I am in the begining stages of planning our 2015 vacation and I would like some opinions on where to go. I have narrowed it down to either the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. I have been to both places as a kid but the rest of my family has never been to either place. We are a family of 2 adults and 3 kids ages 2 1/2, 12 & 18. We are experienced tent campers and hikers although now with our little one we won't be doing much hiking at all. We are located between Houston and Austin, TX and we have 2 weeks total for this trip. Option 1 - Southwest trip: Palo Duro Canyon, stops along old Route 66 (I just gotta stay in a Wigwam), Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon (how much time here?), then down to Tombstone (my husband loves old west history), finally over to Carlsbad Caverns before heading home. Option 2 - Yellowstone/Tetons: Would need 2 nights on the road to get there and get home. Should I also do a night in either Jackson or Cody before entering? And which park first? How long in each park? Four in Yellowstone and three in Tetons? Or Five in Yellowstone and two in Tetons? I have already decided on Canyon for camping in Yellowstone due to it's central location and showers and either Gros Ventre or Colter Bay in Tetons. So based on all that I would love to hear you thoughts and suggestions.

I'd guess Tetons and Yellowstone with lots of animals to see. Let the kids choose and plan on the other one the following year.

IMHO I would go with option 1. Palo Dura has places for short walks instead of hikes, the Grand Canyon made me cry wit its beauty and Tombstone has old west touristy stuff.

Although they are both awesome, my first choice would be Yellowstone. And, yes, I have been to both. But I think your 2 nights there and 2 back is a bit ambitious. You are looking at around 1,500 miles each way. Although some is interstate, a lot is not, and your average speed will not be that great. So doing 500 miles a day for 3 days would probably mean 10 hours travel each day including stops, maybe more with 3 children. A killer if done for 3 straight days going and again coming back.A trip to Grand Canyon would also be great. And you could run the interstate almost all the way greatly improving your average speed and lowering your travel hours. 2 nights would be much more doable there.

We have done both. I would pick option 2 with 4 days in Yellowstone and 3 in Tetons. Beautiful country. I would take trees and snow capped mountains any day.

This is like trying to pick which of your two children you like more - it's almost impossible. I'd say flip a coin. Then visit the other site the following year. If it was me, I'd do the Grand Canyon trip first, then Yellowstone the following year. I prefer the Yellowstone area a little bit more, so I'd save it for "dessert".

Grand Canyon or Yellowstone for 2015? | Good Sam Community

southerngirl76
Explorer
Sep 26, 2014
Thanks for all the information! As was suggested, I am going to start a new thread now that we have a destination. Please chime in on that one as well!
rvgrammady
Explorer
Sep 24, 2014
I'm a senior with a knee problem and I didn't think the geysers were that big of a walk. I guess there might be a couple that are.

I would go with option 2 Yellowstone. Lot's to see and do. agree that Tetons is 2 day max. spend time in Yellowstone and maybe on way out do Cody at Northeast they have a rodeo at night.

My g-kids ages 7-17 were not impressed with the Grand Canyon as they were with Yellowstone. At yellowstone they have a beautiful "Yellowstone Canyon" nothing like the Grand Canyon but it's very pretty.

Why don't you get a couple of Picture books from the Library and let the kids brouse them and see what they think. Lots of wildlife in Yellowstone.

The drive to Yellowstone is more scenic than the drive to Grand Canyon. Both have many side stops to take the needed break.

Dy
Northern Calif.
Lauren
Explorer
Sep 24, 2014
2gypsies is right.

Find out the interests and re-post. CA is huge. We are currently in Likely, CA (bet you never heard of that!) coming back to Tucson area from OR Coast - we will again come down the 395 which we like.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Sep 24, 2014
OP...you might now want to start a new post with California being your new plan.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Sep 24, 2014
Never mind! I got this post mixed up with another one! :S
littlemo
Explorer
Sep 24, 2014
Wow! That is a big change in direction. You may have saved some time and effort by talking to kids before planning. LOL

From this:

southerngirl76 wrote:
I am in the begining stages of planning our 2015 vacation and I would like some opinions on where to go. I have narrowed it down to either the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. I have been to both places as a kid but the rest of my family has never been to either place. We are a family of 2 adults and 3 kids ages 2 1/2, 12 & 18. We are experienced tent campers and hikers although now with our little one we won't be doing much hiking at all. We are located between Houston and Austin, TX and we have 2 weeks total for this trip.

