Season 7: The Heartland

Season 7: The Heartland Route

This season we’re going to share our route and the RV parks we visit for each month. We’ve never done this before (except Alaska) for the simple reason that we do ZERO research or planning when it comes to RV parks! Really.

We also included the total cost of lodging each month. Overall, for the entire 7 months, we averaged $1,264.27 per month. Our budget is $1,500, but we seldom exceed it (on average) due to the irregular dry camping and inexpensive state parks we stay at.

Below is or entire Season 7 route using RV Trip Wizard. This is the best route planning website we’ve used. It has every RV park loaded into the site with pictures making it easy to pick the right RV resort or campground in advance and doesn’t have a limit on destinations like Google Maps. There is a free trial to get started. It does take a bit to learn, but you’ll get the hang it of after your first trip.

*The RV Trip Wizard is an affiliate link at no cost to you. We also use Allstays and Campendium (for free) to find RV parks and plan our trips.

March 2019

Below is the route for March. We drove way too many miles for less than a month considering we didn’t leave Scottsdale until March 8, 2019, but we were invited to speak at RVE Summit and had a deadline. That wasn’t the only deadline we had in March – the third annual family reunion on Marc’s mom’s side was in Arkadelphia, AR which means we had to backtrack over the Mississippi River three times.

Each season has its own theme and this season is all about community. We’re doing KYD Insider meet-ups in each state we visit this season and we’re focusing more on the day to day RV life, family dynamics and RV upgrades.

RV Parks & Campgrounds List for March

We spent a total of $516 on RV parks for March, which is far below average for us, but staying with family helps. We have also found the RV parks in TX, AL, AR tend to be less than other states.

Below is a list of RV parks and campgrounds. The (+) symbol indicates that we enjoyed the RV park and would stay again. The (-) symbol indicates we would not stay there again. No indication means our stay was fine, but we’re indifferent to staying there again or not. This seemed like an easy way to go about it without getting into RV park reviews, which we likely would not keep up with 🙂

3/8/19	Tucson, AZ	Casino Del Sol	–
3/9/19	El Paso, TX	Van Horn RV Park	39.00
3/10/19	San Antonio, TX	Alamo City RV Park	49.00
3/11/19	San Antonio, TX	Alamo City RV Park	49.00
3/12/19	San Antonio, TX	Alamo City RV Park	49.00
3/13/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
3/14/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
3/15/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
3/16/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
3/17/19	Jackson, MI	-Springdale RV Park	29.00
3/18/19	Birmingham, AL	-Elk’s Lodge	10.00
3/19/19	Guntersville, AL	+Lake Guntersville State Park	29.00
3/20/19	Guntersville, AL	+Lake Guntersville State Park	29.00
3/21/19	Guntersville, AL	+Lake Guntersville State Park	29.00
3/22/19	Guntersville, AL	+Lake Guntersville State Park	29.00
3/23/19	Guntersville, AL	+Lake Guntersville State Park	29.00
3/24/19	Guntersville, AL	+Lake Guntersville State Park	29.00
3/25/19	Little Rock, AR	Downtown RV Park	39.00
3/26/19	Little Rock, AR	Downtown RV Park	39.00
3/27/19	Little Rock, AR	Downtown RV Park	39.00
3/28/19	Arkadelphia, AR	Aunt Sherry’s	–
3/29/19	Arkadelphia, AR	Aunt Sherry’s	–
3/30/19	Arkadelphia, AR	Aunt Sherry’s	–
3/31/19	Arkadelphia, AR	Aunt Sherry’s	–
4/1/19	Farmerville, LA	D’Arbonne Point	39.70
4/2/19	Jackson, MS	+Timberlake Campground	50.00
4/3/19	Jackson, MS	+Timerlake Campground	50.00
4/4/19	Jackson, MS	+Timbeake Campground	50.00

April 2019

This month was a departure from the “Heartland” for a couple of reasons. We decided that Tampa, FL was an ideal place to upgrade RV’s due to the amount of inventory Lazy Day’s has in stock and we wanted to experience Disney’s Fort Wilderness. So we made a quick detour from Mississippi to hit Tampa and Orlando before heading back north to Savanah, GA.

We spent $2,308.70 on RV Parks in April and it’s 64% over budget due to Disney’s Fort Wilderness, which accounted for at least $1,200 of our April total. It was actually more considering that Disney charged $6.00 per package received and that totaled over $100 with all the things we sent for the new rig prior to arriving. And then there was the golf cart rental at $60. Was it worth it? Yes, because we make videos about RVing and wanted to share this experience, but I’d only go again if we were with friends. What makes Fort Wilderness so great is the community atmosphere with lots of places and areas to explore. Kids are free range. As expensive as it was, it’s still much less than staying at a hotel nearby and 1,000% less than staying at a Disney Resort.

