OT: Road trip from Philly, PA to Rapid City, SD

[Karenj2]

I might have posted this a while back, but I'm beginning to bounce the idea of this road trip again... Basically, DH and I want to visit our former neighbors, who now live near Mt. Rushmore in SD. They used to dog-sit for us, and they've said that if we ever decide to visit, we've got to bring our dogs! We live near Philly. (I'm hoping to also be able to make a stop at Notre Dame, since that's nearby...)

The only way that's going to be possible is if we RV it, 'cause I won't subject them to flying.


So, I have a few questions for you experts:

Can you point me to any good sites for finding GOOD campsites (that are large dog friendly) along the way? (I love the KOA site, but I don't necessarily have to stay at KOAs.)

What's a good distance to cover each day? (I've driven 8-11 hours on my own, but that's without dogs.)

I've driven a duley(?) extended cab pickup truck with a 40' boat on highways only. (I'm also the shortest potential driver at 5'4".) We'd have at least 2 adults and two golden retrievers, with the possibility of 2 more adults. Unfortunately, we don't have towing capabilities unless my parents come - they have a Suburban... What kind of RV would you recommend?

How do you get around? The only place that would be a real problem is at Notre Dame, since we'd like to visit for a day or two.

Can you recommend any interesting things to see/do along the way? Anything we should go OUT of our way for?

Any tips on camping with dogs?

 

[disney4dan]

Sounds like a great trip. I have an aunt and uncle who just went 11,000 miles around the US & Canada with their rescued golden retreiver, and she loves the road. I think you will find that the two dogs will settle in quickly.

With that said, any good sized Class C should be capable of towing a car behind it, as long as it's properly equipped. That should help on getting around Notre Dame. Maybe it would be better to just call Enterprise and have them deliver a small car to the campground you select near Notre Dame? From what I remember, the mileage charges on a rental Class C were pretty steep (maybe 25 cents per mile, beginning as soon as it drove off the lot).

Maybe you could find a local trailer rental place that has a working relationship with someone who rents tow vehicles set up for RV towing? I checked before and could not get any of the large rental agencies to set something up for towing (some offered Chevy Suburbans in the 3/4 ton model, but would not let you tow with it). Maybe UHaul or Penske? Ryder?
We found one arrangement out west, got a Dodge 3/4 ton diesel truck, 4 door with plenty of tow capacity for between 500 and 600 for 9 days, and it included 200 miles per day. We only put on 1,600 miles that trip, because we did a lot of hiking during the days. There was no mileage charge for the trailer, just a set daily rate.

Distance, depending on how much time you want to spend and everyone's preferences, most suggest planning on an average of 50 mph for the day, and then figure how many hours you want to be sitting. Good friends of ours suggested trying for a longer day (10 to 12 hours) on the first few days, and then plan for 6 to 8 as time goes on.

Nancy and I put in a 17 hour day to cross Kansas in 1988 with a '55 Chevy. I would not recommend it towing. We only did it because the windshield wipers were not working and we were following the storms east - and I could swear that I saw Dorothy and Toto at the end of the day! Turns out it was just some flying monkeys.

 

[disney4dan]

I forgot to mention, we considered driving out west from here in Massachusetts back in 2006. We settled on flying out and picking up the rental gear instead, but about the only things we could agree on for visiting between here and the Mt. Rushmore area was a visit to the Great Lakes - we like Saugatuck area, visit with family in Chicago, and areas covered by the Little House on the Prairie books (Our daughter read the entire series over the winter of 2005).

If you go as far as Mt. Rushmore, I HIGHLY recommed going one step further to Yellowstone if you have never been there. The scenery will take your breath away (not just from bringing an RV through the mountain passes), and there are many National Park Camgrounds to choose from. Then head south to the Grand Tetons and come back east through the Rockies.

 

[Karenj2]

Maybe it would be better to just call Enterprise and have them deliver a small car to the campground you select near Notre Dame?

That's a pretty good idea! I'm not sure if we'd need a separate car that often, as many of the places we'd be stopping at would be just overnighters... And once we got to Mt. Rushmore, we'd be with friends who'd be able to either drive us or loan us a car. I'd be a little bit nervous towing one of our own cars.

Distance, depending on how much time you want to spend and everyone's preferences, most suggest planning on an average of 50 mph for the day, and then figure how many hours you want to be sitting. Good friends of ours suggested trying for a longer day (10 to 12 hours) on the first few days, and then plan for 6 to 8 as time goes on.

I think that was almost naturally working out for me where I wanted to stop...

I forgot to mention, we considered driving out west from here in Massachusetts back in 2006. We settled on flying out and picking up the rental gear instead, but about the only things we could agree on for visiting between here and the Mt. Rushmore area was a visit to the Great Lakes - we like Saugatuck area, visit with family in Chicago, and areas covered by the Little House on the Prairie books (Our daughter read the entire series over the winter of 2005).

What are the areas for the Little House on the Prarie books?? I LOVED those books! (and where's Saugatuck?)

If you go as far as Mt. Rushmore, I HIGHLY recommed going one step further to Yellowstone if you have never been there. The scenery will take your breath away (not just from bringing an RV through the mountain passes), and there are many National Park Camgrounds to choose from. Then head south to the Grand Tetons and come back east through the Rockies.

Hmmm... that sounds like fun - I'll have to look at it on a map, though. I only have 2 weeks vacation for the whole year!!


ETA - and thank you, BTW, for responding! Are there RV/Camping Travel Agents out there??? You should be one!