Chickery's Travels

Chickery's Travels logo. A blue-green Earth globe with continents surrounded by dots with an arrow denoting movement or travel and "Chickery's Travels" as part of the dotted circle. Next to this is a photo of their blue and white Arctic Fox 5th Wheel with the awning out.
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    • Alternatives To National Park Campgrounds: Discover Hidden Gems Just Outside the Park Boundaries
    • Best Luxury RV Resorts For All RV Types
    • Best Waterfront Campgrounds For Every Budget
    • Alabama
      • Gunter Hill Campground (Montgomery, Alabama)
    • Arizona
      • Best Campgrounds in Arizona
      • Aspen Campground (Payson, Arizona)
      • LazyDays KOA (Tucson, Arizona)
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, AZ)
    • Arkansas
      • Catherine’s Landing (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
      • Downtown Riverside RV Park (Little Rock, Arkansas)
    • California
      • Best Campgrounds in California
      • Crescent City Redwoods KOA (Crescent City, California)
      • Sea Breeze RV Park (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station)
    • Delaware
      • Cape Henlopen State Park (Lewes, Delaware)
    • Florida
      • Best Campgrounds in Florida
      • Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area (Pensacola, FL)
      • Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Southeast FL)
      • LazyDays RV Resort (Tampa, FL)
      • MacDill AFB FamCamp (Tampa, FL)
      • Military Camping in Key West
      • Patrick AFB FamCamp (Cocoa Beach, FL)
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, FL)
      • Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness (Orlando, FL)
        • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
        • Chickery’s Travels Podcast Episode 5: Fort Wilderness Campground Review
    • Maryland
      • Cherry Hill Park (College Park, Maryland)
    • Michigan
      • Port Huron KOA (Kimball, Michigan)
    • Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
      • Boondocking Near Las Vegas
    • New Hampshire
      • Lincoln / Woodstock KOA (New Hampshire)
    • New York
      • Round Pond Recreation Area (West Point, NY)
    • North Carolina
      • Outer Banks West / Currituck Sound KOA (Coinjock, North Carolina)
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City East KOA (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
    • Texas
      • Best Campgrounds in Texas
      • Alsatian RV Resort (Castroville, Texas)
      • Maverick Ranch (Lajitas, Texas)
      • Texas Wine Country Jellystone (Fredericksburg, Texas)
    • Tennessee
      • Camp Margaritaville (Pigeon Forge, TN)
      • Crossville I-40 KOA (Crossville, TN)
      • Midway RV Park (Memphis, TN)
    • Virginia
      • Complete Guide to Camping at Shenandoah National Park
      • Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, VA)
      • Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (Broadway, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah Views Campground (Luray, Virginia)
      • Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA (Monroe, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)
    • Washington
      • Crescent Bar RV Resort (Quincy, Washington)
    • West Virginia
      • Harper’s Ferry KOA (Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia)
  • USA
    • Alaska
      • 5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Trip To Alaska
    • Arizona
      • Apache Trail: A Crazy, Scary, Beautiful Drive
      • Best of Tucson – 10 Unforgettable Activities
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, Arizona)
      • Phoenix Faves: Best Activities to Enjoy on Your Arizona Vacation
    • District of Columbia
      • Budget Friendly Fun in Washington D.C.
      • Favorite Hikes near Washington DC
      • Indoor Skydiving and TopGolf: Just Another Day of Family Fun!
    • Florida
      • Best Walt Disney World Festivals For Adults
      • Blowing Rocks Preserve – Jupiter Island, Florida
      • Bok Tower Gardens
      • Daytona Beach – The World’s Most Famous Beach
      • Enjoy the Best of Sunny Sarasota
      • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
      • Gasparilla – Tampa’s Pirate Invasion
      • 3 Days on the Nature Coast 
      • Get Back to Nature in Tampa Bay
      • Florida Freshwater Springs on the Nature Coast
      • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
      • Kennedy Space Center – Cape Canaveral
      • Island Hopping at Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks
      • Must See Sights in St. Augustine, FL – America’s Oldest City
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Dunnellon, Florida)
      • Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Spring Training in Tampa, FL
      • Tarpon Springs – The Gulf Coast Town with Greek Flavor
      • The 5 Best Beaches in the Tampa Bay Area
      • Top 5 Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
      • What Not to Do When Kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River
      • Why We Love Tampa
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
    • Georgia
      • Visiting Atlanta? Don’t Miss These Civil Rights Museums
    • Hawaii
      • Everything You Need to Know About Camping in a Jeep Wrangler in Hawaii
    • Illinois
      • One Day In The Windy City – Chicago Itinerary
    • Maine
      • Coastal Maine Road Trip
      • Discover the Beauty of Monhegan Island, Maine
      • Acadia National Park: Highlights You Can’t Miss
    • Nevada
      • Best Campgrounds in Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
