Planning for The Grand Teton/Yellowstone Trip

[RUSSELL5000]

I am in the planning stages for a trip west from Northwestern Pennsylvania in the summer of 2015. Route will be out to South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and back. Idea is to see the Badlands in South Dakota, Black Hills, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and then return - a little over seven weeks. I have the campground reservations made. I am working my way through many other thoughts now. Some questions for those with more experience than this newby:

(1) I see that there are route "guidebooks": the Next Exit, the Good Sam RV Road Atlas, the Mountain directory, etc. Knowing when the next rest area is (we usually stop and eat lunch at a rest area), where the next station is that one can easily get around in to get fuel, etc., seems invaluable to me. What are others using - what have you found best, what do you recommend?

(2) What are others using for emergency road service - do you use one of the Good Sam offerings, do you use another plan, what have you found is best?

(3) I have blocking, a jack, safety triangles and flares, and 12V air compressor. I have a four foot 3/4" drive breaker bar, extensions, and sockets for lug nuts, as well as a 3/4" drive torque wrench for reinstallation. I have put together a couple of bags of tools should something go wrong with the travel trailer. What other "emergency gear" do you think I should carry?


There will be emergency gear in the travel trailer - hydration packs, water filtration, emergency food, first aid supplies, water, fire starting kit, etc. A emergency satellite beacon will be along (we take it for hiking).

Cell phones will be along. I wonder about a NOAA weather radio.

Would you recommend any other type o emergency gear based on your experience?


Thank you all.

[RUSSELL5000]

We are quite the newbies, and so we have tried to keep the path on this trip to the interstate.

We will be at a campground near Custer, SD and from there we will want to go to Devil’s Tower in WY.

Has anyone taken US 16 west out of Custer, SD and then WY 585 north to the intersection with I-90? This looks like a route which will pose no problem for a truck and travel trailer rig, but wondered if I am missing something.

I assume US 14 north from I-90 to Devil’s Tower poses no problem for a truck and travel trailer rig – looks straightforward.

Thanks!

[littlemo]

stew47 wrote:
Lol it's ok. Three weeks is what I've got and I'm working on planning. I'll be back and I retire in 11 years then I'll really be back 🙂
7/10/2015 dover oh to sugarcreek campground 344 mile
7/11/2015 sugarcreek camp to timberline camp waukee ia 441 mile
7/12/2015 Timberline to lake Maloney ne 403 miles
7/13/2015 Lake Maloney to rock springs wy 479 miles
7/14/2015 Rock spring to colter bay
7/15/2015 colter bay
7/16/2015 colter bay
7/17/2015 leave colter bay arrive fishing bridge
7/18/2015 fishing bridge
7/19/2015 fishing bridge
7/20/2015 fishing bridge
7/21/2015 fishing bridge
7/22/2015 leave fishing bridge arrive glacier national
7/23/2015 glacier national
7/24/2015 glacier national
7/25/2015 glacier national
7/26/2015 leave glacer national arrive at
7/27/2015 Leave..... Arrive at devil tower Kia
7/28/2015
7/29/2015
7/30/2015
7/31/2015 arrive dover

That will be a awesome trip! Have a great time! You'll want to go back many time.

[Lauren]

Good idea, stew47, IMHO

[stew47]

Lauren here's my post


http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28135857/srt/pa/pging/1/page/2.cfm

I started it so I wouldn't take the original poster thread. Thanks for your replies....I'll pm

[Lauren]

No, I gave him my opinion about all the miles and time factor. But then I told him he has to take it all in and do what he feels is him.

Some people claim they have seen the Grand Canyon by giving it a half day at the NR. No, they have been there; not seen it. Others spend days many times at the SR and still say they have not seen it - me, for example.

It has to be, in the final analysis, what their interests and life style and all other factors are.

We here just give them opinions and suggestions and, God only knows how much we all see things differently.

And the posts here started addressing two different people and their trips and interests. stew47 - glacier is outstanding and maybe you should start a new posting on it. There are two sections of it and you want to be on the east for hiking. Been there several times; you can email me, PM me or start the new post or go on Search on here for all kinds of info. You definitely want more time there.

[stew47]

Lol it's ok. Three weeks is what I've got and I'm working on planning. I'll be back and I retire in 11 years then I'll really be back 🙂
7/10/2015 dover oh to sugarcreek campground 344 mile
7/11/2015 sugarcreek camp to timberline camp waukee ia 441 mile
7/12/2015 Timberline to lake Maloney ne 403 miles
7/13/2015 Lake Maloney to rock springs wy 479 miles
7/14/2015 Rock spring to colter bay
7/15/2015 colter bay
7/16/2015 colter bay
7/17/2015 leave colter bay arrive fishing bridge
7/18/2015 fishing bridge
7/19/2015 fishing bridge
7/20/2015 fishing bridge
7/21/2015 fishing bridge
7/22/2015 leave fishing bridge arrive glacier national
7/23/2015 glacier national
7/24/2015 glacier national
7/25/2015 glacier national
7/26/2015 leave glacer national arrive at
7/27/2015 Leave..... Arrive at devil tower Kia
7/28/2015
7/29/2015
7/30/2015
7/31/2015 arrive dover

[2gypsies1]

Lauren wrote:

stew47 - I think only you can decide whether you have enough time. I like to spend the day walking; so, it takes me a long, long time to see anything. You'll note comments on this thread to the effect that I have way too much time in Yellowstone and/or Grand Teton. I think I could pend all summer in Yellowstone and have only begun.

