styxgirl
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Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 1, 2015 15:19:38 GMT
Hello Dear Peas,
A couple of years ago, you all helped me plan the most amazing vacation our family has ever had. We went to Panama City Beach, Florida. We stayed in a villa right on the beach. The Peas helped me think of everything we needed and not over complicated stuff like I sometimes do. LOL ![:laugh:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/Ivm7lm0DayrhoRpwvCeH.jpg)
Last spring, we got an RV (Class C). We took it out on a couple of short trips last summer and fall to a local lake. We are wanting to use it this summer for a longer trip for a family vacation. The first since the PCB trip.
Our DDs are 10 & 12. We live in the middle of the USA so Yellowstone would be about an 18 hour drive through Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming.
Our schedule is pretty flexible, but we wouldn't want to travel over the July 4 holiday. We are thinking the trip would maybe be 9 days (two weekends and a full week in between). We could add a couple of days if needed ... I would just have to hoard vacation days from work for a while. LOL ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
Tips on Yellowstone, traveling long distances in an RV, where to park it for overnight stays, thrifty travel tips, your real-life experiences, etc. are much appreciated.
I found a few tips on RV.net, but don't "know" any of them like I do the Peas. As always, TIA for your wisdom and advice! ![:2thumbsup:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/zKsqKGInldFvtmx415J3.jpg)
Nicole
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Post by anonrefugee on Mar 1, 2015 15:32:59 GMT
I did this RV trip with my family as a teen- and it was one of the most memorable trips we took. Have fun!
When my current family visited we did it by car, so I have no RV advice. Except to say be there, for sunset and sunrise! And visit some of the points further away from main village. They're spectacular and not as crowded.
ETA I love Pea travel advice! They've helped me often!
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Post by freecharlie on Mar 1, 2015 16:24:19 GMT
Will you be towing a car or just have the RV?
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Post by Basket1lady on Mar 1, 2015 16:24:59 GMT
No RV advice. I'm a hater when it comes to camping.
But check out Yellowstones site availability. I don't know when reservations open, but I do know that camp sites get reserved early.
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Mar 1, 2015 16:27:46 GMT
We usually camp for no more than five days and it's go there and stay. But last fall we did a 12 day road trip to Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, then back home through Yosemite (I needed to see green stuff and trees!) and LOVED it. Except it was too short. We call it our National Park Tour.
My advice is to get paper maps and a book or two about the area you will be driving through and where you are visiting. Not all areas have cell service for downloading. There are a lot of RV campgrounds that have full hook-ups and amenities, but we prefer to stay in the "pull off onto the dirt road, $15 a night" places.
Also, don't drive, drive, drive all day. Stop and enjoy the sights. We would never have seen Devils Postpile Nat'l Monument if we had been in a hurry. It wasn't on our plan but we saw the sign from the highway and took the exit.
You don't have to pack your RV with 10 days of groceries or clothes. There will be grocery stores and laundry mats along the way. We stayed at a full amenity RV park half way through and did laundry and stopped a grocery stores for fresh foods.
We also don't stress that we have everything. We can always stop and buy it.
The most important part is to enjoy the time with your family. And before you go, watch RV with Robin Williams. It's hilarious.
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 1, 2015 16:39:03 GMT
Will you be towing a car or just have the RV? freecharlie ... between now and then, we need to get a car to tow. We are thinking something cheap, but reliable that would seat our family of 4.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Mar 1, 2015 16:39:35 GMT
Congratulations on your RV, we love ours!!
I like to cook and freeze before trips. I make spaghetti sauce and chicken and noodles and freeze them flat. Takes up little room in the freezer or can be put in the cooler. It's nice to not have to start dinner from scratch each meal. We use a lot of baggies for food storage. We also use our crockpot a lot. I will also make and cook a batch of waffles the first morning and freeze the leftovers. The kids like snacking on them or reheating them for breakfast the next day.
We also have a game box. We keep cards, dice, Uno and any other small games in there in a cupboard. It also has pencils and a notepad.
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,887
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 1, 2015 16:43:46 GMT
I do need to not stress that we have everything. (Thus, I over-pack and make everyone's trip complicated!) Although, I did learn a valuable trick about letting people pack their own crap. THEN, they know where it is and I don't have to be the concierge the entire time! LOL
RV is one of our favorite family movies!!!
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Post by gmcwife1 on Mar 1, 2015 16:48:33 GMT
I do need to not stress that we have everything. (Thus, I over-pack and make everyone's trip complicated!) Although, I did learn a valuable trick about letting people pack their own crap. THEN, they know where it is and I don't have to be the concierge the entire time! LOL
RV is one of our favorite family movies!!!
