Trip Routing And Campground Advice For Trip West/Canada

[bobnshirlene]

We are two couples in the planning stages for a trip out west and to Canada this summer and fall. Most of our traveling has been in Tennessee, Florida etc. We estimate the trip to take 3-4 months. We are from the southeast and have never been on a trip out west before. We will be traveling in a 38 ft. diesel and a 34 ft. gasser.

We have some questions and need advice on routes and campgrounds from RV'ers that have made a trip like this. We have heard some horror stories from other RV'ers about roads that are not safe for motorhomes. Of course we love the scenic routes but safety is most important.

Sante Fe to Mesa Verde, what is the best route and we need campground recommendations.

Salt Lake to Grand Tetons best route?

Grizzly Park at the west side of Yellowstone what is the best route to Glacier? Is it better for RV'ers to stay on the western side of Glacier or the eastern side?

Is three days enough time to see Glacier?

Banff/Lake Louise how many nights to allow to see Jasper and Lake Louise? Recommended campgrounds?

Banff/Lake Louise to Eugene Or. best route and any must see or must stay places along the Oregon Coast.

Where would you recommend staying to see Crater Lake? We need a home base.

Crater Lake to Yosemite best route and recommended campgrounds?

Yosemite to the Grand Canyon best route and campgrounds? Where is the best view of the Grand Canyon southern rim or northern rim?

Sedona Az. best campgrounds?

Thanks in advance for any help we can get.

[dickandlois]

My thoughts are to contact the State and Provence tourist offices, they can be found on-line. There is a lot to see and way more then one can cover in the time you plan to be on the road.

Look over the information you get back and prioritize.

There are routes that will make the Coaches huff and puff and sections where one will be squeezing to seat and armrest.

There are roads in the Glacier Park that the Coaches will not be allowed!

WE have traveled that area for many miles over the years and somewhere around 8 trips spanning 3 weeks to 3 months.

Good luck and Safe travels.

Rich.

[OLDMARINE]

Hi Bobnshilene,

From Santa Fe to Mesa Verde, take rt 84 north to Pagosa Springs (the closer you get towards Colorado ,the nicer the scenery).

Go west in Pagosa springs to Durango. They have 6 or 7 camp grounds. I can't remember the name of the camp ground, but its the

only one 2 miles west of town. It was the nicest one-- we stayed 3 days. If you don't tow a car call ahead and see if you can take your

coach. You have a really tight tunnel to go trrough to Mesa Verde and its all up hill until you reach the plateau. If you drive all the way

to Cortez, I would not suggest the RV park in the center of town.

Hope this helps.

Happy & Safe travels

[Guest BillAdams]

Where would you recommend staying to see Crater Lake? We need a home base.

I would recommend staying at Crater Lake.

Banff/Lake Louise how many nights to allow to see Jasper and Lake Louise? Recommended campgrounds?

I would not consider any of these to be a combined destination. If you want to visit Jasper that would be one stop over. Lake Louise and the Glacier can be done together and Banff is another trip.

Grand Canyon, you can stay inside the park (visit their website) or just outside the park at a park very close to the entrance (sorry, the name escapes me).

You ask "Best Campgrounds" best for what? Location, facilities, Cable and WiFi? Everyone will have a different opinion.

Check out http://www.rvparkreviews.com/ for reviews along the way. Remember that more people post when they are mad than when they are happy so you have to try to use the overall information to get a good idea of what to expect.

[jmr12]

Sent you a PM

[jlsnyder]

We are heading from CA to Glacier NP also this summer for first time. We are spending lots of time in Montana via Utah & Idaho and will be staying at Polson/Flathead Lake KOA and also West Glacier KOA, and then moving over to east side for a few nights inside the park at St. Mary Campground (no hook-ups). Then heading to Grand Teton NP with a reservation at Colter Bay Village RV Park inside Grand Teton NP (gtlc.com). If you don't have reservations there and want them, keep checking everyday as cancellations do occur.

The best place to stay at Grand Canyon NP is the south rim at Grand Canyon Trailer Village inside the park. http://grandcanyonlodges.com. Be sure to select proper RV-length site and again, if no vacancies just keep checking back for cancellations. Not the most beautiful RV park with some unlevel sites, but there are full hook-ups and you might see some wildlife walk right thru the campground. The biggest plus is that free shuttle buses stop right at the campground for rides all around the south rim. So awesome! Have not been to the north rim.

The entire Oregon coast is beautiful. We drove it all in our 34' gas RV with no problems. A very curvy two-lane cliff hanger in spots, but I'm a nail biter and managed it OK (in the passenger seat!). Astoria is a cute, historical town that has a hokey little trolley ride that is quite informative and only costs $1! Also a maritime museum there that is quite interesting. Be sure to spend time at the Columbia River Gorge, Bonneville Dam and salmon fish hatchery, etc. We stayed at Ainsworth State Park which is no frills but convenient and inexpensive. Unhook the tow and drive the historic US Hwy. 30 to see beautiful waterfalls, and stop at Tad's Chicken N Dumplings restaurant for a great meal on the Sandy River (near the end, or beginning, of US Hwy 30). We also took a boat ride on the Columbia River that takes you thru the Bonneville locks - something we had never experienced and really enjoyed. Our other favorite towns are Newport and Florence. Oregon state parks are wonderful so would suggest checking on them first before staying at more expensive RV parks.There is an RV park at the harbor in Florence that we stayed at and liked. Again, not the greatest RV park but convenient for walking around the harbor shops. If you can get a river site, all the better! portofsiuslaw.com If you like a little adventure, take a dunebuggy ride on the Oregon dunes just up the road at Sandland Adventures. Also be sure to take a jetboat ride either out of Gold Beach or Grants Pass on the Rogue River - both lots of fun (Jerry's Rogue Jets - roguejets.com or roguerivertrips