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Post by ~summer~ on Mar 11, 2022 20:15:55 GMT
Would love to hear about your favorite road trip- big or small.
We have no plans for this summer and I’d like to go on at least one road trip. Loosely thinking about Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. I’ve also thought about a road trip along the Mississippi/the south (never even been!)
One of my favorites was when kids were little we drove from the Bay Area through Yosemite and saw Las Vegas, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion. We hit 5 national parks in a Prius it was amazing.
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Post by angieh1996 on Mar 11, 2022 20:36:02 GMT
Hands down our favorite road trip was when we pulled our camper out to Yellowstone for 2 weeks. We spent a week in Yellowstone and took the other week to get there and home stopping at other places alone the way. Jackson Hole WY, The grand Tetons. We went White water rafting in Cody and hit South Dakota on the way home. It was an amazing trip and one I'd love to repeat soon
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Post by chedanemi on Mar 11, 2022 20:39:57 GMT
We've done lots of road trips, including the Wyoming, Idaho, Montana route several times. We've also done Banff & Jasper NPs in Canada and Glacier NP in another trip. We did Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Cape Cod area in an almost four-week long road trip.
I always recommend purchasing the Benchmark or DeLorme atlases for the states in which you will be traveling. They are highly detailed with all the side roads, etc., on them. We have found some beautiful out-of-the ways sights by choosing to go down these little known roads. We never take the interstate unless absolutely necessary.
Be aware these days a lot of the national parks are requiring timed entry permits, along with your park pass.
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Post by busy on Mar 11, 2022 20:47:05 GMT
We took a fabulous road trip from Portland, through eastern Washington, to Coeur d'Alene, then north, to Calgary, Banff, then west through Yoho, Revelstoke, and Glacier National Parks in BC, then to Vancouver, BC, then back home. If we'd had a little more time, we would have gone up to Jasper too, but I really loved Yoho especially, so no regrets  |
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639 
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Mar 11, 2022 20:47:46 GMT
I think my favorite road trip was South Dakota -- straight North out of KC, stop at Sioux Falls (beautiful little town), see the Corn Palace at Mitchell, Wall Drug, the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore -- and there is a TON of stuff to do around Rapid City -- leaving we went to Devils Tower, then headed back. It was a great drive - lots of different scenery, things to do. WE did another one - over to Denver, Colorado Springs - again a TON of stuff to do around there - then dropping down to my sister's house in ABQ - then back to KC. We once drove down to Orange Beach, Alabama from KC -- that was another good road trip.
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Post by beachbum on Mar 11, 2022 21:05:38 GMT
Our favorite road trip was from TN to Portland, OR - stopping at St. Louis, Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone on the way, meeting our first grandchild (who is now 8), then up through Washington, ferry to Victoria, ferry to Vancouver. Then continued the drive to Alberta, stopping in Banff for a couple of days -Lake Louise is amazing. Then we headed back over the border for Deadwood, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands. Then is was back down to TN. A long trip but we had just retired and it was just what we needed to ease into retirement the right way!
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Post by essiejean on Mar 11, 2022 21:06:14 GMT
I think my favorite road trip was South Dakota -- straight North out of KC, stop at Sioux Falls (beautiful little town), see the Corn Palace at Mitchell, Wall Drug, the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore -- and there is a TON of stuff to do around Rapid City -- leaving we went to Devils Tower, then headed back. It was a great drive - lots of different scenery, things to do. WE did another one - over to Denver, Colorado Springs - again a TON of stuff to do around there - then dropping down to my sister's house in ABQ - then back to KC. We once drove down to Orange Beach, Alabama from KC -- that was another good road trip. I live in Rapid City and can tell you that the Black Hills (western SD) is very popular in the summer time. So much to do especially if you love the outdoors. With that said, Wyoming & Montana are fabulous also. If you have enough time you could do South Dakota then into Wyoming and make your way to Montana via Yellowstone. If you do decide to check out the Black Hills of SD you may want to avoid the first full week of August as this is when the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally takes place. The area is over run with bikers and prices on lodging sky rockets. It is a fun time during the rally though - so if you are interested in attending during bike week make sure you pre-plan your lodging. We took a trip through Nebraska, Colorado & then into Utah and spent a few days in Moab. This was on a motorcycle and it was a fabulous trip! |
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frankiegirl
Full Member
Posts: 183
Dec 22, 2020 12:42:01 GMT
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Post by frankiegirl on Mar 11, 2022 21:17:50 GMT
I don't know if this counts but when we went to Bar Harbor, Maine, we flew into Boston and then drove to Bar Harbor. It was the most fun day trip. We stopped at so many places. Got a great map at the welcome center and hit a lot of hole in the wall places. Had our first lobster roll, found amazing water areas with beautiful views. Stopped at a couple of parks and tourist stops. Our friends thought we were never going to get to Bar Harbor. My dd still talks about that day. Usually when we drive it is straight through, no fun stops.
