How AI Helped Us Plan the Perfect RV Trip—Without the Stress

Written By Theresa Smith
A smiling couple sits at a picnic table in front of their Brinkley RV, using a tablet that displays a futuristic AI-generated route map across the U.S.

Buckle up, folks, this is going to be a lengthy post. But I promise, it will be worth it!

Feeling overwhelmed trying to plan your next RV adventure? Whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway or embarking on a cross-country journey, using AI can simplify the planning process, reduce stress, and even make trip planning more fun! Note that some of the information below would need to be cross-checked for accuracy and some details may need to be clarified. AI is still not perfect. But using AI to plan your trip can make things so much easier.

We’re hitting the road in October for our big RV trip. Our first planned stop? Beautiful Bend, Oregon, where we’ll enjoy mountain biking, hiking, and a few rounds of golf. From there, we know we want to cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway, connect with Route 66, and eventually make our way to my hometown in south-central Texas. Beyond that, though, we weren’t sure where to begin.

Normally, this is where things get tricky. We’re traveling with a 45-foot fifth-wheel, towing it with a Ford F-450, and bringing along our two medium-sized dogs. We also wanted to stay in moderately priced RV parks (under $120 per night)—the kind of places that are scenic, pet-friendly, and equipped for large rigs.

Searching for all that manually? That would have meant hours of Googling, reading reviews, making phone calls, and cross-checking availability. But instead, we turned to AI—and it made all the difference.

How to Get the Best Results with AI Trip Planning

The key to using AI effectively for RV trip planning is writing a clear, detailed prompt. The more specific you are, the more accurate and helpful the response will be. Here's the exact prompt we used (and yes, I always say “please” and “thank you” to AI—you just never know!):

“Please help us plan an RV trip, starting on October 15. We would like to start our trip in Fruitland, Idaho with our first stop in Bend, Oregon. We would like to finish this leg of our trip in Kerrville, Texas and we need to be there by no earlier than December 15, but no later than December 22. We would like to stay at moderately priced RV parks (under $120 per night). On travel days, we would like to drive no more than 300 miles per day. Suggested RV parks should be able to accommodate a 45-foot RV and a Ford F-450 pickup and need to allow two medium-sized dogs. We need recommendations for RV parks for every night of our trip. We know we would like to go down the Pacific Coast Highway and also along Route 66. Please recommend a route, moderately priced RV parks that can accommodate our RV size and pets, and length of stay in each place. Bonus points if the recommended RV parks are in beautiful places with lots of activities or outdoor space nearby. We would also like to avoid big cities and heavy traffic as much as possible. Include links to each of the recommended RV parks. Thank you!"

What AI Delivered

With that one prompt, AI helped us map out an almost complete RV route, recommending stops along the coast and through the Southwest—all tailored to our rig size, travel dates, and preferences.

From scenic dog-friendly RV parks to lesser-known destinations packed with outdoor activities, the itinerary was exactly what we needed to feel confident and excited about our journey.

(Note: for privacy and security, the dates mentioned above are slightly altered.)

Here’s your detailed full RV trip itinerary, including every night’s park, ≤ 300 miles/day driving, under $120/night, 45-ft rig + F‑450, two dogs, coastal scenic and Route 66 adventure, links & emphasis on outdoor enjoyment:

🗓 Trip Overview

  • Start: Fruitland, ID on Oct 15

  • First Stop: Bend, OR

  • End: Kerrville, TX between Dec 15–22

  • Budget: ≤ $120/night

  • Rig/Pets: 45-ft RV, Ford F‑450, 2 dogs

  • Daily Drive Limit: 300 miles

  • Main Route: Pacific Coast Highway → Route 66

  • Style: Scenic, light traffic, outdoor-rich

🚍 Leg 1 – Fruitland → Bend (Oct 15–16)

Drive: ~270 mi

Stay at:
Crown Villa RV Resort – Bend, OR

  • Big‑rig friendly, full hookups, dog zones

  • ~$80–110/night

  • Trails, mountain biking, Deschutes River

Nights: 2

🌲 Leg 2 – Bend → Astoria, OR (Oct 17–20)

Drive: ~290 mi

Stay at:
Lewis & Clark Golf & RV Park – Astoria, OR

Nights: 3

🏖 Leg 3 – Astoria → Seaside, OR (Oct 20–22)

Drive: ~20 mi

Stay at:
KOA Seaside/Hammond, OR

  • Pull‑through sites, full hookups, pet areas

  • ~$60–90/night

  • Beach access, dunes, pet-friendly hikes

Nights: 2

🏞️ Leg 4 – Seaside → Big Sur, CA (Oct 22–28)

Total Drive: ~680 mi over 2 travel days (~340 mi max/day)

Stay at:
Riverside Campground & Cabins – Big Sur, CA

Nights: 6

🍇 Leg 5 – Big Sur → Paso Robles (Central Coast) (Oct 28–Nov 1)

Drive: ~110 mi

Stay at:
Wine Country RV Resort – Paso Robles, CA

  • Full hookups, big-rig capable, pet policies

  • ~$85–105/night

  • Vineyards, biking, nearby beaches

Nights: 4

🛤 Leg 6 – Paso Robles → Holbrook, AZ (Nov 2–5)

Drive: ~650 mi over 2 days (<300 mi/day)

Stay at:
Root 66 RV Park – Holbrook, AZ

Nights: 3

🌵 Leg 7 – Holbrook → Sun Valley, AZ (Nov 6–8)

Drive: ~20 mi

Stay at:
Route 66 RV Park – Sun Valley, AZ

Nights: 3

🌄 Leg 8 – Sun Valley → Edgewood, NM (Nov 9–12)

Drive: ~235 mi

Stay at:
Route 66 RV Park – Edgewood, NM

  • Full hookups, pet-friendly, historic ambiance

  • ~$50/night

  • Route 66 sites, hiking

Nights: 3

🔁 Leg 9 – Edgewood → Kerrville, TX (Nov 13–Dec 22)

Keep all drives ≤ 300 mi, with 5 stops.

⛺ Stop A – Abilene State Park, TX (Nov 13–16)

Drive: 285 mi
🔗 Abilene State Park

  • Shaded sites, 30/50A, dog-friendly trails

  • ~$25–30/night

Nights: 3

🏞 Stop B – South Llano River State Park, Junction, TX (Nov 17–21)

Drive: 175 mi
🔗 South Llano River SP

Nights: 5

🌊 Stop C – Garner State Park, Concan, TX (Nov 22–28)

Drive: 103 mi
🔗 Garner State Park

  • Frio River, canyon trails, RV full hookups

  • ~$35–45/night

Nights: 6

🍂 Stop D – Lost Maples State Natural Area, TX (Nov 29–Dec 4)

Drive: 35 mi
🔗 Lost Maples SP

  • Fall foliage, scenic trails, dry camping (~$20/night)

  • Check site size for 45-ft rig

Nights: 6

🌳 Stop E – Kerrville–Schreiner Park, Kerrville, TX (Dec 5–22)

Drive: 65 mi
🔗 Kerrville–Schreiner Park

  • Riverfront, full hookups, pet-friendly trails

  • ~$45–60/night

Nights: 18

✅ Summary Table

🎯 Why This Works

  • Daily drives ≤300 mi

  • Big‑rig & dog‑friendly parks

  • Budget under $120/night

  • Scenic, low‑traffic, outdoor‑rich

  • Arrives Well Within Dec 15–22 window

We hope that this will help you create your own prompt for AI to plan your own RV trip! Happy travels, Active Moderists!

Theresa Smith
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