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Cross Country in the Spring

Gauke
Explorer
Explorer
Since we are house bound due to the frigid weather already here in November I am in the very beginning stage of planning a cross country trip for the early spring. We will be leaving from Eastern North Carolina hoping to get to Yellowstone and then come down through Utah and Arizona. From there we'll probably head through Texas on to NC. Am open for suggestions for routes, POI's, helpful hints, things/places to avoid, anything you can add to help me with the planning. There is so much to see that I know we can't possibly take it all in but we do want to see as much as possible. With that being said I don't want to be so exhausted by traveling that we can't enjoy the sites. Thanks so much for your help!
15 REPLIES 15

GraciesDaddy
Explorer
Explorer
+1 for swinging SOUTH on the first part of your journey.

"...It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin' down t' take a look at me!"

Can't say much more'n that.
Watch your tail swing... Keep the greasy side down and keep it 'tweeeeeeeeen the ditches, Y'all!

John E. Baker, III & Sally Baker - The Traveling Siblings!
Co-pilots: Llasah Lilly, Brown Daschie Chloe and Tuxedo Foots

trailertraveler
Explorer
Explorer
Gauke,

I also would recommend the Southern route first for a Spring Trip. while not a fan of the interstates, I-40 going West from North Carolina presents a lot of opportunities. East of the Mississippi there is the Knoxville, Sevierville, Pigion Forge, Gatlinburg area; Nashville; and Memphis. Continuing on West, Amarillo is good for an overnight with the Big Texan. Palo Duro Canyon is not too far to the South.

In New Mexico, there are a lot of things to see along the I-40 coridor including: Tucumcari, The Blue Hole, Mining Museum, El Malpais National Monument, El Moro National Monument, Pueblo Cultural Center, Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, Acoma Sky City, Pueblo Cultural Center, and Petroglyph National Monument.

Continuing West into Arizona, there is Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest National Park. You can stand on the corner in Winslow, AZ. In the Flagstaff area are Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument. South of Flagstaff in the Sedona/Cottonwood/Camp Verde Area are Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monuments, Tuzigoot National Monument, Palatki and Honaki Ruins, V-Bar-V Heritage Site, Verde Canyon Railroad, Fort Verde State Park, Cathedral Rock, Gold King Mine, and Jerome State Historic Park. The South Rim area of Grand Canyon National Park is not far North of I-40 and Williams, AZ.

For suggestions for places to see in Utah, read this topic.

Hope you have a Great trip!!!
Safe travels!
Trailertraveler

Gauke
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks so much everyone. I think I see two trips if I can talk my husband into it. We've got about 4-5 weeks mid April until Memorial Day and then 4-5 weeks at the end of July. Love the planning and the traveling but want to be sure to enjoy each day and arrive home nearly as rested as we were when we left.

Again, thanks so much for your ideas and invaluable help.

Gauke
Explorer
Explorer
My goodness. I think you folks have convinced me to take two trips, one in the spring to Arizona, etc. and one in late July to Yellowstone. Now to convince my husband. That will make being home for the major holidays and birthdays for our grand easier. ! I know - we shouldn't arrange our trips around those but ...

Thanks so much for all the helpful suggestions. I certainly will be heeding all advice as I get really busy planning.

TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Explorer
If traveling in the spring in Tornado Alley would suggest a weather radio. This is what we use Link
Tyrone & Gladys
27' 1986 Coachmen

mabynack
Explorer II
Explorer II
I made a similar trip a couple of years ago. I started in mid-May and I stopped in Hill City, SD and visited Custer state forest and Mount Rushmore. I went on to Cody WY and the Cody museum and Yellowstone. I then went over to Idaho and visited Grand Tetons National Park. I then dropped south to Zion and Bryce Canyon Parks and then on to Arches National Park. I spent three months on the road and still didn't see all the things I wanted to.

