Advice needed-Western US summer trip
Hello all, We are planning our first big RV road trip and I need some help. We will be leaving from Central Florida in June, and have about 28-30 days total. We have traveled quite a bit in the pas...
Forum Discussion
Ok everyone I'm back with an update. I think we have a pretty firm route now and about to start making reservations, so I want to run this route past all of you and see if it seems doable, and will miss most of the high passes and difficult trailering. I'm also looking for any suggestions as to things to do and good campgrounds in these places. So here goes...
Day 1 Central Florida to Marianna FL
spend a full day here to enjoy the caverns and start out slow
Day 3 Marianna to Lafayette La
overnight only
Day 4 Lafayette to Austin
visit DW's family, 3 days there
Day 8 Austin to Carlsbad NM.
This day looks a little long, maybe a stop halfway?
Then a full day at the caverns and stick around to see the bats
Day 10 Carlsbad to Albuquerque
2 full days here
Day 13 Alb to Durango
7 days total in Durango (5 full days) to include the railway,
Telluride, and maybe a side trip to Moab with the bike one day
Day 19 Durango to Santa Fe
One full day here for whatever???
Day 21 Santa Fe to ??? Somewhere about halfway to Dallas area. Amarillo is almost halfway, but maybe a little east of there
Day 22 Wherever to Dinosaur Valley SP near Dallas
My 10 year old has wanted to be a Paleontologist since he was 4, so a full day here
Day 24 Dinosaur Valley to Shreveport, overnight only
Day 25 Shreveport to Jackson MS, overnight only
Day 26 Jackson to Gulf Shores for two nights, finally back at the beach...
Day 28 Gulf Shores to Tallahassee, the DW's alma mater
Day 29 Tallahassee back home (actually to Wekiva Falls, where we put the trailer for the month of July every year.) IF we stay on schedule we will be able to spend 2 nights at Wekiva Falls before I have to go back to work on July 4 (yep, that sucks) but if we have some hiccups along the way that gives us a few "make-up" days that we can still get home by the 3rd if something goes wrong.
Ok sorry if it was long, but I'm really interested in everyone's opinion. Any special favorite campgrounds on the route? Or things just outside the route that would be worth checking out. FWIW we are definitely outdoors people and plan to do a lot of hiking, biking etc. although most of the "off-road" type biking I will be doing by myself. I would like to get in a total of 4 to 5 half days of riding scattered throughout the trip.
Looking back, it seems we may want a stop between Austin and Carlsbad? 500 miles through hill country seems a long day. I may need to pull a day from somewhere else??
And finally, I-40 going west into Albuquerque, is that going to be a problem? Looks like its going over the range, is that correct?
Ok, thanks for all the help and let it fly!
Day 1 Central Florida to Marianna FL
spend a full day here to enjoy the caverns and start out slow
Day 3 Marianna to Lafayette La
overnight only
Day 4 Lafayette to Austin
visit DW's family, 3 days there
Day 8 Austin to Carlsbad NM.
This day looks a little long, maybe a stop halfway?
Then a full day at the caverns and stick around to see the bats
Day 10 Carlsbad to Albuquerque
2 full days here
Day 13 Alb to Durango
7 days total in Durango (5 full days) to include the railway,
Telluride, and maybe a side trip to Moab with the bike one day
Day 19 Durango to Santa Fe
One full day here for whatever???
Day 21 Santa Fe to ??? Somewhere about halfway to Dallas area. Amarillo is almost halfway, but maybe a little east of there
Day 22 Wherever to Dinosaur Valley SP near Dallas
My 10 year old has wanted to be a Paleontologist since he was 4, so a full day here
Day 24 Dinosaur Valley to Shreveport, overnight only
Day 25 Shreveport to Jackson MS, overnight only
Day 26 Jackson to Gulf Shores for two nights, finally back at the beach...
Day 28 Gulf Shores to Tallahassee, the DW's alma mater
Day 29 Tallahassee back home (actually to Wekiva Falls, where we put the trailer for the month of July every year.) IF we stay on schedule we will be able to spend 2 nights at Wekiva Falls before I have to go back to work on July 4 (yep, that sucks) but if we have some hiccups along the way that gives us a few "make-up" days that we can still get home by the 3rd if something goes wrong.
Ok sorry if it was long, but I'm really interested in everyone's opinion. Any special favorite campgrounds on the route? Or things just outside the route that would be worth checking out. FWIW we are definitely outdoors people and plan to do a lot of hiking, biking etc. although most of the "off-road" type biking I will be doing by myself. I would like to get in a total of 4 to 5 half days of riding scattered throughout the trip.
Looking back, it seems we may want a stop between Austin and Carlsbad? 500 miles through hill country seems a long day. I may need to pull a day from somewhere else??
And finally, I-40 going west into Albuquerque, is that going to be a problem? Looks like its going over the range, is that correct?
Ok, thanks for all the help and let it fly!
