Go West ... But, Can I Get Back...

[adeakins]

We are a full-time couple in a 41’ 2018 Montana. One of the main motivations for taking this move is to be able to see “fly-over America”. Our first adventure is already afoot with a six-week stay over in Florida so as to let Winter depart our target destinations before we get there. We’ve plotted a course that entails 25 stops— most for one night — before we head back toward North Carolina where we are from (to the extent we are “ from anywhere). Aside from a brief residence in Dallas, I’ve not driven the western states. My trip plan, however, has me in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah then eastwardly following I-20 to catch the Natchez Trace up to I-40 back to Western Carolina. I’m taking I-10 west through Texas then a variety of mostly major roads north from El Paso to visit the Grand Canyon and other major parks & monuments. I would really appreciate any insights anyone who has travelled those areas can provide. It’s all new to me including taking an RV that far.

[LHaven]

The foremost advice in my mind is, don't plan your trip with a one-day stop in each place and driving every day. You'll never get to see anything.

We did a "see America" trip like this back in 1999 with a 10-year-old. Two nights min at every stop, unless it was an intermediate highway-side stop. You need at least a day in each neighborhood to soak up the neighborhood.

Tour the Alamo. Visit out the Oil Museum in Tyler. Tube the Rio Frio in Junction. Visit one of the great restaurants in Las Cruces. Ride the sky tram in Sandia Park. Take the trolley tour of Monument Valley.

When we got into RVing, our pattern was drive like heck all day, sleep somewhere overnight, until we got to a destination. Now we consider every stop a destination and milk it of its unique charms for a couple of days before moving on.

[sourdough]

I have to agree with the previous post; consecutive one nighters are not only tiring but deprive you of seeing anything but asphalt; I wouldn't recommend it. I would do some serious evaluation of any trip into NM. The governor has the state locked down and they are not visitor friendly. I'm not aware of any issues on the rest of your route except a lot of driving. You will be passing through and by some really pretty country with lots to see/do.

[travelin texans]

If traveling I-10, stop in El Paso for the night, fill up with fuel while there then haul butt through NM without stopping, 4-5 hours, if they're that unfriendly, Arizona is still open. IMHO I don't think any state can legally prevent you from driving through without declaring marshall law & closing the borders, I don't think this BS has come to that..........yet.
After full-time for 10+ years I'd also recommend don't rush, only one night at each stop gets old very quickly. Our plan was 2x2x2, travel 200 miles, stop by 2pm & stay 2 days, worked very well. If we stopped some place that looked interesting or other sites within a few hours drive we'd stay a week, much easier to see the sites in your vehicle without dragging the rv.

[wiredgeorge]

I take it you have never driven the Natchez Trace. A few years ago my wife decided it would be wonderful if we made an "Elvis" Tour and part of it was end to end on the Natchez Trace. We were on a motorcycle trike. 50MPH with nothing but heat, bugs and big trees and NOTHING TO SEE mile after mile. I don't recall there being any potty stops on the Trace and I believe you have to get off and look for any gas station or latrine. No way we would do that again; guess a more patient person might enjoy looking at big trees and nothing else for those millions of miles...


As far as you plan to go one day and drive then repeat, wow... I am thinking you have never made a camping trip. It is tiring to drive pulling a camper and when you get to a site and set up, that is about it for a day. Breaking camp and heading out the next day makes me tired to think about it. Stay a few days at each location and the trip will seem like less of an endurance contest.

[notanlines]

I fully agree with what has been said so far, and can add to what George said only substitute the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beautiful but certainly boring after a day.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by notanlines

I fully agree with what has been said so far, and can add to what George said only substitute the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beautiful but certainly boring after a day.

The BRP takes the patience of Job during the fall when the leaves are changing. If you are on a motorcycle, getting behind a gas powered Class A is a preview of the 7th level of Hades! My recollection is that the speed limit on the BRP is 10 mph

[LHaven]

I'll put in a good word for NM. I'm not fond of the way their guv runs a lot of its things there, but there is still a lot of fun to be had, and their state parks are some of the cleanest and most inviting in the west.

My older son took his 8-year-old RVing there over the recent four-day weekend. They rode the Sandia Park sky tram, had pie in Pie Town, saw the Very Large Array, toured the Roswell UFO attractions, and went sand sledding at White Sands (biggest hit of the trip for the little one).

