A safe, enjoyable RV trip requires quite a bit of planning in advance. After all, you probably have a reason for taking a trip, but you may also have time or budget constraints that you have to adhere to. We’ve put together some tips to help you get organized when it comes time to plan your next trip.

• Length and distance: The length of your trip is often dictated by the time you’re able to take off from work. That length will also determine how far you can reasonably travel. Your destination may be a place you’ve been wanting to visit, or it may correlate to local events or availability of RV campgrounds. Take your time planning the destination to ensure that you have time to reach it and that you’ll enjoy it when you get there.

• Driving: Some people prefer driving straight to a destination, while other enjoy stopping along the way to take in multiple sights. Either way, it’s recommended that you drive no more than 350 miles per day to ensure that you have enough daylight to settle at a campsite once you park for the night.

• Navigation: Your GPS is best used as your main source of navigation, but it’s also helpful to pick up maps of the cities you intend to visit. These maps often include information about local attractions. It’s also helpful to map out your trip before you leave so you have a decent sense of exactly it is where you’re going. Plan a few backup routes in case you hit poor weather or construction detours.

• Checklists: A great way to get organized is to make checklists for various aspects of your trip. For instance, a list of what you need to do to secure your home while away, a packing list that includes food and medicines, a list of tools to bring along and a list of what must be done when setting up and breaking down the RV.

Before heading out, make sure that your RV insurance policy is up to date. Your RV is a big investment so it’s prudent to protect it—along with your family—while on the road.

We’ll help review your coverage. Call Heritage Insurance Group at 515-386-2728 for more information on RV insurance.