Newbies 1st Trip: Seattle / Salt Lake, any Pearls of Wisdom?

[Baron_Wrecktoft]

Greetings!

Wife and I are renting a Class C and journeying from Seattle, Washington to Salt Lake City. We will be on the road two full weeks.

We plan on driving over the Cascade Mountains and stopping for the night in Cle Elum to rest up.

Next we visit some friends in Pasco, Wasghington.

Next is Missoula, Montana to see more friends.

From there we go to Glacier National Park, Choteau, Montana, Yellowstone and then Grand Tetons.

This is our second RV trip. Our first was a weekender in a 40 foot pusher.

Does anyone care to share any Pearls of Wisdom with us?

Places to see, things to avoid, places to hide the bodies?

Best wishes,

Baron Wrectoftn

[2oldman]

Baron Wrecktoftn wrote:
places to hide the bodies?

You could leave one on the west side of Salt Lake and it will sink into the mud.

[Baron_Wrecktoft]

Thanks to all for the insights.

I guess I should share that the trip starts on September 21-October 5th.

[Roy_Lynne]

RV Park Reviews In case you haven't see this It is really helpful for finding places to stay.

A typical Class C gets about 8 MPG so us frugal folks try to stay at 60MPH just to save a bit of gas. And we rarely drive more than 5 hours a day, but the reason is we want to get off the road by 2 to find a place to stay and enjoy. But we are certainly the exception to the rule. You'll have a long hitch between Pasco and Missoula so you'll have a feel for how long you'll be comfortable driving after that. I think I would do the Tetons first, then Yellowstone and finally Glacier and then take Hwy 2 home. Surely by then the fires will be out and it's such a beautiful drive.

[ReneeG]

We usually drive no more than 6, max 7 hours in the course of a day and exceed no more than 55 or 60mph (to not only save gas but with trailer tires, the max speed is 65). We stop a lot, probably every couple of hours or when we see a rest stop, to stretch our legs and walk our dogs.

[Baron_Wrecktoft]

Will check out whispering pines.

How many miles is a typical day on a travel day?

What is an average MPH over and eight hours span when traveling?

[Roy_Lynne]

We like Whispering Pines in Cle Elem. You trip sounds fine, but like Renee said, you may want to cut out some of your list. I understand trying to see it all but your may want to see just one place well and leave the other places for another day. Also, since we are still knee deep in fires, being flexible is smart.

[Baron_Wrecktoft]

ReneeG,

Thanks for the advice about Cabbela's and Cracker Barrel.
Also the driving directions. We are using MapQuest so I will adjust the route.

[ReneeG]

Two weeks seems like a long time in planning a trip but when you're RV'ing it, it's not. Be flexible and take your time. Don't rush in order to make all your deadlines. We did that on one trip, and DH who was the primary driver, took naps at rest stops while I took care of the dogs and read. With all the fires in the West, be aware of closed roads so you can take alternates.

Keep lots of handy snacks to eat while driving for a quick pick me up, and plenty of beverages on hand. With your Class C, you've got what you need right at hand, but stop to enjoy your meals when en route. Don't be afraid to stop overnight at Cabbela's or Cracker Barrels, just be sure to ask the manager and buy something small as a thank you. Lock up and sleep well, then off on the next day's travel.

Avoid Teton Pass when leaving the Tetons - that's Hwy 22. A better, and safer route is to take 25/89 to Alpine Junction then 89 to Afton, from there you could go 89 into Logan through the Logan canyon, but it's a narrow, rough climb and trucks are advised to go 20mph, so instead from Montpelier take 89 to 30 into Wyoming to Kemmerer then 189 to West I-80 to I-84 then into Salt Lake City.