Forum Discussion

Explorer

Mar 15, 2013

6 week trip itinerary - but I have some specific questions

Hi All, I am looking for some suggestions for an RV trip we are taking in mid May through nearly the end of June (6 weeks). I'm really wondering about the Bryce/Zion/Mesa Verde/Canyonlands/Arches leg of the trip. For example, how much time do I need in each place to get a good idea of what there is to see. We are traveling with my in-laws so there will not be a lot of strenuous hiking involved. Any hiking would have to be easy and short. I am very flexible with my days/times as the only place I plan to have a reservation at is Yellowstone area. This is my tentative schedule.

May 13th - Depart NJ 7am drive to Bristol VA area (approx. 10 hrs driving, we may decide to stop sooner)
May 14th - Depart Bristol VA 7am area arrive Great Smoky Mountains (approx. 3 hrs. driving)
May 15th - Depart Great Smoky Mountains 10am arrive Chattanooga, TN (approx. 3.5 hrs driving)
May 17th - Depart Chattanooga, TN 12pm arrive Nashville, TN (approx 2 hrs. driving)
May 18th - Depart Nashville, TN 3pm arrive Memphis, TN (approx. 3 hrs. driving)
May 19th - Depart Memphis, TN 3pm arrive Arkadelphia, AK area (approx. 3 hrs. driving)
May 20th - Depart Arkadelphia, AK 7am arrive Austin, TX (approx. 7 hrs driving)
May 21st - Depart Austin, TX 2pm arrive San Antonio, TX (approx. 2 hrs. driving)
May 23rd - Depart San Antonion, TX 8am arrive Amarillo, TX (approx. 8 hrs. driving)
May 24th - Depart Amarillo, TX 8am driving on Rt. 66 as much as possible taking our time to arrive in Holbrook, AZ area by the next day (May 25th)
May 26th - Depart Holbrook, AZ 10am (or earlier) arrive at Grand Canyon south rim area (approx 3 hrs. driving)
May 29th - Depart Grand Canyon area 12pm (or earlier) arrive Boulder City/Hoover Dam/Lake Mead/Las Vegas area (approx. 4 hrs. driving) We are thinking of staying at an RV park on the strip near the Circus Circus casino. But not positive since we would like to see hoover dam and maybe rent a house boat for the day at Lake Mead. (SUGGESTIONS ON THIS LEG OF TRIP APPRECIATED)
June 1st - Depart Boulder City/Las Vegas area 8am arrive Zion/Bryce (approx. 3 hrs. driving)
June 3rd - Depart Zion/Bryce area 7am arrive Mesa Verde (via Monument Valley (approx 7.5 hrs. driving)
June 5th - Depart Mesa Verde 8am arrive Canyonlands/Arches area (approx. 2 hrs. driving)
June 6th - Depart Canyonlands/Arches area 7am arrive Grand Tetons/Jackson area (approx 9.5 hrs. driving)
June 10th - Depart Grand Tetons 7am arrive West Yellowstone (approx. 2 hrs. driving)
June 15th - Depart Yellowstone 9am arrive Cody, WY taking our time arrive some time in the afternoon.
June 17th - Depart Cody, WY 8am arrive Custer, SD (stopping along the way to see Devils Tower) sometime around 3:30pm
June 20th - Depart Custer, SD 8am drive thru Badlands (driving approx. 10 hrs. this day stopping somewhere overnight)
June 21st - Driving to NJ drive around 9 hrs.
June 22nd - Driving to NJ drive around 8 hours arrive HOME.

I am allowing an extra day to get home (that Sunday if needed). I am not set in stone with any dates with the exception of Yellowstone. I may have wiggle room around the specified dates if I have to, as long as there are reservations available. My biggest questions are as follows:

1. How much time do I need at Zion/Bryce/Canyonlands/Arches/Mesa Verde? I want to drive through Monument Valley and not sure how long that would take to see those sights. I am also guessing I am going to have to drive around or through Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument to get to Mesa Verde? Also, is driving through that area ok with an RV? Twists-turns? Steep grades?

2. When in the Las Vegas/Boulder City area am I better off staying at the RV park on the strip? How accessible is it to go to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead from that base point for day trips? Especially driving an RV.

3. When staying in San Antonio, is it an RV friendly city or would we be better off renting a car for a few days? I want to do the River Walk.

4. What are some good things to see along the route 66 area between Amarillo, TX area and Las Vegas area. This leg of the trip is supposed to be leisurely.

5. I want this trip to be somewhat spontaneous with driving times and days but at the same time have a general idea of the direction we are heading. Are we trying to fit too much in? Should I eliminate something along the way? Are some of my days too long to be driving? We did a similar trip about 10 years ago with our kids but did not hit the southwest. Some days we really drove a lot, sometimes 12-14 hours. It was too much at times and I would not want to do that again. That is why I tried to keep driving to a somewhat doable amount per day. The first day and the last days would be longer.

Other background: We will be renting a car in Yellowstone to do daily driving around the park. Our RV is a 31ft. Class C motorhome. We are not pulling anything and I am traveling with my in-laws in their mid 70's and two dogs.

Any help/suggestions on this itinerary would be awesome!! As well as suggested sites along the way.