Going into our second yr owning our RV we are learning to not overpack as well ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) My mom always made lists so I still make lists and that does help a lot. She also told us to keep a notepad in the rig so we could make notes of what worked, what didn't work, what we liked, needed or forgot. She's on her 3rd RV so she has a lot of experience!
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Post by cindyupnorth on Mar 1, 2015 16:53:58 GMT
Sorry to hijack the thread Nicole, but where in Panama city did you stay?
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,887
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 1, 2015 17:10:35 GMT
Sorry to hijack the thread Nicole, but where in Panama city did you stay? We stayed in the Pirate Cove Villas on the west end of PCB. We rented using VRBO. I can look up the actual unit if you want. It was amazing! You open the sliding door to the patio and then right out into sand. The water is right there! (The girls and I counted 80 steps to the waters edge), I liked it because it was right on the beach. No steps or boardwalks to get there. It's my dream to go back!
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Post by brookeq on Mar 1, 2015 17:25:47 GMT
When we went to yellowstone it was a lot of driving. We stayed right outside the park. So it would be an hour/two hour drive to get where we wanted and then another hour/two hour drive back home when we were done.
I wish we had an RV and just "camped" in each of the main areas. Visit old faithful area and spend the night there. Visit the waterfall/canyon area. camp there. Visit mammoth hotsprings camp there. visit the lake camp there. You get my drift.
we really enjoyed visiting the grand prismatic spring area. Its just a short board walk type hike around.
Another tip... be prepared for anything. We scheduled one day to go see old faithful area. We were getting close and traffic just stopped dead. And didn't move for hours. A herd of buffalo were blocking the road. We never made it that day.
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NoWomanNoCry
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Jun 25, 2014 21:53:42 GMT
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Mar 1, 2015 19:13:49 GMT
I do need to not stress that we have everything. (Thus, I over-pack and make everyone's trip complicated!) Although, I did learn a valuable trick about letting people pack their own crap. THEN, they know where it is and I don't have to be the concierge the entire time! LOL
RV is one of our favorite family movies!!!
Going into our second yr owning our RV we are learning to not overpack as well ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) My mom always made lists so I still make lists and that does help a lot. She also told us to keep a notepad in the rig so we could make notes of what worked, what didn't work, what we liked, needed or forgot. She's on her 3rd RV so she has a lot of experience! My sister and her DH are in the process of buying a RV (right now they are in a FEMA trailer) because his work is taking him everywhere. OMG! She is like the nightmare version of House Hunters but with a RV!!! She wants all stainless steal appliances...cabinets that look custom...granite counters...full size shower...no bunk beds..one certain floor plan will only do for her...bedroom that's is a actually bedroom with at last room for a queen bed. They go to dealers and when they try and show her used ones she tells me how she is going to have to gut the whole thing out because she won't live in a space where the carpet/furniture/bathroom has been used. The best part: she expecting to pay 6-8k! OP- hope you have a wonderful trip! Post pics if you can.
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Post by volunteergirl on Mar 1, 2015 20:35:14 GMT
Most campsites in Yellowstone are first come, first serve. The general plan should be to get to a camping area by 9:00 a.m., get a spot, and then explore for the day. Some campgrounds fill up really quickly but others do not.
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Post by anonrefugee on Mar 1, 2015 20:38:56 GMT
Most campsites in Yellowstone are first come, first serve. The general plan should be to get to a camping area by 9:00 a.m., get a spot, and then explore for the day. Some campgrounds fill up really quickly but others do not. Is this true at other major parks, like Grand Canyon? I mentioned this thread to DH and he told me a friend had offered to loan/ rent his RV.
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pudgygroundhog
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Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Mar 1, 2015 21:53:31 GMT
Most campsites in Yellowstone are first come, first serve. The general plan should be to get to a camping area by 9:00 a.m., get a spot, and then explore for the day. Some campgrounds fill up really quickly but others do not. Is this true at other major parks, like Grand Canyon? I mentioned this thread to DH and he told me a friend had offered to loan/ rent his RV. Depends on the park and how many campgrounds they have. There is at least one first come, first served campground in the Grand Canyon. Check www.nps.gov for the parks.
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Post by volunteergirl on Mar 1, 2015 21:57:27 GMT
Anonrefugee, I am not sure about other national parks. I only know about Yellowstone because we briefly thought about camping while we were there.
