AbFabTravels

Carry on Campervan: driving in North America

by | Travel Tales and Musings, USA | 12 comments

Picture it: you are in a spaghetti tangle of flyovers on a multi-lane highway in a major North American city; it is blowing a blizzard; you are in a 28 foot long campervan; you are heading for the car rental section of the airport. Almost there. It is the last car rental outlet in the airport at the end of a long road. Then, without warning the road in front of you disappears into a multi-storey parking lot! The head room is 10 feet; the campervan is 11.5 feet high. Problem. There is no other way forward. Even if you could turn round, which you canโ€™t, you would be facing the wrong way up a one-way roadโ€ฆ.

But letโ€™s back up a little…..

Campervan with Monument Valley in the background

We bought the campervan whilst we were living in Canada nearly three years ago.ย  Since then we have covered almost 50,000 kilometres and it has been a fantastic way to explore North America. I would recommend it to anyone. By American standards, our campervan is small at 28 feet, but that is rather larger than most rigs that you would find in the UK. We also have a motorbike on a rack at the back which makes the actual length of the vehicle around 31 feet. The motorbike is great for exploring and getting into the nooks and crannies of places when we have parked up the camper. We have covered several thousand miles on the bike as well!

On the road to the Great Sand Dunes

What is it like driving in North America?

We are from the UK and were brought up driving on the right (ie correct) side of the road โ€“ that would be the left โ€“ but driving on the right presents no major problems for us. Peter is sort of ambidextrous anyway and I am used to driving on the right as we lived in Canada for a couple of years. Having said that, the only driving on the right I have undertaken is in North America; I think it might be different driving in, say, France or Poland where there is also a language barrier.

Similarly, driving in large cities in the US or Canada does not really bother me, except that I need to put in a caveat here: โ€œas long as I am in a normal-sized carโ€. I avoid driving the campervan in large cities like Vegas, San Fran or Dallas. I leave that to his nibs. Or I did until the Toronto incident.

View out of the campervan windscreen as we approach Dallas

Driving into Dallas.

The camper is called Fat Vanny and there is a reason for this. It is fat – much fatter than campers you normally see on UK roads. The highways in North America are generally bigger though so that is okay, mostly. However, Fat Vanny is a large, unwieldy vehicle and driving through cities is not easy. The roads are busy (four, five or more lanes) and there are frequent lane changes to be managed only by side mirrors. ย I have tended to avoid it.

View out of the windscreen as we drive into Austin.

Austin in Texas. This picture does not do justice to how busy the roads were.

Peter does the lionโ€™s share of the driving because he is good at it. I often take a turn though, not just to give him a break, but because I know the time will come (and it has on several occasions) when for whatever reason, I have to drive. I do not want to be nervous about this, so I drive to keep my hand in and I really quite enjoy this on normal roads and highways.

So how did the incident at the airport pan out?

Well, we were in Toronto and were going to fly back to the UK from there after a magic ski season in Colorado. We had booked storage for the camper somewhere in the wilds of Ontario and decided to hire a car to get to the airport.ย  (Car hire is quite cheap in North America.) We would put the camper into storage, drive to the airport and drop off the car. First though, we had to collect the car. That meant driving to Toronto in the camper. No bother: Peter would drive there and I would drive the normal-sized car back to the campsite. The booking was in his name, but we could switch that once when we collected it.

Except we were then faced with the problem of the road disappearing into a multi-storey carpark. There was no alternative: we had to reverse the van all the way back to where the road had come to a fork so that we could take the other road in a forwards direction. I should perhaps clarify here: Peter had to reverse all the way back to the fork in the road! Fortunately it was a two lane road so oncoming traffic could get by.

Then it was a quick seat change (there wasnโ€™t really anywhere to stop), he nipped out to run and collect the car and I was left to drive back through the airport and the spaghetti tangle on to one of the busiest routes out of Toronto. In the 31 foot campervan.

I negotiated all the lane changes and got on to the correct route. Mrs Sat Nav was sort of helpful until we encountered major road works and then she got her knickers in a twist, โ€œre-calculatingโ€ and asking me to โ€œreturn to the designated routeโ€. I think she thought I was driving across a field and I swear, the pitch of her voice was getting higher with every instruction to return to the highway. Eventually, she gave up.

