Not many people can hike all 2,167 miles of the Appalachian Trail, but plenty use a ROAD TRIP PLANNER to create a car or RV version of it. While some expert hikers can manage the footpath in one season, most of us don’t even have that kind of free time available. So exploring the Appalachian Trail via car or RV is the alternative of choice alternative you could can cover the same distance in about two weeks at the leisurely pace

This scenic road trip closely follows the Appalachian Trail, with many spots where trail and road cross paths. This allows you to immerse yourself in the deep woods with a daily hike but also enjoy nature’s colors unfurling before you as you cruise along the two-lane highway. Choose a Fall start date in your road trip planner because then you’ll reap the benefits: Experience the Appalachian Mountains AND see New England’s legendary Fall Colors.

That’s not to say your trip itinerary will include nothing but trees and trails. You’re passing through 14 historically significant states so you’ll come upon many cultural places like quaint villages, country stores, historical museums and memorials to add to your road trip planner.

If you’ve ever been camping or sleeping under the stars, then you know it’s good for the soul. Eating, sleeping and living amongst nature is therapeutic, refreshing and a hell of a lot of fun. However, over time, camping can be down-right tiring. Setting up and breaking down gear, packing it all in your car, and cleaning it when you get home gets old real fast.

When I was a kid, we camped a lot. My parents had every camping gadget imaginable. Back then, portable camping gear was hard to come by, everything was huge and clunky. Our camping gear took up half of our attic where we stored it, and half of our car on trips, that there was hardly anywhere to sit in the car. The amount of time it took to set up and break down camp was annoying, It became un-enjoyable. As my parents got older, they became exhausted from hauling all of their gear for every trip. Finally, they just gave up. That’s it. No more camping.

Here’s our rule of thumb to keeping camping enjoyable long term: you have GOT to keep it simple. It’s tempting to purchase every new camping product on the market. Many of them provide the comforts of home, making you feel like you’re at home in the wilderness. But guess what? You’re not at home. Being a minimalist when camping and getting by with only a very few key camping items is what it’s about. Do with less, it’s good for you. You’ll find yourself improvising, being creative and thinking out of the box, all wonderful skills to teach your children who may be camping with you, and skills that will translate to adult daily life. Not bad right?

Last summer my wife and I decided we wanted to spend a couple of weeks in the panhandle of Florida camping at the beach. The Florida panhandle beaches are well known for their beautiful white sandy beaches and emerald green waters. Ten months in advance we booked a two week camping vacation starting at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon for three nights then St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach for six nights and ending up at St. George Island State Park for five nights. The disaster in the Gulf happened six weeks before we were to depart on this trip. We watched the news daily to see if the oil would make it to the panhandle before our trip or even during the trip. No matter, as the time got closer we decided we would go regardless.

Rainbow Springs State Park is located on the Rainbow River and offers its’ visitors a natural setting to just relax, enjoy a picnic, or take a swim in the cool spring. Being it was the first of July and the temperature was in the nineties we decided to take the inner tube ride down the river. The tube ride took a little over two hours which boasts some spectacular scenery along the river banks. A short bus ride through the park will get you back to the campground.