Potential summer trip with kids

dolbsss wrote:

Busskipper wrote:

dolbsss wrote:
...
wife and 2 kids(5,1.5yrs) and was thinking of a

16-17 day trip hitting National parks out west

from Columbus, Ohio as a start point. We are absolute

newbs to travel trailering(Jayco 284BHSW)(2015 2500HD) but

I drive trailers every day for work with my truck(landscaping and hardscaping) and we

drove to Estes Park last year with the kids and Tampa as well so we

have long trip experience with the kids. I have a

few questions I'll ask which I'll number at the end and my plan I'll list first by day. Looking for suggestions on camp grounds and comments about any and everything.

1 Columbus to St. Louis *
2 St Louis to Salina? *
3 Salina to Longmont Co.(friends live there, park at their house)
4 RMNP or Estes Park *
5 RMNP or Estes Park *
6 Longmont (friends again)
7 Arches NP *
8 Arches NP *
9 Bryce Canyon NP *
10 Zion/ Bryce Canyon NP *
11 Zion NP *
12 Grand Canyon NP *
13 Grand Canyon NP *
14-18 Return to Columbus.

Questions:

1. Is this too much to do? Too Ambitious?

2. Will you suggest campgrounds for the nights with the *? Most likely we will try for NP campsites a lot of times but if there is one I can't miss out on, I'd like a suggestion.

3. What are your average driving days? long driving days? look like mileage wise? Hour wise? I'd conservatively say I'd average 55-60 mph depending on the length of drive.

4. for days 14-18 I'm all open for suggestions on stop points and campgrounds.


Thanks in advance!

Map of a still very AMBITIOUS TRIP -- Bing Map

When leaving Moab take RT 128 out along the Colorado River - Beautiful drive - Much shorter but still Ambitious - Summer = Hot in Utah, so only put you there for a day or two, Keep the Altitude for the Kids - Lakes, Streams, Water just makes it easier/more fun for the kids.

Also suggest RT 36 on the drive out, possibly back as it, IMHO is just easier.

Only you know what everyone can put up with, so the drive times and days are on you.

Longmont - Estes - Peak to Peak? - Leadville (10,000 feet, COOL) - Turquoise Lake - Possible day trip to Maroon Bells RT 82 - Buena Vista, Collegiates, great Hikes, Rivers water - Ouray - Black Canyon - Possibly Moab - back - I-70 - Slide off RT 24 to Leadville again - Camp Hale then Home.

As I put in on the Paper it is VERY AMBITIOUS - so you will need to Pick and Choose as you go - drive through, not stop on many - but be exposed to Colorado and Utah for future trips.

Might look at this before the older one gets into school full time as a Fall Utah Trip.

Lot's to think about, just try to keep the distances down on the drive days as the 5-6 day getting and returning will burn sooo much of your time.

Hope this is of some help,

wow, I'm gonna consider this. Our Colorado friends want to tag along for awhile so this might be perfect.

Map of revised trip - Revised with Peak to Peak - RT6 - RT 128

If time gets short, and you have no need for the Heat in Moab, think/look at RT133 Marble/ Crystal Mill.

Then on up to Maroon Bells/Aspen, Beautiful and some great Hikes.

I-70 over under at Glenwood Springs - towards Vail, jump off at Minturn/Red Cliff/Leadville exit and think about staying at Camp Hale, just one more option.

SOOOOOO Much to see just never enough time.

Camp Hale

Peak to Peak - Golden Gate Canyon

Over Under I-70 Glenwood Springs


Crystal Mills

Maroon Bells Images


Utube RT 128 along Colorado River

RT 128



If you look at all this hard not to try to steal another Couple Weeks.

Best of Luck,