South Dakota to Bryce Canyon and what to do in between...
May 24th, 2017, 02:42 PM
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South Dakota to Bryce Canyon and what to do in between...
I have many questions about a trip we are taking at the end of June so I will ask them within my itinerary.
My itinerary so far:
Day 1 Sioux Falls, SD to Black Hills with a visit to Wall Drug, SD Air Museum, Mt Rushmore and camp at Pactola Reservoir (not stopping anywhere else because we've seen it all many times before)
Day 2 Visit SD School of Mines for a prospective college tour for my son who will be a senior in hs. Then drive to Cheyenne, WY and camp among the boulders at Vedauwoo Campground.
Day 3 Driving day...either drop down and take scenic byway on CO 14 and take a swing through Dinosaur NM OR take I80 for a faster route. Which would have a better campground on one or the other of these routes? Better scenery from the road? Easiest driving? I'd like to end up as close to Bryce Canyon as I can with a few "get out and look" type stops along the way.
Day 4 Finish drive to Bryce, hike a trail or two depending on how we feel at that elevation and camp somewhere close by.
Day 5 Hike another trail at Bryce early in the morning and then move on toward Capital Reef and camp there. If there would be a campground more central to both, I would not mind combining this area into one campground so we can leave the tent up and spend more time on a trail somewhere.
Day 6 Move on toward Grand Junction. I am skipping Arches due to the construction, and Canyonlands because I wasn't crazy about it last time I saw it. Not sure where to stay yet, but could spend more time stopping or could drive a ways and spend more time in another location. I wouldn't mind seeing Colorado NM again.
Day 7 Should we take the drive through Rocky Mtn NP? I have been there several times, but my teens have never been. It's not necessarily my favorite place in CO and I have a hard time doing much at 12000 ft, even with a few days acclimating to higher elevations. It also takes time and I'm not sure if there might be something better to do with our time. I wouldn't mind finding some other scenic byway with a variety of well spaced stops, or just spend the day going up I70 making short side trips off that.
Day 8 Depending on what we decide to do in CO, we could spend the morning doing something and then start heading back home and spend the night possibly in Custer State Park...OR...we can leave early and make it a long haul back home in a day by cutting across Nebraska.
Day 7/8/9 Alternate Plan...stop at Mesa Verde and cut across CO from there. I was there 5yrs ago w/o kids and it was a great stop and the campground was nice. Just not sure about the rest of the route if we went that way because I don't really want to drive the million dollar highway myself and not necessarily interested in a trip through Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak either. Open to ideas though, as I70 isn't my favorite route either.
Some notes:
1. I realize this is a LOT of driving, but that is what we have to do in order to see anything interesting. I grew up on long road trips and happen to love seeing as many sites from the car as I can fit into a road trip. I don't go on a road trip to relax in one place...I can do that at home. Flying is not an option. Our longest drive time is 12hrs...I'd be happy with 6hrs a day, plus time to get out and look around. We will usually be up by 6:30 and packed up and on our way by 7:30. I'd like to be set up by 6 or 7 each night...but I am not opposed to rolling in at 8 and setting up my tent by headlights. Yes, I am a little crazy, but this is how we roll when on a road trip!
2. We are capable of about 4 miles of hiking (mostly hilly walking) at a time at home, which is about 1200 ft elevation. We're also used to 80-90 degrees with 70-80% humidity in the summer. We'd like some scenic trails and are not opposed to short bits of difficulty. We'd probably opt for more short one hour trails with a ride to the next as opposed to something that will take four hours to accomplish.
3. We are car campers who are used to our beautiful, shady, grass covered state parks with parking next to the tent and a shower a short walk down the road. However, we can forego the grass and shower luxuries for a spectacular view. Being close to my truck is a must though, because we have a heavy tent and I'm not schlepping it off into the wilderness. lol I would also prefer to stay out of bear country if possible, although I do own a can of bear spray and usually sleep with it in case of intruders, bear or otherwise. lol
4. I am a 43yr old mom with a 17yr old boy and a 14yr old girl traveling a long way from home so I would also like to know what places are safe or where we should stay away from since we are on our own. I would also prefer to stay away from the kind of places where you end up all alone out in the boonies with the old man who claims to be camp host.
5. We are extreme budget travellers, as in food, gas money, campsite fee, and a National Parks pass are about all I spend money on. I like to stop for a lot of photos and the photo album is our souvenir. That being said, I do like to do one special event or activity along the way so I'd love ideas for that. We like tours, especially cave tours and train rides, but I wouldn't mind trying something else in the range of $20-$30 a person...maybe a little more if it is really worthwhile. None of us know how to swim so probably no rafting/river tours.