We did an Insider meet-up in Orlando, Atlanta, and Savannah during the month of April. April was a busy month, too busy and we’re starting to look forward to traveling through TN, KY, MI, WI.

Below is a list of RV parks and campgrounds for the Month of April. The (+) symbol indicates that we enjoyed the RV park and would stay again. The (-) symbol indicates we would not stay there again. No indication means our stay was fine, but we’re indifferent to staying there again or not. This seemed like an easy way to go about it without getting into RV park reviews, which we likely would not keep up with 🙂

4/1/19	Farmerville, LA	D’Arbonne Point	39.70
4/2/19	Jackson, MS	+Timberlake Campground	50.00
4/3/19	Jackson, MS	+Timberlake Campground	50.00
4/4/19	Jackson, MS	+Timberlake Campground	50.00
4/5/19	Pensacola, FL	KOA	68.00
4/6/19	Pensacola, FL	KOA	68.00
4/7/19	Pensacola, FL	KOA	68.00
4/8/19	High Springs, FL	-High Springs Campground	35.00
4/9/19	Tampa, FL	Dry Camped in the Service lot	–
4/10/19	Tampa, FL	+Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/11/19	Tampa, FL	Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/12/19	Tampa, FL	Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/13/19	Tampa, FL	Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/14/19	Tampa, FL	Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/15/19	Tampa, FL	Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/16/19	Tampa, FL	Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/17/19	Tampa, FL	Lazy Days Campground	45.00
4/18/19	Orlando, FL	+Fort Wilderness	171.00
4/19/19	Orlando, FL	Fort Wilderness	171.00
4/20/19	Orlando, FL	Fort Wilderness	171.00
4/21/19	Orlando, FL	Fort Wilderness	171.00
4/22/19	Orlando, FL	Fort Wilderness	171.00
4/23/19	Orlando, FL	Fort Wilderness	171.00
4/24/19	Orlando, FL	Fort Wilderness	171.00
4/26/19	Hilton Head, SC	+Hilton Head RV Park	50.00
4/26/19	Hilton Head, SC	+Hilton Head RV Park	50.00
4/27/19	Hilton Head, SC	+Hilton Head RV Park	50.00
4/28/19	Hilton Head, SC	+Hilton Head RV Park	50.00
4/29/19	Hilton Head, SC	+Hilton Head RV Park	50.00
4/30/19	Atlanta, GA	Stone Mountain State Park	73.00

May 2019

Another under a budget month at $769 with our long stay on the Farm with a KYD Insider. Everywhere we stayed in May was great! All the RV parks listed we would recommend. We also really enjoyed our tour at the Willet Distillery. This is an area we would like to visit again!

5/1/19	Atlanta, GA	+Stone Mountain State Park	73.00
5/2/19	Atlanta, GA	Stone Mountain State Park	73.00
5/3/19	Nashville, TN	+Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/4/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/5/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/6/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/7/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/8/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/9/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/10/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/11/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/12/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole Resort & Market	33.00
5/13/19		+My Kentucky Home State Park	29.00
5/14/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/15/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/16/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/17/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/18/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/19/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/20/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/21/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/22/19	Louisville, KY	+The Galt House	–
5/23/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/24/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/25/19	Lexington, KY	Insider Property	–
5/26/19	Pigeon Fordge, TN	+Creekside RV Park	44.00
5/27/19	Pigeon Fordge, TN	Creekside RV Park	44.00
5/28/19	Pigeon Fordge, TN	Creekside RV Park	44.00
5/29/19	Pigeon Fordge, TN	Creekside RV Park	44.00
5/30/19	Pigeon Fordge, TN	Creekside RV Park	44.00
5/31/19	Pigeon Fordge, TN	Creekside RV Park	44.00

June 2019

We’re on a roll with picking great RV parks and campgrounds. We spend $1,892 for lodging in June. A bit more than normal due to staying at a hotel three nights for the solar install in Elkhart, IN.

