RE: Planning for the Summer

[BaysideBruce]

 
How do you plan for a long summer trip?  Where do you start at?  We are making plans for a trip to Maine (from Maryland) and this will be our first " long"  trip.  Right now we are thinking about a 10-14 day round trip.  How do you find CGs along the way and how do you plan your route?  Is it realistic to plan on driving 8 hours/day if you are breaking camp and seting up camp at both ends of the day?  Or is it better to stay at a hotel while in transit to Maine?  (2 adults and 2 teens in a crew cab pickup). Any suggestions on how to get around New York City?  Also this will be our first long trip, so are there other things that you would recommend bringing along that we never thought of since we generally camp just on weekends.  Any special state laws I should know about hauling a camper thorugh the various states?  All suggestions are more than welcomed!  Thanks!

[Tim5055]

 BaysideBruce
Well, I ll break this down into parts
 
 

ORIGINAL:  BaysideBruce
 
 How do you plan for a long summer trip?  Where do you start at?  We are making plans for a trip to Maine (from Maryland) and this will be our first " long"  trip.  Right now we are thinking about a 10-14 day round trip.

 
 Start by deciding your final destination(s).  You may have more than one.  Drop by AAA if a member and get the state maps to start with, you can get TripTiks later.
 
 

How do you find CGs along the way and how do you plan your route?

 After deciding your towing distance per day, asking questions here is going to help a lot.  You can post a general area you my want to stop, members will fill in the rest.
 
 
 

Is it realistic to plan on driving 8 hours/day if you are breaking camp and seting up camp at both ends of the day?  Or is it better to stay at a hotel while in transit to Maine?  (2 adults and 2 teens in a crew cab pickup).

 No, it is not realistic IMHO!  If your plan calls for long driving days you don t want to set up and take down the pop up every night.  I grew up in a household where the destination was the trip.  We drove straight through to get somewhere.  How about planning your trip for several destinations where you may stay a few days at a time?
 
 

Any suggestions on how to get around New York City?  Also this will be our first long trip, so are there other things that you would recommend bringing along that we never thought of since we generally camp just on weekends.

 Sorry, can t help with NYC
 
 

Any special state laws I should know about hauling a camper thorugh the various states?

 All states must respect the laws of Maryland where your trailer is registered.  Tags, brakes, insurance, inspections and these type things are really not a problem, just make sure you are totally legal in MD. The only thing you need to worry about are states that have lower speed limits for vehicles towing trailers.

[whitestar505]

 BaysideBruce
BaysideBruce,
 
 
     You might want to try http://www.desertofmaine.com/. This is located outside of FreePort Maine. This is a nice place for the ladies to shop. All kinds of outlets. Also a lot to do and see. Light houses are up and down the coast there within 30 miles.
 From your  camping location here you only drive 3 mile to the bay and get fresh seafood cooked right out of the water. Futher north you can go whale watching. I have another web page but can not find it now. As soon as I find I will provide it. Good planning. This is a better site. http://camping.about.com/blaastME.htm