Southwest National Parks in November
I have a great opportunity to travel the Southwest this November (launching from Colorado Springs, CO). I will have about three weeks of vacation time and was thinking of touring the Southwest US f...
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I just completed a visit to 10 national parks/monuments in December 2015. I was glad I went that time of year. Very few people in Utah, and the scenery is even better improved by the contrast of a little snow.
In Utah, all the federal and state parks were open, none of the private parks were open. Kodachrome Basin's full-hookup sites were available, and the water was still on.
In California's Death Valley, the private parks were open and busy. The federal parks were moderately full... that was Christmas weekend
In Arizona's South Rim, the private park was open, the federal park was open, water was shut off. VERY BUSY, just after Xmas weekend. As I left South Rim, the traffic backup to get into the park was over six miles long. Propane was hard to find in northern Arizona. Unlike Utah, where every large gas station seemed to fill propane.
In New Mexico, I stayed in a private park in Santa Fe, did not visit any federal/state campgrounds. Water was on but the ownership was not allowing "hookups", just fill/dump and then disconnect. Like Arizona, finding a place that filled propane versus exchange was difficult.
Overall, the private parks I ran across that were closed had done so in September or October - so you'll likely see the same in November.
If you're good at being self sufficient, and don't mind filling your water tank by hauling jugs from gas station bathrooms, etc - you'll have a great time!
In Utah, all the federal and state parks were open, none of the private parks were open. Kodachrome Basin's full-hookup sites were available, and the water was still on.
In California's Death Valley, the private parks were open and busy. The federal parks were moderately full... that was Christmas weekend
In Arizona's South Rim, the private park was open, the federal park was open, water was shut off. VERY BUSY, just after Xmas weekend. As I left South Rim, the traffic backup to get into the park was over six miles long. Propane was hard to find in northern Arizona. Unlike Utah, where every large gas station seemed to fill propane.
In New Mexico, I stayed in a private park in Santa Fe, did not visit any federal/state campgrounds. Water was on but the ownership was not allowing "hookups", just fill/dump and then disconnect. Like Arizona, finding a place that filled propane versus exchange was difficult.
Overall, the private parks I ran across that were closed had done so in September or October - so you'll likely see the same in November.
If you're good at being self sufficient, and don't mind filling your water tank by hauling jugs from gas station bathrooms, etc - you'll have a great time!
