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Bill_and_Toodie's avatar
Bill_and_Toodie
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014

First BIG Trip, Calif to Louisiana & Back: Feedback Please

We will be leaving from our home in Santa Rosa, CA, on April 1st. We will be gone for 3 months arriving home the last weekend in June. Here is our planned route:

Ballico, CA (south of Turlock) - McConnell SRA - 1 night
Bakersfield - Bakersfield River Run RV Park - 1 night
Joshua Tree - Jumbo Rocks CG - 3 nights
Yuma, AZ - Rolle's Lynda Vista RV Park - 1 night
Tucson, AZ - Catalina SP - 5 nights
Las Cruces, NM - Hacienda RV Resort - 5 nights
Ft Davis, TX - Davis Mtn SP - 3 nights
Ft Stockton, TX - Balmorhea SP - 2 nights
Fredricksburg, TX - Fredricksburg KOA - 3 nights
Austin, TX - McKinley Falls SP - 5 nights (day trip to San Antonio)
Dickinson, TX - Bayou CG - 4 nights (visiting relatives in the area for 1 day; daytrip to Houston?)
Henderson, LA (near Lafayette) - Cajun Palms RV Resort - 4 nights
Gibson, LA (near Houma) - Tiger Oaks RV Park - 4 nights
Baton Rouge, LA - Baton Rouge KOA - 3 nights
Many, LA (near Natchitoches) - Hodges Gardens Wilderness CG - 4 nights
DeQueen, AK - Bellah Mine COE - 2 nights
Havana, AK - Waveland Park COE - 2 nights
Skiatook, OK (near Tulsa) - Tall Chief Cove COE - 4 nights
Woodward, OK - Boiling Springs SP - 1 night
Clayton, NM - Clayton Lake SP - 3 nights
Taos, NM - Enchanted Moon RV Park - 5 nights (day trip to Sante Fe)
Durango, CO - Lightner Creek CG - 6 nights Leave trailer, use 2 days driving San Juan Skyway Loop, stay @ Hot Springs Inn, Ouray
Keyenta, AZ - Hampton Inn (no camping here) - 1 night
Jacob Lake, AZ - Kaibad CampRVillage - 4 nights
Mesquite, NV - Sun Resorts RV Park - 3 nights
Boulder City, NV - Canyon Trail RV Park - 2 nights
Tehapachi, CA - Indian Hill Ranch & RV Park - 1 night
Paso Robles, CA - Paso Robles RV Ranch - 1 night
Morgan Hill, CA - Cayote Valley RV Park - 1 night
Home to Santa Rosa

For the most-part, we only drive 4 hrs or less per day when moving to a new area. We are breaking up our return days in California due to excessive traffic congestion around San Francisco.

We would appreciate your feedback on our trip (eg, campgrounds, off-the-beaten-path sights to see in each area). Some areas we are avoiding (eg, Monument Valley, Utah parks) is due to having been there in the past.

Our interests are history, scenery, wildlife, local cuisine & customs, architecture and relaxing. We have tried to build in days for just hanging out, which is why we are trying to stay in campgrounds and RV parks that are somewhat scenic. We have a 24' TT so we can fit in rustic campgrounds.

Your wise advise and experience would be much appreciated.
Roads and Routes
  • More_To_See's avatar
    More_To_See
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2014
    Looks like you have really done your homework. No comment on your stops.

    But if you like history, then for the Yuma and Tucson area check out the Anza Expedition.
    And down south of Tucson at Green Valley is the Titan Missile Museum.

    Over in Fredericksburg you just could not miss the Pacific War Museum. But I'll mention it anyway. If you're ex Navy or Marine you'll feel right at home there. Ex Army guys though will feel left out. The Army was there but not much remembered.

    Here is a pretty good weekend Travel Article about a visit to the LBJ Ranch and Johnson City nearby to Fredericksburg.

