Planning family trip out west

[alf]

I am the early stages of planning a family vacation (me, wife and two kids) for a trip from Atlanta to Yellowstone and a bunch of points in between. We will be camping but also need a vehicle to site see in. Need some input. Here are a number of my ideas:

1. Rent a motor home and flat tow the 40 (comfort and way could get some wheeling in)
2. Take the 100 series and pull a pop up camper
3. Sell all my toys and build up a Unimog with fast axles.
4. Rent/buy a pickup with overcab slide in camper that can be left at campsite when site seeing
5. Fly in and rent a truck out there.

Can't wait to hear the wisdom of the group.


Alf

[FLFJ40]

1. Nothing beats a motorhome for a cross country trip.
2. A pop up gives you the option of leaving you campsite behind.
3. Is this one really an option?
4. Leaving a slide in is not really practical and after backing it in the first few times you will just leave it on.
5. Second best option but doesn't leave you much to see on the way out.

Here are some things you may want to see.

The Alamo
Santa Fe, NM
Mesa Verde, CO
Dinasaur, CO
Jackson Hole, WY

There is all kinds of great wheeling places in southern CO. As long as the rental place will let you tow, this is your best option. If you have kids it is even a better option. With all of the ways the can entertain themselves in a motorhome, you probably won't hear "ARE WE THERE YET?"

[RHINO]

also nothing beats the freedom offered by the motorhome for making your own trip and destinations along the way.
the 100 can do majority of the family sightseeing type wheeling your likely to do, you'll most likely be able to find some empty seats between a small local group to take you guys out on a local favorite.
i dont like the fly and rent idea cause you'll miss out on all the in between stuff.

the other options arent IMOP

[DanKunz]

VOICE: (541) 837-3636, ask about the U2450 crew cab camper...then prepare for jaw on floor numbers to be told to you...

My bet: $78,000

[Mickldo]

Go for the Mog

[alf]

Dan,

I would think that mog would be about $100k or better.

kls

[alf]

Anyone ever rented a motor home?

In preparing a budget does anyone the following:
Approximate Gas Mileage
Rental Fees


kls

[D'Animal]

Mileage depends on what size you get but do not expect anything over 11mpg.

When we checked on renting a 14' Cuise America the price was something like $1,400 for seven days.

We packed the camping gear and got a roof rack and a slide in receiver cargo Carrier.

[splitshot]

If it were me I'd do the MH/40 combo. Ohter places to check out are Cody Wy, and Kallispell Mt., and the parks around southern Ut. (Namely Capital Reef; cool campground in Fruta).

[kim]

Originally Posted by alf

I am the early stages of planning a family vacation (me, wife and two kids) for a trip from Atlanta to Yellowstone and a bunch of points in between. We will be camping but also need a vehicle to site see in. Need some input. Here are a number of my ideas:

1. Rent a motor home and flat tow the 40 (comfort and way could get some wheeling in)
2. Take the 100 series and pull a pop up camper
3. Sell all my toys and build up a Unimog with fast axles.
4. Rent/buy a pickup with overcab slide in camper that can be left at campsite when site seeing
5. Fly in and rent a truck out there.

Can't wait to hear the wisdom of the group.


Alf

How much time do you have for the trip? I think this is an important consideration. Your trip will be approx 2000 miles each way, that's 8 hard days of driving, minimum, more like ten. I think you would need at least 3 weeks, preferably a month.

I dislike renting when I have the option of sinking the dough in my truck, or buying another truck for this purpose. My family has driven accross the country twice, once with a tent-trailer and once in my 60 pulling a 23 foot trailer. I liked the second option as it allowed parking the trailer and wheeling and it also afforded a degree of comfort.

my 2 cents.

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by kim

I liked the second option as it allowed parking the trailer and wheeling and it also afforded a degree of comfort.

my 2 cents.

My thoughts exactly. You leave the trailer in a secure place and you go off and do day trips and then come home to nice bed,hot shower and cooking facilities

[calamaridog]

When exactly did you plan on visiting Yellowstone? I was there in October one year and there was a foot of snow on the ground. A good deal of the Park is closed from November to April.

Oh, BTW, I recommend taking the 100 and pulling a pop up.

