Routes and campgrounds in west

padredw wrote:
Here is just one of the possibilities for exactly 14 days from Nashville and back to Nashville.

Day 1: Nashville to Lake Catherine State Park near Hot Spring, AR
415 miles trails and lake for kids. Hot Springs worth a visit if you have time. Could make this a 2 day stop


Day 2: 431 miles: Lake Catherine to Vernon, TX Rocking A RV park for an overnight OR if you are making good time on up to Goodlett, TX and the Ole Town Cotton Gin RV Park. Both good for an overnight.

(yes, I'm dipping a bit south, but I know US 82 across North Texas and I know all the campgrounds I've mentioned above.)
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Day 3 & 4: 455 miles: Santa Fe, NM and the Western Skies RV Park. Lots to see in historic Santa Fe. I'd make this a two day stop.
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Day 5, 6 & 7: 256 miles: Buena Vista, CO. River rafting, hiking, day trip to Aspen. KOA, Arrowhead Point Campground, Snowy Peaks. I've stayed at all. KOA has the advantage of hiking right out of the campground with rock scrambling for older kids.
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Day 8 & 9: 173 miles (following the Peak to Peak highway) to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. Spruce Lake is where I have stayed, but several other choices handy to the park.
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Day 10 & 11: 338 miles to Custer and the Black Hills. I've stayed in Custer's Gulch, but Rafter J and many other choices in the area. Could stay a week, but you have only 14 days total. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Highway, Custer State Park Wildlife Loop, and more.
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Day 12: 332 miles to Sioux Falls. Obviously time to start back. I've never had reason to stay along this route, but should have no trouble finding an overnight RV Park.
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Day 13: 464 miles to the neighborhood of Keokuk, Iowa. There is the Hickory Haven Campground for example

Day 14: 500 miles back to Nashville.

This is only one of many possibilities, but it represents the kind of planning that would allow a trip to the mountain West in the 14 days you have available. I have personal experience with every mile of the trip and every campground mentioned EXCEPT the 3 final days on the way back to Nashville. Will be glad to answer any questions about the portions of the trip with which I am familiar.

Like it - Bing Map - https://binged.it/2yiTu1s

With the new Math (Three weekends and Half a day Friday - or more) this could be even Better with an extra couple days in Buena Vista - or an extra Day in each Buena Vista and Custer -

If you were to take this Route Counter Clockwise it might be even easier to work in the 1/2 day going out, as this route is the more boring couple days of the two options and would work (JMHO)

Something tells me that David has done this before and Knows this route - so I'll just contribute a Map and a Thumbs Up - Hard to argue on anything but the extra couple days by using three weekends and a scheduled early departure on Friday, to just gain a few hours on that first day with all the adrenaline pumping, is usually a big help. I think this just might be IT.

Keokuk, Iowa

Sioux Falls, SD


Custer, SD - the Black Hills - Mt Rushmore - Jewel Cave - Custer's Gulch

Peak to Peak highway - Rocky Mountain NP and Estes Park

Buena Vista, CO - Look also at Arkansas River - Rt 82 to Aspen Maroon Bells in Van - Collegiates - Browns Canyon NM - Leadville - Quincy's - K's

Santa Fe, NM and the Western Skies RV Park

Vernon, TX Rocking A RV park

Lake Catherine State Park

This Looks like the beginning of a Great trip,