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Post by scraphappy0501 on Mar 1, 2015 22:47:36 GMT
We camp with our trailer at Yellowstone fairly often. There are 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone - 5 for which you have to make reservations through Xanterra and 7 of which are first come, first served. They normally fill by noon. The only campground inside the park that has full hookups is Fishing Bridge. I just checked the Xanterra reservation site and Fishing Bridge does have openings in July, depending on the size of your vehicle. I would reserve as soon as possible if there are particular dates you want. If you're not particular about hookups, I've heard Madison is the campground many people prefer. Here's a link to YNP's camping page on the NPS website: Camping at YellowstoneYellowstone is a very large park and it can take hours to go from one area to another so I recommend camping in the park if possible. If you do decide to camp outside the park, West Yelllowstone has some nice campgrounds. If you have enough time in your schedule, you might want to consider camping for a night or two in Grand Teton National Park. We actually prefer it to Yellowstone as it's less crowded and has some gorgeous scenery. We usually camp at Colter Bay RV Park, as that is the only campground with full hookups, but almost any of the other campgrounds in the park are nice as well. Here is a link to Grand Teton's camping webpage: Grand Teton NP Camping. It's a beautiful part of the country - enjoy your trip!
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iowgirl
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Mar 1, 2015 23:16:01 GMT
I have no experience with an RV in Yellowstone - but do be aware that you will be dealing with some pretty steep grades. Make sure you are familiar with driving in that type of condition - ride the brakes -and you won't have brakes! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) We did Yellowstone by car and found that two days was plenty. We stayed in Cody, WY - that is a neat town. Buffalo Bill Museum is fantastic. If anyone in your family is into firearms - it has the top rated Cody Firearms Museum there. We stayed in West Yellowstone the other night. Then traveled back through the park and finished out in Jackson, WY. The ski resort (Jackson Hole) was nice. They had the free gondola to the top and the restaurant up there was fantastic. We could sit outside and enjoy fantastic appetizers and a live band. Everyone ordered a different appetizer and we shared for our meal. The kids loved it!.. I think this is only on Friday nights.
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Mar 1, 2015 23:51:36 GMT
scraphappy0501 - thanks for the camping/campground tips. DH and I have been talking about a Yellowstone and Teton trip. And after I mentioned this thread it may be bumped up. ETA: I've only been through Yellowstone by car and that was just after the fires in 1989. (the fires were in 1988, I think) So I think that after 25 years it should look quite different.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Mar 1, 2015 23:58:35 GMT
Going into our second yr owning our RV we are learning to not overpack as well ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) My mom always made lists so I still make lists and that does help a lot. She also told us to keep a notepad in the rig so we could make notes of what worked, what didn't work, what we liked, needed or forgot. She's on her 3rd RV so she has a lot of experience! My sister and her DH are in the process of buying a RV (right now they are in a FEMA trailer) because his work is taking him everywhere. OMG! She is like the nightmare version of House Hunters but with a RV!!! She wants all stainless steal appliances...cabinets that look custom...granite counters...full size shower...no bunk beds..one certain floor plan will only do for her...bedroom that's is a actually bedroom with at last room for a queen bed. They go to dealers and when they try and show her used ones she tells me how she is going to have to gut the whole thing out because she won't live in a space where the carpet/furniture/bathroom has been used. The best part: she expecting to pay 6-8k! OP- hope you have a wonderful trip! Post pics if you can. Good luck to her/them with that!!
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Post by msbee on Mar 2, 2015 0:15:20 GMT
Can I suggest a day or two to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. It doesn't have geysters but it has lots of other goregeous things to see.
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NoWomanNoCry
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Mar 2, 2015 0:39:32 GMT
My sister and her DH are in the process of buying a RV (right now they are in a FEMA trailer) because his work is taking him everywhere. OMG! She is like the nightmare version of House Hunters but with a RV!!! She wants all stainless steal appliances...cabinets that look custom...granite counters...full size shower...no bunk beds..one certain floor plan will only do for her...bedroom that's is a actually bedroom with at last room for a queen bed. They go to dealers and when they try and show her used ones she tells me how she is going to have to gut the whole thing out because she won't live in a space where the carpet/furniture/bathroom has been used. The best part: she expecting to pay 6-8k! OP- hope you have a wonderful trip! Post pics if you can. Good luck to her/them with that!! She is crazy..I've been having to miss her calls because I just can't deal with her lol
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styxgirl
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Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 3, 2015 0:17:29 GMT
Thanks everyone for the tips so far! I kinda like to have places reserved just because I wanna know where we are parking each night. I love the tip about exploring around where you are parked and then move to a different area after a few days. Any additional tips are appreciated.
