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How To Use RV Trip Wizard For Camping And Travel

RV Trip Wizard is one of the best tools that I have used in our full-time RV travels.

I use the program all the time for laying our upcoming travel plans. And for me, it’s the best overall camping and travel planning aid that I have found.

Of course, there are plenty of other options to to choose from for camping and travel planning.

But I have found that most of them do a few things well while not doing others as well. So in the past I have had to use a multitude of programs and apps together to get the trip planning I need.

Watch my video about how I use RV Trip Wizard

Let me be clear though, and say that RV Trip Wizard still has improvements that need to be made. It is not perfect. But I suppose that is true of almost anything in life, things can always be improved.

But I feel that the program is quickly becoming the one-stop source for RV trip planning for most people. And the program authors keep making it better all the time.

Disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means – at no additional cost to you – I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our affiliate links. I only link to products and companies I use and feel comfortable recommending. The income goes toward supporting the free content on this website

RV Trip Wizard – How I Use It
Features About RVTW That I Really Like
Other Apps To Use With RVTW
Conclusion – Who Needs RV Trip Wizard?

RV Trip Wizard – How I Use It

So far I have planned 4 major trips across the US with RV Trip Wizard in the last year or so.

And those trips have totaled over 9400 miles and 60 stops along the way. It includes 231 nights spent on the road that has taken me cross country three times.

So I feel that I have had plenty of experience with using this program so far. Enough that I can confidently provide this review about it.

So would you like to see exactly how I use the program to lay out my RV travels?

To see how I use RV Trip Wizard for my RV trip planning, just click here to watch a step-by-step video I made about it.

Features About RVTW That I Really Like

There are a lot of features that make RVTW a pleasure to use. But let me cover just a few of the ones that I have found most helpful.

There are plenty of campgrounds and RV parks to choose from for overnight stays as you travel. So when you lay out your trip, you have no shortage of places to stay.
It’s easy to add stops or take them away as you lay out your RV trips. And you can accept the route directions made by the program or customize your own.
You can filter out the campgrounds that don’t meet your criteria for overnight stays. This makes your trip planning much easier.
There is also plenty of information about how much each RV park costs and reviews from others who stayed there. And there is also plenty of information about the features of each park too.
You can map out multiple stops on a long trip. And RVTW lets you know how far between stops and the cost of your travel stops as you go.
The program also has very helpful hazard warnings for low bridges, tunnels, toll roads, etc. And for folks that have bigger rigs, this will help keep you out of trouble on the road.
There are also many points of interest that you can bring up to find out what is around you. So you can know if there is a Costco, a grocery store, or other shopping areas close by. And you can also see where fuel stations are located along your route too.
Once your trip is planned, you can print out turn-by-turn directions to guide you as you go.

There are lots of other great features that also would be useful by others. But these are some of the ones that I have found most useful for us so far.

Other Apps To Use With RVTW

Of course, there is no trip planner that I know of that does everything perfectly. So even RVTW benefits from having the support of other trip planning apps and programs too.

The first app that I highly recommend is the companion app for RV Trip Wizard. It’s called RV Life, and it’s made by the same folks that make RVTW. The best feature I like about this app is that it allows you to import your RVTW trips into it. Then you can use the app on your smartphone or tablet for audible directions on your route. In essence, it replaces the need for an RV GPS unit. You just create your trips online, transfer them to the app, and follow its guidance as you go. There are other great features of the app, but that is the most helpful for us by far.
The second app I like to use is called Truck Map. I use it mainly for double-checking whether the route laid out in RVTW is the best one to take. This gets more important as your rig increases in size and length. This is because big rigs can’t just go on any road out there. That’s why Google Maps is not a good app to use for RV directions. It may send you on a route that is not RV friendly. But RVTW can make mistakes sometimes too. So I check to make sure the route that it is sending me on agrees with Truck Map. That’s because if a commercial truck and trailer can be on a route, so can I with my RV rig. But if there is a disagreement, I can choose the best route between the two. It works well for this purpose.
The last app I like to use less frequently is called Allstays – Camp & RV. It is a popular app with RVers of all kinds. And I like to use it along with RVTW to verify locations of rest stops, fuel stations, etc. It’s more like a backup app. But I use it to see if it has more information to offer on some travel support services than RVTW.

