Why bother with National Parks?
We're new to RVing and have just bought an older Class C. My wife wants to take a trip touring many of the western United States' National Parks. I've been doing some research and this is what I'm f...
Forum Discussion
I have travelled 25,000 miles west of the Mississippi over the last 10 years.
I view an RV as an enabler to visit National Parks AND anything scenic along the way.
California's coast and Yosemite, or any place within about 4 hours of a major city are always crowded in the summer. Travel in the state requires a lot of planning during that time, and even in spring/fall. I find RV trips in California near these places stressful, and avoid making them part of any of my grand tours. But I also can schedule shorter destination trips here, because I'm in California.
Outside of the the above, everywhere is manageable without reservations, with the exception of Yellowstone and the Oregon coast. And I've even managed a pair of impromptu visits to Yellowstone in July of 2013 & 2014.
Since you are from the flat side of the country, take your time on the mountain roads. Low gears are your friend. Pull over often, both for breaks and to let folks by. And as others have recommended, get your RV in tip top shape mechanically.
My keys?
Small class C (24'), less restrictions, no toad.
Happy without hookups, actually prefer it that way.
Get up with the animals, you'll have far better luck finding the next campground early in morning.
Yellowstone without advance res during the summer:
First, once you do know your arrival date in a couple days, see if you can reserve a single night in the park, anywhere. If not, there are plenty of national forest campgrounds you could use as your single night outside the park. After that one night, break camp early (sunrise) and head to one of the first come non reservable sites in Yellowstone. Stay there as long as you want, then move again to another section of the park if you want to. Yes, this is without hookups.
I view an RV as an enabler to visit National Parks AND anything scenic along the way.
California's coast and Yosemite, or any place within about 4 hours of a major city are always crowded in the summer. Travel in the state requires a lot of planning during that time, and even in spring/fall. I find RV trips in California near these places stressful, and avoid making them part of any of my grand tours. But I also can schedule shorter destination trips here, because I'm in California.
Outside of the the above, everywhere is manageable without reservations, with the exception of Yellowstone and the Oregon coast. And I've even managed a pair of impromptu visits to Yellowstone in July of 2013 & 2014.
Since you are from the flat side of the country, take your time on the mountain roads. Low gears are your friend. Pull over often, both for breaks and to let folks by. And as others have recommended, get your RV in tip top shape mechanically.
My keys?
Small class C (24'), less restrictions, no toad.
Happy without hookups, actually prefer it that way.
Get up with the animals, you'll have far better luck finding the next campground early in morning.
Yellowstone without advance res during the summer:
First, once you do know your arrival date in a couple days, see if you can reserve a single night in the park, anywhere. If not, there are plenty of national forest campgrounds you could use as your single night outside the park. After that one night, break camp early (sunrise) and head to one of the first come non reservable sites in Yellowstone. Stay there as long as you want, then move again to another section of the park if you want to. Yes, this is without hookups.
