camping, how far do you pull?

[paper1225]

I would really love to get a pop up. Last summer we looked and looked, even went to the local RV show-we have figured out we would like a pop up, but will go the used route for the first. We love to camp. We tent camp at least once/year-but it used to be more. Just getting tired of rain, and other "tent" issues. Over the last 15 years we have had a few different tents trying to beat the issues-now it is time to upgrade........

my question is for all that pull your pop up, how far is too far? We are about 1000 miles from disney and I would love to pull it there, not sure if that is financially worth it though(cost of gas, spot rental, travel time extended, etc)
thanks!

 

[F4disneyfan]

My wife has me pull the trailer all over the place in Ontario the furthest thus far was 7 hours away. She has had me pull it from London to McGregor Point and to Algonquin park and to our cottage in Honey Harbour. She was considering pulling it to Disney in Oct but the kids don't want to go in Oct so that is out. I will be pulling it down there in the next year or so for her as she will camp with the 4 ids at that time. I am also pulling it to the Pinery for her in Aug so she can camp with our 3 kids an our at that time 2 month old child. I then just leave them at the campsites and drive the van home and go baack and pick them up at the end of the trip.

 

[loriandmatt]

we pull our pop up from the outskirts of Philly to WDW. for us it is 1030 miles from our door to the Fort. drive time is about 16 hours each way. we try to divide the drive into two days each way.

honestly the drive down is not so bad. the drive back is killer (in a bad way)

for us, it is totally worth it.

even if we get cheap $49 flights, for the 4 of us, with taxes it comes out to around $500. (those are rare though, i can generally get round trip flights for all of us at around $600-700) then there is the car rental (DH hates the busses at WDW) that is another $200-300 for a stay. then if we fly, we have to stay at a hotel instead of our camper so even with a discount, we are paying a lot more than a campsite. then there is the food issue.....when camping, between stuff i can pack and bring with us, stuff i pick up at wal-mart on our way into WDW....we can eat pretty well, without a lot of work from me and still eat out quite a bit and have it be far less $ than a resort stay.

yes, when driving/camping gas does hurt, but even when it is high, i am not spending $600 on gas for the drive down and back. yes, camping does mean a hotel room for a night for the 2 day drive down and back, but even at @$100/night - it still works out cheaper to drive than to fly for us.

 

[F4disneyfan]

we pull our pop up from the outskirts of Philly to WDW. for us it is 1030 miles from our door to the Fort. drive time is about 16 hours each way. we try to divide the drive into two days each way.

honestly the drive down is not so bad. the drive back is killer (in a bad way)

for us, it is totally worth it.

even if we get cheap $49 flights, for the 4 of us, with taxes it comes out to around $500. (those are rare though, i can generally get round trip flights for all of us at around $600-700) then there is the car rental (DH hates the busses at WDW) that is another $200-300 for a stay. then if we fly, we have to stay at a hotel instead of our camper so even with a discount, we are paying a lot more than a campsite. then there is the food issue.....when camping, between stuff i can pack and bring with us, stuff i pick up at wal-mart on our way into WDW....we can eat pretty well, without a lot of work from me and still eat out quite a bit and have it be far less $ than a resort stay.

yes, when driving/camping gas does hurt, but even when it is high, i am not spending $600 on gas for the drive down and back. yes, camping does mean a hotel room for a night for the 2 day drive down and back, but even at @$100/night - it still works out cheaper to drive than to fly for us.

I agree about the flying but teh camping part is just not in my vocab LOL. I would rather stay in teh hotels I guess that is why the wife camps and I stay home and our Disney trips we stay in hotels our DVC membership was the best money we ever spent LOL. You should try flying from Toronto LOL try over $1800-2600 for a family of 5 return.

 

[JCJRSmith]

We are in South Central PA (Harrisburg area) so we are just shy of 1000 miles to Fort Wilderness and that other place, what'sitcalledagain - oh yeah, Disney World . When we tow our trailer, I do all the driving - SWMBO is an admitted chicken to driving while towing. We can handle about 500 miles per day, give or take. When we towed the camper down in June 2004, we drove to about the middle of South Carolina (about 540 miles) the first day, and the rest of the way on day two.

