Western Parks Road Trip

You aren't going to find 24 hour Walmart Supercenters in the city of LA anywhere near the airport or convenient to any of the freeways. I used the store locator online to confirm. Walmart generally doesn't build Supercenters in large cities due to strong resistance from local merchants, competition issues, and security concerns. Note that there are 3 types of Walmarts - Supercenters that are open 24h and have everything, standard Walmarts that are not 24h and have very limited groceries (mostly convenience food), and Neighborhood Markets which may or may not be 24h and are just groceries. Palmdale is the first place along your route that has one. There really isn't any place to do "one stop" shopping in the city of LA and you will waste time fighting traffic and trying to find everything.

For scenery, I think I'd take Trona Wildrose.

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Originally Posted by Pujsek

First let me wish you a happy new year and many safe miles.

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Same back at you. You have a great trip planned.

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Originally Posted by Pujsek

Can you give me some advice on scenic routes and possible quick stops between Yellowstone and Crater Lake?

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I'm glad you asked about scenic miles between Yellowstone and Crater Lake. Route yourselves from Crystal Crane over US20 to Bend and then down 97. It only adds about 20 miles to the trip, but you'll be going past Lava Butte, another volcanic cone almost like Capulin which you can drive up and walk the rim. Below that is Newberry Volcanic National Monument. It has the largest obsidian field in the world, and you can walk paved paths through it. Neither stop will take you more than an hour or so, so you will still have time for your scenic drive around the rim of Crater Lake.

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Originally Posted by Harry Kline

I'm glad you asked about scenic miles between Yellowstone and Crater Lake. Route yourselves from Crystal Crane over US20 to Bend and then down 97. It only adds about 20 miles to the trip, but you'll be going past Lava Butte, another volcanic cone almost like Capulin which you can drive up and walk the rim. Below that is Newberry Volcanic National Monument. It has the largest obsidian field in the world, and you can walk paved paths through it. Neither stop will take you more than an hour or so, so you will still have time for your scenic drive around the rim of Crater Lake.

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Thank you for your suggestions.

Which way would you choose from Canyonlands to Yellowstone?

a.) Canyonlands to Colorado National Monument (camping) to Flaming Gorge via Dinosaur NM (camping) to Yellowstone

or

b.) Canyonlands to Capitol Reef (camping) to Garden City via Logan Canyon (camping) to Yellowstone

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Originally Posted by Pujsek

Which way would you choose from Canyonlands to Yellowstone?

a.) Canyonlands to Colorado National Monument (camping) to Flaming Gorge via Dinosaur NM (camping) to Yellowstone

or

b.) Canyonlands to Capitol Reef (camping) to Garden City via Logan Canyon (camping) to Yellowstone

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I have never been to either Dinosaur NM or Flaming Gorge, so I would ask one of the others about that route. I have been to Colorado NM several times, however, and it is mainly a 19-mile rim drive with views into the canyons below and some nice rock formations. The Coke Ovens and Independence Monument come to mind as two of them.

I can recommend the second route as the scenery along it is good all the way. Logan Canyon and the overlook above Bear Lake are really neat. You might even take a short side trip into Salt Lake City to visit Temple Square, an impressive place.

Either route should include the drive up UT128 from Moab along the Colorado river to I-70 at Cisco, UT. It is one of those three scenic drives I mentioned in an earlier post and shouldn't be missed.

I was leaning toward Capitol Reef way and that's the route we will take.

Has anybody ever camped in Valley of Fire, NV? Does anybody have any idea how likely it is for the campground to be full if we arrive late afternoon on Sunday 26th, June?

When we passed the Valley of Fire SP campground this past summer in early July, on a Thursday, it wasn't busy at all. We didn't drive through it, but the sign said VACANCY at around 10 am. But one thing it was: HOT. This is the desert.



Donna

I know this is desert but according to last years data, temperatures at night should drop enough for a good night sleep. I hope :)

I have another question.

Let's say we'll go to San Francisco from Yosemite and stay there for one night and the next overnight stop will be Sequoia NP. Is the coastal road from Golden Gate to let's say Salinas good enough as a representation of California coastal road or should we continue down to Big Sur and leave the coast between Cambria and Harmony?

I'd recommend you take the 280/85/101/156 to CA-1 through Monterey and then down the coast to Cambria.

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Originally Posted by Pujsek

Has anybody ever camped in Valley of Fire, NV? Does anybody have any idea how likely it is for the campground to be full if we arrive late afternoon on Sunday 26th, June?

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I've camped there several times over the years. Pretty incredible night sky there -- I am not sure about the likely availability -- this is very close to the July 4th weekend -- which will be very busy. I'll see if I can find some info about this.

Mark