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Topic: to Yellowstone from Seattle (Read 3 times) previous topic - next topic
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to Yellowstone from Seattle
Yahoo Message Number: 20089
First, let me thank everyone that replied to my sensors questions and my trips in the WA/OR area.  This group is an *amazing* resource.

Next, I am planning a trip to Yellowstone with my family in our LD in late June.  The drive is a long one for the kids (will be 4.5 and almost 3 years old) and so I would like some "interesting" stops that we can make on the way there.

I was going to do an overnight in Coeur d'Alene and then another just outside the north border of Yellowstone.  (I figure since we'll be getting in on the evening of the second day there would be no way to get a spot at Mammoth.)

Does this sound like a reasonable plan?  Are there places that are near the highway that would make good lunch/break for the kids stops on either day?  Should I make the day's driving shorter and spend two nights on the road before Yellowstone?  The only reason I am not planning to do that right now is that I want more time in the park.

My plan in the park was to camp at Mammoth one night, then Madison one night and Fishing Bridge for two nights.  (We have reservations at the last two.)  From there I hadn't really decided.  We only have about a week and a half total, but I had played with the idea of trying to see the Grand Tetons as well.

I've been to Yellowstone a couple of times, but not in an RV.  If there are RV spots to avoid or that you prefer there, please let me know.

Thanks in advance! .Terri 2000 LD 26.5 MB - aka "Kitty"

PS - For general RV trip info (that isn't LD specific) is there another forum I should post too?
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] to Yellowstone from Seattle
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20101
on 3/21/03 2:45 PM, twr_canines wrote:

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PS - For general RV trip info (that isn't LD specific) is there another forum I should post too?
Try www.rvclub.com and click on RV-Talk on the right hand side under Non-Members.  It's an e-mail list like this one, except it's for RVing in general.

--Al in Bremerton --2002 26.5 MB
Re: to Yellowstone from Seattle
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20104
Terri, We drove through Yellowstone and the Grand Teton park travelling from Washington to Texas. We wish we had more time to spend there. One thing I would recommend is buy gas before entering the park because it is a long way to the other side. At 6 mpg a half a tank of gas cuts it pretty close. I thought I would need to hook up a bison to get out.
Dave
Re: to Yellowstone from Seattle
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20107
Quote

I've been to Yellowstone a couple of times, but not in an RV.  If there are RV spots to avoid or that you prefer there, please let me know.
Sherry and I spent 3 weeks last summer.  Our favorite camps were Madison in Yellowstone and Gros Ventre in Grand Teton.
John
Re: to Yellowstone from Seattle
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20276
I would like to second many of Victor's suggestions for making this a fun trip for all. We do many of these same things with our now 6 yr old daughter. Kids can get very tired of driving and car safety seats are less comfortable than the others in cars or the LD. Almost every good driving tip source like AAA and others will tell you that a stop every 2 hrs is important not only for the kids but for everyone and most importantly the driver. Get out and stretch and walk around in the fresh air. Take care of any restroom needs and just let the kids have some fun.

Bringing movies and at least one new one is an excellent idea and like Victor says they'll often replay that new movie several times the first few days. Trying not to stay on the road for more than 8 hours of driving time. If you must do more start when they are still sleeping or encourage them to nap, if possible, and after they are sleeping if traveling into the night. Bringing books, toys, games, puzzles, activity books, coloring books, and other things to keep their mind occupied are important and some can be fun for everyone including the driver. We normally also let our daughter pick her movies for the trip, except the new surprise movie or movies, and games, toys, and books. My wife and I choose activity books for her and we often get a new book or two as well. Our daughter loves books and reading and has been reading since 3.5yrs and is now reading at 3rd grade level. Books about animals, insects, plants, geology, geography or other things you'll be seeing are also good for fun and learning and they don't even realize that they are learning because it is fun for them. Of course get ones that are geared for their age or just a little ahead of the current age and not ones geasred to old kids or adults. Sam's and Wal*Mart are good sources we use as well as a few others.

Packing a lot of good nutritional ready to eat snacks is also important for everyone. Any fruits, nuts, pretzels, chips, and other things that you and they like even a little chocolate is fine as a special treat but as Victor stated try to stay away from too many with refined sugars in them!

There will be lots of interesting for places along the way for everyone where you can stop and take a few minutes to relax. Don't rush it, part of the fun can and should be the adventure of getting there. It was always that way for me as a kid traveling across country with my parents and that's where I learned many of these tips.

You should have plenty of time to see Yellowstone and still be able to see the Tetons and travel. It may mean taking a route across the mountains just south of the Tetons on a road that has some steep grades and cutbacks but also beautiful views and going back through Idaho on the west side of the Tetons back to the major highways but that is also a very nice area with a different perspective of the mountains than the Wyoming side.

There are lots of nice campgrounds outside of Yellowstone, I don't remember the names of them but there are both nice National Forest campgrounds and private ones and many are much less a problem to get into and a few are even nicer than those in Yellowstone.

Have a great trip!

Mike
 
Re: to Yellowstone from Seattle
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20292
In addition to the suggestions listed we have had success with our kids with the following:

1)  Bring "Freddie Fish" and other computer games and let kids play  them on the laptop as your roll down the road.

2)  Plug a PlayStation into an inverter and your TV..keeps em busy  for hours.

3)  We took our TIVO from the house on the last trip and plugged it
 into the inverter and TV.  That gives 30 hours of programs without having to change the movies.

 
 
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I would like to second many of Victor's suggestions for making
this a
 
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fun trip for all. We do many of these same things with our now 6 yr old daughter.