First Time Across Country to Grand Canyon

[VA_Family]

We are a family of four and we have had a used A class Warrior RV about a year now and have taken 4 -5 weekend trips. Our goal was to do this to learn "how camp in a RV" in preparation to drive across country this summer. Our trip begins in VA and we want to go through Mansfield, MO to Laura Ingalls Wilders home and Independence, KS. The next stops would be the Mesa Verde, Antelope Canyon, Wahweap and then down towards the Grand Canyon. We are thinking about returning back home using "Rte 66" with a stop in Memphis.
We have about two weeks to complete this journey and I know it will be hot (don't have much of a choice with school and work) in August. I have been using Roadtrippers.com to build an itinerary. Here are some concerns/questions that we have:
1. Do we take our dog (Basenj/19 lbs/'8 years old)? I know the Grand Canyon Railway RV park has kennels for the day. Has anyone used them? Have you left the dog in the RV with generator running the a/c while at a sightseeing stop that doesn't allow pets? We do have a cat but we are thinking of leaving her with Grandma! She likes to escape out of the RV.
2. Best RV area for Grand Canyon..little concerned about no hook ups at National Parks and if they run out of sites. Railroad RV park/Bedrock Flintstone RV park/Sedona/Flagstaff..not sure which one to pick. We would like to do an afternoon a Slide Rock.
3. Not much to stop at between Independence, KS and Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde..Any suggestions for roads, how far to drive a day, campgrounds. Also we are used to driving in mountains. Gas mileage stinks and takes us longer than by car of course Do you make better time in the midwest? How many miles can you average a day (thinking no more than 8 hrs a day on some stretches without stops, may be unrealistic)?
4. Any must see stops driving back east? We are thinking Petrified forest, Cadillac Ranch, Memphis.
I am sure there is something that I am forgetting to ask.

[trailertraveler]

As others have said, two weeks is not a lot of time for a trip ofso many miles. West of Memphis, there is a lot to see along I-40. In Amarillo, there is Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the Big Texan on Old Route 66. In New Mexico, Tucumcari still has dinners along Historic Route 66 and numerous murals painted on buildings plus other attractions like the foundary and dinosaur museum at the college. Santa Rosa is another Route 66 town and has the The Blue Hole and Santa Rosa Lake State Park which has a nice campground. In Albuquerque, the Pueblo Cultural Center and Petroglyph National Monument are worth visiting in my opinion. In Grants, there is the Mining Museum. Just South of I-40 going West from Grants are El Malpais National Monument, El Moro National Monument and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. Acoma Sky City is said to be the longest occuppied location in the U.S. They give tours of the pueblo and there is an RV park next to the casino. Homolovi Ruins State Park is near Winslow where you can stand on the corner. Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest National Park are not far from the Arizona/New Mexico border.

In the Flagstaff area are Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument. Sedona/Camp Verde/Cottonwood are about an hour South of Flagstaff with 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, Jerome State Historic Park in the area.

All this before you even get to the Grand Canyon.

[broy]

In 2010 I did the trip to the Grand Canyon from Georgia in a 30' class C with 3 adults, 4 dogs, and 3 cats. It was a great trip, took 15 days. Our main goal was the Grand Canyon and staying in Williams at Grand Canyon railway RV park and riding the train for the day to the South Rim.

We left Georgia and spent the 1st night in Nashville, TN., and then spent the next couple of long days making our way to Williams AZ. Several days were spent in Williams, which by the way is right on route 66. 1 day we took the train, go upgraded in parlor class if you can, and kenneled the dogs there. We are not people that will usually kennel dogs ever, but this was an exception. The kennel was first class in my opinion, both in cleanliness and service. The rest of the time the dogs were with us in the motor home. No issues running and keeping cool at stops when needed with the generator. We did not tow an additional vehicle on our trip.

Other places visited, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon (Must see), Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Sunset Crater Volcano, Winpikia, and meteor crater while in the Williams area. Coming back we stopped in Hot Springs, Arkansas for a couple of days and visited Diamond Crater Park as well.

It was a great trip, plan it out and have a good time. I would suggest in getting out there, and exploring from there to capitalize on the time you have. Godspeed, Brian

[linnemj]

Have you made any Campground reservations yet? Most National Parks fill up early. You can try for first come sites but need to arrive by 11 AM to have the best chance to snag a site.

I try to limit our driving to 400 miles a day. We average 50 mph with stops do that is a 8 hour day.

[2gypsies1]

RE: the dog... keep in mind that you want to also go to Antelope Canyon, Mesa Verde (& I assume taking a ranger tour to get the full history), Slide Rock and probably others along your trip. The dog will be left behind for hours. Plus, being in the car for long traveling days and the hot days. I would think you and your dog would enjoy the trip better if Fido stayed with grandma. 🙂

[RGar974417]

I would take I-64 to Missouri. Then I-44 to I -40. Missouri State parks are nice so if you're near any I would stay at one.We also liked Circle Pines KOA in Williams.They have indoor pool and hot tubs.We always take our dog.No problem leaving them in the RV with A/C on but I would leave some windows cracked in case of power failure. At Circle Pines you're parked under tall pine trees so your rig won't be in full sun.You can,(or at least could when we went 20 years ago )take your dog to the Grand Canyon.We walked him around while we were there.

