California Camping in an RV - anyone done it?
Discussion
Had a brief conversation with someone yesterday about this and it has got the old cogs ticking - a 2 week road trip across California in an RV, stopping at campsites in a few places.
Has anyone done it or have any recommendations? I have the name of an RV rental company already (El Monte) but would love to hear from someone who has already been there.
Has anyone done it or have any recommendations? I have the name of an RV rental company already (El Monte) but would love to hear from someone who has already been there.
davepoth said:
I slept in the back of my car for a few nights if it helps?
Seriously though, good place to do it. Cops don't like you parking by main roads and sleeping within town limits, so best to either pick back roads or go to proper camp grounds.
Proper campsites would be the plan.Seriously though, good place to do it. Cops don't like you parking by main roads and sleeping within town limits, so best to either pick back roads or go to proper camp grounds.
Super Slo Mo said:
I'm going to do just that next week. If you want, you can PM me towards the end of the month and I'll give you some feedback of how it went.
That would be cool. Will sling you a mail in a few weeks 
I'll be doing it in 4 weeks, we're heading up the PCH from LA. 2 we're staying at are Refugio State Beach & Kirk Creek Campground, these are cheap at $20 a night but we booked them back in March on the day the reservations opened, they booked up within a couple of hours. We're also staying at a couple of KOA's as we head across to Vegas which are a little more expensive but are bigger and have more facilities than state sites.
I've done this a few times now and always used el monte rv. Each year they've offered me a return customer discount, their service is excellent and the vehicles they have are well looked after if not new. The main trip I do is local, upto SF, down to Yosemite, across to LV, Hoover dam, grand canyon (get the train from Williams), then phoenix, back over to LA stopping at various places and sites on the way. I bought the latest Rand McNally guide and CD (I think it was that) and it covered every site, amenity and rating.
Can't beat sitting out in the desert, late at night, in a hot tub with a beer.
Can't beat sitting out in the desert, late at night, in a hot tub with a beer.
I can talk about RVing in general, but not specifically in Calif, as I did it in Canada.
To set the scene, me and the missus like a bit of luxury. However I'm also happy roughing it. Give me a bit of canvas, some beer and meat and somewhere to light a fire I'm a happy man. My missus isn't. She doesn't do camping.
RVing was great for both of us. Imagine driving your own fridge full of beer and steak around, with a comfortable bed attached and you've got it.
Wide open roads make you feel less like a pariah driving an RV than the "caravanner" feel I expect you'd get in the UK - you don't really hold traffic up and there are loads of places to stop and park up.
Camp sites in Canada were dirt cheap if you didn't need electrical and sewage hookup and like a bit of wilderness. We probably did 2 nights of wilderness to 1 night of hook-up to recharge everything up.
Buy a cheap BBQ and some camp chairs when you get there. Fill the fridge with beer, steak, seafood. Head off. Great, great holidays.
To set the scene, me and the missus like a bit of luxury. However I'm also happy roughing it. Give me a bit of canvas, some beer and meat and somewhere to light a fire I'm a happy man. My missus isn't. She doesn't do camping.
RVing was great for both of us. Imagine driving your own fridge full of beer and steak around, with a comfortable bed attached and you've got it.
Wide open roads make you feel less like a pariah driving an RV than the "caravanner" feel I expect you'd get in the UK - you don't really hold traffic up and there are loads of places to stop and park up.
Camp sites in Canada were dirt cheap if you didn't need electrical and sewage hookup and like a bit of wilderness. We probably did 2 nights of wilderness to 1 night of hook-up to recharge everything up.
Buy a cheap BBQ and some camp chairs when you get there. Fill the fridge with beer, steak, seafood. Head off. Great, great holidays.
Apologies for the sidetrack .... This might sound silly but do you have to all sit in seat with seatbelt when the RV is on the move ?
Also, what is the train to GC ? I am planning a similar trip, SF to Monterey to Santa Cruz, LA then Vegas -GC-death valley-Yosemite-SF but the problem ive got is that GC is such a huge tangent out eastwards. I almost tempted to skip it unless there is a decent way to come back to death valley via somewhere else ?
