4 week Cross country camping trip Detroit-San Diego

[DonnaR57]

If the RV is a 2-way (propane/electric), you'll run it on propane while you are towing. There are states that require you to shut the fridge down while you are in a gas station (something you may want to do, even if the state law doesn't say so).

There are three way fridges (propane/electric/battery), but we never had much luck keeping the fridge cold on battery power while traveling.

[michigancamper]

thanks everyone.

I looked in Best Buy for mapping software but amazingly they have nothing in stock, nor available online. Think we'll end up getting it online at amazon or. . Did see the mapping software link here within RTA.

Thanks for the info Donna on the fridge!

[michigancamper]

as we have a Win 7 and Mac computer, I'm reading about nothing but problems loading Streets and Trips 2011 ($19 at amazon) onto Windows 7 computers.. anyone else successful or not so successful?

[michigancamper]

2 adults
2 kids - 12 and 14 at the time of the trip

After some great advice a few weeks ago on this board, just checking back in with an update on our planned trip. While trying to not schedule our trip day to day, we are having to in some cases of course due to reservations in popular areas. So far this is what our trip is looking like with the input of the wife and kids:

Leave Fenton MI
Stop in Wisconsin Dells for the night
Stop in Mitchell SD for the night
Stop at Corn Palace for the night
Yellowstone for 4 days
Twin Falls ID for the night
Bosie for the night
Crater Lake Area for the night
Redwood forest for the night
San Fran for 4 days
LA for 3 days
San Diego for 7 days
Hoover Dam for the night
Havasu Falls for the night
Grand canyon for 4 days
Sante Fe for 3 days
Amarillo Tx for the night
Oklahoma for the night
Ozarks for 3 days
Yellville AR for three days (family and friends there)
Springfield IL for the night
Home.

trying as much as possible to not have one day after another of driving, but also some multiple days here and there to hang out, relax and see the sights. What started as a four week trip is now five weeks :) I have 7 weeks off but would rather not spend the whole vacation on the road. :)

thoughts, suggestions?

Moderator Note: Please keep all questions about this trip in the same thread.

[Southwest Dave]

Your trip looks doable, other than getting from the Corn Place to Yellowstone in a day, but I suspect that's a typo as the Corn Palace is in Mitchell, that you have already mentioned. [?]

The part that stands out to me the most is the west coast where you have 2 weeks spent in 3 City's. If it were me, I would be breaking that down a little differently and at the very least spend a night [or 2] driving the scenic PCH between SF and LA. I would also have to mention Yosemite, for me one of the most wonderful places on earth and a place where an RV is much more at 'home'. I would consider spending 2 of your 4 nights just to the North of SF and just to the south. Although that won't give you quite full days there, the SF RV parks are limited in number and some resemble little more than a parking lot with ameneties and leave you feeling 'squeezed' in.

You might have to reconsider Havasu Falls. It is on primative Indian lands and would mean a very long hike or a Helicopter flight, you won't get anywhere close with an RV.

I would also split the journey from GC to Santa Fe and go to Monument Valley and perhaps Four Corners Monument. Four corners is a bit of a tacky tourist trap, but it would be a unique opportunity to take a picture of a foot and a leg [or each family member] in a different State. FRom Monument Valley it is only a short detour. If you wanted to break it up even more, I would suggest another night and head through MV to Mesa Verde NP and then visit the Hot Springs at Pagosa Springs before Santa Fe.

[DonnaR57]

Admittedly, I live in the San Diego area and have seen about everything SD has to offer, so I'm wondering what the draw is that leaves you in San Diego for 7 days.

San Diego Zoo - 1 day
Wild Animal Park (now Safari Park) - 1 day
Sea World - 1 day
Old Town San Diego - 1 day
Beach - 1 day

That's what I see. You could venture out and see things outside of San Diego with the spare time, or if spending $175/person for Zoo-Wild Animal Park-Sea World days is more than you bargained/budgeted for. I can offer some suggestions, if you're interested.