    • New Hampshire
      • Experience the Magic of New Hampshire’s White Mountains
    • North Carolina
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Uncover the Coastal Charm of North Carolina’s Outer Banks | A Guide for Visitors
    • Tennessee
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Burgess Falls: 3 For 1 Waterfall Special
      • National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis, TN
      • Window Cliffs, TN – I’m Not Afraid of Heights, But I am Afraid of Falling!
      • WWII History in Tennessee
    • Texas
      • Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg
      • Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Texas Hill Country
      • Explore Nature’s Untamed Beauty at Big Bend National Park
    • Utah
      • Discover the Best of Zion National Park
    • Virginia
      • Explore Great Falls Park, Virginia
  • RV Resources
    • 3 Simple Steps to Find the Best RV Campgrounds
    • 5 Years Full-Time RV: Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret
    • Boondocking – What We Learned From Our First Dry Camping Experience
    • Tips for Boondocking Success
    • Essential RV Gear
      • Essential RV Gear Guide
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • RV Must Have: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
      • RV SnapPads Product Review
      • RVLOCK Keyless Entry Door Handle Installation and Review
      • Shop “RV Local” With TechnoRV
      • Top RV Gadgets & Accessories
      • WeBoost Cellular Booster Review
    • Maintenance
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • DIY Power Upgrade – “Solar Ready” Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel
      • An Easy Way to Protect Your RV Water Heater
      • Easy DIY Project to Protect Your RV Water System
      • How to Reduce the Likelihood of Tire Blowouts on your RV
      • Odor Free RV Black Tank Tips
      • RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It
      • RV Roofs – What You Need to Know
    • Living in an RV
      • 9 Lessons From 2 1/2 Years on the Road
      • Dealing with my Biggest Full-Time Travel Struggle, Missing Family While Traveling
      • Downsizing: 3 Areas That Make The Biggest Impact
      • Full-Time RV: 2019 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV: 2018 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV Travel – 2017 Year In Review
      • How Full-Time RVers Celebrate the Holidays
      • Get Ready for Full-Time RV Travel
      • Internet Solutions for RV Travelers
      • The Ultimate Guide to Embracing the Full-Time RV Lifestyle
      • Living in a Tiny, Traveling Home
      • Making Friends (and reconnecting with old friends) While Traveling Full-Time
      • Pros & Cons of Full-Time RV Travel
      • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
      • Short-Term RV Storage: Leaving The RV Behind
      • Top 3 Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret: 3 Years Full-Time RV Living
      • What We Wish We Knew Before Full-Time RVing – Stories from the Road
      • What You Need To Know Before Selling Everything And Moving To An RV
      • Why We Are Traveling Full-Time In Our RV
    • Must Read Books Before Becoming A Full-time RVer
    • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
    • RV Remodel
      • Planning an RV Remodel
      • RV Kitchen Cooking Videos
      • Painting Your RV Interior
      • Update the RV Kitchen – Backsplashes & More
      • Updating Your RV Window Treatments
      • RV Bedroom Makeover
      • RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos
      • Vintage Camper Renovation
    • RV Holiday Tour – Decorating Our Small Space
    • RV Hurricane Evacuation
    • RV Misery Can Be Overcome By The Generosity Of Others
    • How Book Readers Can Space and Weight in the RV
    • Slow Travel
    • Small Kitchen Cooking
      • Eating Healthy on Travel Days
    • Staying Healthy
      • Traveling with Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and Other Chronic Pain Conditions
    • Trip Planning
    • Traveling with Pets
      • RVing with Your Cat
      • Traveling with Restricted Breed Dogs
    • Why I Prefer RV Travel Over Flying
    • Your Guide To Planning The Best Family Vacation This Summer
  • Travel Finance
    • 5 Tips to Save on RV Travel
    • 5 Ways to Fund Full-Time Travel
    • Creative Ways To Save Money On Your Next Vacation
    • Full-Time RV Expenses
      • Annual Full-Time RV Expenses – The Big Three
    • Five Credit Card Strategies To Improve Travel
    • How Much Do Campgrounds Cost?
    • How Much Does it Cost to RV Full-Time?
    • How to Camp for Free
    • How to Start a Profitable Blog
    • How to Save Money on RV Fuel Costs
    • How to Save on Food While Camping
    • How We Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time (And How You Can Too)
    • How We Paid $139,000 of Debt in 2 Years While Full-Time RVing
    • Learn How to Finance Your Dreams
    • The Top 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling Full-Time
    • RV Purchasing
      • RV Purchasing: Understanding RV Types
      • Benefits of Renting an RV: Try Before You Buy
      • Should I Buy A New or Used RV?
      • The Costs of RV Ownership
      • The True Cost of Financing an RV
      • Attend An RV Show – Even If You Already Own An RV | Exciting Reasons Why
    • Save Money Using the Public Library (On More Than Just Books)
  • Military Travel
    • Guide To Using Military Campgrounds
    • Health Care for Retired Military Full-Time RVers
    • Why Military Retirees Should Fly Space-A
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7:30 am by Julie Chickery

