Regarding trip planning and researching RV parks we have found no other app, whether free or fee based, to be as user friendly, comprehensive and intuitive as free rvparky. We have no connection with this app. Although some apps attempt to integrate all sorts of extraneous info, i.e. fuel mileage, fuel used, trip routes, etc; rvparky focuses on four major components. First there is no limit on how many stops can be incorporated into your trip; second a created trip automatically adjusts the dates of future stays as the previous stays are adjusted-very cool; third the mileage between each stay is calculated so if we do not want a 400 mile day a stop-over place can easily be inserted; and fourth each location (city, town) selected then provides the user with a comprehensive list of rv parks in the vicinity with pictures, reviews, rates, etc.
Expanding upon the above highlights please note that rvparky does provide ancillary information based on what the user enters in the ‘My Account’ page. This page allows user info, i.e. your email address and display name (default is a number which can be changed to whatever one likes), and a picture. The ‘My RV’ tab allows entry of type of rv, a description, rv length and height, as well as miles per gallon (this is only to provide a rough estimate of what your rv will use based on the trip your create). Accordingly all this information is rather generic and not as sophisticated as some other apps. However we consider those perks as unnecessary and ancillary to trip planning. Trip planning should not be cumbersome and laborious as it is on many apps and as it is on Google Maps, Good Sam, etc.
The beauty about planning a trip on rvparky are several:
1. Choose ‘Create Trip’ and enter the simple and quick information requested. If you do not know the date your trip will start simply pick today’s date (this can be changed later).
2. The next page allows one to enter as many trip destinations as desired (we routinely enter 43 destinations for our trips). The destinations can be moved to change order or a destination inserted or removed.
3. Next, and this is particularly exclusive to rvparky, the app automatically adjusts the dates of each destination based not only on the start date, but also changes all future destinations dates as the length of stay is changed at any destination. A real time saver and a savvy tool in organizing the trip.
4. The mileage between each destination is shown and is intended as an estimate. And we emphasis here not to adhere to the rvparky choice of route shown on their map. Because of the size of our motorcoach (length, height and weight) we routinely plan our route using Rand McNally Motor Carrier’s Road Atlas. This permits us to take the path less followed, i.e. follow the Mississippi River Road vs. the Interstate with confidence that we are on a truck route.
5. Instead of interminably searching thru Good Sam, Big Rigs, Google Maps the process of searching for camping parks is simplified by choosing ‘find a place to stay’(this search feature can be adjusted in settings so as not to incur information overload). The search is exhaustive (Good Sam does not list camps that are not Good Sam members, and other apps have equally restrictive search engines). The rvparky search for camps in the vicinity of the city chosen makes trip planning a more pleasurable experience. And we have found the rvparky reviews to be more reliable than other sites.
The Takeaway: rvparky provides a user friendly and easy trip planning tool for scheduling your next trip whether it is only a few destinations or a hundred. It is not intended to be an all inclusive planner; rather its forte is date scheduling numerous destinations which has become paramount in today’s overcrowded camping scene. We encourage use of Rand McNally Motor Carrier’s Road Atlas, Google Maps/Google Earth in tandem with rvparky to create an enjoyable driving experience between RV parks.
Go to www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays with links to area attractions, etc.
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