dianahc wrote:
We also had just gotten a very high mileage 2003 Jeep Liberty as a toad.
But I want to get at least one more big trip out of this rig before we consider selling it and upgrading, and my heart is set on a trip roughly following this route:
- San Jose
- Portland
- Banff
- Glacier National Park
- Yellowstone
- Crazy Horse
- Santa Fe NM
- Carlsbad Caverns
- Los Angeles
- San Jose
First, we've towed our 2004 Jeep Liberty for 10 years. It has 175,000 miles on it and still runs flawlessly. If you have your Jeep checked out for belts, brakes, tires, etc. and get a clean bill of health, then don't worry about the mileage. They're wonderful cars.
The trip you're planning is very ambitious if you're not confident in your RV. Personally, I would skip Banff for another trip with your new RV. Also, Banff is o.k. but driving further north through Lake Louise and to Jasper would be a complete trip in that area.
You didn't state if you wanted to drive many secondary roads so I'm assuming you'd be more comfortable on interstates as much as possible.
Definitely purchase the Mountain Directory. We used it all the time.
So here's a possible route for you:
San Jose to Portland via I-5; I-90 east to MT93 north to Glacier and stay at the west side.
Glacier to MT93 south or 83 south for different scenery to I-90 again to Bozeman, MT. Take 191 south to West Yellowstone. You are now so close to Grand Teton Nat'l Park that you really should take it in, also. You can drive south through Yellowstone when you ready to leave and stay in the Tetons at Colter Bay RV for hookups or Colter Bay campground (next door & dry camping) or a little further south in the park at Gros Ventre campground (dry camping).
Then you want to go to Crazy Horse (another possible elimination). The easiest driving would be taking 287 out the east entrance 20/26 at Shoshoni to Casper, then north on I-25 back to I-90. This adds miles but you wouldn't like the secondary roads of 16 or 14 or 14A across the Big Horn Mtns. Then I-90 east to the Rapid City area.
Then to Santa Fe via I-25 and to Carlsbad and I-10 west to LA and north on I-5 to San Jose.
After looking at this, to me, it doesn't sound like a pleasant trip. You're driving interstates (& some will even have some tough climbs)and going through some big cities which would be a nightmare for us. We love driving secondary roads as our first choice but then, we don't mind mountains roads. So that's up to you.
I would probably rethink this big trip. Make it shorter by eliminating Canada and perhaps even Santa Fe and Carlsbad. Save them for your new motorhome. Also, it really wouldn't be enjoyable both of you driving separately. Think this trip out carefully so you're not exhausted like your previous trip.
Instead of planning this one BIG trip for 5-6 weeks, why not take some shorter trips into mountain areas to get a better feel for mountain driving? Good luck!