4runnerguy
Explorer
Explorer
If you need to be home by Memorial Day, I don't think I'd try to do Yellowstone at all but rather restrict the trip to NM, AZ, and southern Utah. Lots to see and do in those states at that time of year. Also, you can hit up the Ouachita's, Ozarks, etc. on your trip. Spring arrives there earlier than the mountains of UT and WY. Big Bend NP is worth the side trip if you're along I-10, although it gets pretty warm by late May.
Ken & Allison
2 Camping Cats (1 diabetic)
1996 4Runner, TRD Supercharger, Edelbrock headers
2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
4 mountain bikes, 1 canoe, 4 tents, 8 sleeping bags, 2 backpacks
(You get the idea!)

LeeOrlando2
Explorer
Explorer
Geez, I was considering the same trip as OP, buy now I'm thinking I should also do the southern route first. Difference here is I plan at least a year long trip but I want to be maybe around Phoenix for the winter. But I don't want to spend too much time in the south & California & be too late in the year to be in Wyoming, etc. That's my only "planning"...to be warm on the winter! LOL I just want to plan a general route & not have to be somewhere on a certain day.

My real question here is can anyone recommend a book, travel guide or iPhone App that will suggest routes? I want to know for instance...Is I-10 too far south & I-40 is better, or something else?? I have no idea as this is first time driving west of Alabama, since I always traveled by air! LOL
Appreciate any suggestions!

Lee
(Total Newbie)

Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Explorer
If you use Streets and Trips, click on the arrow next to "Road Map" on the top right and change it to "Terrain Map". Then click on the icon at the top for "Legend and Overview". That gives you Elevation in both meters and feet, according to the color for your area(s) of interest.
Kinston, NC is 44 feet Above Sea Level. Yellowstone is 7,733 feet above sea level. It get cold up there.
Retired and visiting as much of this beautiful country as I can.

Gauke
Explorer
Explorer
What great ideas! I will definitely reverse my route. I "think" we need to be home by Memorial Day thus the mid April departure date but things could change. 🙂 Six weeks is probably the limit of our time away from home but am tempted by the first two weeks in June!

Thanks so much for your help. I'm already working on your ideas and yes, Google is already my friend.

newk
Explorer
Explorer
CloudDriver wrote:
...My suggestion would be to reverse the sequence to head west across TX to AZ and UT and work your way north to arrive in Yellowstone at the end of May to early June....


X2!

Late May to early June is a great time to be in Yellowstone. It will still be cool and some roads may still be closed, but most will be open. Better weather will be later, but it won't be getting crowded until late June. Early June is really a beautiful time of year in Yellowstone with lots of baby elk, etc. The main roads going into the park don't usually open until mid-April, if even then.

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Explorer III
As I also stated in your other post, head south first and end north at Yellowstone. I wouldn't recommend northern Utah into Wyoming until mid to late May. June would be best.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

CloudDriver
Explorer
Explorer
Suggest you check out the official info for Yellowstone here. Most Park roads aren't open until sometime in May and some campgrounds don't open until June. My suggestion would be to reverse the sequence to head west across TX to AZ and UT and work your way north to arrive in Yellowstone at the end of May to early June.

We have been to Yellowstone and Grand Teton many times over the years and our favorite time is the first two weeks of June. BTW, we always take 8 weeks for the trip, as it's a long way just to get there and get back. Many folks do it in less time, but it's much more relaxed when there is plenty of time.
2003 Winnebago Minnie 24F - Ford E-450🙂

Dick_B
Explorer
Explorer
Seems like I just responded to a similar request. My answer is to do a Google search for `______ tourism' and put the State, City, area, etc. in the blank space and read what the experts have to recommend.

Just found a National Geographic Atlas `Adventure Series Road Atlas' that includes `scenic routes, historic sites, recreation information, and points of interest' all for about $20. Seems like just what you would want and all in one place.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two electric bikes (both Currie Tech Path+ models)