Statistics and Other Stuff
OK, you can skip this page if you want to, but you'll miss out on valuable information that may help YOU plan YOUR next nine-week drive across the country.
We ended up being gone for 62 nights. We "camped" in the van 30 nights, we stayed in motel/hotels 21 nights, we stayed with relatives 4 nights, and at a rented house at the Outer Banks 7 nights. I say "camped" in the van because a night in the van is not exactly the same as pitching a tent and being out in the elements. The van has a large comfortable sleeping area, it has screens for the doors, a two-burner stove, water and a sink with a gray water holding tank, a heater (definitely not used much this trip), a four cubic foot fridge with a freezer and, last but not least, a porta-potti (don't laugh, it came in handy).
"Camping" to us was finding a secluded spot, preferably in a national forest or state park camp ground, popping the van top, mixing drinks and planning dinner. Typically, we camped for three or four days and then stayed in a motel for a night or two just to spread out, check email and read a paper. The following is a list of where we stayed. You geography buffs out there can probably get an idea of our route by taking a look at this.
Here is where we spent our nights:
Date |
Facility |
Location |
17-May |
Edgewater Hotel |
Laughlin, NV |
18-May |
Edgewater Hotel |
Laughlin, NV |
19-May |
Homolovi Ruins SP |
AZ |
20-May |
Red Rock SP |
NM |
21-May |
Santa Rosa Lake SP |
NM |
22-May |
Homegate Suites Motel |
Amarillo, TX |
23-May |
Council Road RV Park |
OK City, OK |
24-May |
Redding Campground |
Ozark Nat Forest, AR |
25-May |
Richland Creek Cmpgrd |
Ozark Nat Forest, AR |
26-May |
Richland Creek Cmpgrd |
Ozark Nat Forest, AR |
27-May |
Fairfield Bay Condos |
Fairfield Bay, AR |
28-May |
Holiday Inn |
Jonesboro, AR |
29-May |
Reelfoot Lake SP |
TN |
30-May |
Reelfoot Lake SP |
TN |
31-May |
Cravens Bay |
Land Between the Lakes NP, KY |
1-Jun |
Executive Inn |
Paducah, KY |
2-Jun |
Marriott Courtyard |
Paducah, KY |
3-Jun |
Vierlings (Lorri's parents) |
St. Louis, MO |
4-Jun |
Vierlings |
St. Louis, MO |
5-Jun |
Red Hills SP |
Lawrence County, IL |
6-Jun |
West Boggs Park |
Loogootee, IN |
7-Jun |
German Ridge Campground |
Hoosier National Forest |
8-Jun |
Shelby Lake Campground |
Shelbeyville, KY |
9-Jun |
Holiday Inn |
Lexington, KY |
10-Jun |
Kentucky Horse Park Bluegrass Fest. |
Lexington, KY |
11-Jun |
Shawnee SP |
Portsmouth, OH |
12-Jun |
Dillon SP |
Zanesville, OH |
13-Jun |
McHugh Driveway |
Chagrin Falls, OH |
14-Jun |
The Inn of Chagrin Falls |
Chagrin Falls, OH |
15-Jun |
The Inn of Chagrin Falls |
Chagrin Falls, OH |
16-Jun |
The Inn of Chagrin Falls |
Chagrin Falls, OH |
17-Jun |
Aurora Inn |
Aurora, OH |
18-Jun |
Holiday Inn Express |
Ripley, WV |
19-Jun |
Douthat SP |
Covington, VA |
20-Jun |
Governors Inn |
Williamsburg, VA |
21-Jun |
Col. Waller's Inn |
Williamsburg, VA |
22-Jun |
Ocracoke National Seashore |
Ocracoke Island, NC |
23-Jun |
Ocracoke National Seashore |
Ocracoke Island, NC |
24-Jun |
Ocracoke National Seashore |
Ocracoke Island, NC |
25-Jun |
Corolla Light - Twiddy K-146 |
Corolla, NC |
26-Jun |
Corolla Light - Twiddy K-147 |
Corolla, NC |
27-Jun |
Corolla Light - Twiddy K-148 |
Corolla, NC |
28-Jun |
Corolla Light - Twiddy K-149 |
Corolla, NC |
29-Jun |
Corolla Light - Twiddy K-150 |
Corolla, NC |
30-Jun |
Corolla Light - Twiddy K-151 |
Corolla, NC |
1-Jul |
Corolla Light - Twiddy K-152 |
Corolla, NC |
2-Jul |
Holiday Inn |
Williamston, NC |
3-Jul |
Duke Power SP |
Statesville, NC |
4-Jul |
Smokemont SP |
Great Smoky Mountains NP, NC |
5-Jul |
Edgar Evins SP |
Silver Point, TN |
6-Jul |
Marriott Courtyard |
Nashville, TN |
7-Jul |
Opryland Hotel |
Nashville, TN |
8-Jul |
Giant City SP |
Carbondale, IL |
9-Jul |
Vierlings |
St. Louis, MO |
10-Jul |
Vierlings |
St. Louis, MO |
11-Jul |
Milford SP |
Junction City, KA |
12-Jul |
Golden Gate SP |
Golden, CO |
13-Jul |
The Willws Condos |
Vail, CO |
14-Jul |
Green River SP |
Green River, UT |
15-Jul |
Bryce Canyon NP |
UT |
16-Jul |
The Venetian |
Las Vegas |
17-Jul |
The Venetian |
Las Vegas |
Had enough yet? How about gas milage, prices and stuff?
Date |
Milage |
Miles/Tank |
Gallons |
Cost/Gal |
Total Cost |
Current MPG |
17-May |
4087 |
|||||
4168 |
322 |
25.780 |
$43.80 |
12.49 |
||
19-May |
4562 |
394 |
39.468 |
$1.799 |
$71.00 |
9.98 |
21-May |
4994 |
432 |
36.362 |
$1.449 |
$52.69 |
11.88 |
23-May |
5428 |
434 |
31.920 |
$1.539 |
$49.14 |
13.60 |
24-May |
5758 |
330 |
31.242 |
$1.459 |
$45.58 |
10.56 |
29-May |
6169 |
411 |
36.283 |
$1.339 |
$50.76 |
11.33 |
3-Jun |
6672 |
503 |
46.812 |
$1.699 |
$79.53 |
10.75 |
8-Jun |
7142 |
470 |
39.113 |
$1.589 |
$62.15 |
12.02 |
12-Jun |
7545 |
403 |
35.992 |
$1.729 |
$72.23 |
11.20 |
18-Jun |
8097 |
552 |
49.055 |
$1.769 |
$86.78 |
11.25 |
21-Jun |
8581 |
484 |
43.200 |
$1.579 |
$68.21 |
11.20 |
2-Jul |
9072 |
491 |
44.000 |
$1.569 |
$69.00 |
11.16 |
4-Jul |
9554 |
482 |
45.210 |
$1.579 |
$71.39 |
10.66 |
8-Jul |
10022 |
468 |
41.786 |
$1.489 |
$62.22 |
11.20 |
11-Jul |
10462 |
440 |
42.359 |
$1.499 |
$63.50 |
10.39 |
12-Jul |
11033 |
571 |
51.146 |
$1.799 |
$92.01 |
11.16 |
14-Jul |
11528 |
495 |
41.308 |
$1.779 |
$73.49 |
11.98 |
18-Jul |
12079 |
551 |
51.446 |
$1.899 |
$96.70 |
10.71 |
The End |
12386 |
|||||
732.482 |
$1,210.18 |
|||||
Average Cost/Gal: |
$1.621 |
|||||
Average MPG: |
11.24 |
|||||
Trip Miles: |
8,299 |