Epic 58-Night RV Adventure: Exploring the Northeast Summer 2024
This summer, our family set out on an unforgettable 58-night, 5,000+ mile RV adventure. Stella, our 2022 Airstream International 27FB, became our home on wheels. Starting in Austin, Texas, we explored the Northeast, New England, and parts of the Midwest back home, crossing 19 states. From iconic national parks to thrilling river adventures and downhill mountain biking. Along the way, we reconnected with old friends, family, and made new memories that will last a lifetime. It wasn’t all smooth sailing—joyful moments were paired with unexpected challenges. Here’s a snapshot of our epic journey, capturing the highs, lows, and everything in between.
For many, the planning phase of a road trip is the most exciting part. To map out our travel route, book campgrounds, and plan activities, we relied on some key tools and resources such as RV Trip Wizard to make the process smoother.
Original Travel and Campground Plan
Our original itinerary is shared below. We did hit about 80% of what we originally planned. This was mainly due to unexpected issues we had with our Truck, delaying and/or altering parts of our trip around Boston, Maine, and New Hampshire.
Click on the Day numbers below to jump into a detailed post for that segment of our trip. Or visit our series page as a jumping point, 58-night North East Summer RV adventure.
Note :The driving distances and durations listed below are estimates between campgrounds or stops, as calculated by the RV Trip Wizard tool or Google Maps. These estimates do not account for meal breaks, restroom stops, fuel stops, or unplanned detours—like when we pulled over to check out something interesting along the way.
| Day# / Date / Driving Distance & Duration | Stays – Check-in / Check-out | Activity Summary |
| Day 0, weeks before | Home in Austin | Prepping, Loading, Birthday Party |
| Day 1-2 Sat, Jul 13 (1 night) 316 mi / 5.0 hrs | Home in Austin to Shreveport KOA | Final packing and 1-night rest |
| Day 2-5 Sun, Jul 14 (3 nights) 235 mi / 3.5 hrs | Friends Mooch-docking – L & J Fam (Madison, MS) | Friends, cooking, Children’s Museum, boating & tubing |
| Day 5-8 Wed, Jul 17 (3 nights) 399 mi / 5.5 hrs | Raccoon Mountains Cavern & Campgrounds, Chattanooga, TN | Incline Railway, Ruby Falls, Rock City Gardens, Coolidge Park & Pedestrian Bridge |
| Day 8-9 Sun, Jul 20 (1 night) 402 mi / 6 hrs | Natural Bridge / Lexington KOA – Virginia | Very late check-in, sleep. Hiked Natural Bridge State Park in morning |
| Day 9-10 Sun, Jul 21 (1 night) 251 mi / 4 hrs | Bengies Drive-in Movie Theater – Maryland (Harvest Host) | Boondocked while watching Despicable Me 4 and Twisters |
| Day 10-14 Mon, Jul 22 (4 nights) 160 mi / 3 hrs | Liberty Harbor RV Park – Jersey, NYC & New Jersey | Stayed in Jersey; Adventured to NYC via subway, ferries and biking; City parks, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, 360 View of NYC @ Edge Hudson Yards, |
| Day 14-15 Fri, Jul 26 (1 night) 62 mi / 1.25 hrs | Black Bear RV Park, Florida NY | Legoland New York |
| Day 15-19 Sat, Jul 27 (4 nights) 239 mi / 4.5 hrs | Family Moochdocking – Abington, MA | Catching up with family & home cooking, Boston Museum of Science, Boston Library, |
| Day 19-20 Wed, Jul 31 (1 night) 137 mi / 2.5 hrs | Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach Campground, Portland ME | Portland, Lobsters |
| Day 20-21 Thu, Aug 01 (1 night) 136 mi / 2.5 hrs | Orchard Ridge Farm (Harvest Host), Portland ME | Boondocking farm, Portland |
| Day 21-23 Fri, Aug 02 (2 nights) 65 mi / 1.5 hrs | Sherwood Forest Campsite & Cabins | Lighthouse, Beach |
| Day 23-28 Sun, Aug 04 (5 nights) 118 mi / 3.0 hrs | Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA, Maine | Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor |
| Day 28-33 Fri, Aug 09 (5 nights) 234 mi / 4.75 hrs | Twin Mountain / Mt. Washington KOA, New Hampshire | Mt. Washington Cog Ralway, Loon Mtn MTB, Kangcamagus Highway |
| Day 33-36 Fri, Aug 14 (3 nights) 165 mi / 3.5 hrs | Lake Placid/Whiteface Mtn. KOA, Wilmington, NY | The Wild Center, Olympic Museum |
| Day 36-37 Sat, Aug 17 (1 night) 25 mi / 0.75 hrs | Ausable Chasm Campground, Ausable Chasm, NY | Ausable Chasm |
| Day 37-40 Sun, Aug 18 (3 nights) 71 mi / 1.25 hrs | Rancho Pines Campground, Chestertown, NY | Adirondack Extreme Adventure course, Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, Fort Ticonderoga |
| Day 40-43 Wed, Aug 21 (3 nights) 203 mi / 3.5 hrs | Moochdock – Q & J Fam | Catching up with friends, Disc Golf, Parents vs Kids Soccer, Backyard swimming pool, S’mores |
| Day 43-45 Sat, Aug 24 (2 nights) 141 mi / 2.5 hrs | Canadaigua / Rochester KOA, Farmington, NY | Hung out with friends J & N Fam at their lake cabin; hung out at our KOA campground; visited Rochester, NY |
| Day 45-48 Mon, Aug 26 (3 nights) 93 mi / 1.45 hrs | HTR Niagra, Grand Island, NY | Niagra Falls, laser tag at campground, fun at Clifton Hill |
| Day 48-49 Thu, Aug 29 (1 night) 317 mi / 5.25 hrs | Sunbury Columbus North KOA, Sunbury, Ohio | Cuyahoga Valley NP quick visit, 1 night rest at KOA |
| Day 49-50 Fri, Aug 30 (1 night) 76 mi / 1.5 hrs | Airstream Factory Terraport, Jackson Center, Ohio | Airstream Factory Travel Trailer Tour on Friday |
| Day 50-52 Sat, Aug 31 (2 night)s 147 mi / 2.5 hrs | Grandma’s RV Park, Shepherdsville, KY | Churchill Downs (Kentucky Derby Track) |
| Day 52-54 Mon, Sep 02 (2 nights) 97 mi / 1.5 hrs | Jellystone Mammoth Cave, Cave City, KY | Abe Lincoln Nat’l Historical Park, Mammoth Cave National Park |
| Day 54-56 Wed, Sep 04 (2 nights) 319 mi / 5.0 hrs | T.O. Fuller State Park, Memphis, TN Jellystone Hornlake, MS | National Civil Rights Museum, Lorraine Motel where MLK was assassinated. |
| Day 56-57 Fri, Sep 06 (1 night) 365 mi / 5.5 hrs | Dallas Northeast Campground, Caddo Mills, TX | Rest at campground |
| Day 57-58 Sat, Sep 07 291 mi / 4.5 hrs | McKinney Falls SP, Home in Austin, TX | Logan’s first Soccer game (U11), RV Camping Birthday Party |
Hop over to our 58-nights North East Summer 2024 Series to learn more about our journey, adventures, and mishaps.
