Planning our 1st big trip

My husband is 100% DAV and has been for a few years, we use MWR to shop and access bases occasionally and enjoy military discounts with these cards frequently. We upgraded from a very small camper to a 33' travel trailer with a slide last summer and are looking to take a few bigger trips this year, our first will be to Ohio this summer and we will be hoping to use the FAMCamp at Wright Patt while there to visit family.

Our next big trip is 6-8 weeks going from NY to FLorida and back. We hope to use Military Campgrounds for most of the trip. This site is a great resource.

Any tips we should consider when first starting out? Some of the campgrounds do not take reservations - what is the likely hood that we will pull up and find no open spots?

Are our DOD Cards enough or will we need to show DD214 as well?

We find in general campers are great people and very helpful - assuming military campers will be doubly so or???

Any tips for me as I plan this whole trip out?

Have fun. We traveled from NY to FL last Oct. We went over the Chesepeake Bay bridge. 27 miles over water with 2 tunnels that go under water. We stayed at Sea Mist RV park in VA, its at Oceana NAS. Loved it. Stayed at Camp Lejuene loved it. Stayed at Pelicans Roost at Mayport NAS in FL. If you can get into any of these it is well worth the stay.

A few answers:
1) Your DOD card (if MWR is approved) is all you need.
2) Military campers are usually more friendly than the typical camper.
3) Be sure to leave us a review of your visits to military campgrounds and RV parks.
4) Enjoy your travels!

Most military campground allow an overflow area if you arrive and it's full. At least you can stay the night, or some have it 72 hours - varies.

We've been using MCGs for years, and only one time have we been denied an overflow parking - and happens to be last week at El Paso ... flat out, NO, we're full. Advised us to go down the road to KOA - HA, not on your life a KOA for this camper. Anyways, most often you will get at least an overnight. As I said, first time ever no overflow.

We stayed at El Paso once, and don't like it much, but were traveling this time through, so planned only one night anyway - won't bother at all with El Paso in the future. Otherwise, we have a lot of good things to say about most of the MCGs in the country.

You'll find many great campgrounds from NY to the south - and a lot of great hosts too. Don't miss Kings Bay in Georgia as well - very nice one. Lots of the MCGs have recent updates as well ...

Do overflow area's have electricity? Our unit does not have a generator and my husband's illness is such that we have to use the AC.

Also forgot to mention we will be traveling with two large dogs (Labradors) and we are probably going to bring our cat too as we hate the idea of leaving her that long with only periodic visits for food & water and litter check-ups.

Some campgrounds say limit of 2 animals - Am wondering if a cat in the camper is going to mean we can't stay there?

Be sure and take your pets vaccination records. Some campgrounds want to see the records and just the tags are not proof.