Your Mileage May Vary. Don't rush, have fun, and above all, stay safe so you can enjoy your trip.

 

[akamom]

I live in Michigan and are towing to WDW in 12 days!! I don't think there is a "too far", I know ppl who pop up camp cross country.

 

[Us3]

Thats a long pull....but SO worth it for FW and WDW!!!

 

[We4mickey]

We pull from Wisconsin. The only time I would hesitate is during the winter. It is 1242 miles for us. $600 for gas is way cheaper than the airline tickets would be for 6 of us. We have driven for as long as I can remember and our kids have since they were babies. Just pace yourselves and don't rush it. Enjoy the ride.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

We towed our popup from Southern Ontario to Disney in 1996. There is nothing like the Fort. I will tow again I just want a stronger T.V. for the mountains before we do it.

 

[SunshineCamper]

We pulled our popup from Orlando to Washington DC.
Last summer we upgraded due to the fact we were going to CO (mainly Denver).
We went for 16 days driving time 8 days total with our 26 ft. travel trailer. So Orlando to CO= many miles but so worth it. Nothing compares to a road trip with or without a RV on the back. We loved the Rocky Mts. (but not the 19% grade we found ourselves on going to Golden Canyon SP (gravel road with 3-90 degree turns-the road is only open from May until sept.) Let's just say after that drive up the mt. We all needed new shorts and a beer!
I'd take the trip again with the 4 of us. We almost didn't go last summer b/c the gas prices were so high. They're supposed to be higher this summer. It's still cheaper than flying and staying in a hotel.
Gas cost us $1300-those mts. killed us.

I'd say go for it! it's so worth it once you get to the parking/ticket booth-then turn onto Vista Blvd-then see the sign Disney's Ft. Wilderness resort and Campground!! We live here and it's exciting everyone we go!

 

[becky1960]

We have a 29ft 5th wheel we pull from the Houston texas area about 1100miles. We used to own a popup which was pulled all over the US. A popup will save you on gas and a lot easier to pull. I will say though, that the 5th wheel is like a rolling motel with a lot more.

 

[christinou]

1200 miles here from upstate NY and well worth it, we have camped at FW 12 times now and love it.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I know this is not what you want to hear, but it is 82.5 miles from my driveway to Exit 62 on I-4 (the Western-most WDW exit)! I have never towed my camper any further!

TCD

 

[lawnspecialties]

That's a good one.

639 miles from our driveway to the Fort's gate. That's about 5 hours to a mid-Ga. campground "sleepover". Then we pull out at 8am and usually hit the Fort around 12:30.

 

[bennythepug]

It's a 24 hour drive time from New Hampshire. We pulled our pop-up down last summer.

 

[paper1225]

thanks everyone, another question-we are 1023 miles away from our drive way, and it usually takes us 16 hours-how much will this increase with a pop up?

 

[GreatLakes5]

We come from Western Michigan - about 20 hours - stop off in Lookout Mountain. Still more inexpensive even with the price of diesel lately - we would be buying five airline tickets plus paying for animal boarding (we take our dog with us).

 

[dopeyprincesses]

Tri-Circle - you could almost walk there!! How cool is that

I am also wondering how much time does it add to your driving when pulling a 26 foot travel trailer?

This will be our first trip to FW - estimated time is 17hours, 1100 miles.

 

[lawnspecialties]

Tri-Circle - you could almost walk there!! How cool is that

I am also wondering how much time does it add to your driving when pulling a 26 foot travel trailer?

This will be our first trip to FW - estimated time is 17hours, 1100 miles.

That depends on how fast you're willing to go. We usually run 70 mph down I-95 the whole way. Soemtimes it feels like if we don't, we'll get run over.

You will have more fuel stops but in the end, it is so worth it.

 

[tellnotails]

Long way from MI to the fort.......but it is the only way finacially for some of us......to experience the fort.....