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Route 66, the iconic “Mother Road,” winds its way from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California.  If you don’t have the time to drive the entire route, why not take on this icon of American transportation history in bite-sized pieces?  We’re going to help you do just that with a series called Get Your Pics on Route 66 in hopes that you’ll capture some great memories and images as you explore this little slice of Americana.  Here’s the Route 66 Northern Illinois installment:

Route 66 runs about 300 miles across Illinois from Chicago to East St. Louis and was formerly a Native American Indian trail and stagecoach road called the Pontiac Trail. When Cyrus Avery and John Woodruff introduced an inter-regional highway connecting Chicago and Los Angeles, The Route became the culmination of their dreams. It starts (or ends, depending on your direction of travel) in the Windy City, and because Illinois has so many remaining attractions from the highway, we’ll be covering the northern half of the state in this report.

Chicago

Head downtown to the intersection of Jefferson and Jackson Streets.  You’ll find the “Begin” Route 66 sign one block over on Adams Street, as it is a one-way street. The “End” sign is at Jackson and Michigan Avenue, and Grant Park is considered the official terminus of Route 66.  Start your adventure down America’s Main Street from Grant Park.

At 565 W. Jackson, you’ll find the first restaurant on Route 66’s southern trek: Lou Mitchell’s. Built in 1949, the building still has its original neon signs, black, and white flooring and booths. They’re still offering great breakfasts and lunches, so find a table and grab some grub to fortify you on your Mother Road adventure. And if you kindly complain to the staff that you don’t like being discriminated against because you’re male, you may be given a box of Milk Duds.

Cicero

This suburb of Chicago is home to Henry’s Drive-In, where hot dogs have ruled since the 1950s. Their motto is “It’s a meal in itself,” and today’s travelers along Route 66 must agree, as they are still serving ‘em up at Henry’s, and the original neon sign continues to brighten up Ogden Avenue.

Hinsdale

Make your way out of downtown Chicago to Hinsdale, just 15 minutes away for another scrumptious diner that instructs travelers to “Get Your Chicks on Route 66.” Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket started as a lunch counter in a gas station in the 1930s and grew into its current residence next door in 1946. When the interstate highway decimated businesses from The Mother Road, bypassing the Hinsdale community, this restaurant was saved by savvy marketing to Chicago suburbanites.

Joliet

The next town on The Route today is Joliet—famous for their imposing prison and motor speedway. But you’ll find several kitschy attractions around town, including the Rich and Creamy Ice Cream Stand.

Built at the end of Route 66’s commission, the original “Creamy Delight” store was almost torn down, but the city of Joliet has found a way to keep serving the cold desserts to Route travelers today.

But if you’re a connoisseur of ice cream you won’t want to miss the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen store. Located at 501 N. Chicago in Joliet and opened in 1940, the shop was the first to deliver “soft serve” ice cream labeled as “the new frozen dairy product” by its creators, the McCullough family.

Be sure to stop in at the Route 66 Welcome Center at 204 W. Ottawa Street to learn about the history of Joliet and the importance of the famous highway to its economy and growth.

Another interesting sight along The Route is Dick’s Towing at 911 N. Broadway. Located in an old gas station, the towing business has created their own display of Route 66 vehicles in front of and on top of the building. Although the business was not in existence during the Mother Road’s heyday, they have found a quirky way to attract today’s travelers.

Wilmington

Don’t forget to visit the Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad Drive-In. He is one of the original “Muffler Man” creations, paying homage to the Gemini Space Program by holding a rocket in his hands. You can’t miss him, as he is dressed from head to foot in green and wearing a homemade space helmet!

Dwight

Following Interstate 55 (old Route 66) south to Dwight, you’ll find a wonderful restoration at Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station. Originally built in 1933 in the cottage style so popular along The Route, this station has been restored to its former glory today and serves as an information center for the town of Dwight, as well.

There is also a nice signboard display of Route 66 attractions in the area as you enter the village.

Odell

For another great preserved service station, just travel a few miles south to Odell, Illinois. Here the Standard Oil Gas Station has been returned to its “domestic style” architecture, described as a house with a canopy that gave customers a feeling of trust. The building was erected in 1932 and a few years later, as traffic continued to increase along Route 66, the contractor added service bays. Today it stands as a reminder of the influence the highway had on this and other small towns, and it also houses the community’s visitor center.

Continue on Through the Prairie State

The very first section of Route 66 is now in your rearview mirror, and you won’t want to miss the second half of the highlights in Illinois. So please join us next time for more Mother Road nostalgia in the Southern Illinois section of “Get Your Pics on Route 66.” In the meantime, why not find your own adventure along the Mother Road in a motorhome or travel trailer from Camping World?

