May 2011 - OK to KCMO the long way

[Pfemm]

Trying to pick a campground for Florida

I found these 13 in the vicinity of where we're going to be (Florida Panhandle)

Anyone know if there's a really good one/bad one on this list?
Or one that's missing?

1 Rocky Bayou
2 Grayton Beach
3 Pine Log
4 St. Andrews
5 Falling Waters
6 Florida Caverns
7 Torreya
8 Camel Lake {Apalachicola}
9 Dead Lakes
10 St. Joseph Peninsula
11 St. George Island
12 Ochlockonee River
13 Wright Lake {Apalachicola}

[Southwest Dave]

My huband says "we can't be on the road for 3 months!" but I say he doesn't have to know exactly how long this thing is going to take till we're in the middle... lol..

I like your style !! Lol. "we cant be on the road for 3 months", kinda gives you a license for up to 90 day's ! Ha Ha!

As you know there is so much to choose from, personally I would perhaps drop the West rim of the Grand canyon, the Petrified Forest and possibly Four corners and head from the South rim through Tuba City and Monument valley on route to Moab and Arches/Canyonlands NP taking in some of the places you mentioned such as Canyon De Chelley, Muley point etc. Getting to Moab a little earlier would mean not having to rush to Vegas and would give you a chance to drive the fabulous Utah scenic 12 via Hanksville and Torrey where you will pass Capitol Reef NP and Bryce canyon. That could be rounded off with a lovely drive through Red rock and the Checkerboard Mesa and into Zion via the Mount Carmel tunnel. Hope I am not causing to much confusion and of course the decision is yours in the end, but I thought I would put it "out there" as Zion and Bryce are both fantastic and each offer something different to the desert area, and did I mention the drive !! Lol.

Places to stay if camping, "Mather" campground at the South rim, "Devils garden" campground Arches NP are two fantastic locations. If you wanted to go to Four corners you could continue to Mesa Verde NP that has a nice campground. If you get near Bryce canyon, check out "Rubys Inn" and Zion the "Watchman" campground. All can be found on the National parks Web site except Ruby's Inn at Bryce. When you are in the Grand canyon area you might find Cameron trading post of interest for a shopping/ dining experience, but I don't think they have tent sites.

I will leave you to it for now, good luck ! ;-)

[Pfemm]

I like your style !!

Lol Thanks! haha... that's what he gets for putting me in charge!

personally I would perhaps drop the West rim of the Grand canyon, the Petrified Forest and possibly Four corners

I am not opposed to leaving off the West rim or the petrified forest. and Four Corners I just thought since we'd be in the neighborhood we might as well go once. Doesn't seem like too much of a detour.

head from the South rim through Tuba City and Monument valley on route to Moab and Arches/Canyonlands NP [...] Canyon De Chelley, Muley point etc. [...] drive the fabulous Utah scenic 12 [...] Capitol Reef NP and Bryce canyon [...] drive through Red rock and the Checkerboard Mesa and into Zion via the Mount Carmel tunnel.

Hope I am not causing to much confusion and of course the decision is yours in the end

I'm not confused if this map is right lol... Is this close to what you're saying?

<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=1172790592 64233473458.00048b48c7f2bdb0a434f&amp;ll=37.367864 ,-111.048431&amp;spn=2.523763,4.00177&amp;output=emb ed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=1172790592 64233473458.00048b48c7f2bdb0a434f&amp;ll=37.367864 ,-111.048431&amp;spn=2.523763,4.00177&amp;source=emb ed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Grand Canyon to Vegas</a> in a larger map</small>


And Thank you so much for these tips/suggestions!

I will definitely be putting those campgrounds on the list I'm making.

{Lol on top of that journel/log i made, i'm also making us a personalized travel guide. can't carry around all those books and random sheets of paper in the car that would be a nightmare!}

[Southwest Dave]

The basic outline of the route I suggested would look something like this.



As I mentioned, it is a basic outline and you can take any detours that appeal, but as you are finding out, a little detour here and one there, add up to a lot of miles and time. My thinking was with the time you have you will get more contrast if you used some of that time in Bryce and Zion NP's.

[Pfemm]

I guess my map didn't work.. here's the one i made but...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...2bdb0a434f&z=7

yours is a lot simpler though... I always get carried away :)

That area just seems like every where you turn there's something awesome

[Pfemm]

oh yeah... I like your idea of going up to 70 and then around instead of backtracking to Capitol Reef... Why didn't I see that! lol

[Pfemm]

Well... it's about that time... I can't believe we're almost a month out!

Quick update: Everything is good and on schedule... right now it's a little weird for me because I just finished my first week of unemployment since high school! I say... it feels a bit like summer vacations did! Awesome :) although now comes the buckled-down-nitty-gritty of move preparations and serious road trip prep... phew. it's going to be a whirlwind month i know it!

So I'm beginning to hash out the last bits of gearing up for this thing.
I think I've got everything but i'm still hung on a CB radio...

I picked this one a while back
CB Radio

is there a better one out there? I admit i'm a little clueless about it all.

my concern is that we don't have a lot of space in the car and we have only ONE cigarette adapter (we've tried the little expander things but they don't play well with our car)

Thanks!