Well we just finished our first season camping with our TT. We loved it. We camped 10 weekends in 4 states with our 9 kids and our dog. Not bad for our first season EVER of camping.We are looking forward to our first BIG trip next Spring and I'm looking for any tips that you seasoned campers might have. We are planning a two week (17 days total) trip from Indiana to Arizon (the Grand Canyon). We've mapped out two different routes and have a few destinations in mind (Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park). We will be traveling in late March and as I mentioned have 9 kids and a dog.Routes you love? Routes to avoid? Best parks to stay at? Good "pit stops".I look forward to benefiting from your wisdom!:)TIAJessica

We're going in September 14. I booked a spot at Trailer Village within the Grand Canyon park itself. A bit more basic than something like the Grand Canyon Railway Campground, but you'll be near the canyon. You can get more info by CLICKING HERE.

We enjoy staying at Trailer Village in Grand Canyon National Park. Full hookups to include cable; only a half mile or so walk to the rim of the canyon; just a very short walk to the store, cafeteria, gift shop, post office; the park shuttle bus makes a stop at the entrance to the campground and critters such as deer and elk often wander through the sites. Have a great trip.

We've been to the Grand Canyon twice. Both times we followed I70 to St. Louis, then I44 and I40. We wanted to include Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands, so got off the Interstate at Amarillo TX to head to southern MN. We rejoined I40 at Albuquerque.For Petrified Forest and Painted Desert we stayed at the KOA in Holbrook. Between there and the Canyon we stopped at Meteor Crater, then took route 89 north out of Flagstaff so we could visit Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National monument. We then took route 64 into the east end of the Park, stayed a night at Desert View CG (no hookups) and then spent two nights at Trailer Village.

For previous posts on this subject search for `Grand Canyon' in the RV Parks section for campground information; also for `railroad' for the GCRR which travels from Williams to the South Rim or for `South Rim', etc.

I would plan on going the southern route (I-40). I-70 and north can get quite snowy in late March (some of our best skiing time!) CloudDriver mentioned Sunset Crater and Wupatki NM's. Also in that area is Walnut Canyon NM. Definitely worth walking the stairs to the bottom of the canyon to see the ruins up close. Look closely and you can still see where someone's fingers applied the mud to the chinking between the sandstone blocks. Of course all three of these NM's are near Flagstaff, which at 7000' can still be a little wintery in late March. (I have to assume late March is spring break 'cause otherwise a little later is better for this relatively high area -- the south rim is also nearly 7000' in elevation and snow is not uncommon in late March). While not as big as Mesa Verde and some of the other ruins of the SW, both Wupatki and Walnut Canyon will give your kids a good exposure to the Native American culture and structures of the southwest. I'd suggest Trailer Village at the south rim so you have quick access to the rim. (The shuttle typically isn't running at that time of year.) Head out there to watch the sunset at least one night. You'll know you're not in Indiana anymore! When we travel in late fall and early spring and will be camped with electricity, we take an electric heater with us (the kind that look like an old radiator). Quieter at night and besides, why burn the propane if you have electricity? Prepare for cool temps. The average high for late March is mid 50's and the average low is in the mid to upper 20's.

The Grand Canyon | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

Dick_B
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
For previous posts on this subject search for `Grand Canyon' in the RV Parks section for campground information; also for `railroad' for the GCRR which travels from Williams to the South Rim or for `South Rim', etc.
CloudDriver
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
We've been to the Grand Canyon twice. Both times we followed I70 to St. Louis, then I44 and I40. We wanted to include Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands, so got off the Interstate at Amarillo TX to head to southern MN. We rejoined I40 at Albuquerque.

For Petrified Forest and Painted Desert we stayed at the KOA in Holbrook. Between there and the Canyon we stopped at Meteor Crater, then took route 89 north out of Flagstaff so we could visit Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National monument. We then took route 64 into the east end of the Park, stayed a night at Desert View CG (no hookups) and then spent two nights at Trailer Village.
Two_Hands
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
We enjoy staying at Trailer Village in Grand Canyon National Park. Full hookups to include cable; only a half mile or so walk to the rim of the canyon; just a very short walk to the store, cafeteria, gift shop, post office; the park shuttle bus makes a stop at the entrance to the campground and critters such as deer and elk often wander through the sites. Have a great trip.
djsamuel
Nomad
Nov 12, 2013
We're going in September 14. I booked a spot at Trailer Village within the Grand Canyon park itself. A bit more basic than something like the Grand Canyon Railway Campground, but you'll be near the canyon.

You can get more info by CLICKING HERE.

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The Grand Canyon

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