sclay1970

We are planning a family trip for August 2016. We are a family of 5 and are renting a motorhome locally. We are taking 2 weeks to take a vacation out west. We are leaving from Michigan and the places we would like to stop are Mt Rushmore (maybe), Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, spend a night in Las Vegas. If time permits LA. Or maybe we could go a different direction and see the Redwoods. We know there are many other stops that can be made along the way so we are looking for suggetions and just wondering what may be worth the time. Does 2 weeks sound like enough time to complete something like this?

janisj

>>Does 2 weeks sound like enough time to complete something like this? Yellowstone > Grand Canyon > Vegas > LA and back to Grand Rapids is about 85 hours just RV time so more than 9 full days butts in seats..

Mt Rushmore > Yellowstone > the CA Redwoods and back to Michigan would only be a little shorter drive.

Consider JUST Mt Rushmore, Grand Teton, Yellowstone and/or Glacier.

marvelousmouse

No, definitely not. Let's say you flew to Vegas and did an LA/Grand Canyon/Yosemite trip. 2 weeks would barely be enough time to do that, but it has the option of more time doing stuff and less "butt time". and that's what I think you should do; or pick something closer to home. Janisj's suggestion would work, but it still has the potential of being a lot of driving time.

Another consideration is that I think you'd be financially better off if you just drove a car and stayed in motels or tent camped. Look at how much the rental is going to cost+how much RV park fees are going to cost, and I'd be surprised if it's cheaper than a moderate hotel chain.

NorthwestMale

Certainly you don't attempt that sort of trip for the specific spots and states you would cross-off in the process.

You take such a trip to spend time with family, and in a lot of cases it doesn't matter where you go in the end, as getting there is half the fun.

With all of that in mind, and with the many destinations listed by the OP, doesn't it make the most sense that to target The Grand Canyon is a simple-ish plan as a backbone for the trip?


So, using Grand Rapids as a start (for lack of us knowing the true point of beginning)... it takes 30 hours of driving time to get to the Grand Canyon... and that is on a simple route via Missouri.

Obviously, that would mean "30 hours" on the road if driving straight back as well.


What I keep telling myself would be fun to do, with kids, on such a trip... is, (FIRST, everybody agreeing that, like 'The Brady Bunch' long ago, you'll GO to "The Grand Canyon" as your main destination)...

Then, randomly determine which kid gets to pick first, and that kid selects a spot on the map to visit, that is reeeeeeeeeeasonably in between Michigan and The Grand Canyon.

You can flex somewhat, in so doing... and, for example, I think Salt Lake City would be do-able, but that Yellowstone would be perhaps too far north.

(Pause while I sit here and consider how awesome the Grand Tetons and surrounds are, and what great scenery that would all make for such a trip) (so maybe...)

... THEN, once the first kid makes a choice, the road and potential choices are narrowed BY that first choice, and the 2nd kid gets to pick a spot to target for stopping and visiting, along a sensible path encompassing the start, the end, and the first kid's choice.... and so-on...

While it may seem, especially TO the 3rd kid... that the options are too constricted after two such choices have been made, it can be allowed that the different path back to Michigan opens the possibilities once again.


Consider that many of the roads out west are such that there is little or nothing to DO but drive... and that most of your minimum 30 hours each way will pass under those conditions, you really CAN make a 2-week trip work.

(though I suggest making a deal with everyone before setting out that they will limit the grumbling

I just plugged-in the following spots, for a round-trip...

and it was 77 hours, and 4700 miles


Grand Rapids
Grand Canyon
Las Vegas
Salt Lake City
Jackson, WY
West Yellowstone, MT
Cody, WY
Rapid City, SD (Mt. Rushmore)
Grand Rapids



SO a suitable thought process there would be hurry your buns to get TO The Grand Canyon and then meander a bit as you see the sights mostly dotting around the Rocky Mountains while making your way north for the eventual path back home.

(the final stretch of that, Rapid City, SD to Grand Rapids, would be 1090 miles and 17.5 hours of driving time, but along mostly dull, sparsely-traveled roads)


The California coast would just seem to put too much strain on such a trip, but I think it can be enjoyed if you don't push-it and go that far.


Badwater, in Death Valley, California is about 140 miles from Vegas (2 1/2 hours driving)... so I'd be tempted to try it... (it will be hotter than blue blazes in August, yet something to talk about for years to follow!) (might be easier done if renting a 2nd vehicle (a sedan) for 24 hours, from Vegas)


SO once you decided that what I've sorta penciled-in above is suitable, you'd then have to work-out how far to travel each day...

If there were two drivers, it could go much quicker and easier... and again, most of the monotonous driving would happen on long, straight roads with high speed limits.


Maybe Springfield, MO would be the right distance for a first day (shrug) OK City seems too far, and St. Louis not far enough.

(maybe whichever is having the least amount of tornadoes at the time, would be the preference)


Then shoot for Albuquerque or Santa Fe (the latter has far more flavor to add to a trip like this).

If timing is ideal, go to Big Tex's Steakhouse in Amarillo, on the way through.

Maybe then you target Two nights somewhere near to Flagstaff, AZ... both so the drivers can recover a bit, and to afford a FULL day at the Grand Canyon.

The next night in Vegas... and you debate on a Death Valley visit, and then head north toward S.L.C. and Wyoming.

Map it all out in greater detail and see if it fits you at all.