Quote:
Originally Posted by zeebad1
We are planning on leaving later this week.
Here is a general route that I've mapped out with the specific places that we would like to visit. It looks to be a little over 6200 miles.
We may deviate from this at any time.
If anyone has any suggestions along the way, please feel free to make some recommendations.
We still don't have a projected timeline. No schedule to keep, and no real hurry to get back home. If we can do this in 2 weeks, that would be a whirlwind trip. If it takes us 3, that's OK.
. |
That looks like an awesome road trip. I've been to most of those places at one time or another over the years. No schedule to keep makes it even better. For a route that big, I say plan closer to 3 weeks than two.
A few suggestions:
Yellowstone: I hope you did at least some planning, because the hotels around there fill up well in advance, even off peak season.
As far as things to do, there are really too many to list. I have spent 3-4 days there every summer for the last 10+ years, and the most recent time just a month ago, I still found a lot of stuff to do that I had never done. In previous years, the traffic can get annoying in Yellowstone, but for some reason, it was really dead there in June. Don't know if that means more people are coming later and it will be worse than normal now, or if it is just a slow overall season.
On your way into Yellowstone, instead of the route you have mapped, I would recommend going up to Billings and catching US212 in Montana. That takes you into the northeast entrance via Bear Tooth Pass.
Also, if you get a good, clear sky day, plan to take a side trip down to Grand Teton Park. Clear days can be hard to come by, but if you get one, Teton is spectacular.
Glacier: Another excellent choice, and truly amazing scenery on relatively clear days. My last few trips there have been thwarted by snow (my vacations are normally in June). That won't be a problem now, though.
Another note, some of the two lane roads leading into glacier from the southeast (sorry, I can't remember the numbers to pick out the specific ones on a map) are some of the best driving roads I've ever been on in all my travels. If you get lucky enough to have clear road in front (no slow moving cars), just getting there is a blast. Just secure everything in the car so nothing shifts around.
Mt. Rainier: This is one of those only if the weather cooperates stops. Rainier is shrouded with cloud most days of the year. If you get lucky and the skies are completely clear (and I mean completely, if there are just scattered puffy clouds in general, Rainier will probably be clouded in), check it out. It's quite a site. It rises high about its surrounding base, and just seems to go up forever. Statistically, this time of year is the most likely time for clear days there.
Sequoia: Someone else already mentioned it. As long as you are so close, it is worth the stop. You couldn't possibly understand how big some of those trees are unless you actually see them yourself.
Zion/Grand Canyon: As long as you are so close, the Grand Canyon should be another stop.
As for Zion and some of the other stuff in southern Utah and northern Arizona, that really depends on your own preferences. The scenery around there can be amazing, but it is a bit of an acquired taste. Some people would drive through and look around and see "nothingness." Others might see a beautiful landscape that you could lose yourself in (in a good way). If you know a bit or have an interest in geology, it can be kinda cool too, as there are a lot of exposed rock outcrops with geologic structures visible, if you know what to look for.