6. I will happily admit to being one of those people who "collects" places to check off a list. I grew up with trips like this and I love the adventure. Please don't attempt to talk me out of that because I do know what I am in for with a trip like this and I know that it CAN be done. What I am looking for is route ideas and campgrounds that have great scenery, plus interesting stops along the way.
Thanks so much in advance, for any help you can provide! I'm looking forward to filling in the rest of my itinerary!
My itinerary so far:
Day 1 Sioux Falls, SD to Black Hills with a visit to Wall Drug, SD Air Museum, Mt Rushmore and camp at Pactola Reservoir (not stopping anywhere else because we've seen it all many times before)
Day 2 Visit SD School of Mines for a prospective college tour for my son who will be a senior in hs. Then drive to Cheyenne, WY and camp among the boulders at Vedauwoo Campground.
Day 3 Driving day...either drop down and take scenic byway on CO 14 and take a swing through Dinosaur NM OR take I80 for a faster route. Which would have a better campground on one or the other of these routes? Better scenery from the road? Easiest driving? I'd like to end up as close to Bryce Canyon as I can with a few "get out and look" type stops along the way.
Day 4 Finish drive to Bryce, hike a trail or two depending on how we feel at that elevation and camp somewhere close by.
Day 5 Hike another trail at Bryce early in the morning and then move on toward Capital Reef and camp there. If there would be a campground more central to both, I would not mind combining this area into one campground so we can leave the tent up and spend more time on a trail somewhere.
Day 6 Move on toward Grand Junction. I am skipping Arches due to the construction, and Canyonlands because I wasn't crazy about it last time I saw it. Not sure where to stay yet, but could spend more time stopping or could drive a ways and spend more time in another location. I wouldn't mind seeing Colorado NM again.
Day 7 Should we take the drive through Rocky Mtn NP? I have been there several times, but my teens have never been. It's not necessarily my favorite place in CO and I have a hard time doing much at 12000 ft, even with a few days acclimating to higher elevations. It also takes time and I'm not sure if there might be something better to do with our time. I wouldn't mind finding some other scenic byway with a variety of well spaced stops, or just spend the day going up I70 making short side trips off that.
Day 8 Depending on what we decide to do in CO, we could spend the morning doing something and then start heading back home and spend the night possibly in Custer State Park...OR...we can leave early and make it a long haul back home in a day by cutting across Nebraska.
Day 7/8/9 Alternate Plan...stop at Mesa Verde and cut across CO from there. I was there 5yrs ago w/o kids and it was a great stop and the campground was nice. Just not sure about the rest of the route if we went that way because I don't really want to drive the million dollar highway myself and not necessarily interested in a trip through Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak either. Open to ideas though, as I70 isn't my favorite route either.
Some notes:
1. I realize this is a LOT of driving, but that is what we have to do in order to see anything interesting. I grew up on long road trips and happen to love seeing as many sites from the car as I can fit into a road trip. I don't go on a road trip to relax in one place...I can do that at home. Flying is not an option. Our longest drive time is 12hrs...I'd be happy with 6hrs a day, plus time to get out and look around. We will usually be up by 6:30 and packed up and on our way by 7:30. I'd like to be set up by 6 or 7 each night...but I am not opposed to rolling in at 8 and setting up my tent by headlights. Yes, I am a little crazy, but this is how we roll when on a road trip!
2. We are capable of about 4 miles of hiking (mostly hilly walking) at a time at home, which is about 1200 ft elevation. We're also used to 80-90 degrees with 70-80% humidity in the summer. We'd like some scenic trails and are not opposed to short bits of difficulty. We'd probably opt for more short one hour trails with a ride to the next as opposed to something that will take four hours to accomplish.
3. We are car campers who are used to our beautiful, shady, grass covered state parks with parking next to the tent and a shower a short walk down the road. However, we can forego the grass and shower luxuries for a spectacular view. Being close to my truck is a must though, because we have a heavy tent and I'm not schlepping it off into the wilderness. lol I would also prefer to stay out of bear country if possible, although I do own a can of bear spray and usually sleep with it in case of intruders, bear or otherwise. lol
4. I am a 43yr old mom with a 17yr old boy and a 14yr old girl traveling a long way from home so I would also like to know what places are safe or where we should stay away from since we are on our own. I would also prefer to stay away from the kind of places where you end up all alone out in the boonies with the old man who claims to be camp host.
