Newbies first trip: Seattle to Salt Lake City

[Parrott_head]

Hello to one and all,

I was referred to this forum by a friend from a boating forum.
Wife and I are renting a Class C in Seattle and doing a two week tour through Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. We return the unit to Salt Lake City.

We would appreciate any input from ya'll concerning this trip. It's just the two of us and we have no real timeline.

We have RV'd before using a relatives motor coach.

Anyone care to share experiences along this route?

Best wishes,

Parrott_head

[elkski]

have you heard of gateway drugs?

If you haven't got your fix of beautiful scenery then you may want to drive into Salt lake via the mirror lake highway. ITs to bad if you dont have time for southern Utah this trip. it is the cooling time of year for it. but I would hate for your Utah experience to be interstate 80 from evanston wy to SLC.

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest - Recreation Passes & Permits

[Bruce C]

[MSHappyCampers]

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us!

Hope your trip goes well! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[Parrott_head]

Thanks for the welcome and the words of encouragement.
Wife and I are really looking forward to this and have promised each other not to make it a "Blitzkrieg" driving event.

[PlayItForwrd]

Hey PH, glad to see you made it!

A little irony-- when the wife & I bought our first motorhome ('78 CruiseAir 28' A), our first big trip was from Salt Lake to Seattle, via however we got to the redwood forest first! From there we ran the PCH up to Seattle, making a few stops along the way, then back to SLC thru Boise... Had to do it all within a week, did the home trip from Seattle on the last day. That WAS a blitzkrieg driving event, and I heartily recommend parking these beasts for more than one night whenever possible!

Enjoy, and be safe!

[GaryKD]

Hi Parrott_head,
Welcome to iRV2. Because you are renting a coach, my assumption is you are not towing a car. When at the NPs consider making reservation to stay in the park. Make sure the CG is on a route serviced by park public transportation. If that is not available, will you be able to drive to the public transportation parking lot with the coach? This is important. At Glacier, even if the coach is allowed on the Going To The Sun highway because you're a newbie, do not drive the road with the coach. There is public transport (red bus) available and should be considered. Yellowstone and The Tetons should not be a problem driving the coach to the main attractions. Parking is available.

Not knowing what you like to do, go to the park's web site and learn about the activities. Then plan accordingly.

West of Yellowstone in southern Idaho is Craters of the Moon National Monument. Go to the web site and determine if this is something you'd like to spend a day at.

Have fun. Take it slow. One can always return to do more than was possible on the previous trip. Something I have done all my RVing life.

[Parrott_head]

Thanks All!!
Did not know about the red buses....will look into it.

[Jeff and Cheryl]

Something to be aware of, there is currently at least one fire going in the Glacier area. It is south of the park, however the smoke has been an issue there. We were in Columbia Falls Monday night and the smoke had abated, though that could be temporary. Hwy 2 was open when we left there Tuesday morning, though there was a 9.5 mile stretch of road that was requiring a pilot car. That stretch started about 40 miles east of Columbia Falls. If you are going south from the Park, the road to Polson and farther south is good.
Safe Travels.

[Mr_D]

2 weeks? To do the areas well you need 2 months! Some years ago we went to Yellowstone, took 2 weeks and Yellowstone was all we did.

[Civdiv99]

If you are going east outta Seattle on 90 all th way into Montana, note that the silver dollar place just in Montana exit 16 has freebie RV parking in the back, easy in/easy out gas station, and more tourist trap goodies in their store than you can safely browse.

Free electric too, although we just dry camp for the night, and haven't ever used one of the power points they provide.

Anyway, the point is, we always overnight there if the schedule has us in the vicinity at a reasonable stopping hour. Quiet and easy and usually populated with RVers of similar intent.

[Parrott_head]

Good info from all....I keep getting the impression that most folks think two weeks may be a bit of a rush......may have to adjust plans...

[twogypsies]

Since you're renting at those high prices, it's understandable that you are going for only two weeks.

After this trip you just might see how much fun RVing is and buy yourself one!

Have a good trip.

[Civdiv99]

Are you not towing?