Also, what is the train to GC ? I am planning a similar trip, SF to Monterey to Santa Cruz, LA then Vegas -GC-death valley-Yosemite-SF but the problem ive got is that GC is such a huge tangent out eastwards. I almost tempted to skip it unless there is a decent way to come back to death valley via somewhere else ?
http://www.thetrain.com/ Official Grand Canyon Railway. The RV park is right next to the boarding station (don't worry - there's no noise) and the park was brand new when we went a few years ago. Williams is a quaint little town with a few good places to eat in ("rustic" i think). Saves the long drive up and the scenery along the rail route is immense. We travelled in the last car which included drinks and food (for a bit of extravagance). There are various packages including an overnight stop in the hotel at the GC. The bonus with the train is you arrive right in the middle of the GC viewing area. The downside is you are tied to the arrival/departure times. It's a decent day though and worth it. If you want to drive on to another park after your trip you don't feel as tired as you would have done from driving up and down from the Canyon rim.
jackal said:
Apologies for the sidetrack .... This might sound silly but do you have to all sit in seat with seatbelt when the RV is on the move ?
You should really, although I'm not sure of the law in the US. There are usually enough seats with belts fitted for the number of people the RV can sleep, and while I daresay it's feasible to get up and make a cup of tea or something, it's probably not all that clever, and could end up being a little painful if the driver swerves or has to brake sharply.
Super Slo Mo said:
jackal said:
Apologies for the sidetrack .... This might sound silly but do you have to all sit in seat with seatbelt when the RV is on the move ?
You should really, although I'm not sure of the law in the US. There are usually enough seats with belts fitted for the number of people the RV can sleep, and while I daresay it's feasible to get up and make a cup of tea or something, it's probably not all that clever, and could end up being a little painful if the driver swerves or has to brake sharply.
http://www.rvhelpdesk.com/seatbelt-laws.html
jackal said:
Apologies for the sidetrack .... This might sound silly but do you have to all sit in seat with seatbelt when the RV is on the move ?
Also, what is the train to GC ? I am planning a similar trip, SF to Monterey to Santa Cruz, LA then Vegas -GC-death valley-Yosemite-SF but the problem ive got is that GC is such a huge tangent out eastwards. I almost tempted to skip it unless there is a decent way to come back to death valley via somewhere else ?
In theory yes but as in life you make a decision. Smaller RV's dont have a walkthru to the cab but anything above 4 berth does. Just remember if you were to have an accident its a long way to slide from the rear bedroom. Also, what is the train to GC ? I am planning a similar trip, SF to Monterey to Santa Cruz, LA then Vegas -GC-death valley-Yosemite-SF but the problem ive got is that GC is such a huge tangent out eastwards. I almost tempted to skip it unless there is a decent way to come back to death valley via somewhere else ?
One of my mates tried using the bog when we were doing 60 along the Interstate, he didnt do it again!
I've thought about this in the past but eventually couldn't see the point.
1. It is expensive.
2. They are slow.
3. There are some great driving roads that aren't going to be enjoyable in an RV.
4. Motels are more comfortable and can be as remote as you want. I've also stayed in cabins on RV sites.
5. They are a pain if you want to visit a city.
6. You have to empty the s
tter.
I've much preferred car, motels, cabins and buying a tent to do the "wilderness" bit. Sometimes it's best to ditch the motorised transport too!
1. It is expensive.
2. They are slow.
3. There are some great driving roads that aren't going to be enjoyable in an RV.
4. Motels are more comfortable and can be as remote as you want. I've also stayed in cabins on RV sites.
5. They are a pain if you want to visit a city.
6. You have to empty the s
tter.I've much preferred car, motels, cabins and buying a tent to do the "wilderness" bit. Sometimes it's best to ditch the motorised transport too!
jackal said:
Apologies for the sidetrack .... This might sound silly but do you have to all sit in seat with seatbelt when the RV is on the move ?
Also, what is the train to GC ? I am planning a similar trip, SF to Monterey to Santa Cruz, LA then Vegas -GC-death valley-Yosemite-SF but the problem ive got is that GC is such a huge tangent out eastwards. I almost tempted to skip it unless there is a decent way to come back to death valley via somewhere else ?
We did a two week trip last September, SF down highway 1 staying in big sur. we then jumped on the new highway and in 5 hours found ourselves in the nappa vally, we then went to Yosemite staying in camp curry - on to mammoth lakes then death vally through to Vegas, if your gonna be in LV take a chopper to he GC hour there, hour at the bottom then hour Back with a flight over the strip.Also, what is the train to GC ? I am planning a similar trip, SF to Monterey to Santa Cruz, LA then Vegas -GC-death valley-Yosemite-SF but the problem ive got is that GC is such a huge tangent out eastwards. I almost tempted to skip it unless there is a decent way to come back to death valley via somewhere else ?
If you go to big sur, stay at the glen oaks motor lodge it is awesome! http://www.glenoaksbigsur.com/
Best western in nappa http://www.roomstays.com/hotel/180712
Camp curry http://www.yosemitepark.com/curry-village.aspx
Cosmopolitan in Vegas. http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
If you have any questions just ask, my wife is a like a travel jedi!
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