SE Michigan to California

I agree with 2gypsies. Watch the height and width in Zion. There is a tunnel with size restrictions. I believe if you are over 11'4" or 8 feet wide you need a permit. Check with the park to make sure. We just did the Grand Canyon, Southern Utah NP's and it was grand. Zion was my favorite. We are headed for WY, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. 7 weeks will be a great trip. Have fun and be safe.

7 weeks is fine. You can do a ton in 7 weeks. Obviously you will always miss some things along the way (you don't have 7 months, after all), but there's no reason to feel rushed when going to the Pacific coast and back with 7 weeks.

Last summer I stayed in Yosemite for a week, even though up until 2 weeks before the trip I had no reservatrions there. It can be done. In the last 2 weeks I snagged 2 nights (Fri & Sat) in 2 different valley campsites. On Sunday am I drove to a first-come CG, Bridalveil Creek, and booked in for 5 more nights. I got to spend a lot of time enjoying sunsets at Glacier Point.

Here's a good site for California whale watching info.

California Whale Watching

River rafting: The Snake River out of Grand Teton National Park is fun. Inside the park is mild but below the town of Jackson is wilder. Many rivers get too low mid-summer for a good ride. We've done the Colorado through the Grand Canyon for 9 days - now THAT was a wild one! Flipped over, too. :)

Have fun planning!

7 weeks sounds like a great timeframe for such a trip. Yes, it's possible. Haven't yet camped in California, so I can't offer any help with CGs there, but friends who have driven it have gotten from s.e. Idaho to the Sacramento area in 10-12 hours driving. (This is assuming you still plan to visit Yellowstone & the Tetons - which I'd advise doing.)

Whitewater rafting could be done outside Jackson, Wyoming, or you might consider going home through Colorado - some dandy whitewater there, near the s.w. corner and in other locations (do some research on it - my knowledge of it is very, very general), as well as spectacular scenery.

Remember that the southwest is going to be hot. Depending on when you plan to leave, consider the average temperatures of the places you plan to see before planning your route - early summer, go south first, and finish up in the northern parks (i.e. Yellowstone, etc.), but if you're not leaving until August, go north first and finish up with the southern route.

Search this Forum for each of the sights you might want to visit for previous posts.

Thanks 2gypsies! We have a travel trailer (35 foot Puma) with a F350 Dually. The kids (actually they are teenagers) are interested in whale watching off the Pacific coast. We were down off the Atlantic coast last summer (did the Parasailing thing). We do have 2 dogs that go camping with us too. So much to choose from with all the Parks, we are excited. White water rafting was on our list of things to do also.

I think I'd forget about Redwood NP in California and concentrate on the wonderful SW national parks. Head to Grand Canyon first then do the southern Utah parks - Zion, Bryce, Arches, Capitol Reef then head to Grand Teton which is next to Yellowstone, then over to Mount Rushmore and home. You'd have a fantastic trip in 7 weeks.

You didn't say what you'd be traveling in but our 40' MH fits in all of the above parks - been there often and without reservations. However, we don't do in prime time. I'd recommend you try for reservations IN each park for the best overall experience. Some of the parks even have campgrounds that don't even accept reservations, such as Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Go to each national park web site and you'll find all the campground information. Have a great trip but get working on a plan - NOW.