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Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Yahoo Message Number: 156854
Hi. A friend and I are planning a trip next summer and would love some input.  Would like to hear about sites to see, roads to avoid, places to stay, etc.
We will be traveling June 1-July 17 in my fairly new to me 2001 MB and 2015 Honda Fit. I still have to set up Honda for towing. Could probably use advice on that too.
 I've made a few reservations in RV parks for the convenience of site seeing (and air conditioning!) I've actually never stayed in RV park. In Ga I prefer state parks. I've zero experience boondocking, but have dry camped in my previous RV (Casita).   I usually travel with reservations because I'm too chicken not to. I'm a teacher so I travel on breaks along with everyone else. No places to boondock in Ga. I do have 2 solar panels.
Here is the itinerary we have so far. The NM & AZ portions are a bit of a whirlwind.
 1st leg. Atlanta to Santa Fe. I have reservations at an RV park in Santa Fe. I've actually been here before. Will see Taos. Anything else I shouldn't miss?
 2nd leg. Santa Fe to Sedona. Have reservations at RV park in town.  Friend really wanted to see Sedona. I've been here too. Will visit Grand Canyon's South Rim.
 3rd leg. Sedona to GC North Rim. 3 or 4 days. No concrete plans yet. Unable to make res until December in  Grand Canyon park proper. Any recommendations for somewhere else?
 4th leg. GC to Utah.  Will be in Utah for 12 days. Absolutely no plans yet. Zero.  Need help here.  Seems like there is so much to see.  I know little about Utah. Will head to Tetons from here.
 5th leg. Utah to Grand Tetons. Thought about staying Gros Ventre for a few days or some place at Southern end of park for a bit. Then we have reservations at Colter Bay for a week. Pricey. But at this point we will pick up 2 more folks visiting from Ga and would like to stay put with hook ups.
 Last leg. Driving back to Atlanta by way of Badlands.   Recommendations?
 Thanks for hanging in there with the long post. Look forward to hearing from you.

Tanya
Tanya
2001 MB
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156856
Last leg. Driving back to Atlanta by way of Badlands.   Recommendations?

  • Custer's Last Stand in SE MT
  • Devil's Tower in NE WY
  • Mt Rushmore
  • When you come out the east side of the SD Badlands [there are ND badlands], where the road through the Badlands meets up with I-90, the Park Service has preserved a Minuteman missile command center and silo. If you're into this kind of stuff, worth the visit. About half the Minuteman missile silos were destroyed under various SALT treaties with the Russians, but the other half are still active and staffed, so you'll see what they are like.
  • Then there's always the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD
  • If you're going by way of St Louis, the Gateway Arch though I believe they are currently doing some restoration work on it.
John
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156857
Tanya,

In looking forward to retirement in an RV, I've been making a list of places to visit.  Here is what I have for Utah.  Also, the campground at Gros Ventre seemed nice when I stopped by there a couple of years ago.  There were nesting owls in the trees, but the owlets will probably be fledged by the time you will be there.

