4+ months in the West

[PJ30]

Hi all,

If there are other threads I have missed please just redirect rather than reply. Thanks
==

We leave Augusta GA mid-April heading west via New Orleans - had to sacrifice NO in autumn 2015 trip after spending too long in New England and coming down the Appalachians - and have a fairly good idea of what and where we are going BUT need some insight into the seasons and impact of campground openings. We have a Coachmen Freelander 25'. I think the main Q is do we have to leave visiting Yosemite until June? It would make more sense route-wise to do it en route from Texas, New Mexico heading to San F and Oregon Coast but if the campgrounds are closed then we can come back west from the eastern side of the Rockies in late July or August. We travel quite slowly - averaged 86 miles per day on 90 days on east coast trip last year. Plan is to be back in Augusta by end August - ned to sell the RV then!

[PJ30]

padredw wrote:

Austin

If you are going to be in this part of Texas in April, you have a wonderful opportunity to visit Fredericksburg to see the Bluebonnets. Maybe you have a good reason to visit Austin, and there are many good possibilities for things to see there. On the other hand, it is one of my most dreaded cities to drive through, especially with an RV. In fact, I go far out of my way to avoid it on my visits to the Hill Country of Texas.

April is also a great time to visit "our part" of Texas--northeast around Tyler, Longview, Nacogdoches. We have some really nice state parks such as Tyler, Caddo, and Daingerfield--just to name a few.

You can make a visit to Texas a highlight of your trip and not just a necessary drive--and a long one at that.

I have a good bit of experience with your route from Augusta to Texas, so let me know if you have any questions about a specific area or stop along the way.

Many thanks, we love State Parks so they're definitely on the Can we include these? list 🙂 Austin - to be truthful its more a case of a ranch o/s Austin actually... But I do hear there's a supermarket that sells decent espresso coffee :))

[Lauren]

4runnerguy is always good for solid information. I agree with him once again.

And, having done it a few times I would also suggest going south - definitely, if you have a choice.

[padredw]

Austin

If you are going to be in this part of Texas in April, you have a wonderful opportunity to visit Fredericksburg to see the Bluebonnets. Maybe you have a good reason to visit Austin, and there are many good possibilities for things to see there. On the other hand, it is one of my most dreaded cities to drive through, especially with an RV. In fact, I go far out of my way to avoid it on my visits to the Hill Country of Texas.

April is also a great time to visit "our part" of Texas--northeast around Tyler, Longview, Nacogdoches. We have some really nice state parks such as Tyler, Caddo, and Daingerfield--just to name a few.

You can make a visit to Texas a highlight of your trip and not just a necessary drive--and a long one at that.

I have a good bit of experience with your route from Augusta to Texas, so let me know if you have any questions about a specific area or stop along the way.

[PJ30]

Exciting! 2nd draft legs 1 - 2 Augusta to Vancouver done: 71 days, 7,130 miles Leg 1 Augusta to San Fran via Athens, Montgomery, Selma, New Orleans, Austin, Albuquerque, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, San Francisco; Leg 2: SF to Vancouver via Yosemite NP, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon NP, Arches NP, Boulder, Colorado, Black Hills NP, Yellowstone, Calgary and Western Canada, Vancouver.

Exactly 71 days left for our return to Augusta by end August. Need a minimum of 36 days (at our pace) so about 5 weeks free to extend stays / include new places.. :))

Let's hope the RV is in good shape by the end - it's up for sale then!

Thanks for all contributions - received and to come

Paul

[PJ30]

Ok many thanks all. Here's what I have so far: 1st draft 1st leg itinerary: 32 days, 3,400 miles Augusta to San Fran via Montgomery, New Orleans, Austin, Albuquerque, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Salt Lake City, SF 19 days driving, 13 days non-driving

[PJ30]

mkl654321 wrote:
Yosemite in spring is fantastic. The waterfalls are at their peak then--in good snow years, which it seems will include the current season, April and June are great as well. Early April can be chilly.

The confusion about snow and ice is that heavy winter snowfall can affect the opening dates of campgrounds on the Tioga Road and the Glacier Point road, which when they are open, serve as overflow campgrounds for the Valley and are beautiful destinations in their own right. Also, if Tioga Pass isn't open (Memorial Day is the usual target date), park access from the east isn't possible. The other access roads are at much lower elevations and are clear year-round. Hwy 140 is the easiest.

I don't know if you have much of a shot at finding a campsite in the Valley this late in the game, but try the private campgrounds just outside the Valley on Hwy 140. There are also a couple of small, primitive Forest Service campgrounds along the Merced river (also on 140) that are rarely booked up, even though they are pretty close to the Park.

Thanks that clarifies

[ORbiker]

4runnerguy wrote:

ORbiker wrote:
Pick up some tire chains for the rig. It's the law to at least carry them and sometimes you must use them.