    And just down FM1376 from your KOA campground there in Fredericksburg is a Little Place made famous by Waylon Jennings.

    Who doesn't remember Luckenbach Texas ?
  • linnemj's avatar
    linnemj
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2014
    We did a nine week trip from Mississippi to the West Coast last fall. I had an iteninary set up just like the one you have made. I am a planner and like to have every stop planned out. What I discovered is it is better to leave some nights free if you find places you want to stay longer.

    Our next trip, I will make reservations at very popular parks and on weekends. I will leave 2 days a week open so we can stay longer when we want. Most parks has sites open, except for Oregon State Parks on the coast.

    We also moved every 2 nights which was much too frequent. I like you are staying longer most places.

    It looks like a great trip - enjoy!
  • Bill_and_Toodie's avatar
    Bill_and_Toodie
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2014
    We have gone back & forth about making reservations at all these CG's. We've decided that, rather than stressing about finding a place late afternoon, we will just go ahead and make reservations since most of the places we'll be staying are relatively popular. Year's ago, we could be spontaneous when heading out camping here in Northern California--no more as the preferred campgrounds get really filled up during the summer, even on weekdays.
  • 4runnerguy's avatar
    4runnerguy
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2014
    Since you will be as close as Ft. Davis any chance of finding a few days to spend in Big Bend NP? Too far to "commute" from Ft. Davis on a day trip and the park itself is pretty large.
  • profdant139's avatar
    profdant139
    Explorer II
    Feb 20, 2014
    If you like Cajun food and Zydeco music, maybe spend a little more time in Louisiana, perhaps in the Lafayette area. And if you've never heard Zydeco, here is a sample-- this is Clifton Chenier:

    Clifton
  • Bill_and_Toodie's avatar
    Bill_and_Toodie
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2014
    Thanks for the Big Bend suggestion. We could make that a day trip.

    We have spent time in the Lafayette due to our love of Cajun food and Zydeco music. Henderson is very near Lafayette. We have friends in the area. We've told them that if it wasn't for the humidity, we would consider a move to Lafayette!
  • dkreuzen's avatar
    dkreuzen
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2014
    Your "Keyenta, AZ - Hampton Inn (no camping here) - 1 night" could be modified to stay at Gouldings Campground (gouldings campground) in Monument Valley, about 24 miles north on US163. It's one of the "must visit" places in the area.
  • tahiti16's avatar
    tahiti16
    Explorer
    Feb 21, 2014
    Bill and Toodie wrote:
    We have gone back & forth about making reservations at all these CG's. We've decided that, rather than stressing about finding a place late afternoon, we will just go ahead and make reservations since most of the places we'll be staying are relatively popular. Year's ago, we could be spontaneous when heading out camping here in Northern California--no more as the preferred campgrounds get really filled up during the summer, even on weekdays.


    Bill we have found on our travels short of long weekends and destination places, think Anaheim, Orlando the coast in summer most places around the country reservations are not required and may actually hinder your travels. Either keep one of the big campbooks with you or app on phone. When it gets past lunchtime and you see how your day is going. You can look up where you think you want to stop and then call ahead and make sure they have a spot for you, cell phone a wonderful thing! :B
  • gat75's avatar
    gat75
    Explorer
    Feb 21, 2014
    If you need another choice at the start of your trip in Bakersfield, You might like Orange Grove RV- (nice easy into/out of, has orange trees everywhere). You made a good choice in Boulder City at C Trails Rv, (great family owned business). We just went in Oct, the city park was loaded with big horn sheep right at dark. We did the self-guided walking tour to hoover dam where the old rail-road bed delivered materials to the construction site. Also have a nice museum of the building of the dam in B City.
  • Bill_and_Toodie's avatar
    Bill_and_Toodie
    Explorer
    Mar 06, 2014
    Thanks to each and every one of you for your feedback. The one thing we have discovered during our trip planning is how much there is to do in every state of this great country of ours. We are so looking forward to our adventure!

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