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Hi All, I'm beginning to plan a trip to the Bitterrot in MT from just outside of Los Angeles. I know my first few stops: Vegas, Zion Nat'l Park and maybe Bryce N.P What are your must see's in Utah? What are your favorite RV friendly routes? Do you think, April is too soon to head up into Utah, Wyoming and Montana?
Thank you,
Michael Elliott
You'll need to be flexible and prepared.
Here is some of my dashcam video from a run from N. Colo to Seattle and back in late April.
At the 5:00 minute mark I am south of Billings MT headed south/east on I-90.
Late April.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Eh9OSWoqk
What type of RV are you driving?
Hi Michael,Quote:
Originally Posted by openmind
We've gone to Utah in our 30 foot motorhome (towing a jeep) almost every April for the last 12 years since DH retired. Usually towards the middle or end of the month. We've had all ranges of weather. I remember one year mother nature played an April Fools joke on us and had a couple of inches of snow in Zion. That's pretty unusual. We've also been in Capitol Reef and had it snow and we've also had beautiful warm sunny weather in Utah in April.
I don't know about Wyoming and Montana. April and the chances of snow up there would worry me in an RV.
You don't mention what kind of RV you have or how long you have for the trip. I would recommend Zion, Bryce and then AFTER CHECKING THE WEATHER and if there's no chance of snow, I'd drive Hwy 12 between Bryce and Torrey, UT for spectacular views and spend some time in Capitol Reef National Park. Depending on how much time you have you might want to check out Moab, UT and Canyonlands and Arches National park but just make sure you're not there over Jeep Week unless you like CROWDS!
Utahtea
As mentioned above, how much time do you have and is it a one way trip or return ? All weather permitting I agree with the above, from Bryce take UT scenic 12 to UT24 through Capital Reef and then you could head north on US191 past Dinosaur NM and Flaming Gorge Res. Perhaps visit Moab for Arches and Canyonlands ? You have many options it's more a case of what appeals to you the most and then start working out a route to join them up, which we can help with.
Hi, I'm looking for advice on the smart way to travel from Southern CA to Hamilton, MT. I'm leaving in early May.
What's the considered wisdom on whether May is still too early for a Northern route?
If I had my choice I'd take the Northern route:
CA 46 from the coast to US 5 to the 680 to the 80 to Salt Lake City. From there I'd take the 15N I'm still searching out the best route from there.
I think my best Southern route to take the 40 to the 15 North to the 93 in MT. That will swing me below the mountains and keep me out of the snow and ice, I hope.
I know no one can predict the weather this far out. I'm looking for probability. Usually, I'd seek out historical data but climate change has made that unreliable.
Common sense says to take the Southern route. What do you experienced travelers think?
Thank you in advance,
Michael
Moderator Note: Please keep all questions about the same trip in the same thread.
I really don't think weather will be a factor in your planning during May and especially while staying on the main Highways so stick to your choice and check conditions before leaving, you can always change your mind. Either way you will need at least 2 overnight stops to reach Hamilton.
Although checking historical conditions can give you a 'normal' it has no say in what will be happening at the exact time you are on the road, climate change or not. In fact if I took the 1-80 I wouldn't go as far east as SLC and I-15, just head north on US93 through Twin Falls.
(I presume you are heading straight to MT now rather than sightseeing?)
Have a good trip !
Thank you Southwest Dave. What a great reply. I’m working on “Side A” of my plan first. Once I know how long it will take if I hustle then I can flesh out “Side B. Like a sketch before the painting. You’ve done some of my homework for me.
I’ll probably have a very different trip than th one I was sketching out.
Thanks again,
Michael
Moderator: I would be grateful for a moment of your time. I did not know I’d committed an etiquette foul. I ‘d like to understand the right way to post. Please contact me. Thank you
Quote:
Originally Posted by openmind
To address both these issues. Almost every trip takes on changes as you go through the planning process, some look totally different to the original, it's perfectly normal. For other members reading the thread for the first time, it is much easier to follow the planning process if all questions regarding one trip remain in one thread. Having all parts of the jigsaw in one room helps you to understand the whole picture and enables us to give the best possible advice without repeating previous answers or missing questions. So, please ask as many questions as you need but keep them here.Quote:
I’ll probably have a very different trip than the one I was sketching out.
Dave.
Thank you, Dave. Going forward, I'll pay closer attention to how I post and reply. Michael
Hi Dave, According to, RV Trip Wizard, there's a Low Clearance point on US 93 in the Jackson, MT area. I've looked on the MT D.O.T. website and I see nothing about low clearances listed. Where would you lookwhen trip planning to find the real skinny on low clearances when planning your trip? Michael
Check lowclearances.com, they sell a database. They claim that they have 7000 low clearance bridges in the US.
Rand McNally publishes a Motor Carrier Road Atlas which should have low-clearance info. Truckers NEED to know this stuff. You might even find one on sale at a truck stop.
Thank you, Gic.
- - - Updated - - -
Thank you, Nofan.
I will "second" the suggestion of the trucker's atlas. It is full of that information for the price of that book, plus a lot of maps and other information. You can buy it in paper or laminated. We drive an ordinary pickup truck, but we still like the trucker's atlas in laminated form because it has a ton of information in it.
Donna
Hi Donna, I'm driving a 5th wheel.
Michael
Thank you, Donna, Thank you, Nofan,
I've got the 2021 Rand McNally Large format altas on order. I'm using my 2018 for now but I want a current one for this year's travels.
Hi again Gic,
According to the Low Clearances website, their latest update is dated March of 2019. I was hoping for a current look.
Go safe.
That's a bit strange as US93 doesn't go near Jackson WY ?? I have driven almost the entire length of US93 in a class C RV without issues. Does RV Wizard pinpoint the locations ?Quote:
Hi Dave, According to, RV Trip Wizard, there's a Low Clearance point on US 93 in the Jackson, MT area
I believe there are a few apps available on line for truckers and RV'ers but I have always found that should there be a low clearance bridge on a highway there would be plenty of warning and alternative routes signed.
There is a Jackson in Montana, but it's over 20 miles from US-93. It's between Wisdom and Dillon on MT-278.
Driving a fifth-wheel.....my husband and I owned one for over 12 years. I don't think we ever ran into a low-clearance situation on an Interstate or US highway. But the trucker's atlas marks highways good for truckers with highlighting. Yesterday, we were on a state highway in the Midwest and twice, met a 53' tractor-trailer going in the opposite direction. (Yes, I'll be writing up this trip, perhaps later.)
Donna