My favorite spot to relax in NM is Deming. Small-town feel, some superb eateries (try the Chinese place, seriously!), two pleasant dog parks, a friendly, pancake-flat RV park with a year-round heated pool, and an annual rock/gem show where you can find some really beautiful custom pieces at reasonable prices.

[Frank G]

Maybe it is just me or us, but we have a 36 footer sitting in the driveway and we opted to get a 23 footer to make a similar journey this summer and next. It's not financial, it the ability to go places where you could never get a 41 footer.

Enjoy your see America trip, plan your base camps wisely and go from there. You do have proper equipment to run the mountains?

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by LHaven

I'll put in a good word for NM. I'm not fond of the way their guv runs a lot of its things there, but there is still a lot of fun to be had, and their state parks are some of the cleanest and most inviting in the west.

My older son took his 8-year-old RVing there over the recent four-day weekend. They rode the Sandia Park sky tram, had pie in Pie Town, saw the Very Large Array, toured the Roswell UFO attractions, and went sand sledding at White Sands (biggest hit of the trip for the little one).

My favorite spot to relax in NM is Deming. Small-town feel, some superb eateries (try the Chinese place, seriously!), two pleasant dog parks, a friendly, pancake-flat RV park with a year-round heated pool, and an annual rock/gem show where you can find some really beautiful custom pieces at reasonable prices.

NM is a beautiful state, lived there for 29 years and then owned a vacation home in the mountains for 25. I have not pulled it up this evening but I believe the gov has mandated a 14 day quarantine if you come there depending on where you come from. They definitely don't want you coming in from "out of state" and running around.

https://cv.nmhealth.org/travel-recommendations/

[digitalpa]

Amen to whoever said do not do one night stops. We did 6800 miles from Deland FL to Grand Canyon and back in 26 days, excluding a 10day stop in Golden CO. Will never travel far and fast again.


Arizona is very dry and dusty. We accumulated more fine small dust in everything there than I want to remember. Not much to see between Flagstaff and points East.



It may be out of your way going west, but the Army Corp has a great campgrounds at Carlyle, ILL. Big sites. Clean. Fabulous views of the Lake. Only a few When you come back east, a fabulous campground is on the banks of the Mississippi at West Memphis, Arkansas - Tom Sawyer’s RV Park. Small, ultra spacious and clean. Good place to stop and explore up and down the river. Enjoy.

[SummitPond]

Originally Posted by adeakins

We are a full-time couple in a 41’ 2018 Montana. One of the main motivations for taking this move is to be able to see “fly-over America”. Our first adventure is already afoot with a six-week stay over in Florida so as to let Winter depart our target destinations before we get there. We’ve plotted a course that entails 25 stops— most for one night — before we head back toward North Carolina where we are from (to the extent we are “ from anywhere). Aside from a brief residence in Dallas, I’ve not driven the western states. My trip plan, however, has me in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah then eastwardly following I-20 to catch the Natchez Trace up to I-40 back to Western Carolina. I’m taking I-10 west through Texas then a variety of mostly major roads north from El Paso to visit the Grand Canyon and other major parks & monuments. I would really appreciate any insights anyone who has travelled those areas can provide. It’s all new to me including taking an RV that far.

I haven't been on the trace in almost 25 years, but I used to take it regularly between Jackson/Clinton, MS and Port Gibson, MS. The leisurely speed limit was strictly enforced at that time, and probably still is. There used to be a disconnect in the Jackson area between the north and south legs; not sure if it has been completed. There were no facilities on the Trace, but half the fun is visiting the little towns adjacent to it.

The north rim of the Grand Canyon used to be a lot less commercial or busy than the south rim. When we visited we stayed in one of the cabins, so I'm not sure of what camping accommodations are available there.

You'll pass through some great tourist cities on I-10. If you're stopping in New Orleans there were numerous campgrounds off Chef Menteur Highway, a new campground (in a much better part of town) at the old Ponchartrain Beach off the lake and there's a nice state park near Mandeville on the north shore of the lake.

Safe travels.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by SummitPond

The north rim of the Grand Canyon used to be a lot less commercial or busy than the south rim. When we visited we stayed in one of the cabins, so I'm not sure of what camping accommodations are available there.

Not sure what the timing of OP's trip is, but keep in mind that the north rim is snowy and inaccessible for a much greater part of the year than the south. Plus, coming up from Arizona towards Utah, the north rim is a fair backtrack off the route (there's this annoying canyon in the way).

