Myself and my Wife recently Took Early Retirement in Ireland and are planning a Trip starting next week we are in Vancouver with my Wifes sister until July 1st then we hope to rent a Camper Van go To calgary Stampede and Glacier National Park then all the way Down to Flagstaff
across to San Diego and back up Pacific Coast to Vancouver Taking about 4 months to do
This is our first time RV ing so I would really appreciate if people could suggest good places to see on this general route also good RV Camp sites to stay in any tips would be very welcome
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your retirement.
I can't help you with your west coast questions.
I like to use Roadside America during trips.
Enjoy your travels.
When you leave Glacier National Park going south, be sure to visit Yellowstone National Park, the "Crown Jewel" of the U.S. National Park Service. Plan on 3 to 4 days at Yellowstone.
Larry
2007 Newmar 37 Mountain Aire, 05 Jeep Wrangler,lifted and chipped toad.
As you stop at parks along the way ask others where you should go and what you should see. RV'ers are a friendly group, by in large, and America like most countries has many hidden gems that don't get the major publicity but are well worth seeing and experiencing.
Dick and Joyce
2010 Montana 3665RE
Dodge 2500HD Maxi Cab Laramie Edition
Diego, Norm, & Bitsy
I'll second the Yellowstone recommendation and add the route south from there through the Grand Teton's National Park. You should also take in Zion National Park, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as the much more popular South Rim. Be aware that Both Yellowstone and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon will require you to make reservations as early as possible, because they are so popular.
That whole part of the continent has spectacular scenery with a wide variety of things to see.
Oh, and Scotty's Castle in Death Valley, provided you don't get there before mid-september. Nobody in their right mind goes to Death Valley in August. On your way north from San Diego, be sure to catch the Muir Woods, too.
Oh, wait, you only have 4 months . . . . What an adventure!
Be aware that distances here can be deceiving. All of the western Canadian provinces and and the states you are planning to tour through are larger than all of Ireland.
I have had a number relatives and friends visit from Europe and the UK (never Ireland - yet) and they often plan to drive to places that are more than a day's drive. As one German said (what best translates as) "We drove all day and we didn't get anywhere!" He was talking about the Southwest of the US.
Best Bet - Get Street Atlas or Trips and Streets and learn to use it and believe it when it says it is 24 road hours (that is three days of serious push).
If can possibly make it, do get to Yellowstone. There is a lot to see in that part of the world and none of it is all like anything you might see in Europe.
Safe Travel
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie
A sailor, his bride and their black dog going to see some dry places that have Geocaches in a coach made the year we married.
Something to consider, I'm not sure about Utah, but in the southern states, Arizona & New Mexico, it's going to be scorching hot, so you'll probably want hook-ups so you can run your air conditioner. I know Trailer Village at the Grand Canyon, south rim, has full hook-ups. Nothing special about the park other than it has hook-ups and is in the park. I'm sure you'll need reservations.
Also, I'm from Northern California and I would say check out Yosemite National Park. If you're in the area in October or you'll probably be able to drive in and get a site in Upper Pines, depending on the size of your RV. Starting in November, they don't take reservations so it's first-come, first-serve for the available sites. (Only Upper Pines is open for camping starting in November and the Campground Reservation desk is in Yosemite Valley at Curry Village.) You can stay outside the park and drive in, but it's about 45minuts - 1 hour to get to the valley floor from most of the campgrounds outside the park. In addition, San Francisco is a GREAT city! I live in the SF bay area and always enjoy the opportunity to take a ride into the city. There's a campground in Petaluma, it's a KOA, that does tours into the city. I wouldn't recommend driving in the city, especially in an RV. Another option is to rent a car and drive in, but the streets of SF are narrow and there are a lot of one way streets that can make driving difficult if you're not familiar with the roads. Petaluma KOA also does tours into the Napa Valley. Wine tasting is another one of my favorite activities when the opportunity arises. (I think Petaluma KOA only does the tours from the last weekend in May, Memorial day, through the first weekend in September, Labor day. If you're interested I would call to confirm.)
There's also Monterey and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I like to go to the aquarium then walk down Cannery Row. (The aquarium is on Cannery Row.) I would stay at Marina Dunes RV park. Nothing special, but it's very clean, a short walk to the beach and only about 15 minutes from Monterey.
Those are some of my favorite places in and near the SF Bay Area. Have a great trip!
After Visiting Glacier National Park, Check out Red Bus Tours for Glacier, then drop down to West Yellowstone, Mt. for a visit to Yellowstone National Park.
At West Yellowstone the Grizzly RV Park is one of the better parks in the area. It located about one mile from the West Gate to Yellowstone Park. And, I recommend that you make reservations as soon as you can if you want to stay there.
As others have said, it will take 3-5 days to really see Yellowstone Park. It has 360 miles of paved road and paths.
At the Grand Canyon I recommend that you stay at the South Rim Trailer Village RV Park. At this park you can walk to front gate and catch a free shuttle bus that will take you to various stops along the canyon.
Another park that needs reservations also.
Try and come back to update us on your trip when you finally get going.
Bob
2001 2500 Silverado LS 4x4 6.0, 4.10
2007 Jayco Eagle 288RLS
Cocktails for 6, Dinner for 4, Sleeps 2
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End of dirt road, no signs in sight, sun going down: I am not lost, just getting ready to go camping.
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