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If I don't go now, when would I...
Hi all...Questions, I have questions! I am planning to leave on my fantasy great Western adventure in early May. I haven't made any reservations so here is my trip plan so far...so questions; is May too early to head out, are reservations necessary everywhere, are you familiar with any of these stops, can I meet any of you along the way, other than Moab, the National Parks and Cape Blanco in Oregon should I stay any of these places more than one day?

I had a friend who used to ask me 'What would you do if you weren't afraid?' Well, I am afraid but I'm going to do it anyway!

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and comment on all of this, I am counting on your experience and expertise:

Leaving Florida to Walnut Creek RV park in Troy, Alabama to Tombigbee St Park in Tupelo, Mississippi to Willow Beach St Park in Scott, Arkansas to Springhill COE in Darling, Arkansas to Red Rock Canyon St Park in Hinton, OK to Double D RV Park in Texola, OK to Santa Rosa Lake St Park in Santa Rosa, NM to Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post in Albuquerque, NM to Canyon de Chelly National Monument Cottonwood campground (dry camping) in Chinle, AZ to Lee's Ferry USFS Campground in Marble Canyon, AZ to Bryce Canyon in Utah to Green River St Park to ACT Campground & Learning center in Moab, Utah (visiting sister here) Are you still reading this?? WOW, thanks to Welcome Station RV park in Wells, ND to New Frontier RV park in Winnemucca, NV to Junipers Reservoir RV Resort in Lakeview, OR to Mazama Village BPS at Crater Lake, OR to Cape Blanco St Park in Port Orford, OR to Pine Meadows Campground COE in Cottage Grove, OR to Thousand Trails Bend/Sunriver in Bend, OR to The Narrows RV park in Princeton, OR to Riverhaven park in Massing, ID to Three Islands Crossing St Park in Glenn's Ferry, ID to Massacre Rock St Park in American Falls, ID to Station Creek Campground in Alpine, Wyoming and landing at Grand Teton National park in Colture Bay Village RV park, Wyoming....this is as far as I have planned. I don't know if I will head straight back to Florida or wander further and farther. FUN TRIP, HUH?

I like your attitude! If we never did anything we were afraid of doing, we would spend our lives huddled in bed. My younger son said I would crash and burn less than 200 miles down the freeway, and I told him that would be better than sitting in my chair in my condo for the rest of my life!

My first question is how long do you have for this trip? Do you have home responsibilities? And May is certainly not too early, especially considering that you are headed west along the southern route and will encounter hot temperatures if you wait too long. RV ACs do not do a fantastic job of cooling, so most of us avoid temps over 90. I would head out in early May to avoid the heat, and then head north when it gets too hot. Most of us follow the weather in making our plans so it is not too hot and not too cold on our routes.

You sound like you have a great trip planned out, but I would definitely stay at most places longer than one day, assuming you have time to travel more leisurely. Now that you are retired and have a home on wheels, you will find it less stressful to travel more slowly. Obviously, if you are headed to somewhere and on a boring interstate, you will want to stay just one night in some places, but leave yourself enough time once you get to a destination to enjoy yourself.

You might want to get a big map of the US and plot your trip out. It looks like you are going from Moab to North Dakota and then to Oregon, when it is more direct to go from Moab to Oregon and then to ND on the way back. Anyway, I will be in Oregon most of July and August and probably September as well--mainly because it is cooler along the coast.

I rarely ever make reservations... And I leave things open as to my exact destinations along the way... So much can catch my eyes. I am careful for holidays and some places... For example Yellowstone... But I know I can boondock outside the park. However if a park/cg was a necessity, that's a place reservations are needed. It all depends on your comfort level... I can always find someplace to stay

Sounds like you've got a great trip lined up... Just take your time to enjoy it, and remember, you might not see it all, or even much, the first time around. And as for how long each place... Well I need two days to really see both sides at Canyon de Chelly... And might stay a third just for a down day to relax. And I often plan a down day somewhere with laundry facilities each week.