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by SummitPond

I haven't been on the trace in almost 25 years, but I used to take it regularly between Jackson/Clinton, MS and Port Gibson, MS. The leisurely speed limit was strictly enforced at that time, and probably still is. There used to be a disconnect in the Jackson area between the north and south legs; not sure if it has been completed. There were no facilities on the Trace, but half the fun is visiting the little towns adjacent to it.

The north rim of the Grand Canyon used to be a lot less commercial or busy than the south rim. When we visited we stayed in one of the cabins, so I'm not sure of what camping accommodations are available there.

You'll pass through some great tourist cities on I-10. If you're stopping in New Orleans there were numerous campgrounds off Chef Menteur Highway, a new campground (in a much better part of town) at the old Ponchartrain Beach off the lake and there's a nice state park near Mandeville on the north shore of the lake.

Safe travels.

If wanting to do New Orleans take I12 on the north & stop at Lakeside rv in Livingston, great park, then drive to NOLA across the causeway.
Also just east of Lake Charles head north about 25 miles to Coushatta Casino rv park in Kinder, very nice park with shuttle to the casino.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by LHaven

Not sure what the timing of OP's trip is, but keep in mind that the north rim is snowy and inaccessible for a much greater part of the year than the south. Plus, coming up from Arizona towards Utah, the north rim is a fair backtrack off the route (there's this annoying canyon in the way).

First time I decided to try the N rim I stayed in Mesquite NV and decided to make a trip over there - June. A long drive and then when we got to the turnoff for the N rim there were barricades - closed due to snow so be aware.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Depending on the time of year check the weather channel each day. I-10 in West Texas and NM can get icy in cold weather.

[adeakins]

Originally Posted by adeakins

We are a full-time couple in a 41’ 2018 Montana. One of the main motivations for taking this move is to be able to see “fly-over America”. Our first adventure is already afoot with a six-week stay over in Florida so as to let Winter depart our target destinations before we get there. We’ve plotted a course that entails 25 stops— most for one night — before we head back toward North Carolina where we are from (to the extent we are “ from anywhere). Aside from a brief residence in Dallas, I’ve not driven the western states. My trip plan, however, has me in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah then eastwardly following I-20 to catch the Natchez Trace up to I-40 back to Western Carolina. I’m taking I-10 west through Texas then a variety of mostly major roads north from El Paso to visit the Grand Canyon and other major parks & monuments. I would really appreciate any insights anyone who has travelled those areas can provide. It’s all new to me including taking an RV that far.

I want to thank everyone for their sharing. All of your insights have and will be very helpful. As an example, we’ve adjusted our schedule - which spans roughly 10 weeks - to include only 8 one-nighters out of approximately 25 stops. You’ve given me some cause to pause with regard to NM Covid restrictions and the the reference to, ‘rigged for mountains’. We are from western North Carolina and have dragged our beast across a number of mountains there. Save for one traumatic incident, we’ve had no real problems. Since we’re not going to the Rockies, what should I know about Arizona, Utah, Texas or New Mexico mountains on my path?

[adeakins]

I have spent a great deal of time in NOLO. Decided to visit Lafayette on this trip. Staying at Frog Town RV park.

[adeakins]

Originally Posted by LHaven

Not sure what the timing of OP's trip is, but keep in mind that the north rim is snowy and inaccessible for a much greater part of the year than the south. Plus, coming up from Arizona towards Utah, the north rim is a fair backtrack off the route (there's this annoying canyon in the way).

Thanks. We are going to the South Rim.

[adeakins]

Originally Posted by SummitPond

I haven't been on the trace in almost 25 years, but I used to take it regularly between Jackson/Clinton, MS and Port Gibson, MS. The leisurely speed limit was strictly enforced at that time, and probably still is. There used to be a disconnect in the Jackson area between the north and south legs; not sure if it has been completed. There were no facilities on the Trace, but half the fun is visiting the little towns adjacent to it.

The north rim of the Grand Canyon used to be a lot less commercial or busy than the south rim. When we visited we stayed in one of the cabins, so I'm not sure of what camping accommodations are available there.

You'll pass through some great tourist cities on I-10. If you're stopping in New Orleans there were numerous campgrounds off Chef Menteur Highway, a new campground (in a much better part of town) at the old Ponchartrain Beach off the lake and there's a nice state park near Mandeville on the north shore of the lake.

Safe travels.

We are taking the Trace from Interstate 20 to Interstate 40 with a 2-day stop at. Corp of Engineers park in West Point, MS.