Donna

[michigancamper]

Admittedly, I live in the San Diego area and have seen about everything SD has to offer, so I'm wondering what the draw is that leaves you in San Diego for 7 days.
Donna

Hey Donna, great point on San Diego. My aunt/uncle and cousins (from my dad's side) live in SD so we'll be seeing them as well as hitting some of the sights. I also know the the girls will want to see Coronado. My wife came out to SD for a weekend in June when I was out there for a meeting. Our time frame in SD is somewhat liquid as our reservation at Santee Lakes is for 10 days but we can change as needed with 48 hours notice. We also are having my mom fly out while we are there as its been years since she has been to SD. I know we wont be doing Sea World as we hit that up in Florida. Any family friendly suggestions?

[michigancamper]

Your trip looks doable, other than getting from the Corn Place to Yellowstone in a day, but I suspect that's a typo as the Corn Palace is in Mitchell, that you have already mentioned. Yep, we are stopping in Sturgis I believe it is for the night.. or at least that's our plan currently. [?]

The part that stands out to me the most is the west coast where you have 2 weeks spent in 3 City's. If it were me, I would be breaking that down a little differently and at the very least spend a night [or 2] driving the scenic PCH between SF and LA. I would also have to mention Yosemite, for me one of the most wonderful places on earth and a place where an RV is much more at 'home'. I would consider spending 2 of your 4 nights just to the North of SF and just to the south. Although that won't give you quite full days there, the SF RV parks are limited in number and some resemble little more than a parking lot with ameneties and leave you feeling 'squeezed' in. I noticed the same thing looking at the RV parks north of Napa and south. My wife and I worked for a company based out of Napa for years while its an amazing area, not sure how much the kids would appreciate it as much as adults. I may have to reconfigure the drive/stops to southern CA as I do remember that drive as being amazing.

You might have to reconsider Havasu Falls. It is on primative Indian lands and would mean a very long hike or a Helicopter flight, you won't get anywhere close with an RV. This is a place my wife found online - any idea how long of a hike it is? I was under the impression is was pretty short. She may need to do some additional reading...

I would also split the journey from GC to Santa Fe and go to Monument Valley and perhaps Four Corners Monument. Four corners is a bit of a tacky tourist trap, but it would be a unique opportunity to take a picture of a foot and a leg [or each family member] in a different State. This was something we had a side trip and like Wall-drug, didn't include in my update. From Monument Valley it is only a short detour. If you wanted to break it up even more, I would suggest another night and head through MV to Mesa Verde NP and then visit the Hot Springs at Pagosa Springs before Santa Fe.Definitely have to look at reworking our route. I'll put my wife up to some research this week as I'm headed back to work. Thank you for all the great tips!!!

See the bold for my responses...

[Southwest Dave]

This link has most info regarding a visit to Havasu Falls. From the Hilltop it's an 8 mile hike each way and is not classed as easy.

[DonnaR57]

San Diego family friendly:

San Diego Zoo -- best zoo in the US
Wild Animal Park/Safari Park -- related to the zoo, but a lot more open.
You can buy a combination pass that will include both places.

Old Town State Park -- park and walk around this historic area. Just outside of the State Park area is the Mexican neighborhood with lots of fun shops and good restaurants. All are pretty family friendly!

Mission San Diego -- another historic place.

A great one day road trip: from Santee Lakes, head north on Rt 67 towards Ramona and Julian. In Ramona, the route changes number, so just follow signs to Santa Ysabel and Julian. There are some antique shops in Ramona, as well as a few good Mexican restaurants (one is right behind McDonald's, called La Salsa). The other is in "downtown" called La Cocina. In Santa Ysabel, you may find the aroma of a bakery -- stop at the bakery there, they make fantastic bread! Up to Julian in the mountains, there is an old gold mine, plus some museums and of course the famous Julian Bakery --- try an apple pie. (Yes, this is somewhat an eating trip!) Continue out of Julian towards Laguna on the Sunrise Highway, or go to Cuyamaca State Park if you'd like instead. Once off Sunrise Highway or Hwy 79 to Cuyamaca and Descanso, head west on I-8 back to Santee. If you go through Pine Valley on Olde Hwy 80, you can stop at the Pine Hills Lodge -- I believe that is where a ghost lives. :-)

The beach is ALWAYS family friendly. We are military and always use the one at North Island, but others love Mission Beach, or Del Mar State Beach, or go further up the coast to one of the state park beaches. Just watch out if this trip is in June ... we have "June Gloom" where the sun doesn't like to burn through the marine layer until noon!

Hope this gives you some ideas.


Donna