HELP!!! Trip planning

[Gmjordan1]

Hello
I would like to plan a trip from Pittsburgh to the Grand Canyon with my family. 10-14 days. Has anyone made this trip or can offer suggestions for routes, stopovers,things to see along the way, camping etc? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[scbwr]

The joy or retirement is to take longer trips and not push for higher miles per day to just get there! I would rather take a trip that doesn't take us as far and have each traveling day be enjoyable i.e. get on the road after breakfast and be off the road before dinner. And on our big trip out west (just a few days away), we've built in rest days so that we're not on the road more than 3 nghts before having a day off to relax and enjoy.

[Matt_Colie]

Gmjordan1 wrote:
Matt
We have a 37' class a pusher now. We haven't really done anything far in it yet. We had a 36' fifth wheel previously. I too have done the 20 hr drives. We took the 5 th wheel to the keys every year & I would drive from Pittsburgh to Miami nonstop just so we could spend more time in the keys. I'm really trying to get away from that type of trip though. Actually what made me decide on the new motorhome & westward trip originally was when we were in Disney last year @ the hotel I was talking to a man from Ireland that came to travel the U.S. For 2 months. He was in total awe of our country,its size & scenery. Right then I realized that I'd been taking it for granted & decided it was time for myself & family to start enjoying all of it!

Gmjordan1,
Again, you are displaying that you have learned a lot along the way.
We have always been travelers, but with our coach and its huge HD wide screen windshield, we finally discovered what we had been missing. We have had similar experiences that caused us to do what have taken to doing.

So, take it slow and enjoy the ride....

Matt

[2112]

I know i'm a little late on this. Glad to see you decided against that long drive.

Sometimes it's more cost affective and schedule driven to park the rig and fly. Sometimes a shorter flyover trip makes more sense.

Don't miss out on everything Arizona has to offer.

[bee_46]

For some New England suggestions:Gloucester, MA for a whale watch, and the little tourist town of Rockport, MA. You can also run up RT. 1 in Maine. Lots of little towns, lighthouses, etc as you make your way to Acadia NP. Be sure to get some lobster at one of the lobster pounds. We like Trention Lobster Pound just before Acadia.
New Hampshire has North Conway Railroad and Mt. Washington which you can either climb by car or cog railway.
I am sure others can give you some more ideas inland. Most of our New England trips have been along the coast.

[Gmjordan1]

Matt
We have a 37' class a pusher now. We haven't really done anything far in it yet. We had a 36' fifth wheel previously. I too have done the 20 hr drives. We took the 5 th wheel to the keys every year & I would drive from Pittsburgh to Miami nonstop just so we could spend more time in the keys. I'm really trying to get away from that type of trip though. Actually what made me decide on the new motorhome & westward trip originally was when we were in Disney last year @ the hotel I was talking to a man from Ireland that came to travel the U.S. For 2 months. He was in total awe of our country,its size & scenery. Right then I realized that I'd been taking it for granted & decided it was time for myself & family to start enjoying all of it!

[Matt_Colie]

Gmjordan,

Discretion is the better part of valor. You have made a good choice.
We have a very comfortable coach and can split driving and navigating. We have done lots of 550+ days and even an 1100 mile day. We now only do this when we have no choice and even then it is not any fun at all.

You did not say what the rig is or what you have done with it in the past. Do Not plan to take the rig into the east coast traffic. That area is about 50~100 miles inland from Kittery Me, to Richmond Va. Get close and if you don't have a towed or TV, rent a passcar. There is a lot of history there and plenty of scenery. It is all close together (in western terms), so you can have fun time rather than road time.

Want to here a fun story?
When I was first in Michigan, I worked for a company that did RV products. We had coaches that we could sign out. We were working on a project with some Swedes and they were given the privilege as well. They decided that they would like to see the Grand Canyon one weekend. The had a hard time believing that it could be in the same country and that far away.

Matt

[PghBob]

Consider the cog railway at Bretten Woods in New Hampshire. Your kids will love the train ride up to the top of Mt. Washington and marvel at the heavy chains used to hold the roof on the buildings. This is where the highest ever wind speeds were measured in the US. Head on over to Acadia NP in Maine and soak in the scenery. Take a boat ride and go whale watching. Stay in Camden Maine at the state park, and take some hikes for fantastic coastal views. Stay in a campground near public transit in Boston, and check out the historic venues in the city. Tour the USS Constitution in the harbor. Just a few things that come to mind. Safe travels.

[scbwr]

Years ago, we camped near Plymouth. Train access to Boston was good and we drove out to Cape Cod. Whale watches out of Plymouth are fun. You could also camp out on the cape and just take your time and have fun exploring the cape.

[Gmjordan1]

Again,thank you all for the advice. After thinking about this more we've decided to go to New England this year & plan for a nice trip west for next year. Any New England suggestions? Lol

[2gypsies1]

Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore in Michigan would be an awesome trip in that timeframe. The whole area around Traverse City and over to Lake Michigan is beautiful with lots to do and relaxing on the beach. From the park you can take a lazy canoe trip down the shallow Platte River and end up at a gorgeous beach on Lake Michigan.

You could drive up to the Mackinac Bridge and take the day ferry over to Mackinac Island. If the kids are old enough, rent bikes and tour the island (no cars allowed so no traffic to worry about - just horses).

This whole area is VERY popular so reservations are a must ASAP.

[lbrjet]

So what if it takes you 5-6 days each way. It will be a trip your kids will never forget and you will all be talking about into your old age.

[scbwr]

I agree with the idea that you should plan a different trip so you can enjoy getting to the destination and have a much more enjoyable trip.

Have you considered going to the west coast of Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes? That coast has such beautiful beaches and lots of campgrounds.

Or head to the Blue Ridge Mountains....Luray Caverns in Va. Or, have you gone to the National Park at Assateague, MD? Or up to NY state to the Niagara Falls area? Or up to the Thousand Islands?

Just trying to suggest trips where you would only kill 4 days traveling and have the rest of the time to enjoy.

[msgtord]

John S. wrote:
I think you can leave in the evening the night before you planned on leaving and get 200 miles done. Then the next day you can do 800 and you are halfway there. if you drive 12 hours and push a bit you can average 60 mph avg. That will get you 700 or so the next day and be there the third. it is harder to come home that way so I would build in an extra day or three and stop and visit stuff on the way back.

It's great that you are encouraging a person to drive a 12 hour day and "push" it to average 60 mph. Do you really have any idea the speed he would have to drive an RV to average 60 mph in a 12 hour day? Are you allowing for fuel, rest or food stops?

If you drive that way on vacation, I hope I'm never on the same roadway as you.

[John_S_]

I think you can leave in the evening the night before you planned on leaving and get 200 miles done. Then the next day you can do 800 and you are halfway there. if you drive 12 hours and push a bit you can average 60 mph avg. That will get you 700 or so the next day and be there the third. it is harder to come home that way so I would build in an extra day or three and stop and visit stuff on the way back.