RVing to the west

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