Unfortunately, she sprang into life again to tell me to leave the highway. This was a couple of junctions before I had expected to exit, but she knew the area better than I did and perhaps she knew a quicker route. She didnโ€™t. I think she was just exacting revenge because I had ignored her before. She took me through a town and in completely the wrong direction. I pulled into a car park and reprogrammed the Sat Nav again, but to no avail. (I should point out that this is the Sat Nav which came with the camper and it is a bit out of date; cell phone versions are better, but I did not have data on my phone.)ย  I knew we were quite close to the campsite where I was headed, but I was not sure of the way. I decided to text Peter to let him know I was okay before seeking out directions. He had just pulled off the highway so decided to come and rescue me. (Iโ€™ll just point out at this stage that I did not need rescuing; I would have sorted it. But anyway).

He eventually pulled into my carpark (with his cell phone Sat Nav that was still on friendly terms) and instructed me to follow him. Except he pulled out before I had the chance to check out the rental car and when I had to wait for oncoming traffic, I lost sight of him. I realised, as I followed the grey Japanese car, that I might be stalking a complete stranger. But it was a good bet I was right. Most rentals are grey and Japanese. I lost one in a carpark in San Jose a couple of years ago. Rental cars really should be bright yellow with a couple of distinguishing features, I think. Anyway, I was correct. He was driving the grey Japanese car.

Driving in North America: a few pointers

Driving in North America is relatively straightforward, but if you have not driven there before, there are a few things I would point out:

  • Sat Nav is really useful, especially an up-to-date cell phone version. Just remember, however, that the Sat Nav does not know you are driving a large, high vehicle. In addition to the episode outlined above, Sat Nav has also tried to take us under an eight foot bridge. This involved a nine point turn to rectify the situation, much to the annoyance of other drivers!
  • Driving on the right is straightforward and is easier if you are in an automatic so that you are not using a stick shift with your right hand. Just keep that left foot tucked away if you are not used to it.
  • It is common for people to overtake you on the right as well as the left when driving in North America. Be aware of this when switching lanes.
  • The yellow line on your left is the line separating you from oncoming traffic. You should not cross a double yellow line to overtake.
  • Sometimes on busy highways the right lane becomes an exit only lane so you may need to move left, unless you want to leave the highway.
  • There are often toll roads in both Canada and the USA. Sometimes you need cash or card to pay at the booth; sometimes you go online later and settle up; if you are in a car rental, you may be able to get a transponder that will record the tolls and you can pay later. If you have a transponder, donโ€™t assume you can just drive straight through the tolls at speed; there may be a barrier at which you have to stop so the transponder can be read. It varies.
  • A red light means stop, but if the way is clear you can turn right โ€“ unless there is a sign saying you canโ€™t.
  • If you have a green light to go right, you may not be able to turn as pedestrians may also have a light to cross and they get right of way. This does not happen in the UK.
  • Most states and provinces have a law that you must slow down and if possible move over if cars are stopped on the shoulder. Some specify emergency vehicles. This will be flagged up by signposts on the highways.
  • School buses – they are bright yellow. You are not allowed to pass if their lights are flashing or the stop arm is out. This also applies to passing them in the opposite direction unless there are at least two lanes in each direction.
  • In Canada, distance is measured in kilometres and fuel is sold in litres; in USA, distance is measured in miles and fuel is sold in gallons. If you are crossing from one country to the other, you either need to switch your speedometer over if that is possible or be aware of your speed. (ie. You may need to do a little conversion maths!) And don’t get me started about American gallons being different from UK gallons – but if you want my take on it you can check out my post: Measure for Measure – or not!

Obviously, it is very important to check the exact rules for each state and province when driving in North America. This list is by no means definitive or “official” and is compiled from personal experience simply to raise awareness that it is different driving in North America. If any of my American or Canadian readers have any additions or suggestions, please add them in the comments.

 

If you like it, please Pin it!