Option 1 - Southwest trip: Palo Duro Canyon, stops along old Route 66 (I just gotta stay in a Wigwam), Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon (how much time here?), then down to Tombstone (my husband loves old west history), finally over to Carlsbad Caverns before heading home.

Option 2 - Yellowstone/Tetons: Would need 2 nights on the road to get there and get home. Should I also do a night in either Jackson or Cody before entering? And which park first? How long in each park? Four in Yellowstone and three in Tetons? Or Five in Yellowstone and two in Tetons? I have already decided on Canyon for camping in Yellowstone due to it's central location and showers and either Gros Ventre or Colter Bay in Tetons.

So based on all that I would love to hear you thoughts and suggestions.

To this:

UPDATE

My oldest was home from college this weekend so I talked to both my girls about vacation options. Oddly enough they didn't seem too thrilled about Yellowstone. They both really liked the idea of stopping at some points along Route 66 and camping a couple days at the Grand Canyon. They also really want to go to California after GC as opposed to some parks in Utah. This brings me to ask you guys for more help. Now I know absolutely nothing at all about Cali. Zero. Can you give me suggestions for California? Routes from Mather Campground and where to in Cali?

The older kids will probably like California. Don't know about the baby. You could go toCalaveras Big Trees State Park, San Diego Zoo is supposed to be really good, Disneyland a possibility.
VegasBT
Explorer
Sep 23, 2014
A recommendation for Southern California is Pechanga RV Resort in Temecula, CA. Wife and I stayed there for Spring Break. It's located roughly half way between San Diego and LA, and has easy freeway access to both. It's a great little park, well laid out and well maintained. It's also connected to the Pechanga Indian Casino, if you are interested in that sort of thing. They are a Reserve America park, so you can get some very good discounts there. Towing through Cali is 55 MPH, so be sure to plan on some extra time. En route from GC to Cali, a nice little campground on the way is Willow Beach, located not far from Hoover Dam on the Arizona side of the border. Full hookups, but be warned: like all of AZ and NV in summer, it's going to be HOT! (This assumes, of course, that you'll swing through Las Vegas on the way). If you're going straight through on 40, there are plenty of campgrounds in Lake Havasu, CA. Needles, CA (the inspiration for "Radiator Springs" in the Disney movie "Cars") has Pirate Cove, located on the Colorado River right at the AZ line.
southerngirl76
Explorer
Sep 23, 2014
patperry2766 wrote:
What about the other coast?

Ft Wilderness at Disney then stop by the Gulf Shores/Pensacola area on the way home for the beach scene...or you could just bypass Disney and hit Key West.

My oldest daughter is on her college dance team and they have nationals in April in Daytona. The rest of us plan to rent a Condo for a few days in Daytona so we can watch her perform and support her team. We will be stopping for a few days in Pensacola. Unfortunately no time for Disney. My kids would love that.
southerngirl76
Explorer
Sep 23, 2014
rexlion wrote:
Do you have a road atlas? If so, have a look at the page for California. You'll see where some of the national parks and things are located in relation to the N. AZ - GC area.

Yosemite, of course, is fabulous. I was there in 2013 for a week. While reservations in the valley are a challenge, I snagged 2 nights (Fri and Sat) when other people cancelled. But the first-come, first serve CGs are pretty easy to get into if you show up by early afternoon on a Sunday or early in the week. I stayed most of the time at Bridalveil Creek CG, about 15 minutes from Glacier Point. Glacier Point is amazing; you can look straight down at the valley floor 3000' below you and at Half Dome across the way. I spent several evenings up there around sunset, taking pictures. Then there are places nearby like the Devil's Postpile and Mono Lake. Plenty of places to boondock (dry camp for free) in the national forest near Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake.

The Pacific coastline is supposed to be really scenic also. I want to get there someday and go from San Francisco area all the way into Oregon along the coast.

I just found our atlas we bought last year. I will be taking a look. Thanks for the insight to Yosimite. I would LOVE to drive the Pacific coastline.....I bet it's beautiful.
patperry2766
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2014
What about the other coast?

Ft Wilderness at Disney then stop by the Gulf Shores/Pensacola area on the way home for the beach scene...or you could just bypass Disney and hit Key West.