Utah

  • Devils Garden Campground - Arches National Park - It's tough to beat a night spent inside this park, where 2,500 natural arches and colorful rock formations supply the wow factor.  The 50-site campground is booked solid from March until October, but empties out in late fall.  Campers gather on top of the rocks to witness sublime desert sunsets.  $25, $25/vehicle, reserve at recreation.gov, nps.gov/arch
  • Bryce Canyon National Park - The Colorado Plateau serves up views of 7,500 stars on a dark enough night.  The Earth's penumbra (the edge of the planet's shadow) that appears as a purple band after the last light of the sun setting.  Lay back and enjoy from the North or Sunset Campsites.  Nps.gov/brca
  • Great Gallery - Indian rock art, Horseshoe Canyon in Canyonlands National Park.  Getting to Horseshoe Canyon requires a drive on 30 miles of dirt road followed by a seven-mile round trip hike.  nps.gov/cany
  • Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument - Definitely check it out - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g56980-Activities-c57-Escalante_Utah.html#TtD
  • Escalante Petrified Forest State Park - Hole in the Rock Road
  • Canyonlands - Moab is in the middle of it.  Lots of campgrounds.
  • Near Moab - The early history of the Moab area can be traced back 10,000 years and is visible in the area's many panels of ancient petroglyphs.  A permanent pioneer settlement was not established until 1880.  Today Moab supports a diverse population and economy and is considered one of the most cosmopolitan small towns in Utah.  Enjoy the Dan O'Laurie Museum of Moab, Slick Rock Bike Trail and a wide variety of restaurants and lodging accommodations.  Elevation is 4,000 feet.
  • National Scenic Byway 128 - Sheer walls of red sandstone contrast with the flowing waters of the Colorado River, which runs adjacent to this Scenic Byway.  The road connects US 191 with I-70, and features such attractions as Fisher Towers, which looms 1,500 feet above the valley floor, and Dewey Bridge, a one-lane suspension bridge, which was used until 1986.  Scenic Byway 128 begins 3 miles north of Moab and runs 44 miles to the junction of I-70 near Cisco.  May be driven in conjunction with the La Sal Mountain Loop Road.
  • Arches National Park - Features the greatest concentration of natural stone arches in the world, offering spectacular displays of the natural forces of erosion at work.  Hiking trails lead to the world famous free standing Delicate Arch the impressive 206' span of Landscape Arch and other features.  The visitor center and campground are open all year.  Located 5 miles north of Moab, off US 191.  Allow 2 hours for a short auto tour, longer for hiking.
  • Island in the Sky District/Canyonlands National Park - From the high broad mesas of the "island", the canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers are showcased from easily accessible viewpoints along a paved road.  There are no servicers or water available on the Island, but the visitor center and primitive campground are open all year.  Located 36 miles northwest of Moab via State Highway 313.  Allow 3 hours, longer for hiking.
  • The Maze District/Canyonlands National Park - The Maze is the most inaccessible the three park districts, requiring 4-wheel drive to explore its rugged interior.  Horseshoe Canyon is accessible by 2-wheel drive and offers hikers an opportunity to view "The Great Gallery", one of the finest panels of Indian pictographs to be found.  Primitive camping with no water.  Located 46 miles southwest of Green River off State Highway 24.

  • Dead Horse Point State Park - Located on Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway, the road offers dramatic views of the La Sal Mountains, Canyonlands National Park and the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.  An almost isolated island-mesa, the area was at one time used as a natural corral for wild horses.  A visitor center, museum and campground are open year-round.  Located 34 miles NW of Moab.  Allow 3 hours.
  • La Sal Mountain Scenic Loop Road - From its junction with Scenic Byway 128, this road passes through Castle Valley (a popular movie and commercial location) and leads to the forests, lakes and streams on the Manti-La Sal National Forest.  North portions of the loop may be closed in winter.  Some tight turns.  Allow 2½ hours for the 65 mile loop.
  • Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail - An outdoor paleontological museum providing an opportunity to view dinosaur bones and fossils in situ along a short self-guiding trail.  A short distance from the trail are the stabilized remains of the Halfway Stage Station which served as a rest stop for the traveling public between Moab and the railroad at Thompson from 1883 to 1904.  13 miles north of Moab off US 191.  2 miles of dirt road to trailhead.  Allow 1 hour.
  • Scenic Byway 279 - Travels through the red rock gorge of the Colorado River.  Attractions include dinosaur tracks, Indian petroglyphs and arches.  3 miles north of Moab off US 191.  Allow 1 hour for the 36 mile trip.
  • Wilson Arch - A beautiful natural arch located adjacent to US 191.  A parking area provides convenient access. 26 miles southeast of Moab.  Allow 1 hour.
  • Near Monticello - Nestled at the foot of the Abajo/Blue Mountains, Monticello is the northern gateway to Utah's Canyon Country.  The community has a rich western heritage of ranchers, farmers, and pioneers.  Wheat fields still surround the community.  The Frontier Museum and visitor center are on Main Street (US 191).  Mountain recreation is nearby.  Restaurants and lodging.  Centrally located for easy access to parks and monuments.  Elevation is 7,069.
  • Harts Draw Road - Paved into the Manti-La Sal National Forest, reaches an elevation of 8,200 feet where deer and turkeys can be seen foraging.  A spectacular overlook into the desert and access to several small fishing lakes are on the route as are two USFS campgrounds.  The road travels west of Monticello via 200 South Street and County Road 101 17.5 miles to junction with U 211 - access to Canyonlands National Park.  Allow 1½ hours.  The Abajo Loop Scenic Backway follows the same route before turning south through the mountains.  The Loop reaches an elevation of 10,300 feet and requires high clearance vehicles.  34 miles of graded gravel and nature surface.  West of Monticello 5 miles on County Road 101 to junction with CR285, then south 29 miles to Blanding.  Allow 4 hours.
  • Canyon Rims Recreation Area - Features extensive, high-desert vistas.  22 mile drive on paved road to the Needles Overlook, a 1,500 foot high mesa overlooking the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.  16 mile graded gravel road to Anticline Overlook and a view of a geologic anticline, the Colorado River and Kane Springs Canyon.  52 miles NW of Monticello.  Allow 4 hours for both overlooks.
  • Newspaper Rock - 14 miles south of Monticello, Indian Creek Canyon begins at the bottom of a series of switchbacks and descends and descends from the high-desert near Monticello.  This large petroglyph panel is easily accessed along the road.  The rock art is representative of multiple cultures and times.  12 miles west of U211.  Allow an hour.
  • Near Blanding
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156859
In 2015, Honda switched the Fit over to a CVT transmission, rendering it not towable at all. It is not possible to modify a new Fit for towing (manual transmission Fits are still OK to tow).  Fits 2013 and earlier are OK to tow with no modification.  [there was not a 2014 Fit, opting instead for an early 2015 in mid-2014].

