4 week Cross country camping trip Detroit-San Diego

[michigancamper]

Just skimming through, some things really jump out to me.

First, Why are you even going to Eau Claire at all? Because I heard its really nice this time of the year? :) Actually that was my fault. I forgot to readjust for going through Chicago versus. the UP. Its well out of the way to South Dakota, unless you do decide to go via the UP (in which case its probably too far to drive in one day.) Have you considered taking a Ferry to avoid Chicago. Its pricey, but if you are extremely opposed to driving through Chicago, it would be an option, and could save you some time. Just priced it out and it would cost about $240 for the four of us on one ferry out of Muskegon and less than that out of Ludington on the Badger.

It looks like you've got your cities/attractions mismatched in South Dakota. You're also skipping the things I think are much more interesting things in the area, like Badlands, Custer State Park, and Jewel and Wind Caves to name a few. Where is the edit button?!?!? Should we cut down the time in Yellowstone to check out the Wind Caves? I'd love to see 'em all but we only have a five week window for our trip

Sturgis to Yellowstone is a pretty long way, depending upon where in the park you're heading, and which route you plan to take. Google maps is recommending to take 90 to 14 through the Bighorn Forest... and that its about a 8 hour drive.. sooo..

You really seem to be rushing down the west coast, and aren't really giving yourself time to drive the coast highway. SF to LA can be done in a day, but only if you are skipping the coast. It would also seem to make a lot more sense just to drive down the coast and stop in Monterey as part of that trip, instead of trying to do it as a daytrip out of SF. Currently we are staying 2 nights on the north side of San Fran and 2 nights on the south south in Santa Kruz. My wife and I have been to Monterrey/Carmel but the girls have not. Are we better off maybe spending one night in Santa Kruz so we can drive the PCH towards LA, stopping somewhere along the way? Any suggestions along the way for a stopping/overnight point are greatly appreciated!

California right now is using up the vast majority of your time, and you've got some stops where you're planning far more time than you'd need. IE, Hoover Dam can be seen in a couple of hours, and you've got a few days planned here. On the flip side, you're kind of racing through the 4 corners and Colorado. And then again Arkansas, your spending a few days with family and friends who live in the Ozarks, and then are planning to spend another couple more days there on top of that? Looking at moving up our Grand Canyon stay. I was trying to not have a ton of one night stays here and there, but than added on our side trip to colorado. So great point as we do need to spend more time in that region versus at a dam holding up some water.

Just a few things I see as a first impression.

Thank you for the feedback Michael, very, very appreciated. back to drawing board!

so, am I missing the edit button, or a way to edit previous posts? I know at one point I had edited post awhile ago but now I'm not seeing it.

[Midwest Michael]

You aren't able to edit your old posts, for the exact reason you want to edit it.

We don't want people going back and changing the substance of their posts well after the fact. It makes it very hard for people to follow the thread, and more importantly, people who have already looked are likely not going to see the changes you've made.

You are able to edit your posts for a few hours after you make them, so you can fix any minor errors or mistakes to details, but any substantive changes should just be made as part of a new post.

[michigancamper]

You aren't able to edit your old posts, for the exact reason you want to edit it.

We don't want people going back and changing the substance of their posts well after the fact. It makes it very hard for people to follow the thread, and more importantly, people who have already looked are likely not going to see the changes you've made.

You are able to edit your posts for a few hours after you make them, so you can fix any minor errors or mistakes to details, but any substantive changes should just be made as part of a new post.

thats a good point when you look at the pro's and con's of editing that way..

With regards to our Yellowstone visit - are we better off there 3 days versus 4 days, giving us some time to visit Wind Caves or some other places in the general area? thanks MM!

[DonnaR57]

Yellowstone in 3 days vs 4 days: what would YOU rather do? It boils down to that!


Donna

[Midwest Michael]

Yellowstone is a huge place and you could spend your entire 5 weeks there and not see everything. I think 3 days is about the minimum, but ultimately it is up to you.

I will say that it doesn't have to only be see the Black Hills or Yellowstone. With a 5 week trip, you've got lots of places you could decide to trim a day or add a day, and keeping an eye on the big picture would be in your best interest.

[Lifemagician]

Google maps is recommending to take 90 to 14 through the Bighorn Forest... and that its about a 8 hour drive.. sooo..

That is a magnificent drive, and the wildlife is prolific. However, Alt14 is even more spectacular, it takes in Bighorn Canyon and the Medicine Wheel, among others. Well worth the time.

Lifey

[michigancamper]

too much to see and not enough time :( but thats a great problem to have. the fact that we're going to be able to see it in the first place.

Let me chat with the family and see what they'd like to do. Some of our spots are locked in due to availability unfortunately. one would think that the price of gas would keep many travelers home... (thankfully it isn't as many towns need the $$)