Please stop in Cody, WY and enjoy the awesome museums. Cody is an awesome town.

http://www.bbhc.org/home/index.cfm

[ExpeditionXJ]

Alf, i'm leaving in a few days for that area. We opted for NFS Cabins for this trip as we have a few rigs and 5 in my party. We will be able to travel light, not have camp setup/teardown times, weather will be a non issue, and we can securely leave everything behind for daily explorations.

The cabins are rustic, remote and cheap at $20-$30 per day. I realize this may not be everyones idea of a great vacation to the area but with family in tow it may be more comfortable and easier on the group. Just something to consider. This will be my first time out west in a cabin, i'm actually looking forward to it.

You wouldnt have the added expense of a motor home or other rental.

[ginericLC]

We just went through Dinosaur, Skip It! All the cool stuff is closed right now. And probably will be for the next year.

Are you doing South Dakota? Badlands and Black Hills Mt. Rushmore

I would do the 100 and pop up. You have a lot of versatility as to where you stay with that set up. Lots of forest service campgrounds along the way.

Motorhomes suck in the mountains. You will be in low gear going up and going down unless you want to screw up the brakes which many easterners do. I wouldn't consider that an option at all.

To be honest, you'll be disappointed if you drag the 40 all that way unless you are planning wheeling destinations like Moab or in the Black Hills. Most of the open places in Wyoming, Montana, and Utah you would be able to access with a stock 4wd and a 100 would be very comfortable doing that.

We did some travel around Colorado this summer and it is very beautiful. There are some awesome wheeling destinations in Colorado too. The Holy Cross trail and that area was gorgeous. However, that would be one of the few places where the 40 would be welcome over a wagon.

Really it all depends on what your objectives are, are you here to wheel or are you on a family vacation with some back country travel?

Also, what time of year is this trip? Moab is a great place to visit in the spring or fall but it is as hot as Hades there in the summer. Some trails in the mountains won't be open until late summer too.

[Jabin]

Most rental companies won't allow to you to tow anything. My older brother just did that trip last year: 3 weeks, tour of west from Ohio- loved the MH with 4 people all over 6' - never had time to take the bikes off the rack. He was amazed at how $$ full hookup camping is out west is the touristy areas. Grand total with food: $5,569.00

[alf]

Great thoughts.

Leaning towards the 100 w/ the pop up but the MH sure would be nice as the kids could be fully occupied with whatever activity they desire.

3 weeks is my time frame. We will motor hard out and back (try to average 700 miles per day). We would skip anything that we could hit on a later short range trip. Probably take a southern route out and a northern route return. Also this will be during peak travel season. We would leave as soon as the kids get released from school.

[kim]

Originally Posted by alf

Great thoughts.

Leaning towards the 100 w/ the pop up but the MH sure would be nice as the kids could be fully occupied with whatever activity they desire.

3 weeks is my time frame. We will motor hard out and back (try to average 700 miles per day). We would skip anything that we could hit on a later short range trip. Probably take a southern route out and a northern route return. Also this will be during peak travel season. We would leave as soon as the kids get released from school.

700 miles a day is WORK. I suppose at that pace it would only take you 3 days to get there so it isn't all bad.

[calamaridog]

So if you come from the north through SD and WY you could hit Red Lodge MT by the 3rd night and start up the Beartooth Hwy on the 4th day. Spend a few days up in that area before heading to Yellowstone, etc. It is just north of Yellowstone and some of the most awesome high country in the US.

Things I would absolutely do around Yellowstone:

Beartooth Highway - America's most beautiful road - Awesome camping, hiking, and fishing
Cody WY - couple days to check out the museum and the best Rodeo in the world
Yellowstone - reserve your camping spots early and plan at least 3 days in the Park
Tetons - I'd camp here a day or two also. Hit the Snake River for some rafting, the kids will love it
Jackson Hole - if you are going to head south through Colorado for your trip home

[splitshot]

Originally Posted by calamaridog

So if you come from the north through SD and WY you could hit Red Lodge MT by the 3rd night and start up the Beartooth Hwy on the 4th day. Spend a few days up in that area before heading to Yellowstone, etc. It is just north of Yellowstone and some of the most awesome high country in the US.