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Post by disneypal on Mar 11, 2022 21:18:11 GMT
Once we drove from Minneapolis, MN to Deadwood, SD and stopped many places along the way - The Badlands, the Petrified Forest, Mt. Rushmore, Wall Drug, etc. Sunflowers were blooming and were everywhere - so pretty. Best road trip ever!!
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Post by ~summer~ on Mar 11, 2022 21:58:51 GMT
Gosh these road trips sound amazing. I met someone once who had just retired (she was young) and now just travelled full time.
I think I’m going to start planning Wyoming, Montana and ideally the dakotas as well. Will definitely avoid first week in august.
Weighing temperature and crowds and wildfires - can anyone suggest what they think the best month to go is?
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Mar 11, 2022 22:08:11 GMT
So far, mine was Central coast California-San Luis Obispo area.
I went from beach town to beach town exploring, wandering, etc..., as well as explored SLO.
I stayed in SLO.
I had done research and had a list of beach towns to visit.
On my way back from the "south" beach towns, it was only 3:30-4:00pm-ish and I saw a sign for Avila Beach (which I hadn't heard of or read about in my research), I made a last minute decision and took the turn off to go there. I loved it! It was my favorite place of the whole trip. I hope to visit there again someday.
I walked the beach, the pier, the boardwalk.
The also have trails on the bluffs and hills overlooking the ocean, which I want to walk on next time. That day, when I was there I didn't have my sneakers(left them back at the hotel) with me and was not prepared for a long walk.
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Post by huskermom98 on Mar 11, 2022 22:29:47 GMT
We had to go to Sioux Falls, SD for a wedding and it dawned on me that we would be halfway to the Black Hills so why not make a vacation out it. So after the wedding we hit Badlands, Black Hills, Devils Tower and then swung up through North Dakota to see Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It was our first big road trip and it was a lot of fun...even if the weather sucked...we literally couldn't see Devils Tower when we were AT Devils Tower because it was so rainy and foggy! The only downside is that we didn't have a lot of time at each place because DH felt he had to get back to work in less than a week.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,570
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Mar 11, 2022 23:03:57 GMT
My favourite was driving through Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton Island, crossing the ferry into PEI and then the Confederation bridge back to Nova Scotia. We spent 10 days in the 2 provinces. PEI is my favourite vacation spot overall. We took a fabulous road trip from Portland, through eastern Washington, to Coeur d'Alene, then north, to Calgary, Banff, then west through Yoho, Revelstoke, and Glacier National Parks in BC, then to Vancouver, BC, then back home. If we'd had a little more time, we would have gone up to Jasper too, but I really loved Yoho especially, so no regrets  The Icefields Parkway drive from Jasper to Banff is unbelievable. Jasper is less name brand store (although in the last few years those are creeping in, Timmy's, Montana's) and quieter than Banff. So if you ever have the chance to come back, don't miss it. I've done Leavenworth, Spokane, Coeur d'Alene when staying in Osoyoos BC, on the Cdn/US border. |
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Post by ntsf on Mar 11, 2022 23:16:05 GMT
I did bay area.. hiway 50 cross nevada, through the mountains south of salt lake, dinosaur nm, over the rockies to denver.
also going up to burney falls, then up 395 on east side of cascades.. up to hood river, stonehenge, over hiway 2 to seattle and back.
