RVing to the west

From Chicago head to the Badlands. Worth a 2-4 hour drive on the loop depending on how much you wish to photograph or hike. Another 11/2-2 hours to Keystone SD and Many highly rated CG's. Rushmore 2 hr+ daytime, visit Crazy Horse Monument then revisit Rushmore for night lighting ceremony, 1 day. Custer State park, Needles HWY and Wildlife loop, 1 day Must see. Devils Tower, set up campsite at wherever you stay in Yellowstone area would be 4th day. Need 1 day for Jackson Hole and Grand Tetons area. Need at least 2 if not 4 days to see Yellowstone. If you walk the boardwalks and see all the features 4 days cover each quadrant. That is 9 days to this point and you really rushed through the Black Hills. If you like Caverns there are a couple in the Black Hills worth touring. Nice Steam Train day excursion in Hill City too. I would consider 2-3 extra days in the Black Hills which would put you up to 12. 3 days return trip to Chicago leaves 4 more days. Wyoming and South Dakota are full of other attractions so you could research extra stuff to do. Spearfish Canyon Drive on a Motorcycle would be Very recommended. I'd go in July or August so weather would be better for cycle riding.

We have done two trips out West. Each time, the trip was a limited opportunity to go.

We elected to jump around as much as we could to see as many different places as we could. It worked for us.

The first trip (1998) was 26 days with car, tent, bicycles and no kids. The second was 30 days with MH, Toad, bicycles and two kids.

I think a second type of transportation will help tremendously, specially if you are trying to squeeze in as much as you can in a short time.

Although I would not like dealing with a trailer behind a MH, you must be use to it. With many stops in a short period of time, hooking and unhooking might get old. Many do it with TT or 5ers. However, I didn't see many campsites long enough for both rigs. If you research and find pull-throughs along your route, that would save some time and hassle. Otherwise, it's drop the trailer in the storage area and go to your site to set up. When exiting CG, do the reverse to get back on the road.

Busses, shuttles and rentals take time. Even if a shuttle stops right at the CG, you will often wait. Otherwise, you will have some trouble finding parking for an RV at a lot of stops. Parking for the TOAD was difficult at a few popular National Parks, but for the most part, we were able to drive right to a trail head/overlook/visiter's center and park quite quickly. It helps if you are early risers.

On the 1998 trip, we went to Yellowstone, via Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Wall Drug, Crazy Horse and Devils Tower. We had to drive much further than you (Morgantown, WV which is about 1.5 hours south of Pittsburgh). After Yellowstone, we skipped down to CA through Lake Tahoe, hit San Fran/Muir Woods, Yosemite, Sequoia and Vegas to see family. On the return trip, we stopped at the GC, Zion, Arches, Bryce and Rocky Mountain. Some of these stops were only one night with a visit to some overlooks. Hey, it beats never seeing it in our lifetimes right? Was it worth it? You bet! We didn't get back West until this past summer.

The 2015 trip went in the reverse. We went to Moab/Arches, Bryce, Monument Valley, GC and then to San Clemente for a wedding. After that, we went to Sequoia, Yosemite, San Fran/Muir Woods, Yellowstone, Mt Rushmore and home.

The drive from San Francisco to Yellowstone took two days from our trip. It will be a similar trek for you to Yosemite. I would have much rather maximized our time in the Southwest, but now that my kids have seen Yellowstone, I'm glad we did it.

A trip similar to what you propose is possible. I think 19 days to swing out to California might be pushing it. You might if you use I-70 as your return route and count on just stopping off for quick visits at some of the parks along that route. This is what we did in 1998. This plan makes the Grand Canyon a tough stop. We did the North Rim in 1998 after stopping at Zion. Zion and Arches were our favorites, so we planned longer stops there on the second trip. We went off-road around Moab. Visited Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point and Pink Coral Sand Dunes SP while based in Moab. This route set us up for Monument Valley/Four Corners and the GC en route to the wedding in San Clemente.

If you skip the California leg and miss Yosemite, you could drop down to the GC from Yellowstone and maximize your time around that area. Walk the Narrows in Zion. Drive the entire loop at Arches and take some time to walk some of the trails there. You can't go wrong with that.

Warning LONG REPLY

Billannette wrote:


looking to get personal advice for a trip out west this early summer.
Live in Western PA, but plan to leave from Chicago area.
Looking at 14 -19 day trip. not after shortest route.
Can return to Western Pa after trip or back to Chicago.
Been doing a lot of reading but would like to hear form veterans.
Not new to my 40' Rv, normally pulling 27' box trailer, but new to the West.

Let’s make a couple of assumptions here - Leaving from and returning to Chicago - the trip will be for 19 days – you are young and this is going to be a “Drive by Trip” sort of a fly by on the ground, and instead of hikes would like a few great rides in the areas described. A “let’s SEE the West” so we can plan a few “let’s Touch the West” trips later.

