Casa Grande, Arizona: Trip Planning And Cost Vs Comfort

While continuing to enjoy sunny 90 degree weather in Arizona, Mary Lynn and I have begun planning our return to the East Coast. We are planning on spending the holidays in Maryland with three of our four children. Distance from Casa Grande to Maryland is approximately 2500 miles.


There are several options for travelling to Maryland, staying for six weeks, and then returning to Arizona right after Christmas. Travel with our dog is one complication, so is the fact that the RV is now our home and has everything we need to live & travel comfortably.

Option A is fly to Maryland, rent a car for six weeks, and then fly back to Arizona. On the plus side:

1. travel time is minimized
2. less expensive than driving RV.

On the negative side:

1. pay to store our RV, car & motorcycle here in Arizona
2. rent a car for six weeks - $$$
3. limit what we take from our home (our RV) back to Maryland
4. unable to stop and see our son & daughter-in-law in Tulsa
5. cannot get RV serviced at factory in Alabama

Option B is to drive our car back to Maryland. On the plus side:

1. have our own car while back in Maryland
2. less expensive than driving RV since car gets better mileage
3. able to take a little more 'stuff' on trip to Maryland
4. can see son & daughter-in-law in Tulsa for a few days

The negatives are:

1. pay to store RV & Motorcycle in Arizona
2. a lot of time 'cooped up' in car
3. pay for hotel room every night
4. have to eat all meals out
5. cannot get RV serviced at factory in Alabama

Option C is to drive the RV to Maryland. On the plus side:

1. stay in our own house
2. eat most meals in RV
3. have our own bathroom/bedroom while traveling
4. all of our 'stuff' is with us
5. can see son & daughter-in-law in Tulsa
6. can get RV serviced at factory in Georgia

On the negative side:

1. diesel more expensive than gasoline
2. RV gets lower mileage
3. must 'winterize' RV while in Maryland

Estimated costs are:

1. Option A: $2000 (airfare, car rental, vehicle storage, meals)
2. Option B: $1800 (Gasoline, vehicle storage, meals, hotel)
3. Option C: $3000 (Diesel, winterize RV)

All in all, we could save $1200 if we drive the car, if we are willing to be 'cooped up' in the car for 4-5 days each way.

Another way to put this is it will cost us $1200 to travel in our RV home, with all of the comforts with which we are accustomed. That works out to $120/day to have our own bed each night, our meals in our own kitchen, and anytime access to our own bathroom.

So far our experience with travelling by RV has shown that just about everything involves trade-offs. Which RV you buy, what type of RV, how far you travel, where you travel, etc. all involve trade-offs involving time, comfort and money. Trip planning is no different.

So now Mary Lynn and I have to weigh the trade-offs and make a decision with the normal trade-offs of money, time, and comfort.

All that being said, we are really looking forward to seeing our friends and relatives when we get back East.

Until next time - See Ya!