Good morning fellow RVers!! I am looking for some advice for a Summer 2017 Vacation Trip. We typically take two weeks (around the 4th of July weekend). We have traveled quite a bit over the last 5 years so we are looking for something new that doesn't involve days and days of driving to get there... I think 3 out and 3 back is about as far as we want to go this time. We love State and National Parks. We reside in Austin, Texas and have been to the following places:Grand TetonsYellowstoneRocky Mountain National Park Blackhills SD Western Colorado (Durango, Ouray, Montrose)Carlsbad and Sante FeBig Bend National ParkGrand CanyonAre the National Parks in Utah going to be too hot that time of year? We love escaping the Texas heat during July. Thanks!-Chris

Utah NP's but they might be too hot - depends on your preference. But Bryce - our favorite - is in elevation so it will not be too bad. We also love Capitol Reef. Zion is also an option.

Bryce and Capitol Reef will be fairly cool, Zion and Arches will be sizzling. You might want to think about Yosemite.

Not sure how long each day you want to drive but the Lake MI circle tour might be something different. Start at Indiana Dunes state park and work you way up the Michigan side. Warren Dunes and Sleeping bear National park take it north all the way to the UP and hit Mackinac island for a few days. Head over to pictured rock national sea shore on lake superior. In Wi you have Boulder Junction\Minocqua area in the north woods. Head down to title town and see Americas football team. From there you can continue down the other side of lake MI checking out Peninsula state park (a little north), Point beach state park, Kholer Andrea state park or Harrington beach state park all along Lake Michigan. You could also detour to WI Dells and hit the waterpark capital of the world if you have younger kids and camp at Mirror Lake state park. If you think this is something you might want to do let me know and I can fill you in on more details. Lake MI is not as grand as out west but if you have never seen it, its worth checking out.

We did a western trip in the same time frame years ago. Bryce Canyon was fine, but Arches NP was toasty...we did our sight seeing very early and at dusk while at Moab.

We lived in the Austin area for 15 years. You could drive to Gunnison, Buena Vista and Leadville, Colorado, in 2.5 days.We love those areas. Always stay in NFS campgrounds.Happy Trails!

Summer 2017 - Trip Suggestions | Good Sam Community

Jerseydevil
Explorer
Oct 04, 2016
Sounds like you covered ground north and west. I would head east from Austin and follow gulf coast to Tampa/St.Pete area. You can even hit Orlando theme parks from there if you wanted to. If too hot, then I would do a loop north east through Smokies, Shenandoah, then head back through Kentucky and stop at Mammoth cave.
profdant139
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2016
North Rim of the Grand Canyon? Cool, not too far away, great mtn biking.

Or the High Uintahs of Utah? Camp at ten thousand feet near Mirror Lake. Great hiking.
kokotg
Explorer
Sep 26, 2016
cgaskins wrote:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions - really appreciated!!!

We have decided to make our way over to Shenandoah National Park next summer by way of Nashville, TN and then returning stop in Branson. So question for you... Any suggestions for a nice RV Park near Shenandoah NP? The park is long (north/south) so is it best to stay at the southern end or the northern end? I found a nice looking KOA in Luray, VA.

Thanks,
Chris

We stayed at the Luray KOA in June....it's very nice. beautifully kept, very quiet (at least mid week when we were there). Not a typical KOA in that there aren't a ton of amenities or any planned activities, but there are two pools, small playground, ping pong table. I don't recommend springing for the deluxe patio sites...they're really pretty, but awkward to get in and out of, and the regular sites were plenty nice. I wrote a review of it on my blog if you want to check it out.
its_just_me
Explorer
Sep 21, 2016
We are planning our 2017 trip now. We have been to 40 of our states and all of the places you mentioned in your post. Therefore, we are looking at some places we have not been to. I have researched The New River Gorge in West Virginia along with Harpers Ferry. Another place in Shanksville, Pa. This is where flight 93 crashed on 9-11. Happy camping.........
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2016
cgaskins wrote:
Good morning fellow RVers!! I am looking for some advice for a Summer 2017 Vacation Trip. We typically take two weeks (around the 4th of July weekend). We have traveled quite a bit over the last 5 years so we are looking for something new that doesn't involve days and days of driving to get there... I think 3 out and 3 back is about as far as we want to go this time. We love State and National Parks. We reside in Austin, Texas and have been to the following places:
Grand Tetons
Yellowstone
Rocky Mountain National Park
Blackhills SD
Western Colorado (Durango, Ouray, Montrose)
Carlsbad and Sante Fe
Big Bend National Park
Grand Canyon

Are the National Parks in Utah going to be too hot that time of year? We love escaping the Texas heat during July.

With all due respect, for your sanity avoid all those destinations around July 4th. It is a zoo full of... Look for alternative destinations. Of course, those places will be crazy too, but maybe a little less.

Thanks!

-Chris
cardtarget
Explorer
Sep 20, 2016
Did Shenandoah in July with the family, it was great. But it's really just a straight drive with hundreds of lookout points and hiking trailheads. We stayed at Big Meadows campground which was very nice (no hookups) and it's about right in the middle so it breaks up the trip nicely.

I don't know how old you are, but if you're hikers who like rock scrambles check out the bear fence trail in Shenandoah. It was bordering scary (for a family with a 5 year old) but it was one thing my kids will always remember from the trip.
welove2drive
Explorer
Sep 19, 2016
If a bike trail interests you then check out the Virginia Creeper Trail. It is in Damascus, VA (SW corner of VA) about 10 miles East of I-81. It is a rail trail but they haul you and your bike or a rental up to the top and you pretty much coast down. It is very gradual, through the woods (ferns, etc.) and along the stream. There are many bridges.(Beautiful) We stayed at the Laurel Creek Campground near the bike shops. It is a small quaint town that caters to the Appalachian Trail hikers and the Virginia Trail users.

Marcia
DrewE
Explorer II
Sep 18, 2016
The main (well, at least the best known) attraction of Shenandoah NP is Skyline Drive, which runs the length of the park. I see no reason to limit oneself to either end. There's lots of hiking opportunities all throughout the park, in varying degrees of strenuousness.

Of course, you can continue on south on the Blue Ridge Parkway, too, which starts where Skyline Drive ends.
cgaskins
Explorer
Sep 17, 2016
Thanks everyone for the suggestions - really appreciated!!!

We have decided to make our way over to Shenandoah National Park next summer by way of Nashville, TN and then returning stop in Branson. So question for you... Any suggestions for a nice RV Park near Shenandoah NP? The park is long (north/south) so is it best to stay at the southern end or the northern end? I found a nice looking KOA in Luray, VA.

Thanks,
Chris
timandsusan
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
Chris, We recommend the Durango,CO area. A great park is Blue Spruce at Lake Vallecito that is about 25 miles east of Durango. It is at 8000 feet and it will not be hot. What can you do? Hike either the Vallecito Creek trail or the Pine River trail, bring your bikes and ride around the lake or ride in Durango, day trip to Silverton, day trip to Mesa Verde, fish in the lake. Of course, we always spend a few days in Santa Fe on the trip--same activity, hike, bike, eat, golf, day trip to Los Alamos, Bandalier Nat. Mon., trip to Taos, drive up to the ski area for really great views and hiking. Let me know if you need more info.
Tim

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