5. We are extreme budget travellers, as in food, gas money, campsite fee, and a National Parks pass are about all I spend money on. I like to stop for a lot of photos and the photo album is our souvenir. That being said, I do like to do one special event or activity along the way so I'd love ideas for that. We like tours, especially cave tours and train rides, but I wouldn't mind trying something else in the range of $20-$30 a person...maybe a little more if it is really worthwhile. None of us know how to swim so probably no rafting/river tours.
6. I will happily admit to being one of those people who "collects" places to check off a list. I grew up with trips like this and I love the adventure. Please don't attempt to talk me out of that because I do know what I am in for with a trip like this and I know that it CAN be done. What I am looking for is route ideas and campgrounds that have great scenery, plus interesting stops along the way.
Thanks so much in advance, for any help you can provide! I'm looking forward to filling in the rest of my itinerary!
May 25th, 2017, 02:29 AM
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Day 7/8/9 I would check which roads are open in Arches and do at least a little touring there. I found Canyonlands Island in the Sky a spectacular place to visit, and if you don't go to Arches, at least hike out to Mesa Arch with the kids. Then head to Mesa Verde. Take 160 east to 285 uptown I-70 then towards RMNP.
May 25th, 2017, 08:24 AM
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Look for National Forest campgrounds if you want to camp between national parks.
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm
There is a nice campground where the Yampa and Green Rivers meets:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7622636845987/ and the next six pictures.
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm
There is a nice campground where the Yampa and Green Rivers meets:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7622636845987/ and the next six pictures.
May 26th, 2017, 08:02 AM
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Thank you for the info! I might add Arches back in. I misread the times they will actually be working so it may not be so bad. I love Moab and know a place to camp there so it's pretty tempting to go with what I know, even though I really like to try out new places.
I checked out the route with Mesa Verde and 285, but that adds more miles than I want. I am trying to keep my trip around/under 2700 miles and that brings it to almost 2900. In the grand scheme of things, that is not a lot, but I have to limit it somehow. I started off with 3200 miles with everything we had on our wishlist, and have it down to 2662 at the moment. If anything, I would like to add a day in one place, rather than a day and more places. I'm not completely crazy! Ha!
I have also eliminated Dinosaur NM at the moment. It cut out quite a few miles to cut down from Laramie past the road to Steamboat Springs and on to I70, getting on near Eagle. My main goal is Bryce Canyon so this will pick us up a bit more time there and plus, we can stop for a walk and eat lunch at Hanging Lake along the way.
I will check out that forest service campground site more thoroughly. I have been using a website called myscenicroute.com to map my trip and that has a toggle to search for campgrounds within a range of where it thinks we should stop for the day and that mostly lists forest service sites too. Are those mostly what there is for camping out there? We have no forests where I live so our camping close to home is at state parks or the occasional KOA/Yogi Bear Campgrounds.
I checked out the route with Mesa Verde and 285, but that adds more miles than I want. I am trying to keep my trip around/under 2700 miles and that brings it to almost 2900. In the grand scheme of things, that is not a lot, but I have to limit it somehow. I started off with 3200 miles with everything we had on our wishlist, and have it down to 2662 at the moment. If anything, I would like to add a day in one place, rather than a day and more places. I'm not completely crazy! Ha!
I have also eliminated Dinosaur NM at the moment. It cut out quite a few miles to cut down from Laramie past the road to Steamboat Springs and on to I70, getting on near Eagle. My main goal is Bryce Canyon so this will pick us up a bit more time there and plus, we can stop for a walk and eat lunch at Hanging Lake along the way.
I will check out that forest service campground site more thoroughly. I have been using a website called myscenicroute.com to map my trip and that has a toggle to search for campgrounds within a range of where it thinks we should stop for the day and that mostly lists forest service sites too. Are those mostly what there is for camping out there? We have no forests where I live so our camping close to home is at state parks or the occasional KOA/Yogi Bear Campgrounds.
May 26th, 2017, 04:24 PM
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Near Grand Junction CO is Colorado National Monument with a nice campground on the top. Good views of the valley below. One of our favorites. The ride thru the monument features interesting rock formations with several trails to hike.
May 26th, 2017, 06:48 PM
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We've been looking at camping somewhere close around there. I made the mistake of checking out the Colorado River State Park for camping and that added up to $55 for the night by the time I paid the Reserve America fee, state park entrance fee, camping fee, plus 3 coin-op showers. That's crazy!! I will have to check out the other campground.
Another thought I had for that leg is to stay in Moab.
Another thought I had for that leg is to stay in Moab.
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