NoWomanNoCry, your sister is in dreamland!
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janeinbama
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Post by janeinbama on Mar 3, 2015 19:52:33 GMT
Not Yellowstone info, but veteran camper. Make sure you pack a sweatshirt or jacket and pair of long pants for everybody - changing weather conditions makes for some whiny campers. No matter what the 10 day forecast shows. Ask me how I know
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julieb
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Post by julieb on Mar 3, 2015 19:58:04 GMT
We went to Yellowstone 25 years ago when living in Wyoming. It is beautiful, but probably 2-3 years after the big fires. My parents drove their RV and we travelled behind them in our van. It is hard to get around Yellowstone in an RV, so we were happy we had the van. I'm not saying it isn't do-able, because plenty of people do it. The campground was nice and I remember it getting very cold at night - in August.
Don't miss the Tetons. Better than Yellowstone. We canoed on the lake there and it was unforgettable.
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Post by krc11 on Mar 3, 2015 20:08:18 GMT
Went to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons last year in a car. We stayed in Jackson Hole. It was a long drive each day into YS. I would think driving around in an RV might be difficult. I'd definitely have a car so you could park the RV.
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Deleted
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Jul 8, 2024 17:27:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2015 20:34:34 GMT
We had so much fun on our western RV trip a few years ago. My only suggestions were already said: make reservations in the National Parks if you can. The park campgrounds were nicer than the outside ones (in my opinion.) And we went to one of those Dream Dinner type places ahead of time and made up 10 meals to put in the freezer. It was really helpful to have all those dinners available.
Have a great time -- we loved our RV trip.
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pudgygroundhog
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Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Mar 3, 2015 20:49:26 GMT
I've been to Yellowstone and Tetons multiple times - I definitely agree you would want to tow a car. I can't imagine driving an RV around each day and dealing with the traffic and parking. Even with a car it's a good idea to stay in different parts of the park to cut down on travel time each day. Plus, dawn and dusk are good times to spot wildlife (especially in the valleys), so it helps to be closer to the action. Yellowstone is very big and facilities are spread out, so it's a good idea to pack a cooler for your car. This way you don't have to plan schedules around meals and trying to get to a restaurant in the park (with mediocre and overpriced food). There are plenty of picnic spots. I highly recommend getting this book - very useful for both planning and while you are there: Yellowstone TreasuresOne of my favorite spots is around the Old Faithful geyser basin. There are multiple geysers there that have prediction times, so it's fun to try and see most of them. If you are camped nearby, it's fun to go at night or early morning. Castle Geyser is one of my favorites and I've seen it erupt during the night and at sunrise - stunning. I was one of three people there for the early morning eruption and it was nice to see it without the crowds. In general an early start is useful in beating the crowds and ensuring parking. Mt Washburn is a popular hike. There is an active firetower on the summit and 360 views. I had read in the book that bighorn sheep can be found there sometimes and we did encounter a large group of females and babies. The little ones were adorable. A coyote also came by and we watched the moms kick him out. You can often see elk at Mammoth Springs and there are a few rivers where we seem to see them every time. We've seen bears (mostly black), moose (much more common in the Tetons), elk, pronghorn, wolves, coyotes, bighorn sheep, fox, otters, marmots, pikas, and of course the bison. By the end of your trip you won't even bother stopping to look at them because you see them so much. They are the divas of the park - they certainly own the roads and wildlife jams are common! Since you have the time, I would also consider spending some days in the Tetons. Beautiful park as well! Tripadvisor has a good Yellowstone forum - some very knowledgeable and friendly people there. Lots of good info to be found. I have trip reports posted from our trips, these are some that have more Yellowstone/Tetons pictures/notes. We really love it there - have a great trip! Wyoming 2013Wyoming 2012Wyoming 2011
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Post by lavawalker on Mar 4, 2015 5:52:33 GMT
Most campsites in Yellowstone are first come, first serve. The general plan should be to get to a camping area by 9:00 a.m., get a spot, and then explore for the day. Some campgrounds fill up really quickly but others do not. Is this true at other major parks, like Grand Canyon? I mentioned this thread to DH and he told me a friend had offered to loan/ rent his RV. It's definitely not true at Yosemite! I think there is a campground for walk ins that is first come first serve, but if you show up at 9am in an RV, you will have wasted hours of driving for nothing. Their website even says all of their campgrounds book within 10 minutes of the booking window opening for summer reservations.
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