Conclusion – Who Needs RV Trip Wizard?

Although I feel that RVTW is a great tool for almost all RV travelers, I feel it’s best for RVers with large rigs.

That’s because the longer and larger your rig is, the better planning you need to do before hitting the road. And if you are towing a vehicle, planning becomes even more essential.

The last thing you want is to be sent down a road where you encounter hazards or can’t turn around easily.

And RVTW has kept us out of trouble very well so far on all of our trips where it was used.

So my experience has been a good one so far. I feel that I can highly recommend using RVTW to practically any RVer out there.

You may want to learn more about RVTW or just get the program and try it yourself.

Either way, you can click here for the RV Trip Wizard website.

Our Twin Lakes RV Resort Campground Review – Pros And Cons

Twin Lakes RV Resort is located at 1618 Memory Lane in Chocowinity, NC.

This RV park is part of the Thousand Trails/Encore Park system. But as always you can reserve a site with the RV park and not be a member. And the average site costs about $50 a night with full hook ups.

We were very much looking forward to staying here because of its location between Pamlico River and the Chocowinity Bay. And it was not very difficult to get to being located very close to Route 17.

For us, being that close to the water was a big draw. But with all that being said, we
were definitely not blown away by this park at all.

Click here to view a map of the park

Twin Lakes RV Resort Features

The roads inside the park themselves were peppered with many holes. And the ruts were large enough that you had to navigate them very carefully.

Once at the registration area, we had our first encounter with the park personnel. To be fair, they were not rude at all.

But they definitely did not give much explanation about anything either. They handed you the map, told where to find your site, and that was about it.

We did not feel welcomed at all. So in our opinion, their customer service could definitely use some improvement.

Although they have 363 sites, very few of them are devoted to RV travelers. Most of the sites are for annual members or extended stay visitors.

The ones that are devoted to RVers, although offering 30 and 50 amp service and full hook ups, are definitely in the worst area of the park.

And although surrounded by canals, ponds, and the Bay, your RV site will probably not be near any of those.

The Biggest Problem With This Park

But one of the biggest drawbacks of this park is the extremely poor drainage that we experienced during our stay. We do recognize that living that close to the water, it is more difficult for drainage to occur easily.

But the area that these short-term stay sites are in is the worst. The sites in this area also tend to be somewhat unlevel. You can make it work even with a big rig, but it will take some adjustments.

The sites are pretty much all dirt located under pine trees, but the worst thing is the drainage.

We actually had rain only one day while we were there. And although it was a steady rain all day, it was not an all out gullywasher by any means.

By the time it was done though, our site had so much standing water that it was up to our ankles.

Even the next day it had not drained much. So we had to try to raise our jacks in muddy muck and unhook our electric while standing in water. (We were concerned about that as you can imagine)

Our site was not the only one in the area like that either. Other sites were experiencing similar problems.

Twin Lakes RV Resort flooding #1 — Campsites flooded

And not once during this did anyone come by to see if there was anything they could do to help us. It was not a good experience at all and by the time we left, we were filthy, tired and frustrated!!!!!

Twin Lakes RV Resort Amenities

On the other hand, the rest of the park seems to be generally clean. They have the amenities that are offered by most RV resort parks. Things like pools and a camp store and children’s playgrounds.

With COVID going on some of these were closed but they did look like they would be nice to use. There was nothing outstanding about them but they were adequate.

We did not check the showers and rest rooms while there. This is because we mostly stayed in our rig, especially because of the inclement weather.

But looking at the other park amenities I would say they were probably adequate also.

