With summer upon us, RV'ers are cranking up their motor homes and heading out to enjoy the warm weather. Let's see how the Internet can help RV'ers plan their summer trips.

We'll begin at RV USA, A Guide to the World of RV's, which offers just about anything "RV," from dealers to service facilities to campgrounds. Want to know about travel insurance? You'll find it here, plus tips and tricks for RV'ers. You can participate in their chat room, or leave messages on the bulletin board.

Another site for RV'ers is Roads to Adventure, the Website for Family Camping. Ever thought about renting a U.S. Forest Service fire tower for the night? You'll find information about this unique overnight stay, as well as a listing of summer events across the U.S., such as Tom Sawyer Days in Hannibal, Missouri, the week of July 4.

At RV Trips, you can plug in your itinerary and plan your trip online without the need for fancy software. You can even get a weather forecast for your trip. The site allows you to search for campgrounds, new or used RV equipment or parts, or even camp memberships. If you're on the road and in need of a quick repair, access this site where you'll be able to find a dependable service center near you.

Another site that offers free trip planning is AutoPilot, which will create a personalized and comprehensive driving itinerary for you.

For suggestions by state of scenic trips that offer beautiful countrysides, history, or nature, visit National Scenic Byways and Other Recreational Drives.

Rvers Online is an information source for the RV user, where you'll find topics such as RV safety, technical questions, or "how to" projects. What about a simple process for setting up your satellite dish? Or, a primer on towed vehicles? You'll find both here.

When traveling, how can you stay hooked up to the Internet? One option is to subscribe to a service such as AOL or Prodigy, which offers local access numbers across the country.

Another option is to visit a Cyber Cafe, which offers "real coffee and computers in a public place." At the Cyber Cafe Guide, you'll find a listing of Cyber Cafes across the world.

If you already have a service provider and an established email address, you can get your email through MailStart anywhere there's web access.

Robin Nobles is a freelance writer who can be reached at robinnobles@robinsnest.com.

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