Booked for 2007

[drewc]

Just made reservations for President's week of 2007. We plan to get a pop-up this spring and we'll be camping in that. We tent-camped at FTW last Columbus Day weekend and had a great time (other than sweating a lot in the humid 80 degree weather, and shlepping our tents and equipment on a plane).

Can't wait to go again. FTW was the best camp ground we've ever been to.

Typically when we drive to FL from our home in upstate NY, we go straight through the night, but I'm guessing we won't be doing that with a pop-up in tow. What do most of you trailer-owners do? Stop at motels? Campgrounds? I have lots of time to research - help get me started!

Thanks.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I'm from eastern PA. When we had a pop up, we stopped a couple of times at the KOA in Florence, SC but it got to be too big a pain to set up just for the night, so then we started stopping at a cheap motel for the night. It is easier with the hybrid - we just pull in plug in the electric, if we want, or just run off the battery. We have been going all the way down to the KOA in Savannah, GA the last couple of years - it is a long trip for the first day, but makes for a real short trip into FW the second.

 

[VAN]

We drive down with a pop-up from SW Michigan. We usually stop in southern Georgia at a hotel. Key points for us is that it is clean and the camper is in a safe place. Because of this, the hotel can be kind of pricey, but it is worth it after 16 hours of highway driving towing a camper!!!

On the way home, we stop in Northern Kentucky for the night.

For us, we have found that we need to have a reservation before leaving home. We have seen some of the hotels turning people away as early as 6:00 pm!!!

 

[drewc]

Not sure when I'll pick it up, but we went ahead and bought a pop-up. 2004 Fleetwood bayside. Looks like new and will be a step-up over tenting (and our previous RV, a class-c dinosaur).

We're used to plowing through all night to get to Orlando from up-state NY in 18 - 20 hours. In your opinion, how much more tiring / stressful is driving while towing a pop-up likely to be? I know it is subjective. I just hate the idea of giving up a day or so of time at FTW, but I want to be realistic about how much driving we can reasonably do without overdoing it.

 

[rwenzel2]

Congratulations on your popup purchase. We used to have a Coleman Niagra, and we LOVED it! I hope you make many years of good memories in it!

 

[VAN]

For us, we have found that breaking up the trip helps us to arrive rested and in good shape.

In my younger days a friend and I would drive straight through, but now that I'm older I find that it is not worth the hassle to arrive tired (it is a vacation after all) ... additionally, from a safety standpoint, driving at night and being tired is not really a good idea.

Some people don't have a problem driving at night, but I hate to do it even at home.

Agree with ftwilderness guy that after a good night sleep, only having a 4 hr drive the next day is great!!