Ryanjb01 wrote:
Hello Everyone,
On our quest to hit all 50 states within the next 3 years, the Southwest is next on our agenda.
More specifically, Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico.
The planned locations so far include:
The Grand Canyon
Bryce and Zion
Las Vegas
Monument Valley
San Diego(Warm Pacific Waters). Or another location/town near the Pacific Ocean.
Roswell NM
To start, I am looking for campground recommendations for the above mentioned locations. Full Hook-Up sites are a must and family/pet friendly. Eventually Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana will be added to the route.
Also like to know how many days are recommended to see each location. Our total trip, including start to finish is 5 full weeks. Many of our stops will simply be for an overnight stay, back on the road in the morning.
We are Coast to Coast Deluxe members, KOA, Good Sam and AAA.
Thanks for the help,
Ryan
Not going to be of much Help, as IMHO if you are from the NorthEast and I think you should save the South for Small pieces of each trip to the various sections of the Rockies.
Below are a couple good sites to use as references for your trip;
Look Here for some good info with a family that has done it - Then Here for some great Photos of the places you might want to visit.
An honest view of you Mission is it is Ambitious but doable - BUT - Big But Here - start out with the Really Good Stuff First! - Too many people start with the Hard the Hot first thinking that you need to divide the country into these neat easy sections. Really will not work like that, JMHO.
You being from Syracuse might be smart to start with some Mountains and cooler elevations first, then, possibly mix in a Little Southwest Heat. Everyone thinks they Know the Southwest Heat, but it is Really HOT, NO Really HOT, so a week of it is usually doable but you need to Cool Off, Before and After, Elevatio will help - Water will Help, but you need to be aware that it is HOT.
Next - Leave Cali for Last - Crowded - Traffic - did I mention Crowded with Traffic - As was mentioned WetSuit Cold all year round, want warm ocean Water go to Florida Keys. As great as the sights are in Cali they are just Too Crowded in the Summer.
Is the Mission just to Touch all the States? Thinking I see the need to be more Specific, and Likely give this a lot of thought. Maybe using the Rockies that Run from Glacier NP to Taos, NM. Use the Mountains to provide a Comfortable Fun week with a week or ten days into the lowlands heat before returning to cool back off. Just a Suggestion.
Learn about the States, Visit the States OR to have an Educational Vacation?
CampGrounds should be located IN the National Parks and State Parks that you visit - You will need to Learn to Boondock for a few days on Occasion. The PET will need to be Boarded - seriously - Pets Will/Does not work well in National Parks.
With a five Week trip - you will lose two weeks just Coming and Going - so the Plan needs to be detailed - I suggest you be much more Specific in the Locations you want to Visit - Then get a Wal*Mart Map Book and a colored marker to try to lay out the drive. Then Bing or Google the route to get a real feel for it in driving time - You will average much less than 50 MPH over the trip, no matter what the Map App says.
Think about the Classic Yellowstone/Tetons trip First - with BadLands and Mt Rushmore going out then South into a little of Utah - Flaming Gorge - Dino NM - Colorado NM - Moab - Arches - Canyonlands - maybe Maroon Bells and Marble, so you can meet Colorado - followed by an exit out on Both Sides of I-70 before heading Home. That will eat everybit of 5 Weeks.
Hope this is of some help, will follow as you get more specific.
Best of Luck,
