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

[wanessa]

ha ha ha Lifey, you are so right!

I have just been reading Southwest Daves trip to the Grand Canyon and beyond and it is calming my nerves a bit - a really great trip. Getting very excited!

[wanessa]

Hi Everyone,



Well we are here and already I have realised that we are really really slow! I suppose part of it is the jet lag but everytime we start to drive the kids fall straight to sleep and have been up till midnight each night(don't worry, in there beds not making too much noise). The other thing I have realised is that although my husband, myself and older son are dying to see the amazing scenery that America has the other 3 are desperate to stay where we are now for another night because the RV park has a jumping pillow! I also quite like staying more than one night.

So with this in mind I am trying to change our vague plan to limit the driving to 3 hours max every second day.

Just to confuse things, a couple months ago I booked 2 nights in Yosemite basically because they were available, on the 28th and 29th of September. We are currently in San Luis Obispo and I would like to go as far as Crater Lake , but am wondering if I need to scrap Yellowstone or RMNP or both to make this trip enjoyable for everyone in the family?

Can anyone suggest a vague route from here, staying in Yosemite on the 28/29th then to Crater Lake -( possibly Yellowstone?) , then south to Utah and onto the Grand Canyon ? We need to return the RV by the 23rd of November.

Thanks in advance for your advice.


Vanessa

[Lifemagician]

Hi Vanessa,

Glad you have made it over there safely, and are now on your way. You know, I am not surprised to read that you are going much slower than originally planned. Travelling with children the ages of yours, is not something to rush. And I would have to agree with you about staying more than one night in a spot. Though, to keep a little bit to the original plan, you may not be able to do that all the time.

Onto your specific question. I can't see anywhere if you were planning to drive the Pacific Coast Highway. If not, I would head for Yosemite from SLO. If you would like to drive the PCH, then you could head to Yosemite from the Carmel / Monterey area.

I take it you have picked up some good maps of the area / the state, or a road atlas. You really are going to need that. Don't try to do it on the gps. It won't give you the overall picture. Besides, maps and an atlas show which routes are the scenic routes, as well as where the parks are along the way.

If you are not driving the PCH, you could take your time, follow 41 to Fresno, and into Yosemite. At a mere 250 miles, you could do that in a lazy two days driving.

If you would like to drive the PCH, it is an easy day's drive, or two lazy days driving to Monterey. From Montery to Yosemite, is another 250 miles, which can easily be done in a day, but you might like to take two days.

So with 10 days, you have ample opportunity to stay more than one night in places. However, I would watch the progress, and make sure you don't fall behind.

Lifey

[Southwest Dave]

You could also consider Sequoia NP, as an alternative to the coastal route, or 'as well as' ! With regards to the rest of the journey, perhaps just see how it unfolds and go from there.
Hope you are having a great time and will look forward to updates or any further questions you may have.

[wanessa]

Thanks guys!

[wanessa]

Hi Everyone,

We are in Las Vegas at almost the end of our RV part of the trip. We have driven through California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana (briefly), Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico (Yosemite,Oregon, Grand Canyon and Santa Fe were definite highlights for me). It has been amazing and I just want to thank you all for your help. The RV has been great, having said that I need to get out of it now! We are definitely planning on coming back (without our kids!) in the future.

Thanks again,

Vanessa

[Mass Tim]

Great to hear you're having an amazing time! I'm looking forward to hearing more, and seeing some pictures, if you have them!

[Lifemagician]

Wow!! Hasn't time flown. And look at all the ground you have covered. So glad it has all worked out for you. I can't wait to read all about it, and see the photos. You might like to start a thread with all your experiences here. Your experience of travelling with the family will be a great help to other roadtrippers.

Take care, and enjoy the rest of your trip.

Lifey

[Southwest Dave]

It looks as though you adjusted well and balanced your pace out nicely !

Thanks for the update and just like Lifey, I too look forward to reading more about your adventure. I hope when things settle back down you can find the time to share your memories.

Enjoy the remainder of your trip !

Dave.