When we saw our friends at Watsons Wander publish a blog post about their 2014, we wanted one too! We don’t think they’ll mind that we’re borrowing their idea and format. After all, we did help them find some pretty yummy BBQ in Gulfport, MS in 2014!
Since the start of our life as full-time RVers on February 21, 2014, these statistics describe our travels in a nutshell:
Number of States: 10
Number of Overnight Stops: 38
Where We Stayed: 1 state fairground, 1 national forest campground, 2 county parks, 4 state parks, 2 parking lots (visitor center, Lowe’s), 2 service center campgrounds, 9 military bases and 15 private campgrounds.
Free vs. Paid: Staying free isn’t our goal, but 3/38 locations we stayed in 2014 were free.
Camping Fees
Total: $7,854.00
Monthly Average: $654.50
Most Costly Month: $1195.00 (December 2014, stayed at a private campground in downtown Austin, TX)
Least Costly Month: $435.00 (June 2014, stayed at two military bases and one state park)
Nightly Average: $21.52
Natchez Trace Parkway
Cypress Swamp along the Natchez Trace Parkway
On the first leg of our RV journey, we travelled north from Austin to Dallas, TX for my brother Adam’s wedding. Then we went east to the small town of Natchez, MS. We spent the next two weeks traveling all 444 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway. What an amazing experience!
Beautiful Chattanooga
Pardon me, boys - is this the Chattanooga Choo Choo?
Arriving at the northern end of the Parkway in Nashville, TN, we made our way to Chattanooga and enjoyed a wonderful week there. Neither of us had ever visited, and we loved the river running through town, the many activities (Ruby Falls, Incline Railway, Aquarium, Rock City) and the Arts District.
The next month from April-May 2014, we made our way back to Texas before a whirlwind two weeks in Austin and my youngest brother’s college graduation.
Summer Along the Gulf Coast
The world’s largest amateur sandcastle contest in Galveston, TX
The second leg of our journey took us along the Gulf of Mexico. We celebrated the beginning of summer in Galveston before stops in New Orleans and Pensacola. We spent about a month in Florida and had a surprising breakdown.
Fun Times on the East Coast
Boone Hall Plantation outside Charleston, SC
We made so many memories going up and down the east coast from July-November 2014. Hilton Head, Charleston, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg and back down through Raleigh, Myrtle Beach and Jacksonville…I smile as the memories flood back from our the wonderful things we’ve seen, local cuisine we’ve tasted, walks we’ve taken holding hands (okay, getting sappy…).
Old Highway 19
This beautiful site all to ourselves in Sopchoppy, FL for only $15/night
We were going to take the most straightforward route from Orlando back to Austin, but a client recommended we try Florida’s Old Highway 19 instead. We’re so glad we did! We had a county park to ourselves for a week in Sopchoppy, right on the banks of a quiet river. We had brunch at an historic hotel in Cross City. And we took a day trip to Apalachicola for some unforgettable seafood and fun street strolling (and oh, the sunset we saw on our drive!).
We’re Grateful
We had an amazing 2014. Our 2015 plans will take us west, where we know we’ll find a whole new set of adventures! Thanks for traveling with us.
-B