-Dave '06 MB (and 2011 Fit), Indianapolis
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156862
Tanya, From our travels out west, also from the Atlanta area, I would say you have a good itinerary planned. Our daughter is in Phoenix and our son in Houston, so we have been mostly out I 10. Beware of LA, however; we have had rocks thru the windshield and the kitchen window requiring replacement of both. I think it was the section just after I 12  and before the "world's longest bridge" going west. ;) John suggested several places around Rapid City, and I would add two more; Custer State Park as well as going thru the Needles, but that's for a toad only! Both are around or south of Mt. Rushmore, as I recall.
My wife and I were volunteer night sky rangers at the Badlands in 2010 and 2011. Can I suggest you take time to find a national park with a night sky program. We are very well versed in what can be seen from both Atlanta and Badlands and the difference will amaze you. (As a starting point, go outside, after this rain stops, and count all the stars you can see. Then do the same thing in a national park like the Badlands. I think you will see about 3 orders of magnitude more out west.) I don't think the Badlands has a night sky program as such any more, but some of the other national parks do. Please try to find one to attend. The ranger "campfire talks" are also very good to attend; I highly recommend them.
You should also go to the the NPS website and look for any parks you expect to visit. Each will have it's own website and each should have a list of things to do at each park. Also, I suggest you make the first place you visit in any national park the visitor center. They usually have a newspaper type brochure that lists everything going on, as well as specific information about the park, including it's weather, known dangers (eg, rattlesnakes), and usually the prime emphasis of that park (eg paleontology for the Badlands).
Have fun! Ken 2009 MB Lucy
Former 2009 MB owner
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156863
"Could probably use advice on that too. Tanya"

Tanya, You will need a tow bar and baseplate installed (like Blue OX or Roadmaster) along with a charge wire to the Fit from the LD engine battery. A braking system tied to your LD is a good idea especially going down hills. SMI makes a good one. Also if your Fit has a locking steering column you will need a dummy ignition key to turn the ignition far enough to unlock it.

This is not a cheap undertaking. Make sure you get estimates from reputable RV shops that can do this. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything. I tow a Jeep Cherokee using a Roadmaster Sterling tow bar and baseplate. It is a good system. Never had any trouble with it. The U.S. Gear unified braking system installed hasn't been reliable, that's why I recommend the SMI. It is also a good idea to have the rear hitch on you LD beefed up if not already done. Hopefully member lw5315us will chime in. He installed my set up and has done many others.

bobmoore14
01 23.5 TK
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156865
"Could probably use advice on that too. Tanya"

Tanya, I recommend Corbin's Hitch shop in N.Charleston, SC. They modified and beefed up my factory hitch on my 23.5 ft LD, Installed the Roadmaster baseplates on my Subaru, and installed the SMI brake controller. First Class work. Make an appointment - they stay busy. You can stay at James Island County Park, a very nice county park on the way out to the beach. You will need both vehicles for the install.

I went up there from Savannah, but shouldn't be too hard from Atlanta.

As far as the Santa Fe area goes, I enjoyed the Los Alamos museums.