Full-Time RV: 2018 Year in Review

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Last updated on September 22nd, 2023 at 08:27 pm

We spent all of 2018 traveling the United States in our Fifth Wheel RV. We hope you enjoy this month-by-month review of our travels with links to all the campgrounds we enjoyed.

Click here to learn how we find the best campgrounds along our travels. These tips apply to RV resorts, RV parks, rustic campgrounds, and even boondocking spots.

January – Cocoa Beach, Florida

We stayed at the campground on Patrick Air Force Base for all of Nov, Dec & Jan. Donovan, Richie, and Agata came to visit while we were there. We spent a lot of time at the beach and Julie & the kids also enjoyed Disney and Universal Studios.

If you're looking for a wonderful military campground, check out these Waterfront RV sites at Patrick AFB in Cocoa Beach, Florida.  Magic Kingdom entrance photo

February – Rainbow Springs & Pensacola Florida

We were blown away by the crystal clear waters of Rainbow Springs! In Pensacola, we were able to stay at a Navy base campground right on the bay, the Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area.

Rainbow Springs State Park Florida sunset at Perdido Key Florida

March – Fredericksburg, Texas

We attended a conference for RV entrepreneurs and Julie presented a blogging workshop with her business partners. We stayed the whole month and enjoyed our time in the Texas Hill Country. We highly recommend the Texas Wine Country Jellystone campground.

Enchanted Rock State Park Texas couple at Enchanted Rock State Park Texas

April – San Antonio, Texas

Justin & his girlfriend, Kayla moved into a new apartment with Donovan in San Antonio.  So of course, we visited San Antonio twice this year. The first visit was in April and the Texas Bluebonnets were in bloom! When visiting the area, we always stay at the Alsatian RV Resort in Castroville, just west of town.

San Antonio Riverwalk Texas Bluebonnets

May – Wellington, Texas

We went to a tiny little town in Texas to be filmed for a documentary (more on this in Oct).

RV Nomads documentary filming Wellington Texas twon square

June – Alexandria, Virginia

We drove for days after the movie filming to get to Virginia for our oldest son’s wedding and to be able to spend time with all the family that came in! We are so happy to Agata in our family!

The wedding was amazing and we got to celebrate with so many loved ones. While in the northern Virginia and DC area, we stayed at our favorite military campground: Fort Belvoir Travel Camp.

wedding couple walking down the aisle Ft Belvoir Travel Camp  in Alexandria Virginia is a terrific military campground on the Potomac River.

July – Cookeville, Tennessee

We stopped in Cookeville to visit Julie’s parents and discovered a lot of wonderful hiking spots. That is Julie on the ledge of one of the many waterfalls in the area. We loved staying at the Crossville KOA.

KOA Campfire Ozone Falls in Sparta TN

August – Tampa, Florida

Back to Tampa to get some work done on the RV and visit Sean’s parents. We spent time at two different campgrounds in the area: MacDill Air Force Base FamCamp and Lazy Days RV Resort.

St Pete Beach Selfie  Honeymoon Island State Park Florida

September – Montgomery, Alabama & Hot Springs, Arkansas

We made our way back to Texas at a more leisurely pace and stopped for a week at each of these locations. While in Montgomery, we loved our first Corps of Engineer Campground, Gunter Hill. Next we stayed three nights at Downtown Riverside RV Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. Then we were absolutely blown away Catherine’s Landing, a true RV Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Hot Springs Arkansas Hot Springs Campfire

October – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & Wellington, Texas

If you’ve never been to the Oklahoma City Memorial at the site of the federal building bombing, we highly recommend you go. It is very moving. We stayed at the Oklahoma City East KOA just outside of the city. It was a nice quiet place to rest a bit before heading back to Wellington for the premiere of the documentary film, RV Nomads: The Movie. It was very cool to see ourselves on the big screen. Don’t worry, we didn’t let the 2 minutes of fame go to our heads.

OKC Memorial NoXadFest in Wellington TX

November – San Antonio, Texas

Back to San Antonio to visit Donovan, Justin, and Kayla for Thanksgiving!

San Antonio hiking San Antonio Riverwalk Christmas Lights

December – Lajitas, Texas (Big Bend National Park) & Tucson, Arizona

By far our favorite location of the year was Lajitas, Texas. It is nestled between Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park. Both parks have amazing scenery and a wide range of hiking opportunities. While there we stayed at Maverick Ranch RV Park.

Top of Lost Mine trail in Big Bend National Park in Texas Big Bend National Park in Texas

We stopped for one night at the Las Cruces KOA in New Mexico on our way  Tucson, Arizona to finish out the year. The Tucson Lazy Days KOA is a an amazing resort!

RV-less Travel

We also traveled a few places without the RV including Chicago, IL; Manteca, CA; Des Moines, IA; Niagara Falls, NY; and Springfield, VA. This year we have slept in 13 different states, 18 campgrounds and 5 hotels.

What’s next?

We’re currently planning to spend most of 2019 in the west: Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. We’ll also be flying to 5 RV shows. Most importantly, we hope to visit more family and friends along the way!

Want to learn more about Full-Time RV Travel? Click here to read about the amazing destinations and terrific campgrounds you can visit. RV travel is for everyone whether you have a motorhome, fifth wheel, travel trailer, or even pop up camper!

Related posts:

How We Paid $139,000 of Debt in 2 Years While Full-Time RVing
Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report June 2018

Filed Under: Travel Finance

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