First time in USA- Driving from San Fran to Seattle

[matthewh133]

Thanks Dave and Donna for the further assistance, it really helps having those with experience share their opinions/tips. We are definitely like you guys, more active, and like to get out, stretch our legs with hikes etc, which there seems to be an abundance of :)

We were actually in the process of looking at helicopter flights too Dave, and we will definitely take your advice into consideration.

[Lifemagician]

We were actually in the process of looking at helicopter flights too Dave, and we will definitely take your advice into consideration.

There is nothing wrong with taking a flight over the West Rim, from Henderson or LV. It is the only way you can really get to see this area. The problem arises when folk think they are flying over the NP, when in actual fact, they are over the West Rim, and nowhere near the NP.

Having done both, I must say they are both fantastic and worthwhile... in their own way.

Lifey

[reneec133]

Hi Lifey,

This was the plane/heli trip we were looking at: http://www.allgrandcanyontours.com/b...ge=TourDetails

It includes:Complimentary Las Vegas Strip hotel pickup & return included for your convenience. Fly to the Grand Canyon. Soar over Hoover Dam. Land at the Grand Canyon West Rim. Descend into the Grand Canyon on a scenic helicopter flight. Enjoy a guided pontoon riverboat cruise along the Colorado River. Stop at Eagle Point, for incredible photo opportunities. Upgrade and add on a Skywalk pass. Visit Guano Point for a box lunch (meal included).

So in this 7-8 hr tour we wouldn't actually see Grand Canyon NP? What area is the west rim/eagle point considered?

[Midwest Michael]

The West Rim is located on Native American Tribal Lands. It's also where the Skywalk is located.

Helicopter flights are not allowed into the canyon within the National Park, and the canyon is not as wide as the massive sections that you'd see within the Park's boundaries. The west rim also is much more limited in terms of viewpoints, compared to the National Park, where you've got dozens of viewpoints (all that show something different!) spread out over several miles.

The elevation of the rim at the west rim is also significantly lower than within the park - so the canyon is basically twice as deep within the NP. And while the fee is likely included within your package price, visiting the West Rim is much more expensive than the National Park. It will cost you $75+ per person to visit the West Rim, while the National Park is $25 for an entire carload for up to a week.

[Lifemagician]

So in this 7-8 hr tour we wouldn't actually see Grand Canyon NP? What area is the west rim/eagle point considered?

No, renee, you would not be going to the NP.

On the other hand, it sounds like it would be a great experience, though I would give the Skywalk a miss. But do not regard it as an alternative to visiting the NP. It is an addition to visiting the NP. And you would find, that although both are incredible experiences, they are very different experiences.

Get out a good large detailed map of the area, one which has the perimetre of the park marked on it, and you will see. The Grand Canyon is huge and the NP is part of it.... but the best part!

Lifey

[matthewh133]

Thanks again guys, very helpful.

[reneec133]

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are planning a 2012 road trip from San Francisco to Chicago. We are seeing LA, Vegas, Toronto, Boston & New York before and after the road trip.

We are going to hire a car in San Fran, drop it off in Seattle. Pick another up in Seattle after our cruise, then drop it off in Chicago.

Below is a draft of our route:

6/06- San Fran (stay 3 nights)
9/06- Drive to Yosemite (3 nights)
12/06- Sacramento (1 night)
13/06- Lassen Volcanic National Park region (1 night)
14/06- Mount Shasta region (1 night)
15/06- Klamath Falls (to see Lava Beds National Monument, Klamath Lake) (1 night)
16/06- Crater Lake NP (Fort Klamath) (1 night)
17/06- Newberry National Volcanic Monument (1 night)
18/06- Portland (2 nights)
20/06- Mt St Helens & Mt Rainer NP (2 nights)
22/06- Olympia (1 night)
23/06- Forks (1 night)
24/06- Seattle **Alaska Cruise (7 nights)**
2/07- Arrive back in Seattle 8am. Drive to Vancouver (3 nights)
5/07- Vancouver Island- Victoria (1 night)
6/07- Vancouver Island- Tofino/Ucluelet (2 nights)
8/07- Whistler (2 nights)
10/07- Kamloops (1 night)
11/07- Jasper (2 nights)
13/07- Moraine Lake/Lake Louise region (4 nights)
17/07- Banff (3 nights)
20/07- Calgary (1 night)
21/07- Waterton NP (2 nights)
23/07- Glacier NP (2 nights)
25/07- Helena (1 night)
26/07- Yellowstone National Park (3 nights)
29/07- Stop over on the way to Mt Rushmore (1 night)
30/07- Mt Rushmore (1 night)
31/07- Sioux Falls or somewhere around there (1 night)
1/08- Stop over on the way to Chicago (1 night)
2/08- Arrive Chicago (2 nights)

So as you can see we are most unsure about the section from Yellowstone- Chicago. We do not want to be driving more than approximately 5 hours per day as we are not experienced road trippers and would like to see as many places as possible. We also don't mind if the driving is quite short (as you can see between Lassen & Shasta, etc, as we want to see as much as possible of the national parks during the day).

I would like to get some opinions of our overall trip but also some more specific advice for Yellowstone to Chicago, e.g. do we need to have more stops and where are the nicest places to stop/drive through. We want to see beautiful landscapes and are not too fussed about cities unless they are really special. I have heard that Beartooth hwy from Yellowstone is beautiful- would people suggest that?

Thank you in advance,

Renee

Please keep all questions regarding this trip in one thread. Thank-you.

[Lifemagician]

What happened to the Grand Canyon?

Lifey

[Southwest Dave]

My you have been busy !

The Beartooth Hghway would be at the top of most peoples lists while visiting Yellowstone. If you stopped in Billings you would have a 6 hour drive [Approx] toward Mt Rushmore. The trip from Rushmore to Sioux Falls will be most likely a little over 6 hours also and you might want to stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. La Crosse would seem to be the next 'natural' stop and has a few attractions [check them out using the 'RTA Map Wizard/centre in the tool bar above, although someone with first hand experience could be along with alternative [better] options.

[reneec133]

Hi Dave, sorry I made a new thread- just thought it was a little more than just San Fran to Seattle now. Thanks for your suggestions of places to stop between Yellowstone and Chicago. I hadn't thought of stopping at Billings. So you think allow maybe 3 days to drive to Chicago from Yellowstone comfortably?

Lifey we are planning on visiting the Grand Canyon before our 'road trip' starts. We are flying into Las Vegas, exploring the area and then flying to San Fran, where the driving really starts.