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You can drive the rest of Route 66 with our other “Get Your Pics on Route 66” articles. Read the entire series.

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Space in an RV isn’t exactly abundant. Many RVers struggle to find room for all the things they want to take along. While most RVs do a good job of making the most of their square footage, there’s always things you can do to maximize that space even more.

Here are ten of the best ways to best use the space you have available inside your RV.

1. Use Camping-Specific Household Items

First thing’s first, you’re in an RV, so make sure the items you take with you are designed for that space. That means camping-specific kitchenware, smaller toiletry items, a smaller trash can. Get things that fit the space. Don’t try to make the space fit your things.

Kitchenware is easy. There are all kinds of pots, pans, plates, and utensils created to be compact and useful. Collapsible cookware is extremely handy and easy to use. Having a kitchen that’s outfitted with RV and camping-specific items will help you make the most of your limited kitchen storage.

2. Eliminate Useless Items

In addition to buying items designed specifically for an RV, make sure you eliminate unnecessary items. Make a list of all possessions you have in the RV, and then sit down and go over the list to see what can be eliminated.

Be honest with yourself. If you truly need something, keep it on the list. If you have something you’re on the fence about, talk it over with your significant other, family, or whoever you’ll be traveling with. If you don’t need it, don’t take it along.

3. Have a Place for Everything

Staying organized while in your RV is one of the best ways to make the most of your limited space. Before you head out in your RV, have a place for everything, and make sure the people you’ll be traveling with know where each item goes.

I’m not saying you need to be a neat freak. You’re camping, things are going to get dirty and cluttered, but it’s always nice to know that everything fits in the RV easily, and having a specific place for your things makes cleanup a cinch.

4. Use Your Wall Space

One thing that I notice most often in a lot of RVs is that usable wall space isn’t being utilized. When you have such a small floor plan, you need to use the vertical space for storing items. Some RVs have more wall space than others, but you should make the most of whatever you do have.

Hooks, shelves, magnet strips, and hanging storage units are great for using wall space. Whether it’s clothing, kitchen utensils, or electronics, there’s a way to use your wall space and get items up off the floor or out of cabinets.

5. Use Divided Organizers inside of Drawers

Inside the drawers in your kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, you don’t want to just toss things in there. It becomes a jumbled mess. There are a variety of organizers out there for drawers. If you want to best utilize that space get some that fit your RV.

Silverware, cooking utensils, and toiletries all fit in drawers better if you have an organizer. Even the famed junk drawer can become a reasonably usable space if you have the proper organizer in the drawer.

6. Hang Items On the Inside of Cabinet Doors

Similar to using wall space, you can use the inside of your cabinet doors to hang items. There are a variety of organizers that will either hang over the cabinet door or attach to the door. You can even put hooks on the back of the doors if needed.

The back of cabinet doors works well for things like sponges, brushes, and cleaning supplies in kitchen cabinets. In the bathroom, you can use the inside of your cabinet doors for storage containers that can be a place for toothbrushes, toothpaste, or a hairbrush.

7. Install Drawers Under Tables

Need a little extra storage space for placemats, utensils, or a deck of cards and other odds and ends? Add a drawer to the underside of a table in your RV.

The size and depth of the drawer will depend on the seating around the table, and if it’s a collapsible table, you may have to take that into account when adding the drawer.

8. Hang Shower Items

It’s always surprising to me how many things end up on the little ledge around a tub or shower. Instead of leaving those things to sit on a ledge, why not get a shower caddy or some kind of wall hanger for your shower?

This will best utilize your vertical space and allow you to have everything you need without tripping over something while you wash. The idea is a lot like utilizing wall space in the rest of your RV. The walls of the shower are just sitting there. Why not use them?

9. Organize the Storage Under Your Bed

Most RVs have storage underneath the bed in the main sleeping area. If yours doesn’t, first consider updating your bed frame to one that does have some kind of storage underneath it.

Having space is one thing. Utilizing it properly is another. Totes and dividers can help make the most of that space. You can store laundry under your bed or use it for any number of other items.

10. Get an Organizer for Your RV’s Basement

Many RVs have storage spaces known as basements, and usually, it’s just a large open space for storage. Don’t let that space become the catchall for random stuff. You can get totes and dividers to make the most of that storage space.

When you divide up and organize the basement of your RV you’ll have more room for other items, meaning you won’t have to store those items inside the RV, freeing up more space indoors.

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How do you make the most of your RV’s limited space? Leave a comment below.

