How much can I do in 3 months (with 4 kids)?

[Southwest Dave]

Whereas you would need a couple of lifetimes to 'see it all', I still think that 3 months is a good amount of time to visit and is something I [and many others] can only dream about, so a "Short time frame" as mentioned by Lifey is relative in more ways than one.

I also agree that paper maps are essential when planning and while travelling, they give you a better overall picture of the terrain and attractions etc. However you will find on line mapping tools a big help in your planning and such a thing can be found in the 'Maps' link above. The Map centre lets you customise routes and find attractions and will help you to figure out distances.

As I mentioned earlier, it is up to you how much you want to do and how you divide your time. Putting it into monthly sections as suggested above will help you to break it down and perhaps seem less daunting. For instance if you want to spend several days or a week in any one place [New York for example] that will take a chunk of your time from that part of your journey. If on the other hand you want to spend a couple of days 'here' and 'there', but keep on the move [say in Colorado/Utah] you can cover more ground. These are the type of individual choices that only you and your family can make based on your style of travel. For example, a 10,000 mile trip around the country over 90 days is a little over 110 miles per day, 2 to 3 hours of travel every day depending on the roads you are travelling, or for each 3 days you spend in one place, you would follow up with a full [but comfortable] day on the road.

That's the beauty of the road trip, you get to choose, to create your own dream trip, and the planning is a big part of that fun/dream. Get the Kid's involved in the planning so they have a vested interest in the trip, if they feel part of it, the whole family will have a lot more enjoyment.

Keep asking questions as you go and enjoy the planning !

[wanessa]

Thanks Southwest Dave, I really appreciate it.

When I plotted to points on the map, most of them were in the western third of the States, if that makes sense. The only major places out of this area are New York city and Niagara Falls. Based on that, and the fact that it seems we can't hire an RV for the time we want from Seattle, Portland or Chicago I have come up with a new plan and would LOVE to hear what you guys think.

Fly into LA on the 5th of September, look around for a few days and then hire the RV on the 8th and head up to San francisco, stay a few days and then go through Oregon and head towards Glacier National Park. Not sure what to do on the way but want to make it there by around the 20th of September. (am totally making this date up, not sure if that will give us too long or not, will use the map tool later) After about 3 or 4 nights there will head south to Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park (6 days altogether?) Still unsure weather to keep going to Mt Rushmore or if I am running out of time and should go straight down to Colorado to visit the Rocky Mountain National Park. After that will go to Arches, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Zion and Las Vegas and then visit Arizona. From Arizona we would drive to Florida (A bit more driving in this part of the trip, a bit less stopping, depending on time) to arrive in Orlando by about the 8th of December. After a week there we could fly to New York and stay in a serviced apartment for a week and also do Niagara Falls. a bit longer than 3 months but don't really need to rush back to Australia until January to get settled in before school starts.

I am very much looking forward to hearing your opinions, thanks again for all your help.
(getting VERY excited!)

Vanessa

[Southwest Dave]

Personally, and if it were a viable option for you, I would consider flying into Seattle, Salt lake City or Denver and get the northern most parts of your trip in the west done with first. The weather is unpredictable and nothing is guaranteed as you can get early winter storms that then can clear again later on, but as you head into Yellowstone and RMNP towards the end of Sept and into October you will be right on the 'edge' of the season. I would tend to think of starting out in Denver and then RMNP, [Rushmore?] Yellowstone, Glacier and then west and south before heading towards, Vegas, Southern Utah, Grand canyon etc and east. Of course budget is always something to consider and comparing the combination of flight and rental costs from different areas might help you to make that decision.

[Lifemagician]

Been thinking about this trip.... and even before you posted the above post, these were my thoughts. Much the same as what you have already discovered. Just that I would not drive the RV across to Orlando. I'd take it back to where you pick it up and avoid paying a one way fee.

If you were to plan the western part as a six to eight week trip the family will have experienced the great feeling of an RV, and you will have covered all of the outdoor attractions which are on most people's 'must see' list. I would then fly east, and do the rest without an RV. The east is nowhere near as RV friendly, and it will be late in the season, which adds more difficulties.

Here's my take, but you decide for yourself. I would fly to Chicago, spend time there. Maybe rent a car to do some sightseeing out of the city. But in the city you will not want a car. It is a hassle.

I would then take the Amtrak to NYC. If it is anything like the train from LA and SF to Chicago, or the train from Seattle to Chicago (all of which I have travelled), it will be a great journey, and another experience for the children. In NYC you will not want a car, nor in DC, nor in Boston (if you are going there.). You could always rent a car in Newark (or elsewhere in NJ, much cheaper than NY) and go to Niagara Falls. It can be done in a few days, but with doing some sightseeing along the way - Boston, Erie Canal, Finger Lakes and the autumn colours, to name a few - it could easily become a week long round trip.

