My parents took us across the country and into Canada 4 times when I was young (many moons ago). We never camped though, my mother was afraid of bears lol! I do remember we stayed in cabins sometimes, hotels/motels most of the time. They never ever had a reservation though.
It was some of our fondest memories, our family of 6 crammed in the car. My father always took the "scenic route" and avoided the tourist traps. Apparently the Grand Canyon was a tourist trap. We learned a great deal about bladder control and in some intances, bowel control. This was very helpful to us when he decided that the dirt road with no side rails on it, the one that had about 4 inches on the side between the car and a long, long drop down a cliff was the perfect place to let my sister who had recently gotten her drivers learner permit to practice driving.
Seriously we did have lots of fun, we ate a lot of meals beside streams and had a good time running around. What I never knew was just how budgeted those trips were. #0 some odd years later (longer for my siblings) we still get together and remember the great times spent together!
well, you know. 