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Some dreams are more than just a series of images and scenes slipping through your head in the moments before you wake. Sometimes there’s a prophetic quality to them. Ashely Mann’s husband made an interesting prediction one night that has proved more or less true.

“My husband woke up in the middle of the night and was like, ‘I think we’re going to be living in an RV at some point.’”

Ashley wasn’t opposed to the idea. Her and her husband, Josiah, were aware of alternative lifestyles—tiny homes, minimalism, and nomadic living—and with her husband being a musician they thought maybe one day they would live in an RV, jumping from one venue to the next.

But those were just thoughts, possibilities of what could be. Ashley and Josiah discussed and envisioned the possibilities, and they liked what they saw.

Not as Weird as It Sounds

To discuss the dream off the bat makes Ashley sound like some kind of hippie nomad with a penchant for the surreal and paranormal. She’s actually a smart and logical individual who used to teach middle school English.

She was gracious enough to talk with me over Skype about her and her husband’s lifestyle as full-time RVers and their businesses.

They ended up in the RV as a way to “make a change and leave the status quo kind of life.” She said the choice to move into the RV and live the lifestyle they do came from specific goals they set, including time and location freedom.

Both Ashley and Josiah knew that they could have the lifestyle they wanted through owning their own businesses. This started out with the goal of getting into real estate.

Moving Into an RV and RV Inspiration

Their steps into the real estate world led them to Kansas City, Missouri. Instead of living in an apartment or buying a home there, the couple decided to give living in an RV a try. They bought their fifth-wheel and lived in it full-time near the city.

During this time, Ashley started her website, called RV Inspiration. While researching and reading up on RVs, she found many people asking the same questions over and over again. She decided to start her website to help the people seeking answers.

She wants to provide true value to her readers in an educational and straightforward way. Ashley sees her website as a resource for people who have questions about RVing and the RV lifestyle, with content on everything from storage and organization to RV décor. As her site grows Ashley hopes to bring on other contributors to serve her audience even better than she does now.

Although the real estate plan didn’t pan out the way they’d hoped, the couple stayed in the RV and Josiah began working in the city. Their entrepreneurial and adventurous spirits not broken, the couple eventually picked up and moved their fifth-wheel to Dallas, Texas. There Josiah could start a software company in the real estate space with the help of a Dallas investor and Ashley could keep plugging away with RV Inspiration.

Continuing to Pursue Their Goal of Freedom

With Josiah’s new software company moving along and Ashley’s RV blog gaining traction, the couple is now at the point where they have achieved a certain level of time and location freedom. It’s a goal they sought when their journey first started.

“It’s always kind of hard to explain to people why we live in an RV because we’re not actually traveling right now,” Ashley said.

That will change soon, as she and Josiah weigh their options and decide where to go. Ashley said she isn’t sure where they will travel or when they’ll set off. They may stay in Dallas for a while longer, but they’re now very close to having the flexibility both with their home and with their professional lives to do so.

“I don’t think we’re the type to just hit the road and figure it out as we go.”

Ashley says that their goal for living in an RV was never really to get out on the open road. It was always more about having absolute freedom. They want financial freedom, freedom to use their time as they want, and freedom to live wherever.

Living a nomadic lifestyle isn’t something Ashley is completely uninterested in, but it wasn’t the defining motivation behind their choice to live in their fifth-wheel.

“The freedom is what we’re looking for rather than the physical manifestation of that.”

Ashley said during her last year of teaching before they moved to Kansas City, she had a realization that she could do whatever she wanted. That realization helped her decide that she should go for it.

“I’d learned to be a teacher, and I could learn to do anything else if I wanted to. I could make my life whatever I wanted it to be.”

Why an RV is Right for Her

When asked what she likes best about living in an RV, she said she likes the smallness of it.

“I’m definitely not a minimalist, but I do like being limited in the number of things I can own. It’s freeing not to have a bunch of stuff in storage or a garage to clean out, and I love that cleaning the whole house takes 10 or 15 minutes.”

During their first few years of marriage, she and Josiah lived in apartments and later a house, and Ashley said she sometimes felt burdened by the things they owned. Living in a fifth-wheel keeps her from accumulating all the physical junk that comes with life.

She also said that she liked how easy it was to relocate when they needed to. Although they’re not traveling constantly, if one of their businesses took them to a new city or state, they could easily pack up and go.

“I don’t want to let go of that mobility anytime soon,” she said.

What the Future Will Hold

In the immediate future, Ashley envisions Josiah and herself doing some traveling and enjoying the freedom that they have been able to build into their lives. They may take their fifth-wheel on the road. They may find an apartment or home and buy a different RV to travel in.