Could you please give some insight on this? Is there a certain time frame where this applies? Is there a certain weight class of vehicles that this applies to or is to everyone? Here in CO, they finally started to require good tires or 4x4 on passenger vehicles but chain law still only applies to trucks. Thanks any info you can provide for our future reference.

Oregon Chain Laws

Even if you don't need then, all vehicles must carry chains.
ODOT:" You must have chains or traction tires in or on your vehicle and they must be the right size for your vehicle and of sufficient number to comply with the Minimum Chain Requirements."

[mkl654321]

Yosemite in spring is fantastic. The waterfalls are at their peak then--in good snow years, which it seems will include the current season, April and June are great as well. Early April can be chilly.

The confusion about snow and ice is that heavy winter snowfall can affect the opening dates of campgrounds on the Tioga Road and the Glacier Point road, which when they are open, serve as overflow campgrounds for the Valley and are beautiful destinations in their own right. Also, if Tioga Pass isn't open (Memorial Day is the usual target date), park access from the east isn't possible. The other access roads are at much lower elevations and are clear year-round. Hwy 140 is the easiest.

I don't know if you have much of a shot at finding a campsite in the Valley this late in the game, but try the private campgrounds just outside the Valley on Hwy 140. There are also a couple of small, primitive Forest Service campgrounds along the Merced river (also on 140) that are rarely booked up, even though they are pretty close to the Park.

[RandMcSam]

PJ30 wrote:
And does anyone know of an online route planner that includes Canada as well as USA? I like the Rand McNally one but it stops on the border.. 😞

Hello,

Yes! You may use TripMaker.RandMcNally.com to plan your trip between Canada and USA. Create a free-login and begin planning.

Thanks!
RandMcSam

[4runnerguy]

ORbiker wrote:
Pick up some tire chains for the rig. It's the law to at least carry them and sometimes you must use them.

Could you please give some insight on this? Is there a certain time frame where this applies? Is there a certain weight class of vehicles that this applies to or is to everyone? Here in CO, they finally started to require good tires or 4x4 on passenger vehicles but chain law still only applies to trucks. Thanks any info you can provide for our future reference.

[ORbiker]

I'll second the idea to go south on the Oregon Coast Highway (101). Crossing the highway to get to the pull-off on the ocean side is taking your life in your hands.

GO SOUTH.

Don't forget to do Crater Lake NP. It's jaw dropping beautiful. There will be snow till July, but the south entrance is almost always open.

Pick up some tire chains for the rig. It's the law to at least carry them and sometimes you must use them.

Safe travels

[PJ30]

And does anyone know of an online route planner that includes Canada as well as USA? I like the Rand McNally one but it stops on the border.. 😞

[PJ30]

4runnerguy wrote:

PJ30 wrote:
Our planning is at the stage of do we go clockwise to Seattle from San F or anti-clockwise? (For personal reasons we need to do San F by late April/mid-May.

While there may be other reasons to go the opposite direction, I've always found that heading south along the coast is best. You're on the ocean side of the highway and it's much easier to get into the scenic pull offs along the way.

You may find yourself doing something other than a loop (maybe a figure 8?) as some places (like Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Yellowstone, Mt. Rainer and Yosemite) are best done in June or later, while other places like Zion, Arches, Big Bend(?) are definitely better in the mid to late spring (think April). Can get pretty hot in June and July in So. Utah.

Maybe if you have to be in SF April/May, do the Utah parks on the way out to SF, then turn back, do the Grand Canyon, then north to CO, up through WY and MT, over to Seattle and the coast, then south along the coast at least all the way through OR. Head inland somewhere in CA and visit Yosemite, Mt. St. Helens, Redwoods, Crater Lake (OR), etc. Up to Tahoe, back across UT and CO and head back to GA.

Thanks! We had almost come to the 8 shape ourselves albeit for different reasons and in a different direction. Having driven the Skyline and Blue ridgeway in Fall the access to pull offs sounds a brilliant idea! I will plug those changes into our route planner.

[4runnerguy]

PJ30 wrote:
Our planning is at the stage of do we go clockwise to Seattle from San F or anti-clockwise? (For personal reasons we need to do San F by late April/mid-May.

While there may be other reasons to go the opposite direction, I've always found that heading south along the coast is best. You're on the ocean side of the highway and it's much easier to get into the scenic pull offs along the way.

You may find yourself doing something other than a loop (maybe a figure 8?) as some places (like Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Yellowstone, Mt. Rainer and Yosemite) are best done in June or later, while other places like Zion, Arches, Big Bend(?) are definitely better in the mid to late spring (think April). Can get pretty hot in June and July in So. Utah.

Maybe if you have to be in SF April/May, do the Utah parks on the way out to SF, then turn back, do the Grand Canyon, then north to CO, up through WY and MT, over to Seattle and the coast, then south along the coast at least all the way through OR. Head inland somewhere in CA and visit Yosemite, Mt. St. Helens, Redwoods, Crater Lake (OR), etc. Up to Tahoe, back across UT and CO and head back to GA.