Planning a Family RV Roadtrip

A few years ago my grandma confessed to me that something she’s always wanted to visit Niagara Falls but now she’d never get the chance. She has COPD and her ability to move around independently has been gradually decreasing over the years. I have spent over a year brainstorming how I could make this dream come true for her safely and enjoyably, and I think I’ve finally figured it out: an RV roadtrip.

I only found out a few months ago that you can rent RVs the same way that you can rent cars. There are even Airbnb style websites where people can rent out their personal vehicles such as RVshare.com. My grandma is an anxious flyer and since she occasionally needs access to oxygen, I didn’t feel safe putting her on a plane. A 20 hour car ride sounded way too cramped and uncomfortable for any of us. But a comfortable RV with an actual bed she could rest in? A TV to watch her favorite shows and maybe even some portable wifi so she could access her Facebook groups and talk to friends and family? An RV seems like the perfect solution!

So that is how I came up with this roadtrip from West Palm Beach, FL to Niagara Falls State Park, NY. I presented the idea on Christmas, the first time I have seen my family in a year because I have been so afraid of spreading the coronavirus to my grandma. Over Thanksgiving break while my family was very disappointed in my decision not to visit for the holiday, my grandma’s brother died of COVID complications. There are obviously many moving parts to this idea, but assuming that we have no travel restrictions, a vaccine for COVID-19, and my grandma’s health is up to it, we could take this 10-14 day trip over summer while I’m on my break from school. I would love it if my mom and my sister would come with.

I have been playing with this idea for a while now but a few weeks ago I sat down with my Google My Maps and charted out a potential trip. I am open to any suggestions my family may have and I hope that we can sit down together and establish what sort of things we’d like to stop to see, but I really think this could be a lot of fun. I love Savannah, GA for instance, and worked a ghost tour into my preliminary plans, as well as peach-picking on the way back home, a bioluminescent tour in central Florida, and a few national parks. When in doubt, I chunked the distances into 4-6 hour increments and just chose the nearest big city I could think of.

What sort of things do you consider when planning a trip with others? Do we want to see mountains or beaches? Do we want to go shopping, antiquing, or focus on nature? Do we want to see historical sights or museums? Eat at local restaurants, try regional delicacies, or just grab some groceries to munch on in the van on the way to our next great adventure? I personally love trying new breweries and wineries wherever I visit, will I be able to resist for 10-14 days if my family doesn’t have any interest in booze?

Also on my itinerary were two stops to visit family. My grandma has a new great-grandchild she hasn’t met yet in Michigan, and her sister lives out in Indiana. If we go to visit them will one night be enough, or will our 2 week roadtrip start to stretch even longer? Will we stay in the RV every night or will we splurge on a hotel and some extra space away from each other now and then?

I’ve also never driven an RV before, is it hard? Will my mom be willing to split up driving with me? My sister and my grandma are totally not going to be able to help. How much do RVs cost to rent, anyway?

I have never gone on a big family trip as an adult. At best, we would all meet up at Disneyworld and my parents would take care of the hotels while my sister and I explored the parks. We would usually meet up for dinner and drinks before bed but otherwise do our own thing. Especially after a year so devoid of travel, I’m absolutely loving the feeling of throwing this idea together. I just really hope they’re into it.

Have you planned a family road trip before? Do you have any suggestions for stops along my projected route? What sort of things should I start considering now?