“I’m tempted by Class C’s right now. I’m really looking at those a lot.”

Ashley said she’s unsure of how long they will stay in their fifth-wheel as their primary residence, but that an RV will definitely be in their future.

So, it turned out that Josiah’s dream did come true. While life hasn’t exactly turned out how the couple envisioned it, their focus on freedom and doing what they want to do has led them to a lifestyle outside of the norm, one that will foster many adventures to come.

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What are your thoughts on Ashley’s story? Leave a comment below!

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We’re bringing back the RV Jedeye!

David Lee got his nickname for his love of all things Star Wars (with the exception of Episodes 1-3) and his new-found love of RVing.

As a solo traveler, he’s made a commitment to get out on the road twice a month—a true “Weekend Warrior.”

The reason why he’s sharing his journey—to pay it forward. “I watched a lot of videos when I was thinking about getting my RV and renovating it, so I wanted to share and in a way say thanks to all those who came before me.”

You can follow his travels on YouTube and Instagram.

** Subscribe to Stories from the Road on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Play **

Some topics we covered this time around:

• 3:11 – RV Safety during hurricane season
• 11:49 – Changing RV style
• 16:02 – Getting by with a little help from your friends.
• 22:30 – Work/RV Life Balance
• 26:20 – RV Jedeye-approved meals and recipes
• 30:30 – Coffee talk

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Camping beneath the stars surrounded by rustling pines or oceanside is the stuff RV dreams are made of. It’s also the stuff of RV ads which rarely show a power pedestal and sewer hose. Though maybe not the norm, the idyllic RV experience can be yours if you boondock.

But, boondocking, also known as dry camping, can be intimidating for beginner RVers. It can also feel a bit daunting for more experienced RVers who are used to having full-hookups. The good news is, like many things in life, all you need is a little bit of practice to boondock comfortably. Taking boondocking one small step at a time can also increase the likelihood that you’ll enjoy it.

Here we’ll go through some tips to help you get comfortable with boondocking little by little. In no time, you’ll be all set to camp off-grid whether nestled among mountains or following your favorite college football team.

 

1. Check the Weather

Avoid boondocking for the first time in frigid or sweltering conditions. If it’s sticky and hot you’re going to need to rely on your AC to stay comfortable. Being extra mindful of your power consumption is key to boondocking. Needing to run your AC adds an extra challenge you don’t need when you’re learning. Likewise, if it’s cold, you need to run your furnace. Although your furnace likely runs on LP, the fan draws power. When you’re first learning this could put you in a position where you wake up to find your battery is drained.

Try boondocking for the first time in temperatures where the highs are in the 70s and the lows don’t dip below the 50s. Of course, you can boondock in other weather conditions, it’s just not as easy. Stack the odds in your favor when you’re starting out by learning to boondock in mild weather.

2. Cover Your RV Basics

Before setting out on your first boondocking adventure be sure to check off some RV basics. Fill your fresh water tank. Empty your gray and black water tanks. Refill your propane and make sure your batteries are fully charged. If you’re in a towable pack your portable generator. Many of you in a motorized RV will have an onboard generator. Make sure you know how to operate it (it may need to be primed if you’re in high altitude).

Last, be sure to stock your fridge and pack some extra drinking water. Yes, you can drink water being pumped from your freshwater tank, but packing drinking water will leave room for error. If you find you underestimated how much water you use for dishes or showers, you can always switch to drinking and cooking with the extra water you packed.

3. Plan a Partial Hook-Up Stay

Why cut all your hook-ups at once? Try starting out by camping with just partial hook-ups at a campground. If you’re used to full hook-ups with sewer, try going without the sewer hook-up at first. After that try camping at a campground that offers just one hook-up. A state park might offer electric only, but make water available at spigots located throughout the campground. You can practice your water management without having to worry about your power too.

4. Boondock With a Built-In Back-Up Plan

What better way to learn than with a safety net? Try a short, two to three-day boondocking stay at any of these.

Campsites with Hook-Ups

Wait. A campsite with hookups? Yes. A great way to practice is to camp at a campsite with hook-ups without actually hooking up your RV. This is a great way to practice because you have the hook-ups there if you need them. Since the hook-ups are there you can even extend the stay to five or seven days, and really zone in on what your power and water consumption is per day and week.

Friends’ and Family’s Driveways

A friend or relative’s driveway, or even your own, is a great place to practice boondocking. You are able to practice without hook-ups, but should anything not turn out right, there is an entire house you can always stay in. At the least, you could hook up to their power or water to charge up or refill if you needed to.