First Which Month June, July, Aux, Sept ?

If I ever have a choice to see or be anywhere IMHO September (Leaving on September 9th) is THE BEST! Kids are back in school – weather is better – and if you wait till the end (Yes, if possible WAIT so the end of your trip will still be in September) of September you will have the added bonus off possibly being in the Rockies when the Aspen change, to be in the Rockies with the Aspen turning Gold – on a Motorcycle – driving through the Passes is as good as it gets.

Must see Grand Canyon, Yellow stone. But would like to make it rushmore, devils tower , Yosemite and your other recommendations.

First off –let me joint the crowd that says this is not a great trip just too much on your plate – but people do it, actually most of us have done it just did not enjoy it. For my purposes I’ll leave California for a fly out and rent a car trip later in life. Not trying to say it’s not just as Beautiful as it gets but it’s 2,500 miles one way from PA. not FUN.

Let’s do a list then you can connect the dots of these locations to make this “Drive/Fly By Trip” – BadLands NP, just a drive through don’t even unload the bikes just on the way to Custer (950 miles) With this first real CG - if still light get out and tour on the bikes - Black Hills, Sylvan Lake, Needles Custer SP and Mt Rushmore at Dark – catching anything you missed on the way out - – Devils Tower (100 miles) I would make this a pull off on the Interstate and take the bikes and just fly over to see on the way to Gardiner, MT , just outside the north gate of the YNP (350 miles) -
Just to get here we have driven over 1,500 miles - 30 to 40 hours of just driving (thought you would average 60 MPH – not a chance in a 40’ BUS with trailer, more like 40mph) and are starting to feel the stress of the rushing from place to place. So we will have a CG and a real meal and maybe rest a little (JUST A LITTLE) as you have barely begun.
Get the bikes out and tour the northern loop – rain or shine you only have a day – getting back to the CG get everything packed up to depart early to the northern exit of YNP and GTNP – this will take all day and just get you to the exit and entrance of GTNP. Problem is there are no places to park – but it is September you say – sorry still crowded. Try to find a place to camp and spend the night With luck you will see the sunset on the Tetons (In case I forgot bring a really good POCKET camera and take Thousands of Pictures, you will need them to remember the trip)

Let’s review what has happened in this first WEEK? – probably close to 2,000 miles – left on Friday night to get from Chicago to Minnesota – spent the night in Wall*Mart (1) – drove through Badlands arrived in Custer (2-3) left Custer drove by Devils Tower arrived in Gardiner (4-5) – Toured North and maybe a little of the South of YNP (6-7) drove through YNP (8) arrived in GTNP – drove through arriving in Jackson (9).

Need to work on keeping the bugs on the windshield out of the pictures – yes, I know it’s hard to really clean the windshield in the dark, with 19 days we need to use every hour the sun is out for seeing the sights so when you take the pictures out the side you are forgetting to not get the mirror in them! Now with the time constraints we only have 10 days left and we are at least 3 long days from home. Add to that that we are still 700 miles from the Grand Canyon, and I plan on making a couple stops before I deliver you there.

Back to the trip Leaving Jackson to Vernal, UT (10) – you are driving by/through Flaming Gorge and into Dinosaur NM thought about letting you see this but not enough time, so basically a drive thru and depending on your energy level you might even see a little. Long driving day to Zion,NP (11) from here we see/fly by the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to Page, UT(12) Only 7 days left –OMG- But we have now seen all the places on your list but you really have no real Idea of what you have missed. From here to/through, Monument Valley, to Mesa Verde NP, to Telluride Bikes out and just ride, this is BIKE HEAVEN (13-14) – now we have done two weeks and need to think about starting to get back home – The really great thing is we saved some of the most beautiful driving to now – and you will be driving/riding a lot - next stop Twin Lakes, CO (15) Short drive day long bike day – Independence Pass – Collegiate Peaks – Buena Vista – Crested Butte – Leadville – (16) – now your saying I’ll never make it home in three days, BUT remember we left on Friday after work and gained a day so we have plenty of time, to drive the 2000 miles back to PA.

Also need advice, was going to pull little 6x12 enclosed with motor cycle.

Think you figured out that I took the small trailer and the Bikes.

we are experienced long range Motor cycle riders so we could explore on 2 wheels if it makes sense.

The only thing you will need to be good at is surviving on 6 hours of sleep as you are going to be doing a lot of DRIVING.

Do we need wheels other than RV ??

See Above Bikes should handle it.

Thank You

Not the trip most would plan but if you are YOUNG – Slightly Crazy – then you might be able to pull it off – you will be back – but now you are exposed to just a small, very small taste of the WEST.

