Help with Big RV Trip Planning
So we are planning a big trip leaving out of Southern California (Orange County) out to Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone and back. I've got it mapped to about 2650 miles and 13 nights to make the journ...
Forum Discussion
Wow! Long Trip - Short Time Frame.
Checking Google Maps, by going to Moab & RMNP first & second, really puts a large loop to the east by going to West Yellowstone after RMNP.
I'd say dead head to West Yellowstone right out of the starting gate. Maybe do a drive over to Bryce & Zion (could stay near Bryce, do Zion as a day trip by swing up via Cedar Breaks National Monument). Or just find an overnight site & head straight to West Yellowstone. Spend as much time at Yellowstone as possible.
Seeing the Tetons from West Yellowstone will take a lot of driving, just to get there. But doable, one could at least see a few of the high spots (pun intended) with a long day (early start & late finish).
If wanting to do the Black Hills/Rushmore, a somewhat straight shot to east. Likewise a somewhat straight shot south & a little west to get from Rushmore area to Estes Park.
Drop down south from Estes Park to I-70 W to Moab. Then a little (slight) Zig Zagging over to Capital Reef & to Bryce. After visiting Bryce years ago, we went to the cooler area by Panguitch Lake, then did a day trip to Zion from there via Cedar Breaks NM.
Then I-15 back to Orange County.
Leaves time to adjust if wanting to stay longer in Yellowstone or Wherever. Without the unsightly loop bulge in the start, no rapid to the east, then back to the west, then on to the east.
Post Edit:
Places to Overnight CA/UT Border Area. Note: Cherry Creek would not be wise with your rig, too small of sites. We stopped at a Walmart in Springville before going up to Cherry Creek, the folks at Wally World said people do overnight there. Large parking lot. It is listed as one which does allow overnighting Allstays: Walmat - Utah If yellow W ok to overnight.:
Walmart Supercenter
660 S 1750 W, Springville UT
801-489-6293
Using Santa Ana as a starting point, Orange County to Cedar City, UT is 436 mi, 6 hours 27 mins.
Orange County to Provo is 643 mi, 9 hours 25 mins. Utah Lake State Park is near Provo.
Here's a Recent Post on Yellowstone & Wyoming Sites & Sights, maybe something in it will be of help.
For the Tetons, you might consider leaving West Yellowstone via the National Park drive US 191/287 to the Moran area in the Tetons. Colter Bay RV Park has full hookup, I believe. Then leave the Tetons at Moran Junction via US 26 to Casper. Then swing over to Custer, SD. If wanting to see more of the Tetons.
What I have on the Black Hills Area of SD.
Never been to this one, but many people give it rave reviews: Rafter J Bar Ranch Resort - Hill City.
http://www.rafterj.com/
Many RV parks in & around Custer as well. RV Park Reviews Custer, SD
We have only stayed in the State Park campgrounds & at a Nat'l Forest CG.
There is also a private Horse Thief RV Resort which is also close to Hill City.
http://www.horsethief.com/
Don't forget the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Aug 5-11. A heavy use time in the BlackHills. Might be over depending when you get there.
We really enjoyed the Glass Blowing Studio between Hill City & Keystone. Black Hills GlassBlowers - Keystone
We saw someone waving at a glass blowing shop when riding the Hill City Tain; we went back to see it, a neat place, friendly people.
Deadwood is northwest of Custer.....lot of History happened there, but is more of a Gaming Center now if into gambling. We stopped once years ago, when out kids were young; I wanted to see where Wild Bill Hickok was killed. We did go to a melodrama while there, but mainly just walk around some. It was just starting to become a gaming center at that time. Not stopped since.
Checking Google Maps, by going to Moab & RMNP first & second, really puts a large loop to the east by going to West Yellowstone after RMNP.
I'd say dead head to West Yellowstone right out of the starting gate. Maybe do a drive over to Bryce & Zion (could stay near Bryce, do Zion as a day trip by swing up via Cedar Breaks National Monument). Or just find an overnight site & head straight to West Yellowstone. Spend as much time at Yellowstone as possible.
Seeing the Tetons from West Yellowstone will take a lot of driving, just to get there. But doable, one could at least see a few of the high spots (pun intended) with a long day (early start & late finish).
If wanting to do the Black Hills/Rushmore, a somewhat straight shot to east. Likewise a somewhat straight shot south & a little west to get from Rushmore area to Estes Park.
Drop down south from Estes Park to I-70 W to Moab. Then a little (slight) Zig Zagging over to Capital Reef & to Bryce. After visiting Bryce years ago, we went to the cooler area by Panguitch Lake, then did a day trip to Zion from there via Cedar Breaks NM.
Then I-15 back to Orange County.
Leaves time to adjust if wanting to stay longer in Yellowstone or Wherever. Without the unsightly loop bulge in the start, no rapid to the east, then back to the west, then on to the east.
Post Edit:
Places to Overnight CA/UT Border Area. Note: Cherry Creek would not be wise with your rig, too small of sites. We stopped at a Walmart in Springville before going up to Cherry Creek, the folks at Wally World said people do overnight there. Large parking lot. It is listed as one which does allow overnighting Allstays: Walmat - Utah If yellow W ok to overnight.:
Walmart Supercenter
660 S 1750 W, Springville UT
801-489-6293
Using Santa Ana as a starting point, Orange County to Cedar City, UT is 436 mi, 6 hours 27 mins.
Orange County to Provo is 643 mi, 9 hours 25 mins. Utah Lake State Park is near Provo.
Here's a Recent Post on Yellowstone & Wyoming Sites & Sights, maybe something in it will be of help.
For the Tetons, you might consider leaving West Yellowstone via the National Park drive US 191/287 to the Moran area in the Tetons. Colter Bay RV Park has full hookup, I believe. Then leave the Tetons at Moran Junction via US 26 to Casper. Then swing over to Custer, SD. If wanting to see more of the Tetons.
What I have on the Black Hills Area of SD.
Never been to this one, but many people give it rave reviews: Rafter J Bar Ranch Resort - Hill City.
http://www.rafterj.com/
Many RV parks in & around Custer as well. RV Park Reviews Custer, SD
We have only stayed in the State Park campgrounds & at a Nat'l Forest CG.
There is also a private Horse Thief RV Resort which is also close to Hill City.
http://www.horsethief.com/
Don't forget the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Aug 5-11. A heavy use time in the BlackHills. Might be over depending when you get there.
We really enjoyed the Glass Blowing Studio between Hill City & Keystone. Black Hills GlassBlowers - Keystone
We saw someone waving at a glass blowing shop when riding the Hill City Tain; we went back to see it, a neat place, friendly people.
Deadwood is northwest of Custer.....lot of History happened there, but is more of a Gaming Center now if into gambling. We stopped once years ago, when out kids were young; I wanted to see where Wild Bill Hickok was killed. We did go to a melodrama while there, but mainly just walk around some. It was just starting to become a gaming center at that time. Not stopped since.