Bus it or train it to DC. Then you can either decide to drive all the way to Orlando or fly, and rent a car in Orlando. Besides Disney there is the Kennedy Space Centre, the Everglades and the Keys. Of course they are only the hilights. You might find though, that by then the kids will be well and truly fed up with being cooped up in a car, and you might spend a lot of your time, just going to the park, by the pool or simply enjoying walks.

Even though you will be staying in hotels and motels, when using a car, it is no reason to always eat out. Carry your own box of cereal, buy some milk, fruit and yoghurt at the supermarket and breakfast is done. A loaf of bread some butter and filling from the supermarket, can make a box full of sandwiches. Disposable plates (as much as I hate them) come in handy at times like that. And even in the evenings, if you have a room with a microwave and fridge (many hotels have these), you can whip up a simple nutricuous meal for the family. A sandwich maker also comes in handy in hotels. So long as you don't have a fire to cook on, hotels will not mind you doing these things. I have never had a problem.

And then you can make the once or twice a week eating out, a specialty. Don't forget that there are also many places where you can buy take away meals, not the fast food type, but nutricious family meals.

Another good thing is to go to a charity shop - Goodwill is the best known, and is everywhere - and buy a handful of cutlery and some cups/mugs. It is usually very cheap, and you can always donate it back again at the end of your trip. I buy all those type of things at Goodwill.

Enjoy the planning, it is so much part of the trip. And see if you can involve the children in it as well. Helps to make it their trip too.

Lifey

[glc]

For planning purposes, the Going-to the-Sun Road through Glacier is scheduled to close on September 18 this year. If you want to visit Glacier, that should be one of your first stops.

[wanessa]

Dear Southwest Dave, I have contacted the RV rental company and the RV is available from Denver so am trying to go from there. Thank you so much.

Dear Lifey, you are a dream for me because I really don't know anything about the states besides movie scenery and John Denver songs (and that is what has been guiding my decisions)and I have a very short time to plan our trip. I really hoped someone who knew more about the States than me would just tell me what they would do - so thank you.

So my main question now (hello and thank you glc!) is - is Glacier NP worth going to after the Going-to-the-Sun road is closed (two medicine camp ground?) or should we drive quite quickly up the west coast and go to Glacier before the road closes and then go south to Yellowstone and onto RMNP.

Seriously, what did people do before this fabulous site? Thank you all so much for taking your time to help us out - amazing.

Vanessa

[DonnaR57]

I would say to hold Glacier NP for another trip. That's the main road into the place where all the good scenery is (IMHO). Or get there FIRST before the road closes 9/18.

What did people do before the Internet? I admit to being old enough to remember: we consulted real maps, looked at books and periodicals in the public libraries, and/or subscribed to travel magazines that were paper. My parents planned a 6-week round trip from our home in the Chicago suburbs, out to California via the Grand Canyon and other places, and returning home, in 1967. It was all done by paper maps, books, and magazines. :-) But definitely, the Internet, especially this site, saves a lot of time (and paper).



Donna

[wanessa]

Thanks Donna! I better get the maps out and figure that one out. I absolutely love the look of Glacier NP but I know, can't do everything. So hard though, so much to see in the US.

Vanessa

[glc]

Keep your plans flexible and keep track of conditions - it's always possible that an early season storm could close the GTSR before September 18, but it will definitely not be kept open later due to the reconstruction schedule. Technically, September 18 is the last day it will be completely open.

Just thought of something else - you probably can't take your RV across the GTSR - it has a 21 foot length limit, 8 foot width limit, and 10 foot height limit. However, there is a free shuttle bus system.

[Lifemagician]

As to GNP and the GTTSR, everything is 'worth' seeing. It depends so much on your schedule and mood at the time. Like glc says, why not keep it all flexible. When I was at GNP it was early July, and the road was not open, so I am yet to see that..... someday.

Another thought which came to mind when I read Donna's response to 'what did we do before.....'

Not sure which State you are in, but if you are a member of RACV, NRMA, RACQ, or equivalent, make sure you bring your membership card with you. Your membership of your local automobile club gives you access to free maps and tourist information at the AAA. I would suggest, that while in Denver you make a visit to the local AAA office and pick up maps of all the States through which you will be passing. Also pick up their free campground book for each State you will be visiting in the RV. These free resources can be invaluable along the way. And there are bound to be many evenings which will be occupied pouring over the maps, mapping out the route and destination for the next day / week / month. (Most campgrounds have a book exchange, where you can leave campground books and maps which you will no longer need. That is if you don't want to take them home.)

And if you make sure you pick up the maps of the Eastern States in Denver as well, then you can do all your planning for that leg of the trip, on cosy nights in the RV.

Furthermore, I like to get a road atlas, such as Rand McNally or AAA, and at the end of each day, mark all the roads on which I have travelled. This then becomes my trip souvenir, and is very helpful when recalling the trip with family and friends - even months later - enabling them to 'see' where you went.

Lifey