Bob Lawhon 03 23.5 FD
2003 23.5' Front Dinette
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156868
Hi Tanya:  I second most of the suggestions provided so far.  We have also visited many of the places you mentioned so I think your plans are fine.  It has not been mentioned yet, and perhaps you know about it, but please consider getting an annual pass to the national parks.  You are going to several national parks and you will get your money's worth.  You only need one pass per vehicle, so perhaps your passenger(s)  might chip in on the cost.  If you are "old enough", you can get a free pass for life to the parks right at the entrance to the parks.

Second point is that you give some consideration to going to Monument Valley, on Native American tribal land that straddles the Arizona and Utah border.  Many westerns, esp. John Wayne films shot in this locale.  The views are stunning.  Nearby, is the four corners monument, the only place where four states abut.  And only a short drive from there is Mesa Verde National Park, just east of Cortez Colorado.  You will likely need your Toad for that.

Enjoy your trip.

Bob
2011 MB
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156869
We've made three trips out west from New England. My advice would be not to try to cram too much into the time you have and to remain flexible about schedule and itinerary. Although each trip we set some general goals, we often found ourselves changing our minds at breakfast about where to head that day.
 You can find our journals complete with pix of places we visited along with pictorial reviews of all the campgrounds we visited at Toad Hall.

Semper Gumby!

WxToad
 www.ultimatecampgrounds.com

Posted by:   teblakey Date: Sun Nov 8, 2015 3:01 am ((PST))

Hi. A friend and I are planning a trip next summer and would love some input.
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156873
" If you are "old enough", you can get a free pass for life to the parks right at the entrance to the parks."

The Senior Pass (for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older) costs $10 and is good for the life of the passholder.  The Access Pass is free and is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of any age who have a permanent disability.

You can get more information on all the passes at:

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

Linda Hylton
Linda Hylton
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156875
Sounds like fun, Tanya.
 Santa Fe and Taos area - If you are into trains, take a day excursion on the Cumbres Toltec scenic railroad in Chama, NM.
 Third leg - Consider spending a night in Page, AZ and taking the Antelope Canyon tour.  It is a slot canyon.
 Utah - you have gotten some good input, particularly from Bill.  The only thing I would add is if you want to hike, you need more time than he suggested.
 When you head for the Tetons, consider routing yourself along 150 from Kamas, UT to Evanston, WY.  The road climbs to nearly 10,000 feet on the way, and there are a lot of Forest Service campgrounds and hiking trails on the way.  Avoid trying to find a spot there on weekends.  Alternatively, further east is Flaming Gorge.  I have stayed at the Firemens Memorial CG at the south end.  Either route provides a one day trip to the Tetons from the campgrounds.
 Tetons - at the south end, your options are Gros Ventre CG, Atherton Creek CG, or Curtis Canyon CG.  Of the three, Gros Ventre is the only one with hookups, and those are limited.  They will almost certainly have dry camping sites available.  There are commercial campgrounds in Jackson and south of Jackson, but I think they are rather pricy.
 If you need hookups in the Tetons, try to get reservations.  Try early.  Only one loop in Gros Ventre has hookups.  The Colter Bay sites are under the trees.  I don't know how many hookup sites are there.  I do know you will be parked closer to others than at Gros Ventre.
 If you find yourself with extra time between Utah and the Tetons, I found the Sawtooths near Stanley, ID to be breathtaking.  You will find limited grocery shopping and no cell service in the Red Fish Lake campground areas, so plan accordingly.  For me, it was a two day drive from Stanley to the Tetons.  I spent a night at Craters Of The Moon, an interesting volcanic flow area.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156879
"My advice would be not to try to cram too much into the time you have and to remain flexible about schedule and itinerary."

If you take no other advice, take Ted's! The biggest mistake you can make is to try to do too much in a short time, and to lock yourself into a rigid schedule.

Andy Baird
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156880
You will get lots of great       info. I could recommend lots of places, but you will be so much       happier finding small out of the way places to camp overnight on       your own. Your super main friend is a good GPS with a large       screen. Then load it up with WxToad'sUltimate         Campgrounds POI List. He is a member here.
 When you are in or near a national forest, you will normally find       campgrounds down gravel roads, and especially just places where       you can just pull off the road and camp. No problem, and its free.       There are plenty of websites to help with dry camping or       boondocking. Do NOT be afraid to try. Research, Prepare and Go.       You will not regret it.

Chuck Myers Hartford IA

Dif-tor heh smusma
1997 RB
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156887
Just don't lose it. That will cost another $10.

Dick

From: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com [mailto:lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com] Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2015 5:59 PM To: John Pericin jpericin@... [lifewithalazydazerv] Subject: [LD] Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.

