Trip Planning Tips?

We have a couple of places/dates we camp every year so those are no brainers.  The good thing about having a camper is that we have most everything in it ready to go at all times.  All we do is pack some food and clothes.  I'm slowly getting used to that.  So we have made a couple of local impromptu trips which were fun!  

As far as stopping early is concerned, if you don't want to use your GPS to find the nearest campground, there is a book called "The Next Exit" which is pretty handy for finding places off the interstate.

Originally posted by techntrek Don't worry, as my user name implies, I have high-tech phones (my wife, too).  My next phone, hopefully by this weekend, will be a Samsung Infuse (4.8" screen).  My current phone has a 5" screen (HTC Advantage).  I like 'em big, customised, rooted and unlocked.  But even 5" isn't big enough for me going down the road.  I want to see everything in one glance, plus whoever is in the passenger seat can do some surfing in-between.

Originally posted by techntrek We'll sit down in January or February and figure out places we want to go that year.  In the past there have been a few gotta-go locations, same time same channel every year.  Plus one or two new places.  But we've had so many "I'd like to go to's" lately we decided recently that next year we are going to completely change it up.   We like reservations.  Even if we decide to go someplace for the weekend last-minute I'll get online and make a reservation.  I want to know I have a spot.   We love GPS and Google Maps.  When we go on a big tour of the US in a few years I'm going to install a laptop mount in the tow vehicle for GPS, weather and traffic updates.

Our major trip planning is usually based on a 3 day/night destination with day trips to the surrounding area. Usually two or three destination stops if it is a week trip with two weekends. We are map lovers, and Chris is an ace navigator- give her a map and you'll soon be on roads you thought couldn't exist, let alone get you someplace! So we plan out the major routes using the Internet, especially AAA, and then wing it for our daily excursions. Being map folks, we have a collection of DeLorme state atlases to guide us, and pick up official state road maps at the entry visitor centers. Next on the planning guide, after retirement (if it happens in the next couple of years) is the round the country jaunt, with the goal of filling up that state map! Then we'll really see how we are able to plan our trips.