Roundtrip PA to CA in the fall??

[janene]

We're visiting family on the Central Coast of CA, starting in Harrisburg area of PA. Have 5 weeks to make the round trip. Figure 2 weeks to get there, 1 week stay, 2 weeks to return. Traveling in a Class C (brand new, we're beginners) with 4 dogs and 2 birds. Start mid October and return just before Thanksgiving. Weather is a concern (for the birds), and pet friendly locations. Very open to a route but figure it would have to be southern for the weather. Would be great if we could mix it up and not just retrace our route coming back. Just want an interesting trip to get to know our RV. It will be our 4th outing in the new RV. Any suggested routes and stops? Maybe also, things to absolutely avoid?

Janene in PA

[hhornig]

I will tell you the worst trip we ever had was from Gallup to Flagstaff on I-40 around Thanksgiving. That was driving in a whiteout. Go ahead and take it, but be prepared to hold up until storms are over and roads are cleared. My choice would take the southern route.

[oldchief7155]

I would call ahead about the dogs before planning a nightly stop. Most if not all limit number and breeds.

I would personally take I-10 to CA and back to avoid chances of snow.

[tatest]

No experience in the Rockies or west that time of year, but 30+ years of holiday trips from Oklahoma to Michigan have made me wary about late fall travel on the Great Plains and across the Corn Belt and into the Great Lakes states, it is not unusual for the first big winter storm to fall around Thanksgiving. Anywhere from I-70 north it might be snowing, to the extent of blizzard whiteout conditions, and from I-40 north ice storms can be on the menu that early. South of that, usually just severe thunderstorm systems, Texas to Georgia.

This is from the same set of conditions that make the region "Tornado Alley" in warmer weather, Arctic air masses pushing at warm, wet air from the Gulf of Mexico.

Or it could be clear and dry, or these storms might be thunderstorms with lots of rain, or even late season tornadoes. You need flexibility in your schedule in case you need wait out a storm system or move slowly behind it as it moves west to east across the middle of the country.

What experience I have earlier in the fall, across the Rockies and Colorado Plateau, is that campgrounds and even some commercial RV parks start closing for the season, as snowbird volunteer staffing, and park owners, head south in late September to the end of October. You should still find places open, but choices narrow.

[janene]

I enjoy having a theme and there is evidently SO MUCH written about Route 66, I've ordered a few guides and will definitely try to explore that for at least part of the route. Thanks

[fanrgs]

If Colorado weather doesn't cooperate on your way west, one of the "adventures" in using at least part of I-40 instead of I-70 is "Route 66". From about Oklahoma City west to California, I-40 parallels old US 66, if you are interested in that sort of 20th Century history. There are many little towns along the way that have preserved and even restored gas stations, motels, restaurants, neon signs, and other relics of "The Mother Road." These are particularly interesting sites in places like Elk City (OK), Amarillo, Tucumcari, Albuquerque, Holbrook, Winslow, and Flagstaff. In Holbrook, you can even see the "Wigwam Motel" (teepees) pictured in the Disney movie "Cars". For ideas, take a look at: http://www.historic66.com/description/.

[msmith1199]

I'm not afraid of snow myself Janene, but I would never intentionally drive my motorhome into snowing conditions in the mountains. Even with chains it's just not a safe place for a larger single axle drive axle vehicle. But I have gone into the mountains during the snow season and I just keep an eye on the weather and never had a problem. I've gone over I-80 when the snow was six feet deep on the side of the road, but as long as it isn't currently snowing they get I-80 plowed and cleared in just a couple of hours.

[janene]

fanrgs, thanks so much for such specifics. I was hoping to get that kind of information when I made my query. I'll to lay it all out.
mssmith1199, we ARE afraid of snow, my husband being from FL and me, originally from CA. I appreciate the info on planning for snow. really, thanks

[msmith1199]

People often get worried about snow in the mountains and it is definitely something to be concerned with. But some of you east coasters get used to rapidly changing weather conditions like you get back there, and that doesn't happen so much in the mountains of the west. Or I should say yes, the weather can change fast, but the change is highly predictable.

Snow in the mountains almost always comes from storm fronts that come in from the North. That means the weather man can tell you days in advance whether it's going to be storming or not in the mountains. The time of year you will be traveling is still fall. Although there is a chance of snow that time of year, you'll be able to watch the weather reports and know if it's coming or not. So you can always plan to take a mountain route, and if the weather man says there is a storm on the way, then just change your plans and head south.

