Hi! My husband and I are planning a trip in mid-September from Salt Lake City to the Grand Tetons - Yellowstone - Wind Caves - Devils Tower - Mt. Rushmore - Great Sand Dunes - end in Denver. We're going to rent an rv and would love some expert advice on size (last one we rented was 19') and driving/rv park options. The last trip we did was the Utah Grand circle and we loved it!!!!We have about 2 weeks, so not sure if we're trying to cram too much in, so......please let us know.Any suggestions/advice would be more than welcome!Thanks,Shelley

Sounds like A nice trip, but you are not going to give yourself a lot of time, in each place. For the size Of the right, make sure it's not too small, but not so big you can't fit into some of the places you want to go. Remember to factor in drive time / days. Etc...

I’d cut your stops by a third. Enjoy your trip!

If you are renting from Cruise America and have no toad, I would stick to the 19' Class C. First, it will be less stressful in the city and national park traffic you will encounter. Second, it will fit in many more national park campsites than even a 25' motorhome. For example, only one campsite at Pinon Flats cg at Great Sand Dunes NP and a couple of sites at the Wind Cave NP cg are long enough for our short fifth wheel and truck. National park cgs were designed decades ago before anyone even dreamed of a 45' motorhome. And the Sylvan Lake cg at Custer State Park in the Black Hills is just as cramped.So have a great trip, but "think small."

Oops, fogot to recommend some campgrounds. We love the views of the Tetons across Jackson Lake, so we stay at Colter Bay. If you don't mind using your RV's generator, suggest the Colter Bay cg, but, if you want hookups, there is an expensive RV park there too.At Yellowstone, either Canyon Village or Norris cgs are the most centrally located. If you head east from YNP through Cody, we love US 14/14A across the Big Horn Mtns. Great views, interesting geology, and a wonderful Forest Service cg with 30A electric and water called Sibley Lake. We stayed there last September on our way to Yellowstone and would go back in a minute!The Devil's Tower NM cg would be another good one for a short Class C while on your way from YNP to Wind Cave. And, don't miss Jewel Cave NM while you are in the Black Hills. We thought it was more spectacular than Wind Cave.Finally, your Class C is ideal for dry camping, so don't be afraid to stop at a Wyoming rest area or Flying J truck stop for a quick overnight. Both are free and many WY rest areas have water taps and RV dumps. Flying Js have RV fuel lanes, RV parking, and even propane, water, RV dumps, and restaurants, if you need them.

Spent many mornings drinking coffee at Colter Bays beach looking at the Tetons. Also drank lots of beer looking at the mountings later on in the days! Lol

"Wild West RV Trip" | Good Sam Community

shelleymam
Explorer
Mar 24, 2019
Thanks for all the advice! We’re debating between a 19’ from Cruise America and a 22’ from El Monte RV. Thoughts? Thanks again!
shelleymam
Explorer
Mar 24, 2019
Thanks for all the help! We’re debating between a 19’ from Cruise America and a 22’ from El Monte RV. Thoughts?
shelleymam
Explorer
Mar 24, 2019
Thanks! Any opinions between a 19’ from Cruise America or a 22’ from El Monte RV?
ppine
Explorer II
Mar 24, 2019
The Wild West still exists, but mostly in place no one has heard of. Not on the tourist trail. Get off the highway. Drive into a National Forest. Sept is the right time to visit Yellowstone. The rut will be under way by about Sept 17-18. Spend some time there. Get out and walk. You will know the Wild West when you see it.
fanrgs
Explorer
Mar 24, 2019
Lived in Denver area for 56 years and didn't know El Monte RV even had a Denver metro rental location. Just shows you're never too old to learn!

Regarding Class C size, how large is your family? Both the CA 19' and El Monte 22' have about the same amenities. If you have kids, I would pick the one with the biggest fresh water, gray, and black tanks and fewest beds to "unmake" into a dinette during the daytime. This will ease dry camping at campgrounds inside the parks and give you more time to enjoy the sights. And because those kids will be sitting for long periods, the one with the most comfortable, best viewing seating area would also be important.
shelleymam
Explorer
Mar 25, 2019
Actually, the name of the RV place in Denver is All Stars RV (I guess they're an affiliate).

Thanks for the feedback!
Horsedoc
Explorer II
Mar 25, 2019
not trying to be cute here, but Wind Cave and Jewel Cave National Monument are (to us at least) sorta boring and are mostly just . . . well . . holes in the ground.
Seriously, there is not a huge amount of visitors at either.
Jewel Cave has over 200 mapped miles.
Wind Cave:
We were more impressed with the thousands and thousands of prairie dog holes (some even in the gravel roads) and the other wildlife than the cave(s)

Spend some time in Custer SP since you will driving very near or through there to get to Wind Cave. Much better scenery
gkainz
Explorer
Mar 25, 2019
Jewel Cave recently enacted a reservation system, so check their website for details. Otherwise you will most likely not get to tour it. My 2¢ opinion is that Jewel Cave is more impressive than Wind Cave. Of course my opinion is biased since I grew up in the Black Hills and were family friends of Herb and Jan Conn, who mapped most of Jewel Cave.
fanrgs
Explorer
Mar 25, 2019
Horsedoc wrote:
Jewel Cave has over 200 mapped miles. Wind Cave:

We were more impressed with the thousands and thousands of prairie dog holes (some even in the gravel roads) and the other wildlife than the cave(s)

Spend some time in Custer SP since you will driving very near or through there to get to Wind Cave. Much better scenery
As a geologist, I have to defend the karst terrane of the Black Hills. I have been in caves from Virginia to Arizona and Jewel Cave is, well, a "jewel." Not Carlsbad, but not boring either.

Agree with the wildlife viewing. However, for us, driving through (literally through) a herd of genetically pure bison (the second herd saved from extinction after Yellowstone) at Wind Cave was much more exciting than seeing the hybrid herd at Custer SP off on a distant hill. And begging donkeys are not "wildlife." BTW, if you like prairie dogs, please take as many as you like home with you. Out here they are just prolific pests.
RVman3252
Explorer
Mar 25, 2019
I highly recommend seeing the "Buffalo Round Up" at Custer State Park. It is an awesome sight... It is always the last Friday of September. We stayed at Rafter-J Campground as our base camp, then took day trips around the area.

RVman / John