My 50th Bday out west

The big crowds don't hit the Black Hills and Yellowstone until mid-June. And fair warning: Despite what others have said about the Black Hills being fine in April -- I've lived here (just west of Black Hills) for 43 years, and late April snow storms are NORMAL! Big ones! Very true that the weather might be warm, even possibly dry, but there's always a real threat of BIG snow storms throughout April. I'm talking several feet! In Yellowstone they come even later. FWIW, April is my least favorite weather month of the year in Wyoming -- wind, clouds, rain, sleet, snow, and (more) wind. And all this without benefit of leaves on the trees! ;)


America's Snowiest Places

#5: Lead, S.D.
Snow stats

Average yearly snow: 201.4"
Population (2000 census): 3,124
Snowiest month: March (35")
Snowiest day: 52" (3/14/1973)
Record depth: 73" (3/1/1998)
Quick question: Name a region with a reputation for heavy snow? Did you answer the Rockies? New England? The Great Lakes snowbelts? Cascades or Sierra? Alaska? I'll bet the Black Hills of South Dakota wasn't one of your answers. But it should be.

Lead (pronounced LEED), and its sister city, Deadwood, are in the northern Black Hills. North winds circulating around powerful Plains storm systems are lifted by the hills, wringing out prolific snow totals well over 10" three to four days a year, on average.

An incredible 5-day snowstorm once dumped over 112" in Lead in late February/early March 1998. That's over 9 feet or more than double the average annual snowfall in Denver... in one snowstorm!

What other location in the U.S. averages over 20" of snow... in six different months (November through April)? Two spring months, March (35") and April (34"), are Lead's snowiest months!

How many places average almost 1" of snow... wait for it... in June? There was once 10" of snow on the ground on June 2!

Be sure to see Monument Valley.

The nice thing about RVing is you can plan at the last minute. If the weather is good you can always head north. If not, there are plenty of things to see and do down South. The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Mojave Desert, San Diego, Disneyland, Santa Barbara, and many other things.

We've been to the places you list a number of times but we always go in June and have always had great conditions. I don't know what you consider a crowd, but we never had any trouble seeing all the sites that time of year.

I did my 50th last year in April and elected for southern states. I had a good buddy who lives near Tucson and another who lives near San Diego so it was a good excuse to visit them. Around May 1st I was starting to head back to Missouri and it was 105 in the shade at Death Valley.
I left for the Flagstaff area after that miserable night. Three nights later I was towing through Springfield MO in a heavy snow...in the first week of MAY!!!

As noted, Yellowstone will be difficult to visit until late May onward. GC in April is generally delightful. BH in April or May.

I hope you have at least three weeks planned for this adventure. This is a big loop with hours of driving. Each of these destinations require several days once you arrive, plus you'll find things along the way that will also take your time.

I can't think of a better way to spend your 50th than to be camped someplace you really liked and offered great feelings, like looking over the Grand Canyon or parked next to Mount Rainier, or in a campsite looking out over the Pacific Ocean. Have your party right there where you can be with a few close friends or maybe just your wife and give thanks to God for your first fifty years and pray for a few more good years in the future. Have some good drinks, a steak or whatever your favorite meal is and celebrate quietly. Tell the wife you'd rather be doing something special rhan having a big bash at home. Another great place to reflect on your 50 years is at Yellowstone Falls looking at the wonders of nature; enjoy the day!

We went to the Grand Canyon in late April.The 3rd night of our trip we stayed in Amarillo,Texas and it was 90 degrees.The next night we were in Gallup,NM and it was 15 and snowing.We arrived in Williams,Az the next day to 6" of snow.When we drove to the canyon,temps warmed up to about 50 but there was still snow on the ground.You may want to consider middle of May or early September.

Thanks for the comments. Maybe we will split this trip up and stay sound part first. For some reason my wife wants us back home by the actual bday too.

Oh, to be 50 again!!