[BB_TX]

I agree with above about time. You are looking at something nearing 5,000 miles round trip, or an average of near 350 miles per day. That is about 7 hours on the road daily counting stops for food, fuel, and to stretch you legs. That is OK for a day or two, but not for 2 weeks. And if you spend a full day at any one place sightseeing, those 350 miles for each day of non travel have to be made up on another travel day. Otherwise, sounds like a great trip.

[BobR]

Leave the dog at a kennel or with Grandma. Even if the dog has been great during local trips, they can get very stressed traveling on a tight schedule over two weeks.

Regarding the trip, is there someone with more time off that could drive the MH out there and the ones on a tighter schedule fly? That would give you all more time to enjoy the trip. Personally, traveling more than 200 miles a day can become a real grind after a week.

[VA_Family]

wanderingdawgs, We are a family who likes to travel. One of our best trips was driving a jeep to Key West, camped at Long Key, and we never spent more than 2-3 nights at one place. Yes we did spend a lot of time in the car but you are right about the memories.

[djsamuel]

+1 on Trailer Village in the Grand Canyon. About a half mile from the rim, bus service to the visitor center, and lots of elk, deer and more though the park. Trailer Village has full hookups, while Mathers is a smaller campground that does not have hookups and is mainly for tents.

[VA_Family]

Thanks for the reality checks. We are probably going to exceed the 2 weeks for sure. There are way too many places we want to see. We already had to cut our original trip that included Mount Rushmore into the next trip. Time and money are always getting in our way!~Ha. Our thoughts were we would do a lot of the driving out there without a lot of stops until we get to Colorado. We will miss our pets but it sounds like it may be too difficult. I remember visiting the Memphis river walk as a teen and want my kids to see it. Probably will have to return another time to really see Memphis but thought it would be a great one night stop.

[wanderingdawgs]

Yes, it can be done in two weeks. Even though you will be doing a lot of driving you will make memories that will last a lifetime. My favorite family vacation with our kids was a 2 week trip from Georgia to the Grand Canyon in 1985 in a Toyota mini van. We stayed in motels until we got to the Grand Canyon and tent camped for three nights once we got there. On the way there we were able to see Albuquerque and the Petrified Forest. We stopped at overlooks along the rim and hiked on the Bright Angel Trail. On our way home we made really quick stops at Carlsbad Caverns, New Orleans and Ft. Walton Beach. Was it worth the 5288 miles we drove? Absolutely! I agree with 2gypsies. Go for it! You won't regret it.

[RoyB]

Assuming you are taking I40 across... Be sure to find one of the off shoot roads near Flagstaff and get your pictures taken next to one of the ROUTE 66 road signs...

I could spend two weeks in the Flagstaff area and not even get cloes to the Grand canyon haha... Too much to see and do out that way...

One of my favorite spots is the WUPATKI Indian ruins loop and one spot is where you can climb up on top and then look back towards the East near sunset. All of the colors of the Painted Desert will be visible then...

If you do end up staying over nite in Flagstaff be mindfull that the railroad that runs through there is a Major East-West railroad and there will be a train with very loud whistles about every five minutes all night long.. Try to find a camp spot away from the railroads if you can..

Roy Ken

[TyroneandGladys]

Leave the cat take the dog. The Williams Circle Pines KOA has on site dog walking service available.
More and more parks offer that service.

[2gypsies1]

VA Family wrote:
We are a family of four and we have had a used A class Warrior RV about a year now and have taken 4 -5 weekend trips. Our goal was to do this to learn "how camp in a RV" in preparation to drive across country this summer.

You've used your RV for 4-5 short trips. You're already prepared for a long one. 🙂 Just think of 4 short ones hooked together. No different.

1. Do we take our dog (Basenj/19 lbs/'8 years old)?

You'll have a more enjoyable trip without the dog. No, I wouldn't use a generator for AC while you're gone.

2. Best RV area for Grand Canyon..little concerned about no hook ups at National Parks and if they run out of sites.

Trailer Village RV in Grand Canyon NP is the very best place to stay. The free shuttle stops right there. Mather campground in the park has shade so it really wouldn't be that hot. The nights will cool down dramatically - will need a blanket!

If 2 weeks is all you have it's better than not seeing these places at all. Go for it!

However, I'd highly suggest you head straight for Grand Canyon if that's your main objective. Do what you want around that small circle - Slide Rock (start very early in the morning to make it a day trip from Grand Canyon), Antelope Canyon - you'd need to move to Page, AZ. It's too far from Grand Canyon for a day trip. There are also some wonderful Indian ruins in the Flagstaff area.

By then, you'll probably have to hightail it home. Save any Midwest stuff for another trip.

[Allworth]

If you do include Memphis; stay at Tom Sawyer in West Memphis, Arkansas, and drive into town.

Sitting on the bank of the Mississippi relaxing and watching the river traffic go up and down is worth the inconvenience of being on the West side.