Application Basics

  • Updated

Any time you log in (with the exception of your very first time), you will automatically be routed to the Trip Planner as shown below:

 

application basics.png

Note: This is what it looks like if you are using a desktop or laptop PC. Keep in mind these areas may appear smaller or larger, depending on the resolution of your screen. To make items on the screen appear larger when using a PC, hold down the CTRL key while pressing the plus (+) key. To make items smaller, hold down the CTRL key and press the minus (-) key. For Macs, hold down the Command key and press the plus (+) or minus keys (-).

This is how the screen will appear on the following devices (images not to scale):

Tablet (iPad):

tablet.png

Smartphone (iPhone):

Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 20.40.08.png

 

Please note the three tabs (Trips, Map, Research) at the bottom of the screen. Since a tablet/smartphone has a much smaller screen area than your computer, you will need to toggle between the three tabs in order to view each. As you'll notice in the examples above, the Map tab is highlighted to show the map area.

Makeup (page layout)

The page above is divided in three sections:

  1. The Map Area
  2. The Trip Drawer
  3. The Top Menu

These areas may look different based on the resolution of your screen. 

Map Area

We will start with the Map Area. This is a map that is linked to a database of more than 57,000 POI (points of interest). These include campgrounds of all types (over 17,000) as well as thousands of fuel stops, rest areas, over 16,000 golf courses, 8,000 pet hospitals and 12,000 bike trails. It also shows Walmarts that do (and don’t) allow overnight stays, casinos, fuel stops and much more. Obviously, the map cannot show everything all at once or it would just be one big mess.

Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 20.42.06.png

park-marker.png The green tent cluster  represents a default campground icon, as shown above. As we zoom out on the map, the system automatically merges a group of icons into one "cluster icon" to keep things looking neat and clean. The broader the scale, the more the consolidation. Once we zoom in, the detail is much more apparent all the way down to an individual campground icon.

Click and drag the mouse to move the map location. 

dot-circle-regular.svg The round icon in the lower right centers the map based on your current location (may not be supported in all browsers). The plus  (+) and minus (-) icons in the upper right change the scale.

road.svg The road icon is used to show street level views and photos of an area (if available).

This map has the ability (based on your Trip Preferences) to avoid major highways and avoid toll roads, if possible. It can also display bicycle trails in the area, perfect for use once you reach your campground or destination. Select the Satellite view to view any topographic or landscape features.

At this point, we will begin to work with both the Map and Trip areas since we'll mostly use the Map area to add stops to our Trip. We can also perform some map functions in the Trip Plan. It all works together. 

Larger Map

If you wish to see more of the map, simply click the red arrow Trip tab next to your list of trip stops (campground icons have been toggled off in this example).

Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 20.44.49.png

The Trip Drawer will disappear and the map will grow to fill the display area, as shown below. If you wish to see the Trip Area again, click the red Trip tab/arrow to make the Trip Drawer reappear.

Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 20.47.49.png

Trip Drawer

The Trip Drawer shows trip stops, mileage, driving time estimates, estimated costs and dates. There is no limit to the number of trips you can create.

Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 20.50.15.png

 

Top Menu

The Top Menu clearly displays a number of key features and functions.

On the left side you'll see two buttons: New Trip and Open a Trips. A number will appear next to Open a Trip if you've created/saved multiple trips (in the above example, we have 9 saved trips). Click Open a Trip and a list of all your trips will appear. From there, you can select which trip to display by clicking Open (not seen here). You can also search for a location or park to begin your trip by using the Search Bar. To begin a New Trip, click the red New Trip button and follow the prompts. Further information on this topic can be found below Planning Your Trip.

Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 20.53.41.png

Next to the Search Bar, you'll notice a Tent button Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 23.11.00.png. When the icon is green, you'll see all the available campgrounds/RV parks available within your selected map area. Click the button to turn them off. When the button is off it will look grey (as pictured above). Displaying campground icons can be helpful when you are first planning a trip in order to help you find appropriate stops.

The Filter button Screen Shot 2023-08-16 at 23.11.46.png lets you filter Parks and Points of Interest. You can also activate this by clicking the Research drawer on the right side of the screen.

Drag Route (below the Search Bar) allows you to drag the route you are planning for your trip to find alternate routes.

Click Show Entire Trip (below the Search Bar) to zoom out and see your full trip route displayed on the map.

Account Settings allows you to make adjustments to your Trip Preferences.

At the bottom, the Elevation drawer lets you view changes in elevation throughout your entire trip route.