Susanne is your driver for this post.
1. We have a long-term route in mind. Our overall plan is to mosey through New Mexico and Arizona into southern California before moving northward through NorCal, Oregon, and Washington. Everything is dictated by this long-term route, though we have no idea how long it'll take to implement said plan.
2. We think about people or places we want to see. For instance, a couple of months back, we traveled through Austin, TX because we wanted to visit our friends and housesit for them. At the end of September, we're going to Santa Fe: I hear it's just too good to pass up. After that, we'll be heading to the Grand Canyon because we want to give Sam the opportunity to see this amazing national park. Thus, specific attractions play a significant role in influencing where we go.
3. Climate. Although we made the crazy decision to spend most of our summer in Texas - mainly to establish residency there - we want to make a habit of following the weather to avoid extreme temperatures. That way, we won't have to overtax our (currently exhausted) air conditioner or rely too much on the heating system.
4. Cost. Three months in, we're realizing that we feel most comfortable (and efficient, in a work sense) when we stay at campgrounds with full hook-ups, level spots, and good light. At the same time, we can't afford to pay an arm and a leg, and that's challenging. For example, KOAs offer loads of amenities, but many of them cost $40 or even $50 a night. That's way too expensive for us. We actively seek out RV parks and campgrounds that are more economical.
As part of our cost considerations, we look for Thousand Trails parks close to our desired destination. Because we're Thousand Trails members, we can stay in a Thousand Trails park for up to two weeks, with full hookups, on relatively level ground, at no charge (the only caveat is that we have to be "out of the system" for a week before returning to another TT park). If there's a TT in the general area, that's where we go.
5. Reviews from other RVers. If a campsite is in a good location and offers a reasonable price, our next step is to check online reviews to see what other people have to say about it. To research campgrounds, we check Campendium, RV Park Reviews, and Google reviews. Sometimes we also check with our full-time RVer forum on Facebook. These reviews are crucial: a park can be well located and look pretty in pictures, but if customer service is bad or if the utilities aren't working properly, we don't want to stay there.
6. Quality of Verizon coverage. Trent's work takes place entirely online, so he requires a strong, reliable Internet connection. We obtain our connection through our Verizon unlimited plan, so Verizon coverage is a major priority. Once we've found an affordable campsite, we research the quality of the cellular signal there first by checking the Verizon Coverage Map and then by scoping out reviews on Campendium. The Verizon Coverage Map is fairly accurate, but if a campground is "on the edge" in terms of signal quality, we can't always tell. That's when the Campendium reviews, which include very specific information and ratings of cellular coverage, are vital.
So that's how we do it! Sometimes it feels lot like putting together a complicated jigsaw puzzle or solving a Rubik's cube, but so far the effort has been worth it. We've generally enjoyed every place we've stayed.
For other RVers: What's your typical process for deciding where you're going next and where to stay?
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