Camping Tips for the Unitiated?

The trip planning continues and has been kicked up a notch. It seems that all of the full-time, perm jobs I was considering are delaying their decisions or tabling them completely with no decisions expected before late May or even early June. Sooo, any hesitation I had about taking a long time (3-4 weeks) to traverse the country from DC to LA is now gone.

Though if anything comes through, I can always speed up!

In the meantime, I've been talking to some people about some freelance work that can be done on the road. It's great to be in a business that I can do online and on the phone.

So back to planning: Has anyone out there ever camped at a KOA campground? Are they clean and safe? Anything Max and I should know about before we go? Who has camped/traveled with a dog? Any secrets, tips for things to bring? I have his dog bed, some toys, a coat, a couple of harnasses, collars and leashes (just in case one breaks), and YES I remembered food and water...yes, AND treats...calm down, Max.

I called Max's vet and they said to make sure I have extra food, extra water and a good supply of his meds (allergy and tummy calming)...sounds like good advice for the driver, too.

Max is clearly getting very excited about the trip...I'm starting to get nervous...

Road Trip site selection--Step 1

OK, I took our first step in planning (Max has been NO help so far)...I'm not really sure where to go in this vast nation, so many choices!

My search began with Choice Hotels 'cuz I love their commercials with "I've been everywhere, man"...they have an "along a route" choice, but it is a little complex...well, it's simple in that you enter a beginning and end, but they show EVERY SINGLE hotel along the route, not spread out...so I'd have to decide which one of the chain's many subchains to stay at...and their 'stay in 2 hotels and get the third free' is complicated in the small print...I don't really understand if you have to stay in the same subchain each time or can mix and match and it looks like the price you pay makes a difference, etc....I will eventually figure it out, but for now, have put it on hold.

http://www.choicehotels.com/?type=trip&sid=Sflfi.DI$tSgZLC.6

In the meantime, I also checked out the KOA website and sent off for their "free" ($6 shipping) 2009 directory of Kampsites including those with Kabins...they too have a "plan a trip" option...again, a straight line with every single option listed...just offering a beginning and end.

http://koa.com/tripplanner/index.asp

I would like to see one where I can enter say 5-10 cities you want to visit and have them show a more circuitous route all at once...you can do it with one beginning, one end, city by city...but that requires a lot more energy than I have tonight.

Max is already snoozing...