[fanrgs]

Your trip will be too late in the fall to stay in any Forest Service campgrounds in Colorado--they will be closed. You can stay at Colorado state park campgrounds, however, which have 30/50A electricity (so heat and light for the animals) and are pet-friendly. But if you don't have time to sightsee, there may not be much point in visiting Colorado.

If you do have a little time to see sights, I would suggest taking I-70 to Limon, Colorado, then US 24 to Colorado Springs. Stay at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, then take CO 115 to Canon City. You will join US 50 there and can take it through the Arkansas River canyon (Royal Gorge) and over Monarch Pass to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Ridgway State Park between Montrose and Ouray has very nice electric-only or full-hookup sites for $22 to $24/night. Then travel CO 62 and CO 145 to Telluride, Dolores, and Cortez, with a stop at Mesa Verde NP. From there you can travel US 160 to Tuba City, AZ, and the Grand Canyon, then I-40 to Hoover Dam and possibly Las Vegas, as suggested previously.

You may run into a little snow on Monarch and Lizard Head Passes, Cerro Summit, and Dallas Divide. But that time of the year, you should be able to drive any of them without problems the day after the snow falls because road crews have to keep these routes open all year. And you may get some spectacular photos of the Collegiate Range and the San Juans if they have a fresh coat of snow and the bright sun and blue skies that usually accompany clearing weather.

If you can't wait out a storm, head south from wherever you are (or west from Ridgway toward Moab, UT) and you should avoid any problems. But I would only visit Colorado on your way west, not on the return trip in November or you may see more snow on the passes than you really want to see.

On your return trip in November, I-40 around Flagstaff could have snow due to its high elevation (7,000 ft.). You might try I-10 through Phoenix and Tucson, as that is about the time of the year that many "snowbird" RVers arrive there. If you go that route, we suggest that you try one of our favorites--the Butterfield RV Park in Benson, AZ--and sign up for their nighttime telescope viewing session.

Depending on the weather, from Las Cruces, NM you could head north on I-25 to I-40 at Albuquerque or stay on I-10 through El Paso. In Texas, you can work your way north from I-10 onto I-20 to I-30 to I-40 in Arkansas and finally to I-81 in Tennessee. That will keep you south as long as possible along a relatively straight route. There are also a number of well-maintained Texas state parks that have electrical hookups along those Interstates at Monahans, Big Spring, Colorado City, south of Abilene, Mineral Wells, Mt. Pleasant, and south of Texarkana. In Arkansas, Lake Catherine State Park is 12 miles north of I-30 near Hot Springs and is a beautiful, forested, classic CCC-built campground with full hookups for as little as $19/night (with 30A electricity).

However, no matter which way you go, you will see some great scenery. So, have fun planning your trip and traveling in your new RV!

[janene]

We're experienced travelers with dogs. Not so much with the birds, temperature control is an issue for them. We had a VW camping van in the 80s in a pop up camper for a few years before getting the Class C. We are limited to 5 weeks because that's how much vacation my husband has (he's not retired yet). We're visiting my 88 year old mother in CA and her wish was to see the entire "crew" and this is the timeframe we could do. We love traveling with our animals...it's pretty much a lifestyle at the point of having 4 dogs. We've always managed to find campgrounds. Have done 70 several times when just pushing it to get somewhere. Was hoping this would be a little more leisurely although not enough time to really sightsee.

[brooks379]

At that time of year I would stay out of Colorado because of the mountains and chances of snow. I would work my way to I 40 and go to the Grand Canyon and then Hoover Dam, Las Vegas. Then go into CA and play in the sun for awhile and head back home.

[Dick_B]

At the end of this trip you will either be sold on the RVing lifestyle or will be putting it up for sale and/or hiring divorce lawyers!
My rule is that we have to stay in an area for a longer period than it takes to get there. This trip violates that rule big time.
Suggest Southwest Airlines.

[the_bear_II]

Most private campgrounds have a limit of 2 medium or smaller sized dogs.

[midnightsadie]

leave the dogs and birds home!!! or your gonna have five weeks of hell.I no of no CG thats gonna let you in. have a safe trip.