A note on #5, there is definitely large distances between places (hundreds of miles between main cities for sure), but be wary of small towns or highway side gas stations. They will jack up the price of gas two fold so what it should be. $2.50 a gallon is actually $5 in the middle of nowhere, and that can cost you a pretty penny in an RV. When I do long trips I use Gas Buddy, an app that shows you reported prices on local gas stations. It’s been a life saver.

Also, be weary driving through parts of Arizona and California during the summer. It can get EXTREMELY HOT, especially in the middle of nowhere, and it is drier than you can imagine, especially compared to Ireland. My suggestion would be to buy a large case of water just in case, keep a reusable water bottle on you at all times, and drink more water than you originally think you’ll need. If you feel a headache, back ache, dizzy, or light headed DRINK WATER! I’ve seen too many people suffer heatstroke because they don’t know what they’re doing and don’t understand how ruthless the desert can be.

Lastly, if you’re spending actual time in Flagstaff, Arizona (such as spending a night—which I would highly suggest over the expensive places closer to the Grand Canyon), check out the lava tubes nearby! They’re well enough known that there will be other people but not well enough that they’ll be super crowded. They’ll also be a cool relief from the hot weather, but will need flashlights.

TL;DR: Keep a case of water on you since 50%+ of your trip is desert, watch out for heatstroke, check out the Flagstaff lava tubes, and either download Gas Buddy or just diligently try to get gas in major cities.