Spring Trip Denver to San Diego

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Day 1 Pick up RV, then Denver to Grand Junction area.

Long drive having just picked up the vehicle but gets us into the interesting bits for an early start to day 2.

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Is that day 1 with the RV ? You have to spend a night in a Motel in the States after an International flight, before you are permitted to collect the RV.

Just to be clear, you will be passing many "interesting bit's" on route to Grand junction.

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Can you recommend any good RV parks in the Grand Junction area - do we go KOA or is there somewhere more independent?

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KOA in my mind is the McDonalds of the camping world and is something that doesn't appeal to me at all. With a family they certainly tick the boxes with the amenities, but they all start to look the same, and a good private, State or National park campground offers, for me anyway, more appeal and generally they cost less. As well as the directories Michael has suggested, just put name of town and RV park into your search engine and check your options. Outside of Grand Junction is Fruita and the Fruita section of the James M Cobb Colorado River State park which we found fine for an overnight stop with a lake side pitch. Ideal if you want to visit the Colorado National Monument as well.

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Explore Arches and stay in the Arches National Park RV site (no showers or waste dump - I read that!) Are there alternatives?

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Not in the park. I would highly recommend staying here, it is absolutely wonderful. There are flush toilets, but as long as you book a full hook up site the night before and arrive with your fresh water tanks full and the waste tanks empty you will be fine. Make sure you stock up with some firewood for the fire pit. You can do a round walk to Broken Arch and Sand dune Arch from the campground. If you want a resort type RV park you will find plenty in Moab, but my advice would be to try and book Devils Garden asap !

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Stay in RV. Is the Grand Canyon Village the only option to be near the canyon, or can you stay off the beaten track at all in the RV? We were thinking that we are heading up to Bryce and wondered if there was an option en route?

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The RV park near to the village is not the only option, but it is in a wonderful wooded setting away from the village and rim, but within walking distance. I wouldn't even consider heading towards Bryce and missing a sunset. You have little time here as it is.

Bryce canyon > Rubys Inn. Zion NP >Watchman campground. Vegas > I would recommend Oasis RV resort. The Kid's will love the pools.

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Day 9 Las Vegas to Bakersfield. (Any recommendations on RV parks?)

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If you are going via Death valley then you could look at options around the Lake Isabella area. If not I would consider gettin to the Visalia area.

I too would be looking to utilise the RV as much as possible. The Pines campgrounds in Yosemite Valley are wonderful and such good value. If you change your mind, booking would be advisable. Perhaps you could 'splash out' and dine at the Awhanee with your savings ! ;-)

If you are planning to visit Alcatraz while in SF, I would also recommend booking that in advance as queues for tickets can be long. This is the only Official booking office used directly by the NPS.

As long as you realise that this trip is going to keep you on the go throughout the trip, you will have a great time.

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As for Yosemite, we had found a remote lodge, which we thought would be more remote and in the wilderness than the RV Park...

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Not your typical RV park.

NP Campgrounds are popular with people, but that is because they are right in the heart of nature. They are not generally in a developed area, just cleared areas to park in among the trees/Rocks etc to share with the wildlife.

Thank you for that Donna. Trailer Life directory it is.

Charlie

That, SWDave, is quite brilliant advice. So useful. I shall absorb it all and start booking. Charlie

SW Dave - your advice was invaluable. I just managed to squeeze into the last site available at Devil's Garden, again at Mather in the GC, Ruby's Inn and one night at North Pines, Yosemite. So, the must-do's are booked. Phew.

The plan now looks like this.

30 Mar - Pick up RV in Denver, Stay in Fruita.
31 Mar - Stay in Arches, Devil's Campground booked
1 Apr - Monument Valley (yet to book, more research tomorrow)
2 Apr - GC booked
3 Apr - GC booked
4 Apr - Ruby's Inn Bryce booked
5 Apr - Ruby's Inn Bryce booked
6 Apr - Zion. Watchman full, but considering Sand Hollow State Park for dune driving and boating fun with our teenage boys....
7 Apr - Oasis LV
8 Apr - Lake Isabella Area (you mentioned a 'hidden gem' of a sequoia drive to drama queen - is it as good doing it in reverse?)
9 Apr - Yosemite - North Pines booked. Only one night available.
10 Apr - Either get in again on 1st come 1st served or stay in Oakhurst. (Recommendations welcome)
11 Apr - Return RV in San Francisco
12 Apr - Day in SF, Alcatraz, trams, Fisherman's Wharf
13 Apr - Hire car. Visit Monterey Aquarium and Hearst Castle. Best place to stay?
14 Apr - Visit Santa Barbara, Arrive Pomona. Do you think that to do this stretch in two days is a little rushed? We could poach a day from the Pomona Beach end....
15 - 20 Disney, Universal Studios, Mexico, Surfing, San Diego.
20 Fly home.

Thank you so much!

Charlie

You have been busy !!

Gouldings lodge has an RV park in MV that I believe is the closest to the Tribal park. If you wanted to continue through MV in the afternoon and get closer to the GC there is the 'Cameron Trading Post' in Cameron. The RV park is very basic and close to some of the workers vans who seem to have a few dogs between them. Across the road the Trading post has a huge store with some interesting items and the food is very good and reasonably priced. Like I said, the RV park is basic, but arriving in the evening and leaving in the morning it is adequate. The store and food make it a nice experience and it's well located between MV and GC.

The 'Hidden Gem' is the Trail of 100 Giants in the Sequoia Forest, north of Kernville through Johnsondale. It is wonderful, but also slow going and quite a work out in an RV. I think taking this detour would be a bit much while trying to get to Yosemite the same day.

If you can't get a second night in Yosemite you could look at Groveland and the 'Yosemite Pines' RV park. It's not far out of Yosemite and on a more natural course to San Fran rather than back tracking to Oakhurst.

If you think of any other questions just ask, if not have a great trip and please drop by and share your trip highlights with us !

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13 Apr - Hire car. Visit Monterey Aquarium and Hearst Castle. Best place to stay?

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If you are looking for reasonable prices, there are a few places in San Simeon, including a Motel 6. If you are looking for charm, you can't beat Cambria. If you want to go farther, there are reasonable places in San Luis Obispo. In between, there are places in Cayucos and Morro Bay.

On the next day - Pomona is inland, there's no beach there!

I STRONGLY advise you to stay out of Mexico. Tijuana in particular is a very unsafe city for tourists. You also may not cross the border in a US rental car.

Since Pomona isn't on the ocean, you might want to check out some other beach areas. We've got some nice beaches down here in San Diego, but there are also a few good ones in the LA area.

I will second GLC's comment regarding Tijuana. STAY AWAY. These days, border towns aren't exactly the safest places, and Tijuana is one nasty town lately.



Donna

Hmmm, I seemed to have stopped once the RV was returned ! LOL.

I agree with the others about safety/security issues and would give Mexico a miss.

On the 13th you will really struggle for time to enjoy the scenery and stops around Big Sur plus visit the Aquarium and Hearst Castle same day. I would stop in San Simeon as glc mentioned and plan on taking a Hearst Castle tour on the morning of the 14th.

You don't want to be rushing around on Friday 13th. lol.

Dave.