is a VERY lonely road, you might not pass someone else for 45 mins or more. I wasn't towing that trip and being so desolate, I found myself cruising over 110 mph on several occasions since there is nothing to judge your speed, just a straight road to the horizon.
 
This trip is something you'll never regret / forget doing - GO FOR IT!

I'd suggest keeping it under a hundred when towing the PU......:p

[GeneF]

My wife and I are talking about taking our pop up on a trip from Pennsylvania to the Portland Oregon area. She thinks we are nuts for attempting this trip with two kids (ten and seven) and the dog.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this a trouble free journey and easier on the both of us?

In 1992, DW and I took our two kids aged 11 and 6 on a 49 day trip from NH to Seattle down to San Francisco and back in an 8 foot popup.  This was before gameboys and ipods, etc.  We brought books and games.

We left the dog with some neighbors who happened to like our Golden.  I strongly suggest that you leave the dog at home.  The dog will not be allowed in some areas that you might want to go, you can't (or shouldn't) leave your dog unattended, and he will take up needed human stretching space.

It would help to know how long you are planning on taking to do this trip.

If this trip is done right, it will be a fantastic trip that you and your family will talk about for years, if done wrong, you will still talk about it for years.l

Give us a bit more info.

[MotherNature]

Uh, this might sound like outright bribery, but I've always found 'vehicle snacks' to be much appreciated (especially the ones that are usually rarely had in the 'stationary house').

[jpcjtrtj]

If you don't have a 12v tv, buy one with a vcr or dvd player and that allows you to plug in their playstation (don't bring the xbox or it'll scratch the disc on the first bump, etc.  You can run a regular tv off the battery with a converter.  Our kids will go a couple hours without killing each other with a movie or being able to play their video games. It may be sacrelig to suggest video games on a camping trip, but it does save a lot of "Don't make me pull this car over!" conversations.  

Our rule is at the destination or camping ground, no video, iphones, etc., but on the road, Daddy needs his children not to try to kill each other.:-():eyecrazy:

Stop often and look at stuff.  Don't hold yourself to a crazy schedule.  Take it as it goes.  Try not to drive more than 5 hours in a day if you can.

jps

[outdoors5]

We have experience in long trips with the kids.  One day I should post our full east coast trip and our full Rocky Mtn.-National parks trip.   Our experience shows plan for 6 hour drive time and try destination stops along the way.  I believe you can take 90W.  We stopped in Clevaland (rock & roll hall of fame), Chicago, Lay over Sioux falls, Drive through Badlands & stop @Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse.  At this point we went north to Glacier but you may want to contiue straight though to Yellowstone.  We did stay a few days at Chicago, Rushmore, Yellowstone.  From there your on your own B/C then we went south.  If you do not have time or can't go this way just find places for the kids & you to reach for, sometimes it is just a swimming pool.  Oh definitaly jump out every so often and have a catch.  If we only had one night on the road we got a hotel.  There is nothing like showing your family the country.

[ilovecamping]

I have traveled many times with many children and a dog.  I say go now before they get any older.  The worst trip we ever made was when our children were 9, 12 and 20.  We have traveled since with our DGD and she has a portable DVD player that we take for her movies, her ipod and she has toys.  I think we are lucky that she sleeps quite a bit when riding.  This year she will probably take her Nintendo DS she got for Christmas.  She just turned 7 and we have been taking her on long vacations since she was 2.  We take the dog too.  She stays in the camper when we are doing things where she can't go.

[surffishjimmy]

Well I only have one experience with a long drive and my 3.5 year old.  We just took a trip from LI NY to Disney in Orlando FL.   On the way home we did the entire trip back, 1,250 miles, only stopping to eat and go to the bathroom.  We were in the car 23 hours total on the way home. I thank god every time I go to church that my son is so good in the car on long trips.  

Stopping often and having stuff to do in the car like movies games etc. is the key to a good trip.

What is the worse that could happen?   If you see that the kids and wife are not happy being in the car that long you stop more often or just do less miles a day.   Even if you don't get to your destination and have to cut your trip short it is still a good trip and you will see a lot of good old America along the way.

I say go for it and give it a try.