We did a retirement trip over the '15-'16 winter and had a ball. 16 states in the east and southeast, 6000 miles over 6 months.Next trip will be a little less ambitious. Starting the planning for a 3 month trip (March/April/May or April/May/June), starting on Cape Cod and headed south to I-40 or I-20, then west to Arizona, Nevada, north through interior California to Puget Sound area then east on I-84/I-90. Saving the RGV for another winter.I'm leaning toward the later time period to get good Wx in the Rockies, but if I can do May through there it would work out better for me. Any thoughts?That's the extent of my planning so far - when should I leave? There are a couple of things I want to see; Grand Canyon, Craters of the Moon, Mt. Rushmore and I need to camp in North Dakota. Anything we should make a point to see. Been to Yosemite and Yellowstone in a past life. Ditto on Tahoe. Don't need to go there again.

Anything before May is asking for snowstorms or worse in high country. I've been snowed on July 3rd at Craters. The North Rim of the GCNP won't even be open then, the South Rim will but may have deep snow. This winter is looking like another very cold and snowy one. Snowfall records have already been broken in Montana and they have had significant snow all the way down into CO and CA. Very early snow.Last year's snow hasn't even melted in some places which is also unusual. I'd aim further south if the time frame is rigid, lots to do in southern AZ and NM. It's the perfect time to visit Big Bend NP in TX. I would not want to be caught in a blizzard in that class A on a mountain road.

IF CA Hwy 1 was open between Cambria and Monterey, I’d suggest it. Alternatively I suggest US Hwy 395 from Ridgecrest, CA to Reno, NV. Watch the weather however. Our silly state closes roads or requires chains on TV and TT at the first whiff of snow. Have a wonderful trip.

Another idea is to take US Hwy 101 from Los Angeles to San Francisco stopping in Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Cambria to see Hearst Castle, Monterey, Santa Cruz. Driving through SF on 101 is possible and then on our Golden Gate. If you are a bicyclist, stop on the Marin side and ride the bridge.

agesilaus wrote:Anything before May is asking for snowstorms or worse in high country. I've been snowed on July 3rd at Craters. The North Rim of the GCNP won't even be open then, the South Rim will but may have deep snow. This winter is looking like another very cold and snowy one. Snowfall records have already been broken in Montana and they have had significant snow all the way down into CO and CA. Very early snow.Last year's snow hasn't even melted in some places which is also unusual. I'd aim further south if the time frame is rigid, lots to do in southern AZ and NM. It's the perfect time to visit Big Bend NP in TX. I would not want to be caught in a blizzard in that class A on a mountain road.So we're looking at Big Bend and I-10 rather than I-20 and staying further south on the way back east. US 50 through Nevada is probably doable in the early June time frame.I thought it may have been too early for this trip. I just don't want to get sucked into the hoards trying to cram a vacation into a couple of weeks in Yellowstone.I crossed the Rockies on I-80 in late June some 40 years ago and remember the gas station attendant comment that the pass I was about to cross was closed the previous week. Do much for global warming.

The Interstates will mostly be open all winter. Storms may stop traffic for a day or two in which case travellers can be stuck somewhere waiting for the road to be cleared. Getting off the Interstates is the difficulty. I have no idea how your rig handles on snowy and icy roads.I-20 south is snowbird country there are a lot of parks in NM/AZ and CA for that matter in that area. Death Valley prime time is winter/spring for example. Chihuahua NM is a great place to explore but their CG is limited to small RV's. There are a lot of state parks too. You need to be flexible, watch the weather to the north it could be a warm spring after all. Weather is, as always, unpredictable. But Big Bend from what I've heard has their peak number of visitors around Thanksgiving-Christmas. But snowbirds winter down there too. Terlingua is pretty much closed up in the summer but is fully in business in winter. There are three of four RV parks in operation then too, not counting the ones in the NP. I'd write off the Texas shore this winter after their bad weather experience.

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Lwiddis
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2017
Another idea is to take US Hwy 101 from Los Angeles to San Francisco stopping in Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Cambria to see Hearst Castle, Monterey, Santa Cruz. Driving through SF on 101 is possible and then on our Golden Gate. If you are a bicyclist, stop on the Marin side and ride the bridge.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2017
IF CA Hwy 1 was open between Cambria and Monterey, I’d suggest it. Alternatively I suggest US Hwy 395 from Ridgecrest, CA to Reno, NV. Watch the weather however. Our silly state closes roads or requires chains on TV and TT at the first whiff of snow. Have a wonderful trip.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Oct 04, 2017
Anything before May is asking for snowstorms or worse in high country. I've been snowed on July 3rd at Craters. The North Rim of the GCNP won't even be open then, the South Rim will but may have deep snow. This winter is looking like another very cold and snowy one. Snowfall records have already been broken in Montana and they have had significant snow all the way down into CO and CA. Very early snow.

Last year's snow hasn't even melted in some places which is also unusual. I'd aim further south if the time frame is rigid, lots to do in southern AZ and NM. It's the perfect time to visit Big Bend NP in TX. I would not want to be caught in a blizzard in that class A on a mountain road.

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