Thanks, Maria

Roads and Routes

TPUC
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Jack Daniels and George Dickle in Middle Tennessee off of I 24 between Chattanooga and Nashville.
njtony
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Just left San antiano. stayed at travler rv resort. used bust to go downtown and back. takes u right to river walk. I would skip any tour bus trips. most places they took us we could have walked to from river walk or drive from cg in car. Leave 2-3 days to see it. it is a great city.
FirstMate02
Explorer
Mar 27, 2013
Wow, impressive trip. Chuck-full. We've traveled much of the US with TT or motorcycle and in many of those places. Suggestion would be to rent a car in San Antonio, it would be more relaxing. There is a campground near Seaworld on the outskirts of city, didn't stay there but had a condo there for a year. Would be an excellent jump off spot. Have fun and be safe. Cheers !
mmiley
Explorer
Mar 20, 2013
@4runnerguy - No worries, I am completely aware of any and all pet rules for the parks. This is not my first time visiting some of these parks and I have always traveled with my dog(s).
@lauren - Thanks for the info regarding handicap tags. I will have that since my in-laws require that so that was very helpful info.
@Wet Coast - We have since revised our trip to not include Vegas, but thank you for the info!
Wet_Coast
Explorer
Mar 19, 2013
Circus Circus is on the wrongs side of Vegas. If it was me, I would stay at the Good Sam Park just out of town and drop the back end and go sightseeing if you want. We had great luck at their Casino and the place is well appointed. It's a nice place to stay and it will give you the Vegas experience. My .025
Rick
Lauren
Explorer
Mar 19, 2013
As an adder to what 4runnerguy says.

We also have been to a lot of the NP's here in the 11 Western States and we have always had a dog.

And, yes, NP's are very restrictive. And, for the very most part, very well justified in my mind.

But learned a lesson at Yellowstone a year and a half ago. DW Barbara walked DD Sadie while I set up for a photo shoot of Old Faithful. Then Barbara put Sadie back in the truck and joined me as I wrapped up.

Back in the Lodge we got talking to them and they said we could have taken Sadie down all along the viewing area to the point when there is the No Dogs sign. Said that is true in any NP - you are allowed to go to the point of where the sign is posted.

So that is now our general plan. We realize, of course, that signs could come down at a trailhead, etc, and we know that - in general - dogs are not allowed on trails. So we always read each Park rules.......typically they say dogs allowed in parking areas and campgrounds only, etc.

One of the things we truly love about the South Rim is the wonderful Rim Trail and you can take your dog.

For those who have a handicap tag or plate you can get the gate code and drive to west end; stopping at all the bus stop areas and park all the way out to Hermits Rest. And you can walk with your dog all along the Rim there. Unless it is an Assist Dog you cannot take them on a bus; check those rules for sure to see if Assist Dogs are bus allowed....cannot believe they are not.
4runnerguy
Explorer
Mar 19, 2013
Re: your dogs.

In Zion, the only way to see the canyon is to take the park shuttle bus. Nice system, but no dogs allowed. Now if you get electric hookups, you could leave your MH plugged in with the A/C running while you go away for a few hours. Even if you stay someplace in town, there is a shuttle bus that runs into Springdale that will bring you into the park. Otherwise, someone will have stay with the dogs or you might board them for the day in town (research this and make reservations in advance if possible).

Grand Canyon is a little more pet friendly along the rim, but the dogs aren't allowed on the park buses, which is the only way to see the whole section out to Hermits Rest (unless you want to hike). Plus, access to much of the main developed south rim area is by shuttle bus or by foot from your vehicle, and since you don't have a toad, you'll find parking for RV's much more limited. (Yes, the parents will be walking, but it's mostly paved trails and sidewalks with plenty of places to sit and rest.) Maybe you can drop the parents and dogs off near the lodges and then go park and meet up with them. There is a kennel at the GC if that becomes easier.

Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Yellowstone are all very restrictive on pets. In all of these parks, you really need to get out of your vehicle to see the main sights. For instance at Yellowstone, you have to park and walk just to see Old Faithful.

I guess what I'm saying is that you really need to pre-plan you vacation around the limitations imposed by the dogs. We have it easy with the "camping cats", as they have no desire to go outside and they have their litter box right in the camper. And there are still trips we take to Utah where it will be too hot for them and we leave them at home and pay for cat care. I know pets can really be a part of one's family, but is it possible that it will be easier on them and you if you have another family member take care of them for your trip(maybe your brother in TN)? Otherwise, I'd suggest researching each park's regulations and plan how to sightsee in each park so everyone gets to experience them.
mmiley
Explorer
Mar 19, 2013
@kohldad - For the most part we will not be doing much hiking since my in-laws will not be able to do that. Gentle walks maybe. So if my husband and I can get a hike in here and there, they can watch the dogs. No worries! We love our animals and would never put them in harms way!
mmiley
Explorer
Mar 18, 2013
@Lauren - I took a look at all your pictures on your website and they look amazing! I can't wait to see all these sites myself. 10 years ago we did the upper tier of our upcoming trip and so I've see Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Black Hills and Badlands already and I don't think you could ever tire of seeing any of these, most especially Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. I cannot wait to show my in-laws. This time I have a very good camera with me and can't wait to take pictures either. I have a question though, where did you stay when you were camping at Lake Powell?
@kohldad - As for staying 4 nights without power, we have a generator, so maybe. This will actually be the first time we are camping with a generator. We have a class c this time and prior to that our dry camping involved only battery with our Springdale trailer. We will be doing a couple of dry runs with our camper a couple of weekends before our big trip to just try things out. We literally just got it about a month ago and haven't been able to use it yet due to crappy weather here in NJ.
@dan-nickie - Thanks so much! I'm getting so excited! Everyday I plan a little bit more for the trip, whether it is just reading about certain things, or putting lists together of things to bring...it all just makes the anticipation grow!
kohldad
Explorer III
Mar 18, 2013
Rereading your itenary, realized you are traveling with dogs. Just wanted to make sure you are aware that in most National Parks, dogs are not allowed on hiking trails. Most of the places you are traveling will be too hot to leave them in the coach while you go for a hike.