Your trip sounds fantastic. I am a lazy traveler ha ha I like to drive to a place and stay 2-3 days. If it is a place with lots to do then I get the weekly rate. I enjoy my driving and then my down time. I can be a total tourist in some spots and then just a driving sightseer in others. It would take me months to do your trip ha ha

So Question...are you towing either a tt or a car?
I did read it all sorta long trip but you will want to allow for.... "oh I want to see that"
turns... or the I need to stay and see more of this visits...
and I summer about 2 hours from Colter Bay...so when you are near that time remind me and we will gtg...I was born and raised in the Jackson area
sheila

I don't tow but my unit is only 23 feet...about 26 with the hauler on back but I 'm going to try and eliminate that...(it scrapes if I go up an incline at the wrong angle). I agree with all the good suggestions here about staying more than one day and taking my time but I really am eager to hike in Arches and Canyonlands again and certainly want to do that before it gets unbearably hot there. I'll be traveling with my dog too.
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to respond.

If hiking in those places is a major goal, then you should leave as early as you can in May and get there as fast as you can, but not killing yourself along the way. Here is a site you can use to check average temperatures by month anywhere in the U.S. https://www.usclimatedata.com/

Once it starts to get too hot in the Southwest, you can head north to places like Oregon that will mostly be cool all summer. I always spend a lot of time researching things I want to see along the way, but I do remember that I can see them on another trip if I am in a hurry to get somewhere.

One place near Arches and Canyonlands that I really like is Dead Horse Point State Park. It has electric for AC when it is hot, and also an incredible view over the valley from the far point in the park.

JudyJB wrote:Once it starts to get too hot in the Southwest, you can head north to places like Oregon that will mostly be cool all summer.

I would say that is true for western Oregon, but eastern Oregon (that is, east of the mighty Cascades, which have some of the highest peaks in the U.S.) maybe not so much. Eastern Oregon is semi-desert and can be blazing hot in the summer. The rock club I belong to had a field trip to Madras, Oregon, a few years back. Madras is north of Bend, east of the Cascades. The temp was 115 during the day when they were there. Made it difficult to be outside looking for rocks!

Sounds like a wonderful trip, but somewhat exhausting. I, too, am one that likes to drive a day or so and then stay put for a couple of days. If you get to a point when you know the dates you will be in the Pacific coast states, let us know. We are always up for an impromptu GTG. Oregon state campgrounds are relatively inexpensive, but very fabulous. And they get booked up quickly. I am hoping for a cancellation at Tumalo State Park (north of Bend), but as of now (March 2) it is fully booked for the June dates that I want.

It must be spring, or close to it. How can I tell? My annual OCD Craigslist hunt for the perfect Casita travel trailer has kicked in again, full strength, just now.

Anne

The only thing I have to offer you is SLOW DOWN!. I love the trip you have planned, however, it is much too fast. (After 16 years of fluttering I offer that). Yes, let us know when you get out west. A GTG is always possible. Lyn

fluttering?!?! fulltiming, really

I agree with the others, slow down. There’s no way you can see everything in one trip, so you go back some other time. Do what you really want to do on your bucket list this trip, hit the high spots. I went out to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons 3 years ago and hit the major attractions I wanted to see on my way, Wall Drugs, Badlands, Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park, The Little Bighorn battlefield etc., but spent a whole week in Yellowstone as that was my goal, and saw the park from one end to another, taking a different section each day. Same for Grand Teton, although only did couple days there. Then hit some other places on way home. Did I miss things and places, yes. But I had a great trip. As the saying goes, it’s the journey, not the destination that makes it worthwhile.

Toni, you could close your eyes and drive like crazy to get out there. Then start your slow site seeing. Take your time in those geographic areas you are wanting to really, really see. When you finish one area go to another area and then when it’s time to head back, take it slow and easy,100-200 miles a day. Stop 2-3 nights and site see. Move on the next day. You, of course, will need electric to run the a/c for the pup and you, too. Just my idea for a kick start to your big summer travel. You will develop your own style of travel but you have to bump up again that old thing of “I won’t ever do that again.” For individuals who travel only a few hundred miles it is an easy route to make. But going a few thousand makes you stop and wonder what are you going to do. Always remember to let someone know where you are and where you are headed so if you fall off the face of the earth you can be picked and redirected! You rig goes forward and it goes backward. Happy traveling!