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Post by librarylady on Mar 11, 2022 23:24:41 GMT
We did Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and loved that trip. We scheduled our trip to arrive on the Monday of Labor Day and stayed until the following Friday. It was great because there were few tourists there. Weather was pleasant and it was not so crowded.
We also love the trip to see Mt. Rushmore. We had visited relatives in Missouri and drove across South Dakota to get there. Included the Badlands on the trip.
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Post by chedanemi on Mar 11, 2022 23:38:25 GMT
Gosh these road trips sound amazing. I met someone once who had just retired (she was young) and now just travelled full time. I think I’m going to start planning Wyoming, Montana and ideally the dakotas as well. Will definitely avoid first week in august. Weighing temperature and crowds and wildfires - can anyone suggest what they think the best month to go is? If you have the option, I highly recommend doing this trip after Labor Day. Yellowstone and Grand Tetons are bumper to bumper in the summer. Don't miss driving the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge, Montana to the NE entrance to Yellowstone (or vise versa, depending on where you are starting your trip). Also, the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway cuts off the Beartooth Highway and ends in Cody. It, too, is a beautiful drive. We have been retired for 11 years and do LOTS of road trips. Our daughter lives in Wyoming, so we have done that part of the country several times. PM me if you have any questions, and I'll try to assist. |
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Post by ntsf on Mar 11, 2022 23:39:13 GMT
I did bay area.. hiway 50 cross nevada, through the mountains south of salt lake, dinosaur nm, over the rockies to denver.
also going up to burney falls, then up 395 on east side of cascades.. up to hood river, stonehenge, over hiway 2 to seattle and back.
going around the olympic peninsula or the oregon coast are classic.
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Post by papersilly on Mar 12, 2022 0:23:41 GMT
Cross country RV trip with DH and ILs. 3 weeks. I wish it had lasted longer. New England in the fall is beautiful.
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Post by lisae on Mar 12, 2022 1:07:48 GMT
Our honeymoon from Seattle to Vancouver and then across British Columbia to Jasper, Alberta.
2nd choice would be northern California - San Francisco to Santa Rosa to Yosemite to Pacific Grove.
Since we live in the south, these have been fly and then drive for us.
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Post by SallyPA on Mar 12, 2022 4:18:10 GMT
Gosh these road trips sound amazing. I met someone once who had just retired (she was young) and now just travelled full time. I think I’m going to start planning Wyoming, Montana and ideally the dakotas as well. Will definitely avoid first week in august. Weighing temperature and crowds and wildfires - can anyone suggest what they think the best month to go is? July. Wildfires typically start in August and start to decrease visibility in those areas you’ve mentioned. One thing that I would like to recommend is the Hiawatha Trail in northern Idaho. Google it, it will most likely be on your route, as it is about an hour out of Coeur d’Alene. You can rent a bike and ride the trail, which is an old train route. It is on of my most favorite things I’ve ever done. We used to vacation in CDA every year. And definitely, add the Beartooth Highway in MT/WY onto your travel plans. You cannot miss it. It’s my backpacking/hiking territory, and there is just no place like it. After Labor Day is also fantastic, but you’re risking road closures, snow, etc. and fires are usually still burning so will have decreased visibility. |
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Post by mikklynn on Mar 12, 2022 12:26:20 GMT
Hands down our favorite road trip was when we pulled our camper out to Yellowstone for 2 weeks. We spent a week in Yellowstone and took the other week to get there and home stopping at other places alone the way. Jackson Hole WY, The grand Tetons. We went White water rafting in Cody and hit South Dakota on the way home. It was an amazing trip and one I'd love to repeat soon That is a fantastic trip. We love it, too. |
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,943
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 12, 2022 15:59:03 GMT
Hands down our favorite road trip was when we pulled our camper out to Yellowstone for 2 weeks. We spent a week in Yellowstone and took the other week to get there and home stopping at other places alone the way. Jackson Hole WY, The grand Tetons. We went White water rafting in Cody and hit South Dakota on the way home. It was an amazing trip and one I'd love to repeat soon This was my favorite trip too. We took our motorhome through Colorado to Yellowstone. We camped at Henry's Lake State Park and rented a car in West Yellowstone. We spend a week exploring and then drove back home through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. It is awesome to travel with your "home" with you! |
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Post by Basket1lady on Mar 12, 2022 16:09:14 GMT
Definitely driving through Bavaria and the northern area of Austria. It’s so pretty and pristine looking. In the US, it would be driving through Vermont and New Hampshire in the fall.