Other folks like to go, have a look, and move on. So, three for four days at a park would be plenty.

Only you know what is right for you.

I sure think the 50 mile per hour average for planning travel is good.

I think he is truly right - there is a lot said there. EACH PERSON has to decide how much time to meet his personal interests. That is the bottom line to so many of the posts on here.

We like to take our time - what the heck else we got to to? Retired is great. But not everyone has that luxury. We did not when I was working but, toward the end of my career, I was getting 6 weeks vacation. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh! And took every day of it! But, early on, we only got two weeks and did what we could.

And yes, 50 mph for planning is good.

Be safe - enjoy.

Lauren, you're confusing the poor guy. This is what you told him earlier:

"stew47.....that would be pushing it and not much time to see things except thru the windshield"

[Lauren]

stew47 - I think only you can decide whether you have enough time. I like to spend the day walking; so, it takes me a long, long time to see anything. You'll note comments on this thread to the effect that I have way too much time in Yellowstone and/or Grand Teton. I think I could pend all summer in Yellowstone and have only begun.

Other folks like to go, have a look, and move on. So, three for four days at a park would be plenty.

Only you know what is right for you.

I sure think the 50 mile per hour average for planning travel is good.

I think he is truly right - there is a lot said there. EACH PERSON has to decide how much time to meet his personal interests. That is the bottom line to so many of the posts on here.

We like to take our time - what the heck else we got to to? Retired is great. But not everyone has that luxury. We did not when I was working but, toward the end of my career, I was getting 6 weeks vacation. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh! And took every day of it! But, early on, we only got two weeks and did what we could.

And yes, 50 mph for planning is good.

Be safe - enjoy.

[minn_camping_fa]

We are thinking of a Yellowstone/Grand Teton/quick Black Hills visit trip as well this July, only we probably will not be taking our TT due to having limited time (just under 2 weeks).

One thing you didn't mention, and it is a safety item, is sunscreen. The sun is extremely strong in YNP/GTNP due to the elevation. When we were there we got slightly burnt even when using it (not enough of it obviously).

Since you're flatlanders like us, be sure to drink alot of water to stay hydrated, it helps prevent altitude sickness. Although if you're planning on some time in the Black Hills first that will help you acclimate.

[RUSSELL5000]

stew47 - I think only you can decide whether you have enough time. I like to spend the day walking; so, it takes me a long, long time to see anything. You'll note comments on this thread to the effect that I have way too much time in Yellowstone and/or Grand Teton. I think I could pend all summer in Yellowstone and have only begun.

Other folks like to go, have a look, and move on. So, three for four days at a park would be plenty.

Only you know what is right for you.

I sure think the 50 mile per hour average for planning travel is good.

[TyroneandGladys]

Have the Good Sam's Road Side Service and recommend it highly. Over the last 5 years we have called them twice to tow one of other vehicles and called them twice on the RV. They towed the RV once. Then this year in West Virginia during the 4th of July we lost the brake lights and rear turn signals they guided me through trouble shooting and when that failed they sent a mobile mechanic out would found the problem and my cost, since I had fuses and light bulbs and the mechanics first hour of labor was included in his service fee my cost was ZERO.

[skyflyer]

I don't know your time frame just be aware of the Sturgis motorcycle rally. They expect 1 million visitors this year. They will start arriving the last week of July with the rally being the first week of August.

[CansasKamper]

Our family is also thinking of a Teton/Yellowstone trip probably June of 2015. We have two kids (6&7) and are primarily interested in the main attractions as well as wildlife viewing and maybe some small hikes(kids). Traveling from Kansas using our minivan with small popup. My questions involve the best scenic route to take to and from? (may do Black Hills/Mt. Rushmore on the way home) Good places to overnight on the way up and back? Best places to stay in Teton and Yellowstone?(Thinking Canyon for Yellowstone?) Good hikes or attractions to do with kids? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[stew47]

Yea I'm lucky to get three weeks off at same time. Gotta make due. I wanna see things not just through windshield but we don't raft. My boys are 8 and 11. I'm a worried dad. We do like to hike. That's moms private time with wine and peace/quiet! I've got 7 months to plan and make work... Well not really that long I know I've got to get some reservations in. I don't really plan on having all days reserved though....winging it can be fun.