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JakenJo · 09-21-2018, 03:04 PM

Just got back from a 5k trip through East and Mi and back to FL. Now planning for next year trip west. DW and I Recently retired new 37 ft coach and 2 to 2 1/2 months to do it.

Main things to try to hit planning to leave FL in May to get out west ahead of some of the crowds and before summer heat and fires.

TX Hill Country

Grand Canyon

Southern Utah NPs

Yellowstone/Grand teton NP

Rapid City/Mt Rushmore

Omaha Zoo

UP of Michigan

Finger Lakes by mid to late July to visit family cottages for a month. Then head for Maine Vt etc.

Looking for advice on whether this is all doable in one trip and if so what to see for sure etc. . Just beginning RV life so if we have too much on plate we can do it later.

Thanks in advance

Jake

GaryKD · 09-21-2018, 04:58 PM

Hi JakenJo,
If you are retired, what is the rush with the 2 1/2 month time limit? This is a six month trip (and then some to do it really right). Consider slowing down. There are many great things to see on your route. Just the line "Rapid City/Mt Rushmore" could easily take a month. That part of the country is loaded with sight seeing/historic adventures. Devil's Tower, Center of the USA (bet you can't find it), Wall Drug, Minute Man Missile National Historic site, The Bad Lands. This is just a short list. One could easily spend a month in south west South Dakota and never do the same thing twice.

Busskipper · 09-22-2018, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakenJo

Just got back from a 5k trip through East and Mi and back to FL. Now planning for next year trip west. DW and I Recently retired new 37 ft coach and 2 to 2 1/2 months to do it.

Main things to try to hit planning to leave FL in May to get out west ahead of some of the crowds and before summer heat and fires.

TX Hill Country

Grand Canyon

Southern Utah NPs

Yellowstone/Grand teton NP

Rapid City/Mt Rushmore

Omaha Zoo

UP of Michigan

Finger Lakes by mid to late July to visit family cottages for a month. Then head for Maine Vt etc.

Looking for advice on whether this is all doable in one trip and if so what to see for sure etc. . Just beginning RV life so if we have too much on plate we can do it later.

Thanks in advance

Jake

Jake,

Any Chance you could get started in April?

In May it is Already HOT in Texas and the Southern part of the Southwest, Grand Canyon, Southern Utah - so if you could get out of Florida earlier the Southwest might be More Fun - Better Weather. IMHO, the southwest is much more enjoyable in the Spring - Early Spring. (For Us Winter)

Maybe you being from Florida, the Heat is not an Issue -

- but if you are going to get out and Hike - BoonDock - or be slightly active you have limited your activity areas because of the Heat.

You have Missed Colorado in your Plans - is this on purpose? - as it is a GREAT State to Visit, especially if you are still active.

IMHO, you have a 6-12 month (If you really pressed it and hurried) trip Shoehorned into 10 weeks - soooooo....... let's look at it - the SouthWest, it is BIG, NO really BIG - so just to get there is a week from Florida - then to see do things is usually 3-4 days at each stop -

- and you have only list the Highlights along this Route - Carlsbad - Canyon de Chelly - Sedona - Monument Valley - Page - Utah State Parks - Kodachrome - Escalante - Goblins - RT 12 - Mexican Hat - Antelope Canyon just to mention a few.

Like I said you missed - Colorado - so if you want to enjoy it might add four plus weeks here. -

Now the drive to Yellowstone would usually Include a few stops - Dino - Flaming Gorge - Alpine - Jackson - Grand Tetons - Beartooth - Red Lodge - Cody - Wind River Valley - ................................

Then over to Custer - Wind Cave - Emerald Cave - Mt Rushmore - Needles - Custer SP - ...........................

Now onto UP of Michigan..........

Are you getting the Idea, just a lot to see and do to not allow a little more time - You are Retired Right?

Slow down and enjoy the trip ......... working with the Weather and the Location try to work it out for Optimum enjoyment - don't force it to Work just because ..............

If I were you - I'd look at working this TRIP into the 5 Year Plan - even then Florida might just be the 3 month recovery home.

Probable a lot more than you wanted - But you Asked - can you do it - Sure - Will it be FUN - likely - but will you really see much? - YeS but your head will be spinning - so think about it a little more and see if you can schedule less and enjoy more.

JMHO,

-

JakenJo · 09-22-2018, 12:29 PM

Gary and Bus

Thanks for the quick responses. Full disclosure I am not totally retired but will be by spring. Not really ready to spend a year or 6 months on road. We just did 2 1/2moths divided by a month at lake house.

We went to see family many years in Phoenix in early April and weather great. Thought higher altitude Utah might be cooler longer but I guess not. Not looking for Colorado so much as we have spent a lot of time there over years just not in RV

Your advice is well taken. We will split this into a couple/few years trips. Just go to either TX GC and Utah and then to NY or do Yellowstone/Rushmore area and to NY. UP Northern Mich is really just preferred route from West to or NY home. Will be moving out of FL in a year to Chattanooga area so subsequent western trips will have a quicker start.

Thanks