To our knowledge, they did not offer wifi while we were there anywhere throughout the RV campground.

But we were able to use our AT&T hotspot to access the internet at reasonable speeds. And our Sprint/TMobile phones seemed to get a strong signal also.

Once again, we feel that Twin Lakes RV Park is pretty with the canals and ponds and the bay close by.

The Surrounding Area Around The Park

The towns around the campground have everything necessary to provision if you need to do so.

The town of Washington, NC is close by and it has a Walmart and a couple of other popular stores. This is where you can get most of what you need.

We also drove around the area a little bit and there were a couple of smaller towns not too far away. But Washington is where you will find the most places to restock your daily supplies.

The town of Washington has a nice waterfront boardwalk area and there are a couple of museums there too. And there is a state park and an estuary that could be visited as well.

We didn’t have the time because of our limited stay in the area to visit surrounding areas much. But it appears that there are other interesting places to explore too.

Our Conclusion

So summing all of this up, what is our opinion of Twin Lakes RV Resort?

Although in a beautiful area of the country, we would never go out of our way to revisit this park again.

Just because of the difficulties of trying to get set up. And the chance of being in an area where we could get thoroughly flooded out again, keeps us from quickly returning.

In fact, it is mainly because the park does not offer good drainage that we would not chance it again.

It definitely was not one of our favorites and we would probably give it no more than a 2 star rating.

RV Bugs And Insects – How To Get Rid Of Them For Good

RV bugs and insects can turn an enjoyable RV outing into something completely different very quickly.

Of course, when you think about it, we often bring our RVs into their domain. After all, camping in nature is something RVers love to do. And that is their home.

But there are ways to keep your RV essentially free of bugs and insects. We are talking about pests like spiders, roaches, fleas, mosquitoes and others.

Keeping them out of your RV is what this article is all about. So lets start with how to prevent their access to your rig in the first place.

RV Pest Control - How To Remove Bugs And Insects — **Watch my video on RV bugs and insects here**

Read about how to get rid of mice in your RV by clicking here

RV Bugs And Insects – What You Need To Do
RV Bugs And Insects – Prevention Measures To Take
What To Do If you Have An Infestation
Getting Rid Of Mosquitoes
What About Other Flying Insects?
How About Snakes In Your RV?
RV Bugs And Insects Conclusions

RV Bugs And Insects – What You Need To Do

To really be able to take steps to prevent having pests in your RV, you need to know what they want.

Simply put, they are looking for water, food and shelter. Pretty much like we do in our own daily lives.

So you need to think of ways to deny them access to what they are searching for. And try to make your rig as inhospitable to them as possible.

By doing that you can keep them from ever setting up shop in your RV in the first place.

RV Bugs And Insects – Prevention Measures To Take

Here are the top recommended measures you can take to prevent pests from making a home in your RV:

Keep your RV and campsite clean – this is one of the most important steps to take. Leave no food sitting out anywhere inside or outside the RV. Don’t leave dirty dishes or standing water in the sink. And wipe down all kitchen counters and tables often.
Store all the foods that you can in sealed plastic containers. Don’t leave them in boxes. Pests can still get into a box. But sealed plastic containers makes your dry foods unattainable for bugs and insects.
Don’t leave your RV door open for long when entering and exiting the RV. If you want to open the door for ventilation make sure that you use a screen door to prevent access for pests. The same goes for RV windows. Use screens that will keep the bugs out.
Make a concerted effort to seal up all holes and gaps you can find where pests can get in. This will probably include hunting around underneath the RV for possible entry spots. Gaps can often be found especially where things like electric cords and water pipes are installed. Remember that only a few small gaps can be all that most pests need to get inside. So use things like gap filler sealant to eliminate those gaps and holes.
Use natural scents and smells to repel pests. There are plenty of solutions that RVers have found to be effective. These include citrus juice and water sprays, eucalyptus oil or peppermint oil on cotton balls, and dryer sheets. Using more than one of these home remedies is most effective. And you will need to reapply them from time to time as well.
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around anything that touches the ground outside your RV. This material is deadly to the exoskeletons of many insects. So use it liberally and often. And reapply it, especially after a rain.