6/1/19	Pigeon Forge, TN	+Creekside RV Park	44.00
6/2/19	Pigeon Forge, TN	Creekside RV Park	44.00
6/3/19	Pigeon Forge, TN	Creekside RV Park	44.00
6/4/19	Knoxville, TN	Holiday Inn Express	150.00
6/5/19	Knoxville, TN	Holiday Inn Express	150.00
6/6/19
6/7/19	Detroit, MI	+Northpoint Shores RV Park	50.00
6/8/19	Detroit, MI	Northpoint Shores RV Park	50.00
6/9/19	Detroit, MI	Northpoint Shores RV Park	50.00
6/10/19	Detroit, MI	Northpoint Shores RV Park	50.00
6/11/19	Detroit, MI	Northpoint Shores RV Park	50.00
6/12/19	San Dusky, OH	+Ceder Point RV Park	115.00
6/13/19	San Dusky, OH	Ceder Point RV Park	115.00
6/14/19	Wakeman, OH	+Vermilion Winery (Harvest Hosts)	–
6/15/19	Bellevue, OH	Got to go Rving RV Park	40.00
6/16/19	Bellevue, OH	Got to go Rving RV Park	40.00
6/17/19	Elkhart, IN	+Stoneridge Suites	150.00
6/18/19	Elkhart, IN	Stoneridge Suites	150.00
6/19/19	Elkhart, IN	Stoneridge Suites	150.00
6/20/19	Harvest Hosts	+Fenn Valley Vineyards	–
6/21/19	Pentwater, MI	Camp KYD	35.00
6/22/19	Pentwater, MI	Camp KYD	35.00
6/23/19	Grand Haven, MI	+Grand Haven State Park	35.00
6/24/19	Grand Haven, MI	Grand Haven State Park	35.00
6/25/19	Grand Haven, MI	Grand Haven State Park	35.00
6/26/19	Muskegon, MI	+Duck Creek RV Resort	75.00
6/27/19	Muskegon, MI	Duck Creek RV Resort	50.00
6/28/19	Muskegon, MI	Duck Creek RV Resort	50.00
6/29/19	Muskegon, MI	Duck Creek RV Resort	50.00
6/30/19	Muskegon, MI	Duck Creek RV Resort	50.00

July 2019

We spent $819 on RV Parks in July. We excluded the cost of the Mission Hotel because I don’t want to remember! And it would have skewed the numbers. We kept the costs of the Holiday Inn Express because that lodging was due to getting the RV fixed and a typical cost of travel. The Mission Point Hotel is NOT typical for us, but a great time. Because of all the money we saved dry camping in July, we splurged a bit for our family trip.

7/1/19	Muskegon, MI	+Duck Creek RV Resort	50.00
7/2/19	Muskegon, MI	Dry Camping at friends	–
7/3/19	Muskegon, MI	Dry Camping at friends	–
7/4/19	Muskegon, MI	Dry Camping at friends	–
7/5/19	Muskegon, MI	Dry Camping at friends	–
7/6/19	Muskegon, MI	Dry Camping at friends	–
7/7/19	Mackanaw City, Mi	KOA	56.00
7/8/19	Mackanac Island, MI	Mission Hotel
7/9/19	Mackanac Island, MI	Mission Hotel
7/10/19	Mackanac Island, MI	Mission Hotel
7/11/19	Munising, MI	+Munising Touristy Campground	25.00
7/12/19	Munising, MI	Munising Touristy Campground	25.00
7/13/19	Munising, MI	Munising Touristy Campground	25.00
7/14/19	Munising, MI	Munising Touristy Campground	25.00
7/15/19	Greenbay, WI	Can’t remember	35.00
7/16/19	Wisconson Dells, WI	+Fox Hill RV Park & Campground	58.00
7/17/19	Wisconson Dells, WI	Fox Hill RV Park & Campground	58.00
7/18/19	Wisconson Dells, WI	+Ho-Chunk Casino Campground	40.00
7/19/19	Wisconson Dells, WI	Ho-Chunk Casino Campground	40.00
7/20/19	Wisconson Dells, WI	Ho-Chunk Casino Campground	40.00
7/21/19	Wisconson Dells, WI	Ho-Chunk Casino Campground	40.00
7/22/19	Oshkosh, WI	AirVenture	28.00
7/23/19	Oshkosh, WI	AirVenture	28.00
7/24/19	Oshkosh, WI	AirVenture	28.00
7/25/19	Oshkosh, WI	AirVenture	28.00
7/26/19	Eau Clair, WI	+Eagle Ridge Campground	38.00
7/27/19	Eau Clair, WI	Eagle Ridge Campground	38.00
7/28/19	Eau Clair, WI	Eagle Ridge Campground	38.00
7/29/19	Eau Clair, WI	Eagle Ridge Campground	38.00
7/30/19	Eau Clair, WI	Eagle Ridge Campground	38.00
7/31/19	Hayward, WI	Dry Camped at the Lumberjack Festival	–

August 2019

Another under-budget month at $808.00 due to dry-camping and a reduced rate at Carson’s school. It’s months like this that we have the channel run behind schedule. This way, we’re able to focus on sending Carson to school without missing a Sunday video.

