Southern CA to N. Central MT road trip

[openmind]

Hi All, I'm beginning to plan a trip to the Bitterrot in MT from just outside of Los Angeles. I know my first few stops: Vegas, Zion Nat'l Park and maybe Bryce N.P What are your must see's in Utah? What are your favorite RV friendly routes? Do you think, April is too soon to head up into Utah, Wyoming and Montana?
Thank you,
Michael Elliott

[noFanofCB]

You'll need to be flexible and prepared.

Here is some of my dashcam video from a run from N. Colo to Seattle and back in late April.
At the 5:00 minute mark I am south of Billings MT headed south/east on I-90.
Late April.

[DonnaR57]

What type of RV are you driving?

[Utahtea]

Hi All, I'm beginning to plan a trip to the Bitterrot in MT from just outside of Los Angeles. I know my first few stops: Vegas, Zion Nat'l Park and maybe Bryce N.P What are your must see's in Utah? What are your favorite RV friendly routes? Do you think, April is too soon to head up into Utah, Wyoming and Montana?
Thank you,
Michael Elliott

Hi Michael,

We've gone to Utah in our 30 foot motorhome (towing a jeep) almost every April for the last 12 years since DH retired. Usually towards the middle or end of the month. We've had all ranges of weather. I remember one year mother nature played an April Fools joke on us and had a couple of inches of snow in Zion. That's pretty unusual. We've also been in Capitol Reef and had it snow and we've also had beautiful warm sunny weather in Utah in April.

I don't know about Wyoming and Montana. April and the chances of snow up there would worry me in an RV.

You don't mention what kind of RV you have or how long you have for the trip. I would recommend Zion, Bryce and then AFTER CHECKING THE WEATHER and if there's no chance of snow, I'd drive Hwy 12 between Bryce and Torrey, UT for spectacular views and spend some time in Capitol Reef National Park. Depending on how much time you have you might want to check out Moab, UT and Canyonlands and Arches National park but just make sure you're not there over Jeep Week unless you like CROWDS!

Utahtea

[Southwest Dave]

As mentioned above, how much time do you have and is it a one way trip or return ? All weather permitting I agree with the above, from Bryce take UT scenic 12 to UT24 through Capital Reef and then you could head north on US191 past Dinosaur NM and Flaming Gorge Res. Perhaps visit Moab for Arches and Canyonlands ? You have many options it's more a case of what appeals to you the most and then start working out a route to join them up, which we can help with.

[openmind]

Hi, I'm looking for advice on the smart way to travel from Southern CA to Hamilton, MT. I'm leaving in early May.

What's the considered wisdom on whether May is still too early for a Northern route?

If I had my choice I'd take the Northern route:
CA 46 from the coast to US 5 to the 680 to the 80 to Salt Lake City. From there I'd take the 15N I'm still searching out the best route from there.

I think my best Southern route to take the 40 to the 15 North to the 93 in MT. That will swing me below the mountains and keep me out of the snow and ice, I hope.

I know no one can predict the weather this far out. I'm looking for probability. Usually, I'd seek out historical data but climate change has made that unreliable.

Common sense says to take the Southern route. What do you experienced travelers think?

Thank you in advance,
Michael

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

[Southwest Dave]

I really don't think weather will be a factor in your planning during May and especially while staying on the main Highways so stick to your choice and check conditions before leaving, you can always change your mind. Either way you will need at least 2 overnight stops to reach Hamilton.

Although checking historical conditions can give you a 'normal' it has no say in what will be happening at the exact time you are on the road, climate change or not. In fact if I took the 1-80 I wouldn't go as far east as SLC and I-15, just head north on US93 through Twin Falls.

(I presume you are heading straight to MT now rather than sightseeing?)

Have a good trip !

[openmind]

Thank you Southwest Dave. What a great reply. I’m working on “Side A” of my plan first. Once I know how long it will take if I hustle then I can flesh out “Side B. Like a sketch before the painting. You’ve done some of my homework for me.
I’ll probably have a very different trip than th one I was sketching out.
Thanks again,
Michael

[openmind]

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[Southwest Dave]

Moderator: I would be grateful for a moment of your time. I did not know I’d committed an etiquette foul. I ‘d like to understand the right way to post. Please contact me. Thank you

I’ll probably have a very different trip than the one I was sketching out.

To address both these issues. Almost every trip takes on changes as you go through the planning process, some look totally different to the original, it's perfectly normal. For other members reading the thread for the first time, it is much easier to follow the planning process if all questions regarding one trip remain in one thread. Having all parts of the jigsaw in one room helps you to understand the whole picture and enables us to give the best possible advice without repeating previous answers or missing questions. So, please ask as many questions as you need but keep them here.

Dave.