Camper Van across America

Blackhorse Slim

HI,

I'm at the early planning/budgeting stage, has anyone here done anything like this recently? The plan is to start in NY, rent a camper van (between 4 of us) and drive east, and catch a flight home from San Francisco. The idea is to mostly stay away from the big cities in between. Any advice? Any hidden costs/problems we should be aware of? We're thinking the main costs will be the flights and the van (including petrol).

How long would it take at a reasonable pace? We're thinking 3-4 weeks, is this realistic?

At least three of us have full clean Irish driving licenses, and we're hoping the fourth member will by the time we go. Any driving/hiring/insurance problems we should be aware of?

Thanks for any input :-)

McSween

firstly i recommend ditching the camper van cos you wont have air conditioning (i wouldnt think) at night and i reckon you'll be greatful for a hotel if you're stuck inside it so long. also you;ll be charged to stayed in camp sites anyway

we drove orlando to dallas over 10 days, it was the best holiday we ever had. we had the first night in orlando booked as we flew down from jfk, and the last two nights in dallas were prebooked aswell. everything in between was not booked, we stayed in houston, new orleans, some dump on the coast, pensacola and daytona beach. the hotels are not expensive compared to here so i would recommend you forget the camper van and get a 7 seater between the 4 of you, a cool box and lots of ice, you can refill it at every hotel and leave your beer in it

oh you will be charged a one way drop off fee for the car as you are not returning it to the original car hire centre. dont speed over there, you will be caught, i was fined 330 dollars for doing 36 in a 15 during a school hour, they will catch you

it should take you 3 weeks at least id say but i wish i could do it again, was incredible

good luck

Blackhorse Slim

Yeah, we've been thinking about getting a large car and staying in motels, although we haven't decided either way yet - is it really that hot at night? We're thinking of going in Aug/Sep, going NY-Niagara-Chicago then straight east to Denver, down to the Grand Canyon, then Vegas and San Fran.

Frankieboy

Im thinking about something like this myself. Im planning on having a little more time though. I am still in the early (really early) planning stage. I thinking I might get a couple of months away and I'm thinking of just getting (buying) a car and traveling around the states. I know it's a really hard question to answer but would anyone have any idea of the amount of money I'd need. I'm hoping around €4000. It would be myself and another guy going, purely just need to get away for a while (no legal reasons;) ). Any help and advice appreciated. Sorry for hijacking this thread.

ioshmearse

Just to reiteate McSween's advice on driving fines 'they will catch you' - I got a $30 ticket for parking facing against the flow of traffic in a small town in Utah (also illegal here). Have driven a circuit of the Great Lakes, Salt Lake & Yellowstone and N California - definately far more more cops with speed cameras than here.

We booked accomodation for the first & last night and then just found motels en route.

Check out your camper drop off fee. 4 way stops and turn right on red are great ideas.