8/1/19	Hayward, WI	Dry Camped at the Lumberjack Festival
8/2/19	Hayward, WI	Dry Camped at the Lumberjack Festival
8/3/19	Hayward, WI	Dry Camped at the Lumberjack Festival
8/4/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/5/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/6/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/7/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/8/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/9/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/10/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/11/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/12/19	Door County, WI	Fish Creek RV Park
8/13/19	Racine, WI	+Cliffside Park Campground
8/14/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/15/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/16/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/17/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/18/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/19/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/20/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/21/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/22/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/23/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/24/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/25/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/26/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School
8/27/19	Elkhart, IN	Grand Design Rally
8/28/19	Elkhart, IN	Grand Design Rally
8/29/19	Elkhart, IN	Grand Design Rally
8/30/19	Indianapolis, IN	Some Crazy RV Park
8/31/19	Florissant, MO	Elk’s Lodge

September 2019

This was our most expensive month during SN7 at $2,407 due to hotel cost for the Hydraulic Brake installation and staying mostly at “big rig parks”. We stayed in St. Charles for so long because Trish flew home to help family. We decided to take a pass on St. Louis and focus on work due to a few urgent projects. We’ll be back to St. Louis for a proper visit. Sometimes if we can’t visit a destination with enough time, we’d rather not visit at all.

9/1/19	eTrailer	Holiday Inn Express	150.00
9/2/19	eTrailer	Holiday Inn Express	150.00
9/3/19	St. Charles, MO	+Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/4/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/5/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/6/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/7/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/8/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/9/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/10/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/11/19	St. Charles, MO	Sundermeier RV Park	54.00
9/12/19	Kansas City, MO	+Worlds of Fun Village	55.00
9/13/19	Kansas City, MO	Worlds of Fun Village	55.00
9/14/19	Kansas City, MO	Worlds of Fun Village	55.00
9/15/19	Kansas City, MO	Worlds of Fun Village	55.00
9/16/19	Des Moines, IA	+Timberland Campground	49.00
9/17/19	Des Moines, IA	Timberland Campground	49.00
9/18/19	Des Moines, IA	Timberland Campground	49.00
9/19/19	Des Moines, IA	Timberland Campground	49.00
9/20/19	Des Moines, IA	Timberland Campground	49.00
9/21/19	Des Moines, IA	Timberland Campground	49.00
9/22/19	Des Moines, IA	Timberland Campground	49.00
9/23/19	Naperville, IL	Leisure Lake Membership Resort	50.00
9/24/19	Naperville, IL	Leisure Lake Membership Resort	50.00
9/25/19	Naperville, IL	Leisure Lake Membership Resort	50.00
9/26/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School	25.00
9/27/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School	25.00
9/28/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School	25.00
9/29/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School	25.00
9/30/19	Culver, IN	Carson’s School

October 2019

This might be our least expensive month at $594 due to staying at Tricia’s dad’s house for so long. We would have done more (on video) in Texas, but we’ve been there so many times and wanted to the channel to catch-up by Jan 12th so we can reveal the new RV for Season 8. The chart below gives away where we picked it up!

10/1/19	Cincinnati, OH	+Winton Woods Campground	45.00
10/2/19	Cincinnati, OH	Winton Woods Campground	45.00
10/3/19	Murfreesboro, TN	KYD Tailgate (Dry camp)	–
10/4/19	Murfreesboro, TN	KYD Tailgate (Dry camp)	–
10/5/19	Murfreesboro, TN	KYD Tailgate (Dry camp)	–
10/6/19	Nashville, TN	+Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/7/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/8/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/9/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/10/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/11/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/12/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/13/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/14/19	Nashville, TN	Grand Ole RV Resort and Market	34.50
10/15/19	Somewhere in TX	Elk’s Lodge	10.00
10/16/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/17/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/18/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/19/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/20/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/21/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/22/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/23/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/24/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/25/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/26/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/27/19	Georgetown, TX	Tricia’s Dad’s House	–
10/28/19	Lubbock, TX	+Twin Pines (pit stop)	34.00
10/29/19		++ KYD Cabin
10/30/19		KYD Cabin
10/31/19	Grand Junction, CO	Holiday Inn Express	150.00
11/1/19		Picking up the new RV!!