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Post by supersoda on Mar 12, 2022 16:39:12 GMT
My favorite road trip is one we did several years ago looping from Texas to NYC to Montreal and Toronto and back. We stayed in Shenandoah National Park and in a cabin in Vermont, had city fun in NYC, Montreal, and Toronto, and stopped by the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and stayed at a lakeside resort on the way back. It was a lot stuffed into a relatively short period (and 5 people in a Toyota Highlander!), but the country-city mix kept it from being too hectic.
We're currently planning a Jeep trip for late April from Texas through SW Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. We'll hit Arches, Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon national parks and the off-road trails nearby. I'm really excited about this trip! I've never been to that part of the country and it looks gorgeous. Plus DH and I have both been hella busy with work and the downtime sounds like heaven.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,891
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Mar 12, 2022 16:44:00 GMT
Pacific Coast Highway - started in San Francisco and ended up in San Diego. Just gorgeous - so many places to stop.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 19:34:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2022 17:23:03 GMT
Our favorite was flying into San Francisco for a couple nights (Santa Cruz boardwalk, Golden Gate Bridge, walk Muir Woods & Napa were highlights in that area). Then to Sacramento for a night (Jelly Belly factory) and then Lake Tahoe for a day (riding a tram, swimming in Lake Tahoe, shopping & hiking) and then to a couple nights in Mammoth Lakes (day tripped into Yosemite from there). Then we drove across Death Valley to Las Vegas for a couple nights ("O" at the Bellagio and whatever other kid-friendly places we could find) and flew home from there. I think we were gone about 10 or 11 nights with 4 kids - they loved this trip! Probably Vegas was the least exciting since we are more outdoorsy, but it was still a lot of fun, there was plenty of family stuff to do there. For whatever reason, we wanted them see Vegas and go to a cirque show and driving through Death Valley made it worth it.
So many other good suggestions!! I seriously can't wait to take another road trip, I love them!!
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Post by lisacharlotte on Mar 12, 2022 18:21:19 GMT
After we became empty nesters we did a road trip to Mt Rushmore from Nebraska. Did all the stops on the way (Corn Palace, Wall Drug, The Badlands). We also took a side trip to Deadwood and Devil’s Tower. We went very early October and the weather was perfect and the aspens were in their full fall glory. I loved that trip. We stayed at the Alex Johnson in Rapid City, which is apparently haunted. Did not see (nor hear, nor feel) any ghosts.
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Post by melanieg on Mar 12, 2022 18:25:31 GMT
We did a ghost town photo tour in Montana about 8 years ago. We also did another one in 2019 in southern Saskatchewan along highway 13 (which is nicknamed the ghost town trail). Those were two of my favorite road trips
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Post by worldwanderer75 on Mar 13, 2022 1:29:09 GMT
We spent a week at a lake cabin in Idaho then road tripped to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Montana, North/South Dakota to the black hills. We covered so much ground and had the best time. I would do that trip again in a heartbeat.
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,957
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Post by TXMary on Mar 13, 2022 3:48:40 GMT
Road trips for us right now mean flying in and renting a car to travel an area.
Hands down favorite is and will always be the Canadian Rockies, especially if we have time to tack on Montana and Glacier on the US side. We’ve been several times and hope to get back again someday. It’s stunningly gorgeous.
A close second is the Oregon coast. We flew into Portland and drove to Astoria and spent 10 days taking our time down the entire coast line. It was incredible and we hope to get back again someday.
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