2019 Trip to the Southwest - Help/Guidance please

When we went to the Grand Canyon,we stayed at Circle Pines KOA near Williams. Full hookups ,an indoor pool and hot tubs. Can't make any other reccomendations because we usually prefer campgrounds that are scenic with private sites.The ones we like to stay at are either no hookups or just electric.

WARM Pacific waters are not to be found in San Diego or anywhere in CA :) You can swim in the ocean but a summer wet suit is recommended even in Aug. As far as full hook-up coast campgrounds go I would look at https://missionbayrvresort.com/

If you are going to Roswell, NM (http://www.redbarnrvparkroswellnm.com/) you might as well drop down to Carlsbad Caverns and hit White Sands Nat. Monument as you pass by.

I hope you are planning a spring trip to avoid the 100+ temps you will find around Roswell in summer.

NMDriver2 wrote:
WARM Pacific waters are not to be found in San Diego or anywhere in CA :) You can swim in the ocean but a summer wet suit is recommended even in Aug. As far as full hook-up coast campgrounds go I would look at https://missionbayrvresort.com/

Warm Pacific waters as compared to Northern Atlantic waters!!! Hopefully anyway. Thanks for the info. I will check it out.

If you are going to Roswell, NM (http://www.redbarnrvparkroswellnm.com/) you might as well drop down to Carlsbad Caverns and hit White Sands Nat. Monument as you pass by.

Great info and ideas.

I hope you are planning a spring trip to avoid the 100+ temps you will find around Roswell in summer.

Unfortunately, summer is the only time we can travel at this point in our lives. We will just have to deal with the heat!!

RGar974417 wrote:
When we went to the Grand Canyon,we stayed at Circle Pines KOA near Williams. Full hookups ,an indoor pool and hot tubs. Can't make any other reccomendations because we usually prefer campgrounds that are scenic with private sites.The ones we like to stay at are either no hookups or just electric.

Thanks, I will check it out. We only stay at FHU campgrounds now. Limiting I know . . . .

In the wide open landscape of the Southwest (excluding southern CA), sunrise and sunset are the most beautiful, magical times due to the lighting on the rocky outcroppings, canyon walls, etc. For this reason I recommend staying inside or as close as possible to the Parks. Check out Trailer Village inside Grand Canyon NP, Ruby's just outside Bryce, Goulding's just across the highway from Monument Valley...to get you started. Also check www.rvparkreviews.com

Expect CA coast campgrounds to be quite expensive.

Make reservations! These Parks and other areas in the Southwest are very busy in the summer!

There are soooo many other sights to add to your list. Have a look at grandcircle.org.

Be sure to know the pet rules at the Nat'l Parks...like dogs not allowed on trails.

Do you have an America The Beautiful Pass?

Janss wrote:
In the wide open landscape of the Southwest (excluding southern CA), sunrise and sunset are the most beautiful, magical times due to the lighting on the rocky outcroppings, canyon walls, etc. For this reason I recommend staying inside or as close as possible to the Parks. Check out Trailer Village inside Grand Canyon NP, Ruby's just outside Bryce, Goulding's just across the highway from Monument Valley...to get you started. Also check www.rvparkreviews.com

Expect CA coast campgrounds to be quite expensive.

Make reservations! These Parks and other areas in the Southwest are very busy in the summer!

There are soooo many other sights to add to your list. Have a look at grandcircle.org.

Be sure to know the pet rules at the Nat'l Parks...like dogs not allowed on trails.

Do you have an America The Beautiful Pass?

No, we do not have an America the Beautiful Pass? What is that?
Thanks for the information.

Great Adventure trip!
Some general considerations:
Generally plan your trips based on the weather of each region you want to visit i.e. South West states in the summer months are hot as hell and doable if you tolerate heat well. I only go to Arizona in the winters. I only go to the state of Maine and states near by in the summer/spring. Check various states to visit based on time of year they have hurricanes and tornados. Be aware the finding RV RV parks on the west coast, Calif. ,Oregon and Washington State are difficult to get and almost all need about reservations 6 months or more. IMHO, Making reservations for RV trips is my choice. You have everything to win and nothing to lose! Reservations do not restrict your freedom to changes your plans. Just call and cancel.
Generaly I use the Good Sam RV Parks application to help me locate RV Parks that can meet my RV needs. RVer's on the RV. Net forum will also give you good suggestions.

MarkTwain wrote:
Great Adventure trip!
Some general considerations:
Generally plan your trips based on the weather of each region you want to visit i.e. South West states in the summer months are hot as hell and doable if you tolerate heat well. I only go to Arizona in the winters. I only go to the state of Maine and states near by in the summer/spring. Check various states to visit based on time of year they have hurricanes and tornados. Be aware the finding RV RV parks on the west coast, Calif. ,Oregon and Washington State are difficult to get and almost all need about reservations 6 months or more. IMHO, Making reservations for RV trips is my choice. You have everything to win and nothing to lose! Reservations do not restrict your freedom to changes your plans. Just call and cancel.
Generaly I use the Good Sam RV Parks application to help me locate RV Parks that can meet my RV needs. RVer's on the RV. Net forum will also give you good suggestions.

Great advice. Unfortunately, we are only able to travel in the summer months. We will make due with the heat. Thanks,

I always encouraged people to "make due" with the heat if summer was the only time they could go. We did on our first trip and seemed to fare well. However, as age creeps up on us and our tolerance for being uncomfortable changes, we have vowed to never go SW again in the summer.

I had spent hours and hours chronicling our SW trips on here and now they seem to have disappeared? Turned me off a bit from investing that much time on here. I do have videos of it on our YouTube channel. You may find them of some use. See signature.

Just a really admitted bias, I would not include Texas in my RV adventures. Did Texas once and got caught in one of their nortorious Hail storms:(:( $15K damage to my truck and trailer:(:(