RV Shows

RV shows are a great place to begin dry camping if they allow onsite camping. Many RV shows do allow onsite camping, but there won’t be any hook-ups. You’ll be camping with other RV enthusiasts who are also boondocking for the weekend. That being the case, there’s plenty of help should you need it. You may also be able to pick up some tips from your fellow RVers.

Sporting Events

You may only want to become proficient at boondocking to attend your favorite sporting events. If that’s the case they’re great for practice (barring poor weather) as they make for a nice short stay. Like an RV show, you’ll be among fellow RVers who are also boondocking, so help isn’t too far should you need it.

Casinos

Some casinos will allow RVers to park overnight as long as they spend money inside the casino. This can be a fun way to practice. The stay is a great length at just one night. And, should you change your mind, or find yourself unprepared, you can always book a room instead.

5. Wallydock

Some RVers refer to boondocking at Walmart as Wallydocking. If you travel long distances in your RV, chances are high you’ll be spending the night at a Walmart at some point along your travels. They make a good place to practice your overnight boondocking. If you forget anything, there are supplies inside. If you’re at one along a popular travel route, like the Walmart in Page, AZ, you’ll also be surrounded by fellow RVers doing the same thing.

6. Boondock at a USFS or NPS campground

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) campgrounds will often offer the opportunity to camp with more privacy and more nature. The catch is that there aren’t always hook-ups. Plan a short two to three day stay to practice. Some of the USFS campgrounds are developed and have a camp host. Those are ideal to start off with. The same is true of National Park Service (NPS) campgrounds. Some don’t have hook-ups so you can practice your boondocking, and there will often be other RVers there boondocking, too.

7. Boondock on BLM Land

Once you feel you have the hang of it, boondock on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. Or maybe just try boondocking for longer. BLM land offers the opportunity to have complete privacy depending on where you are. You can plan a lovely escape surrounded by nature and nothing else. Once you’re comfortable with longer stays you can also set up base camp for other activities you might enjoy like backpacking, fishing, or mountain biking. The possibilities at this point are nearly endless.

As far as longer stays go, great places to dip your toes and gain more confidence are Moab, Sedona, and Flagstaff. Boondocking in these areas is popular, the weather can be really mild at different times of the year and you’ll certainly run into other RVers which may give you some comfort as a beginner.

Boondocking can be a very rewarding RV experience. Overnight boondocking is also a regular part of RVing, especially if you RV across long distances.

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Have any good boondocking stories? Leave a comment below!

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When camping in an RV, you have a lot of gear and supplies to round up and keep track of. There are your clothes, food, cooking supplies, and hiking or fishing gear among many other things. All of it is important for camping success, but if you really want to make the most of your experience, get organized ahead of time.

Even a little organization can go a long way. Here are some ways organization skills can help improve your camping trip.

You’ll Make the Most of Limited Space

Your RV obviously isn’t as spacious as a typical home. Instead of a big pantry or a huge closet, you get small storage spaces to use. You’ll be able to fit the most into these spaces if they’re organized.

Consider adding some totes or dividers into your storage spaces so you can truly make the most of it. Have a place that everything goes. That way even if you don’t stay organized while camping, when you go to pack up and head home or to the next campground, you’ll know that everything fits and where.

You Won’t Forget Things

I don’t know about you, but it seems like I forget something every single time I go camping. It’s usually a small item or piece of gear that I can do without, but it’s still not fun to not have the gear and items you want to take along. One thing I’ve found that helps is getting organized before I go.

Make a checklist and stick to it. As you put things in their place in your RV, check them off. Do the same thing when you leave your campground, too. That way, you won’t leave anything behind. There’s nothing worse than trying to track down gear that you know you had at one point.

You Won’t Waste Time Looking For Something

On a related note to the point above, if you’re organized, you won’t spend a ton of time looking for gear and items you know you have. I have spent far too much time in the past trying to hunt down stuff either before I set off or on the last day of the trip.

Instead of spending time hunting items down, it’s smart to have a place for everything and make sure to return it to that spot whenever possible. For example, if you use your favorite cast iron skillet, wash it and put it away when you’re done. That way, you always know where it is.

Not everyone is good at organizing their clothing, gear, food and other camping items, but it is something that’s pretty easy to learn. It takes a little effort, but not so much that it negates the amount of time and energy you save. In general, taking a little time to get organized is well worth it. That means you’ll have more time to enjoy the great outdoors, which is what camping is all about.

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Have some tips for staying organized in your RV? Leave a comment below!

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