Out West - National Park Road trip (fly then drive)
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Anonymous
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I'm new to planning trips and DH and I want to go out west this summer for a road trip to see the national parks. My parents (graciously!) want my daughter to stay with them for two weeks in July so we thought we'd do a big getaway to see some of national parks out west. Neither of us have been out west before. this is what I have put together. We want to see as much as possible.
Day 1 Fly from DC to Bozeman, Montana Head to Yellowstone Stay in West Yellowstone Day 2 Head to Grand Teton NP Sunrise in the tetons Scenic stops/short hikes Go back to Yellowstone to see what we missed Stay in Jackson Day 3 Head to Rocky Mountain NP Scenic stops alogn the way Trail ridge road at sunset Stay in Estes Park CO Day 4 Quick hike in Rocky Mountain Make our way to New Mexico Stay in ABQ? Day 5 Drive to White Sands NP Sunset at White Sands Stay in Alamagordo New Mexico Day 6 Head toward the grand canyon Stop at Saguaro NP along the way Sunset at the grand canyon Stay in Tusayan Az Day 7 Short AM hike at the Grand Canyon Head to Zion NP Quick sunset hike Stay in Springfdale Utah Day 8 If we score an Angels Landing permit, do this hike today Head to Bryce Canyon NP Scenic overlooks at Bryce Stay in St George Day 9 Make our way to Death Valley Stop at Valley of Fire state park Quick stroll on the vegas strip Stay in Pahump NV Day 10 Drive though DV national park (no hike/overlooks only) Stay in Bakersfield CA Day11 Head to Yosemite -Tunnel View / El Captian / Yosemite Falls Stay in Mariposa CA Day 12 Go back to Yosemite to see anything else we wanted to see Head toward San Francisco Stay in Sf Day 13 Fly out from San Fran What do you think? We aren't big hikers, we just want to make the most of our time off. |
Anonymous
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This is insane. Did you look at a map- these places are far apart and you’re proposing like 2 hours in each place??
I don’t mean to be unkind. Also, Death Valley in the summer is like 120+ degrees. |
Anonymous
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If you’re not big hikers why go to all these places? For a child-less trip, I would do something that is better without kids, like cities. National parks have generally lousy dining and lodging options
I would focus on one geographic area. These are also great family trips, so I wouldn’t plan like this is the only time you’ll ever see these places. |
Anonymous
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I live out west and have been to most of these places- your itinerary is overly ambitious. You won’t enjoy this very quick paced trip, especially if you have never done something like this before.
Driving these distances is draining, as is checking into a new hotel every night. Many of the roads you will be on are not straight highways, but winding through mountains. In some places it is dangerous to drive at night. I would cut your number of stops in half and spend longer in each location. |
Anonymous
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We spent a week just in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. So much to see and do. So many activities, whitewater rafting, hiking, swimming, etc.
You’re basically just driving for 13 days with some roadside hikes here and there. The two of you will end up divorced somewhere around day 6. Day 1 Fly from DC to Bozeman, Montana Head to Yellowstone Stay in West Yellowstone Day 2 - Yellowstone Day 3 - Yellowstone Days 4 - 6: Head to Grand Teton NP Sunrise in the tetons Scenic stops/short hikes Stay in GRAND TETON Day 7-13 - choose 1-2 more parks on your way to airport of return Day 13 Fly out from San Fran (if you already bought the tickets), if not see something closer to the 1 or 2 additional parks you choose |
Anonymous
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So you want to drive through national parks and not actually see or do anything in them, that is what I am getting.
We spent 5 days in Yellowstone and only got out of the main tourist areas for one longer hike. We could easily go back and spend more time. We spent 5 days in the Grand Tetons hiking and backpacking. And there are lakes for kayaking and paddle boarding. We spent 4 days in Death Valley, in April, and enjoyed the hiking and going to a few of the different sections of the park. The only National Parks I have been to so far that I can comfortably say you can enjoy in a day, to include some hiking, are Arches and Joshua Tree. Every park you have listed is one you could spend a week to two weeks in and still have a lot to do and see. |
Anonymous
| I was also thinking that about HALF of this would be a reasonable itinerary. |
Anonymous
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You're underestimating how HUGE everything is an all the distances. Yellowstone alone requires several days. Also not logical to go back up and then down to Jackson.
You would be better off doing that for one trip and then a Utah/AZ loop another time. There is so much to see. |
Anonymous
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Your first two days are like a week's worth of travel. Yellowstone in July will be filled with traffic and getting anywhere will take time.
The Tetons are 2+ hours from Yellowstone and will also have lots of traffic. And you plan to spend about 8 hours in each park? Then you'll drive another 8 hours to spend a day in RMNP? Was this a theoretical, AI itinerary? Troll? Otherwise crazy. |
Anonymous
| If you aren’t traveling with kids (and don’t have to plan around kid school schedules) I would plan a trip in the shoulder season. Some of these parks will be insanely crowded in summer |
Anonymous
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You will have a TON of traffic (Yellowstone looking at you) to stay on schedule.
Too ambitious and a lot of wasted time (and gas money to boot!!). You are too late to book hotels. They are filled up already or otherwise get ready to pay premium dollar for what is still available. |
Anonymous
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I think this must be a joke. reduce the stops by 75% and then this is possible and even then hectic. Day one, fly in and see yellowstone? then day two leave for grand teton and then go back to yellowstone?
pick 3 sites and do those for two weeks or just go somewhere else and relax! |
Anonymous
Half would also be insane as we are talking about going as far north as Yellowstone, east to Rocky Mtn national park, south to Grand Canyon. You could do this but would need more like 3-4 weeks. |
Anonymous
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What the actual?
Child. Several of those places require several days. Also, that sounds like hell. Why not enjoy the natural beauty and take a hike or three? |
Anonymous
| That itinerary sounds awful. You'll hardly see anything of the parks, and you'll be driving all the time. Pick three parks and actually enjoy them. |