Pin image Carry on Campervan

 

12 Comments

  1. I only drove (a sub-compact) on the left once in Jamaica – there is so little traffic on the roads, so it was no bother. The biggest worry? – the pot holes that were determined to eat any vehicle the size of the one we were driving!

    I cannot imagine driving on the left in the UK or Ireland, where the roads are narrow, the traffic heavier and the hedges in the country often creep in on the sides. My gal is from Dublin and we visit regularly, so over the last 20 years I have seen enough crazy roundabouts and the like to know my limits! Sure, you never know….one day, perhaps.

    I’ll hit you up for tips in the future!

    Reply
    • You would be welcome! Actually, a tips sheet for driving in the UK might be useful for foreign visitors. There is no requirement to read the Highway Code when driving as a visitor, but highlighting a few differences might be appreciated.

      Reply
  2. My worst nightmare when driving a big van is those damn carpark height barriers. We live in Australia and it took us a few trips to be brave enough to drive on the other side of the road. The first time we did it my husband arranged to pick up a car in LA. We arrived at 4.30pm and his first experience was LA Peak hour. After that everything seemed easy lol. We recently spent 5 weeks driving around Greece. Everyone warned us not to do it but it was fine, no harder than driving in Aus once you get used to it.

    Reply
    • Rush hour traffic at peak time? Yikes!

      Reply
  3. These are some cool tips, although I don’t plan on driving a camper van, I have been thinking of road tripping through North America and will surely these pointers to heart. Enjoy the road!

    Reply
  4. I love the pointer about turning right on a red but watch for pedestrians as they have the right of way! When I drive with my sister-in-law in the UK (she’s Irish), I am always SO worried she is going to hit a pedestrian!
    Love Class-C travelling. So glad you are enjoying adventuring around North America and driving on the “right” side of the road ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  5. I’m glad to read this one as I’ve been planning to do a road trip next year and been wondering how it is to rent and drive a camper van. These are great tips especially for people who never drove a camper van before. I agree with you about the passing lane and how dangerous it is to drive around as people can be crazy most of the time. I love the points and thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. oh my goodness! I would have panicked immediately. Hahaha, I am not good in situations like that, especially in a large vehicle. Someday I would love to travel around America in a campervan. It’s actually something I look forward to if and when I ever retire ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  7. I guess when you are into campervan driving there never will be a dull moment. Also the adage about knowing the dimensions of the campervan is critical. You have had such a wonderful experience of driving. I also love the fact that you have your bike with you too and have some thrilling experiences. This is something that really excites me. Hope to hop on to a campervan!

    Reply
  8. I never did campervan, but it would be great to go for campervan driving in North America. Thanks for giving all useful tips about knowing the size of the vehicle and know the twists and turns of the roads. Keeping the toll amount in cash is also a useful tip.

    Reply
  9. What a crazy experience! I can’t imagine driving a vehicle that large at the best of times. I so agree about having rental cars bright yellow or such. I was so impressed on our recent travels to Barbados that the rental cars all have licence plates starting with the same letter. I’m pretty sure that’s why the locals seemed so nice when as we learned to drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  10. So many useful pointers, you really know your stuff! I love how you’ve named the camper van. I would need to travel with someone who can handle driving those twisty roads…! But I agree, road tripping is a GREAT way to see North America ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

Please leave a comment. Your email address will not be published. Comments are held in moderation before being published in the blog.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Jane profile pic

Hello

Hello!ย  I’m Jane. I live in the Lake District in the north of England with my husband, Peter. We love to travel, but this is a great place to call home.

We gave up work in order to travel and do all the things we were not able to do in our careers. We know we are incredibly lucky to be able to do this.

We are quite active and love skiing, hiking, biking, exploring etc, but we also enjoy history, art, music, science…..and good food and wine! In this blog, you will find articles on all of these subjects as we discover them on our travels.

Please subscribe to the blog. You will only receive an email letting you know when there is a new post. I would love to have your feedback and hear about your experiences.

Thank you!

Jane

Meet Jasper, our border collie!

Jane and Peter with black and white dog on rocky landscape

Copyright

All photos & content are ยฉ Jane Frith and may not be used without permission. (Sharing this blog post on social media is appreciated though!)

Follow us on Social Media