We really liked the S. Dakota badlands and the Mt. Rushmore area...very emotional to watch the evening lighting. If you have time there is much to do around the area, Custer State park,,,,mucho wildlife, the Needles..great displays of Granite and spires, tunnels, Deadwood, Wind cave to name a few. In the UP we travel Route 2 and continue right to the cascades in Washington, some great views and roads...
2011 GMC Sierra 6.6 Duramax diesel ext cab 2500HD 3:73
2010 Coachmen North Ridge 320 RLQ
great wife, and super traveling companion
Go southwest first. We went out west from Kentucky last summer starting in June. Utah first then took the Extra Terrestrial Highway into California, up the Pacific coast through Oregon and Washington to Mt. St. Helen's (east side roads were still snow blocked). Across next into Idaho then up to Alberta back through the Dakotas, Montana down through Kansas and back across the midwest to Kentucky. We saw a lot and had a great time. Spent about 2K on fuel for the trip. We'll probably never take this type trip again, so fuel expense was a moot point. Another point; we had NO reservations anywhere. If we decided we wanted to stay some particular locale, I was always able to locate an rv campground with available sites. Call me lucky but that's the way we travel and it's always worked for us.
We did a 54 day trip out to NW and down Oregon Coast leaving home June 26th and returning home August 20th. Take Rt 2 across the northwest from upper penninsula of Michigan. We on the otherhand visited friends in Park Rapids Minnesota and then headed west to Theodore Roosevelt NP, traveling I-94 to 2005-13N to 2W. Rt 2 took us to St.Mary's Montana where we stayed at KOA, and visited Glacier NP.
I would suggest you stay on the west side. After leaving we took 89-2-95S-I-90 to Spokane Valley then I-90,I-82S to Rt 12 and SR 504 to Silver Lake, Wa and visited Mt.St.Helens monument. Then SR 504 to
I-5S to 30W to Astoria and camped at KOA. From Astoria we traveled down the Oregon coast on 101S. We stayed at Pacific Pines in Florence and traveled in jeep to see the sites. From Florence we took 101S-Rt 42 to I-5 to Rt 62 to Shady Cove, Oregon staying at Rogue River RV Park. I made reservations early for most of our trip, up and including Albequerque,NM. Let me tell you, don't miss this campground. We had riverfront pullthrough and it took my breath away.
Absolutely gorgeous. We opened windows and listened to the river running, watched fishermen, kayakers and rafters. Taking the jeep we visited Crater lake. Then taking 62, I-5, 99, 199,and 101we arrived at Klamath, Ca and stayed at Camper Corral GS park. 101 is the Redwood Highway and the redwoods are awesome. From Klamath we headed to Petaluma and stayed at the KOA. They have a tour available that will take you into SanFrancisco for the day. You don't want to drive in SF. From Petaluma taking 101S, 116E, 12E,99S and 140E we arrived at Midpines and stayed at the Mariposa KOA. Taking the jeep we visited Yosemite 3 days. I would not take my MH any further than Midpines. From midpines we are heading home 140,99,58 and I-15 to Vegas, then onto Williams, AZ for Grand CAnyon NP. Don't miss the shuttle in the park. and then catching I-40 to Albequerque,NM and on to Amarillo, TX and visited the Palo Duro Canyon, the 2nd largest canyon in the USA. From their on to Oklahoma City,OK and visited the cowboy museum. That was the end of the road for our vacation plans.
Then home to Ohio. We traveled 6,789 miles with the MH and add 2,879 in jeep, for a total of 9,668 miles. Total cost for gas was $4,450 and our 53 nites cost an average of $44.oo totaling $2,336.
This was a trip of a lifetime and we have such great memories.
On top of the nites and gas out plan on groceries and any meals out and trinkets at NP around $2,000.
Hope this helps with your plans. And h0pe you have a great trip.
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