" If you are "old enough", you can get a free pass for life to the parks right at the entrance to the parks."

The Senior Pass (for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older) costs $10 and is good for the life of the passholder.  The Access Pass is free and is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of any age who have a permanent disability.

You can get more information on all the passes at:

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

Linda Hylton
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156894
May I suggest spitting your trip into two trips.   Let me explain.   What you have planned is doable but it's a lot of driving and very little time to think and enjoy.   What I'd recommend is what I call a north and south trip.
 I would also recommend getting either a yearly or Senior Park pass.  It will give free access to all National Parks and generally a half off discount on most all Federal government campgrounds.
 The south trip would go from Atlanta across the southern states to a far west as Arizona.  I'd do a loop around the Grand Canyon first South the North rim, btw at least a two maybe three day trip in itself.  Maybe Monument Canyon - $10.00 entrance fee and $40.00 gravel parking lot with no hookups overnight fee.  Avoid Four Conners - again $10.00 fee to see a brass mark surrounded by American Indian  Vendors .
 The north trip from Atlanta thru St Louis toward US 2 across the northern states then drop down to Yellowstone going north/south to Grand Tetons thru Utah then back home.  The north unit of Teddy Roosevelt National  is a hidden gem.  Some of the best views of the Dakota Badlands and Missouri River.  And if you are lucky a rather large herd of Bison.  As an aside here is  were we came around a bend in the road then saw the Bison.  We pulled off the road.  They, the Bison, surrounded the RV.  For what seems like hours they eat, played, and just did Bison stuff as we sat enchanted.
 Oh one more tip .... Sturgis, ND puts on a great 4th of July fire works display.  The main RV campground is on the side of a hill.  If you parked on the upper level you will have a great view of up to three hours of fire works.

Glen
 Ps I'd also get a Passport American membership.  Over the years it has saves me lots of money.
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156899
Tanya, we tow a 2013 Fit auto, and one of the things I looked for was retaining the bumper behind the front fascia. Not all baseplates allowed that, in particular the Roadmaster. I went with the Blue Ox, as well as their towbar. Another thing to check is the height of the baseplate attachment to the towbar - it must be no more than an inch or two from the LD receiver height, or you will have to use a drop adapter, which will risk dragging and increase your tow length. You will also need an auxiliary braking system - we went with the SMI unit.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156910
Adding to the comments about the number of things planned, I have been fulltiming in the west since October, 2009.  While I have been to many of the places mentioned, I have not had time to get to all of them.  Sometimes, less is more.  You can see the west like Chevy Chase sees the Grand Canyon in "Vacation", with a brief glance before moving on, or you can pick a few spots and immerse yourself in them.  That is what I recommend.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156911
Hi Tanya,
 My dad and I just completed a 2-month nationwide trip in our LD.  Also, I've lived and traveled in the West my entire life so am very familiar with this region.
 Here's a few tips for you.  If you're over 62 yrs. of age get the $10 Senior Pass mentioned by another member here as it will save you a bundle of money on federal national park, monument, and campground (NP, BLM, and USFS included) fees.  You can buy it at any national park or national monument.  Thereafter you'll have free entrance fees to NPs and NMs and 50% off federal campgrounds.
 If you aren't already a member of Good Sam, I'd join and consider also buying their Roadside Assistance coverage.  Thankfully, we never needed the latter but it was comforting to know we could call on them if we did.  Just the basic $25 membership gives you a 10% discount at all Good Sam affiliated RV Parks (there are a lot of them and the $4 savings per night here and there adds up on a long trip) AND you receive a 10% discount on supplies purchased at CampingWorld stores (or online) and a 3 cent per gallon discount on gas purchased at Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers (and a few others).
 If you plan to use a smart phone, laptop, and or tablet device along the way, I HIGHLY recommend downloading two "apps" that will make your life easier when deciding which campground to stay in along the way.  I made ZERO reservations for campgrounds/RV parks before we left home at the end of August and used these two apps to decide where to stay our entire trip.

1) Ultimate Campground app for public campground info - Home - Ultimate Campgrounds  
2) RV Parky app for private campground info (including reviews), location of Pilot Travel Centers, Costco stores, WalMart stores (plus indication if they allow free overnight parking or not), etc.  RV Parky | RV Parks & Campgrounds Directory, Reviews, Photos

In general, I would recommend trying to stay at National, State Park, and USFS campgrounds as much as possible out West.  USFS campgrounds will likely not have electric/water hookups or dump sites but we found we didn't need these things nightly.  Of course, such creature comforts are largely a matter of personal preference.