What To Do If you Have An Infestation

But what can you do if RV bugs and insects are already infested in your RV?

Well, in that case you will need to bring out the big guns to eradicate them. And don’t go timid here or waste time addressing the problem.

Allowing an infestation to go on for a while can cause permanent damage to some areas of your RV.

So here are a couple of very effective actions to take right away:

Insect foggers are very effective. So use the recommended amount for your size RV. Just be sure to use them safely and according to the directions found on the fogger label. And never allow any person or pet inside the RV while the fogger is being used.
Spraying a good insecticide along all the bottoms of every wall is also effective to get rid of pests. And don’t forget the inside of closets and under counters. Again, there is a need to be safe in the application of this kind of product. Always follow the application directions found on the product label. But if you feel uneasy about applying an insecticide, you may want to hire a professional exterminator to do it for you. This is the safest option to take.

Getting Rid Of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are kind of in a class of their own when it comes to RV pests. Most often they are a problem to contend with outdoors, not inside the RV.

This is especially true in the summertime when you want to sit outside in the evenings. They can turn a relaxing and pleasant experience into an irritating nightmare quickly.

So here are some of the methods for dealing with mosquitoes that have been found to be effective:

Citronella candles – if pure citronella is used in the candle wax, these can be very effective to repel mosquitoes. But you may need several of them depending on the area you need to cover.
Thermocell patio shields – these are also known to be very effective as a mosquito repellent. Usually only a couple will cover a fairly large area too.
A bug zapper – quite a few RVers carry bug zappers with them to lure pesky flying insects away and kill them.
Spray repellents like Repel and Off Deep Woods are also effective to keep the little monsters away. Just be sure to follow the label directions to use them safely.
An enclosed screen room – this is one of the most effective measures for handling mosquito infested areas. There are easy-up screen rooms that are available online that can effectively fence them out. And they fold down to a very small size for storage and travel too.

What About Other Flying Insects?

Mosquitoes are certainly a threat to enjoyable RV camping. But by no means are they the only flying insect problem.

What about wasps and mud daubers? We have had to deal with these pesky and determined insects regularly.

So the first step to protecting yourself against these aerial intruders is using bug screens. Especially to cover the intake and exhaust on your RV furnace. Here is a picture of what I mean:

Dauber screens help keep out wasps, mud daubers and other RV bugs and insects — **Dauber screens for your RV furnace**

These simple to install screens can make sure that flying insects don’t get into your RV. And they also make them for your water heater exhaust screen as well.

Besides this prevention measure, it’s always a good idea to keep some wasp spray handy too.

It has been a big help to us on a few occasions when we faced a mud dauber infestation.

How About Snakes In Your RV?

Of course, small bugs and insects are a nuisance in your RV. But snakes can be downright dangerous.

So what can you do to make sure that they don’t make a home in your RV?

As I said above, denying a water and food supply works very well for most pest problems. And that applies to snakes as well.

If you find snake skins in your RV, that is clear evidence that a snake has set up shop in your rig.

And most likely that is because there is a food supply that is also in there with them. Usually mice.

So follow the link I placed above to another article I wrote on how to deal with RV mice. And if you follow those guidelines, most likely your snake will disappear too.

RV Bugs And Insects Conclusions

Clearly, there are lots of pests that can make your RV adventures less enjoyable.

But there are also lots of solutions that many RV travelers and campers have found to be effective.

It will take some planning ahead to have everything you need on hand. But most of the pest repellent products listed above do not take up much precious RV storage space.

If you have found pest removal solutions other than what is mentioned in this article, please comment below. If you share your experience, it can benefit others and contribute to their RVing enjoyment too.

As always, have safe and happy travels my friends …..

Category: RV Camping