WESTWARD TRIP

We used RVParky.com online to tentatively plan our trip west spring 2015. I like that I can look for 250 miles a day, then drop a pin and it'll tell me what campsites are near, including WalMarts, reststops and other possibilities - including telephone numbers so I can call and get info. We often "plan" a stop and then when we're driving we either want to stop sooner or later - AllStays app is also good for enroute, with telephone numbers. Enjoy your trip!

I just planned my trip to Texas for Christmas. I just used Google maps, found a spot 300-325 miles from my starting point, and searched for camping in vicinity. Looked at reviews, and moved a little closer, or a little further out as necessary.

Mike

Rvparkreviews.com is helpful too - but of course you need to know your route(s) first, so you know where to look.

If you're leaving that early in the season, you might want to take a more southern route out and northern one back. However, I-70 goes right through the Colorado mountains, so it won't have any advantages of "earlier spring/summer" than being farther north.

At that time of year it will be chilly at night in the areas you mention, and likely still below freezing in Yellowstone (overnight), so be sure to be prepared for that. Given your schedule, I'd definitely recommend going to the Grand Canyon first, then head north to Yellowstone and back through the Black Hills (Mt Rushmore, etc.)

If you're not traveling on a weekend, you might consider state parks, or if you're on I-80, some of the "waysides" in Nebraska for overnight stops. More nature than the private CGs and some have electric hookups. We camped in Kearney State Park with a 34' TT and had a site with enough room for us. Weekends, the public CGs tend to fill up, especially if they're near a city.

I would take southern route out and northern route back. For full hookups we like most KOA's. Don't miss: St Louis - stay outside city and drive in. We like the KOA in Eureka MO for St Louis. For next stop there are KOA's in Springfield MO and Joplin MO. If you stay at Springfield, don't miss the Fantastic Caverns. Ride thru on jeep. Then I would drop down and go through Ft. Smith Arkansas. Don't miss the visitor center and trolley museum and trolley ride. We stay at the Springhill Corps of Engineers campground in Barling AR. On your way thru OK, worth a short jog to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Then Oasis RV Park in Amarillo TX is where we stop. Take a side trip to Palo Duro Canyon state park. Not many places we like in Albuquerque so we stop in Gallup NM at USA RV Park. Then Grand Canyon. Haven't been there in a long time so maybe others can recommend where to stay. Don't miss the Tetons before you head to Yellowstone. If you can't get in Yellowstone campgrounds, we stayed on the east side at Yellowstone Valley Inn. Also don't miss Cody WY after you leave Yellowstone. Buffalo Bill Museum. There are also state parks along the Buffalo Bill reservoir but most don't have hookups. As you head back east, check Roads and Routes. There is one road the forum members told us to avoid but don't remember. Think it was US16 between Ten Sleep and Buffalo.

Check out http://www.recreation.gov.

I would certainly make a loop. I don't bother with reservations, so if something is interesting, I'm able to stop and "smell the roses".

IMHO I would make sure to go south from Yellowstone down to Zion, Bryce and Moab in southern Utah.