Things I would absolutely do around Yellowstone:

Beartooth Highway - America's most beautiful road - Awesome camping, hiking, and fishing
Cody WY - couple days to check out the museum and the best Rodeo in the world
Yellowstone - reserve your camping spots early and plan at least 3 days in the Park
Tetons - I'd camp here a day or two also. Hit the Snake River for some rafting, the kids will love it
Jackson Hole - if you are going to head south through Colorado for your trip home

Someone had a sense of humor on the beartooth highway, coming from the Cody side, as soon as you cross the Montana border, the speed limit is 70mph I highly recommend you don't pay attention to it, you'll see why if you go.
Also, couple more miles down, a sign reads: Slide area Stay on roadway. That got another chuckle from me and the wife.

One of the most awsome roads I've driven, HIGHLY recommended.

[wesintl]

I would do the 100 and popup or fly in and rent if your going more for sightseeing. It would take you a min of 3 fast days to see all the thermal features in yellowstone. I would use at least 4-5 days min personally because some features that are out of the way that take maybe an hour hike is really nice. There is alot to see. Then you can go down to jenny lake, the tetons and jackson hole. Most of what you would want to see of get away to would be accessible with and exploder or cherokee IMHO.

[Kaderabek]

Originally Posted by alf

3. Sell all my toys and build up a Unimog with fast axles.

At the speed you build things, you could go by personal spaceship by the time you get the Mog ready.

TJK

[kim]

Originally Posted by splitshot

Someone had a sense of humor on the beartooth highway, coming from the Cody side, as soon as you cross the Montana border, the speed limit is 70mph I highly recommend you don't pay attention to it, you'll see why if you go.
Also, couple more miles down, a sign reads: Slide area Stay on roadway. That got another chuckle from me and the wife.

One of the most awsome roads I've driven, HIGHLY recommended.

I agree, the Beartooth Pass is an unreal drive, 12,000 ft, IIRC. Top of the world Ma!

I also enjoyed Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the Badlands.

I'll have to go south from Yellowstone next time.

[ginericLC]

I'm not sure what is wrong with the 70mph speed limit when you come into Montana on the Beartooth. It seems reasonable to me for the straight aways. I've driven that pass literally hundreds of times. We lived in the shadow of the Beartooths for many years. It is best from Red Lodge to Cooke City. It is still spectacular the other direction. In June there will be plenty of snow left. There are a couple of spots on the MT side of the pass where you can get a few turns in skiing if you are up for a high altitude hike. I have a video of me skiing on that pass on the 4th of July somewhere. In June, you might be able to catch the baby mountain goats on the Eastern slope. Please don't forget to use a low gear.

The Cody Museum is awesome, they only display 1/3 of their pieces at a time so you can go back over and over and over and never be bored. One time I some how managed to get a downstairs tour. Drawers and drawers of guns that aren't displayed. That was pretty cool.

Traffic will be bad in June. Pretty much from Red Lodge through the south side of Jackson Hole only plan on a 35 mph average. Mostly 25-45 speed zones, traffic, and turns. Just some advice as many folks think they can do 60 miles in an hour and you can't usually do that in June.

[calamaridog]

My cousin and I drove the Beertooth hwy in 1992 in Grampa's 1957 Willy's. Last time I went through there was perhaps 1996? Needless to say, that area is a "must see", I look forward to seeing it more than Yellowstone. Awesome fishing up there in some of the lakes and streams.

[Sighthound]

Take the 100 with good tents (or the pop-up if you must). Stay in Grizzly RV Park - West Yellowstone - $25 a night (tent) - showers - morning coffee - (its where I stay) walking distance into town - Wolf pack micro brew is really good but kids not allowed. Google Montana Saphires. And last time I went I "discovered" Grand Teton and thought it was better than Yellowstone (and I love Yellowstone). Enjoy your trip and if you are into 4 Wheeling, Moab and southern Utah is a must visit.

[Coolerman]

Another thing to be aware of if pop-up or tent camping: You CANNOT leave any food in either one! Bears and other creatures will destroy them trying to get to the food. Some campsites have shared bear proof lock boxes you can leave your food in or you can take it with you. (Still not a good idea if you take you vehicle to remote trail heads)

I have taken my pop-up out west on several trips including Yellowstone and while it beats a tent hands down at the end of a long hard day of hiking, the hassle of towing it out there, dragging it up the mountains (I only have a 6 cylinder Xterra), setting it up, tearing it down and towing it home makes it less appealing. If you can rent, borrow or buy a hard side camper it will eliminate a lot of the hassle.

700 miles a day is easy. On one trip out to Montana we did a 1019 mile day! Our advantage was NO KIDS!!!

Enjoy your trip!