In trading stories with others you are not the only one to try to just DO IT ALL, so I say go for it, will you enjoy it – maybe – maybe not - but my hope is you will come back, and do it again and again – but next time just really getting into the areas you have just barely seen on this first trip.

BOL


Every year out and back

Photo album, Stan Parker

We have found September to be a good month for vacationing. Families with kids are back at school and crowds are lessened. However, that said, we were surprised by how crowded Yellowstone was even in mid September. We did get a bit of snow one day, but the rest of the week long stay at Yellowstone was beautiful, mild weather.

I agree with several other's responses that you may have too ambitious of an itinerary. Pick one section (Yellowstone/Black Hills/Devil's Tower maybe Glacier) or (Utah/Arizona/New Mexico) and go with that. Yosemite is really outside of both of those groups unless you have much more time to spend on the road.

I also agree with Lauren. If you are just looking to check places off on your list, you can spend a day here and a day there (and lots of days driving) and get them all in. If you want to actually experience the natural wonders of our beautiful country, you will need to slow down and spend some time. We always plan for a day off every now and then, to spend in camp, sleep in later, cook a good meal, and sit around the fire. Especially at Yellowstone, your days will be long and you will get back to camp later in the day and not want to begin meal prep at 8 PM.

Just my thoughts for you to consider or not. Whatever you choose, have a great adventure!

Lauren wrote:
As usual, I agree with Ken. Do you want to say you have been to places or do you want to SEE places?

"For instance, Grand Canyon is worth one day if you don't hike. Several if you hike" is an example of being able to say you have been someplace. Grand Canyon (South Rim for sure) is large and you want sunrises and sunsets to enjoy the magnitude of the beauty.

Lauren, I very much respect your opinions on the forum. I'm not sure if you are saying I gave bad advice or not? Maybe I read it wrong? Or maybe I didn't clearly write my thought? By the comment you quoted, I was meaning to convey the same idea that you did. One day to "see" it, add a few more to "experience" it.

We were at GC for 3 nights. In that time we saw several sunrises, sunsets, went on a few ranger guided hikes into the canyon and along the rim and had time to just sit and look for hours. We would have wanted more time there only if adding something like a rafting trip, helicopter tour, ride the donkeys, etc.

I believe 3 nights to be enough time to "experience" the GC.

Bottom line, I think that it doesn't matter if you only have two weeks for the trip. It's better to see something for only one day than to not have seen it at all. Do what you can this trip and plan to go back for more. Everyone doesn't have unlimited time. If you feel you're running out of time, turn around and head back. It's not a big deal if you don't fit it all in on this one trip.

Please don't take this comment as mean---this sounds like "Around the world in 80 days."
We spent three weeks in Rushmore/Black Hills/Yellowstone/Cody/Rapid City alone. We don't ride motors, but the Black Hills offer some of the best riding in the U.S. (In Custer, SD. don't miss the Purple Place for the best pie ever).
Yellowstone offers the two lane roads akin to a park, complete with buffalo walking down the roads holding up traffic. Actually, the term walking should be moseying. A day might be used up getting from one end to the other with no real sightseeing.
We didn't waste to much time at each place. The itinerary you are proposing is pretty ambitious.

As usual, I agree with Ken. Do you want to say you have been to places or do you want to SEE places?

"For instance, Grand Canyon is worth one day if you don't hike. Several if you hike" is an example of being able to say you have been someplace. Grand Canyon (South Rim for sure) is large and you want sunrises and sunsets to enjoy the magnitude of the beauty.

I'd either do a Yellowstone/Grand Teton/Black Hills trip in late June or a Grand Canyon/Zion/Bryce trip in mid September. To try to see both the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone isn't going to let you "experience" either one with the drive time from Chicago. These are big states and long distances to drive between those two parks. Driving an RV isn't like a long distance motorcycle trip. Slower, more stops etc.

To try to get from Chicago to Yosemite is over 2000 miles = four very hard days of driving. You'd use up a big chunk of your vacation staring at your windshield.

Unless this is the only chance to go before you get rid of the RV, break this up into several trips and enjoy the places you go. For instance, even on motorcycles, it takes several days to see Yellowstone. With two big loops, low speed limits and "buffalo jams" one doesn't make great time through the parks.

Tell us a bit about your interests when at a park. Would you like to hike some? a lot? or, do you motorcycle to the overlooks and keep moving?

For instance, Grand Canyon is worth one day if you don't hike. Several if you hike.

As others have suggested, pick a region and stick to parks in that region. If going to the GC, I'd get in Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches and save other destinations for another trip. Or, go the northern route...but you can't do both.

Check out the trip report in my sig to see what a Southwest loop could be.