We avoided driving on Interstates as much as possible and instead used National Geographic's "Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways" for tips on taking more interesting (and scenic) paths less traveled.

As far as things to do/see given your route - I recommend planning plenty of time in southern UT (many national and state parks, Moab is a cool town) and northern  NM/AZ.  Can't speak for southern CO as I've not spent time there but Durango and Telluride are supposed to be nice areas.  In NM, you might opt to see one of the less touristy pueblos (than the Taos Pueblo) like Santo Domingo or San Felipe (both south of Sante Fe) as was recommended to us by residents.  We didn't have time to stop at these on our recent trip but I'd like to on a return visit.  If you like Native American jewelry, Gallup has many genuine trading posts and the best prices I've found in the region.  I recommend stopping at its historic hotel located on Route 66 too as it's quite amazing inside.  You can also take side trips from there to visit the Zuni, Navajo, and Hopi reservations.  Sedona is awesome for scenery and hiking but be ready for some heat and crowds in summer.  If you travel through Winslow, AZ don't miss stopping at the historic La Posada hotel which was recently rennovated.  Nice gift shop, interesting architecture and art in public areas, and the highly regarded "Turquoise Room" restaurant.

If you have time, MT is a gorgeous state.  In WY, besides Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, it's worth stopping in Cody to see the magnificent museum complex at the Center for the West (4 excellent museums all under one roof).  We also really enjoyed the drive through the Bighorn Mtns in the NE part of the state.  In SD, I HIGHLY recommend staying at Chris' Campground (an RV park) in Spearfish, SD and leaving your RV parked there while taking a day tour with Wes, owner of Above and Beyond Tours (http://www.blackhillsaboveandbeyondtours.com/).  He was recommended by the owners of the RV park.  I am skeptical about taking such tours but this guy was phenomenal.  We spent 12+ hrs. with him.  He picks you up and returns you to the campground and drives you through about 270 miles of territory while explaining the history, natural history, lore, etc.  You avoid having to pay for gas.  Plus, there are narrow roads and tunnels in the Black Hills where you cannot go with your RV.  He takes you to all the best places, pays the parking/entrance fees, gives you insider's tips on where to spend your time while inside the monuments, buys you an excellent buffet lunch at Custer State Park's historic Game Lodge - all for $89 pp.  It's a no-brainer good deal.

Hope this helps you some in your planning.  Best wishes for a wonderful time out west.
Re: Planning trip out West. Help needed.
Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156913
I heartily agree with Ken F.  Six weeks to visit places in Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico - did I leave any out? - will likely require a recharging sleeping vacation once you arrive back home!!

I would pick one of the above and immerse yourself in just that state's wonders.  There are enough in each individual state to keep you busy, enchanted and begging for more for your entire six-week travel allotment. Exploring Utah alone engaged me for almost three months one Spring, and there are *still* places I didn't get to visit there.

While I realize there are dozens of travel styles, pacing and objectives, I believe your Western experience will be much more memorable if you abbreviated your itinerary and thus spent less time driving, more time enjoying.  Perhaps you could get your hands on an AAA "Western States" map so you have the advantage of seeing all the states in relation to one another in one place.  It's not only great for trip planning, but also for determining and visualizing miles between stops.

Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip -- it is indeed beautiful out here!

Lorna Coarsegold, CA
2003 RB
 
Other Venues of a Magic Mystery Tour West...Re: [LD] Re: Planning tr
Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156925
...tagging on previous advise, soon/ before firming plans, I suggest reading the book, "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey...he was a seasonal ranger at Arches in Utah...easy read & very insightful regards "experiencing" nature versus "photo-bagging" sweet scenic spots.
...that said, if you goal is to do to a country medley tour to determine future life adventures, go for it...stock up on "RockStar" caffeine cans, act like a rockstar while "Riptide Daze the USA"...Lord, Crazee Fun! (RockStar offers free decal labels to adorn you rig & keep others guessing if it is the "Eddie Bauer" edition of RVs! ...hit the west coast/Pacific Ocean to balance the caffeine...Washington might have other "recreational" rewards...Colorado on the way home? Smile, it's all good! Vaughn ps---drink deep of the "Pierian Spring", Alexander Pope.