A Month on the Road

[Evergreengirl]

We just got back from a month on the road. Traveled first with good friends over to the Olympic Peninsula (WA). They just took possession of a brand new Escape 19 (lucky them!) and this was their "maiden voyage". They returned home after 5 days and we continued on down the Washington and Oregon coasts, then to the Reno/Carson City area, then into Utah before looping back home through eastern Oregon and up I-5.

Highlights of the trip were Virginia City (NV), Cathedral Gorge State Park (NV), Zion National Park (UT) and the Columbia Gorge (OR). A great trip overall in spite of some very cold and very windy weather. One thing we will never do again though is plan a trip that overlaps spring break! Campgrounds were full in a lot of places and there were crowds at all the popular destinations.

Cost for our trip of just over 4,000 miles was approximately $2,277. We ended up spending more than we usually do for camping ($822 for 32 nights = about $26/night) because we had to stay in private enterprise campgrounds more often than usual for us due to the national and state parks being full ($44 a night to stay in an RV park in Springdale, UT, just outside Zion. Ouch!). Gas averaged $3.78/gal and we didn't get as good of gas mileage with our van as we'd hoped (only about 11.5 miles/gal). We pulled the trailer up and down a LOT of high passes though, many of them well over 5,000 ft (the highest over 7,00 ft) and we encountered some strong headwinds too. Miscellaneous expenses came to $122 (museum fees, propane, souvenirs, etc.). We were gone for 33 days so our cost per day was about $69/day. Guess you couldn't travel too much more cheaply than that and still be able to go where you want and see what you want when you want!

A few pictures attached and more in a set on Flickr: Spring 2013 Trip - a set on Flickr

[Donna D.]

Oooooh thanks for sharing the report and pics

Yeah, if the weather is halfway decent, Spring Break in the Pacific NorthWET means campgrounds are full!

A week before or a week after and you may have been alone in some of the campgrounds

[knighth001]

Wow. Beautiful pics and weather. Looks like a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing.

[Cathi]

Thanks for the photos of the gorgeous scenery, Kathy, and your stats are very good to know. Wish I could get it all down so well. Too bad on the timing with some campgrounds but you did just fine despite that.

[cpaharley2008]

and the memories, ........priceless

[arlon]

Makes me want to get out of West Texas for a few weeks..

[Raz]

Great pictures. We haven't gotten to the west coast, yet. Also we skipped Zion because we had the dog with us. Every thing we read said it was not very dog friendly. Thanks for sharing. Raz

[Evergreengirl]

Originally Posted by P. Raz

Great pictures. We haven't gotten to the west coast, yet. Also we skipped Zion because we had the dog with us. Every thing we read said it was not very dog friendly. Thanks for sharing. Raz

I would say that of all the national parks that we've visited, Zion might be the most dog friendly. In general you can't take dogs on the trails in any of the national parks and you're not officially supposed to leave them in your RV at your campsite unattended (although people do and as long as your dog wasn't a barker you'd probably get away with it - we have in the past, making sure it wasn't too hot of course). In Zion at least you can take your dog on the paved Pa'rus Trail, a 3.5 mile round trip paved path that runs along the Virgin River. Dogs are also not allowed on the free shuttle buses, in any of the public buildings or in designated wilderness areas. The private enterprise campground we stayed at in Springdale, Utah, just outside the park boundary, allowed dogs and lots of people had their pets with them. That's a good alternative at some of the other National Parks that have "gateway" communities nearby.

[LeonardS]

Love the pictures! And thanks so much for breaking down the costs. Valuable info...

My wife was a school teacher and we used to travel during spring break. You're right, things get crazy at the big parks.

[CalCop]

Sounds like a great trip with plenty of memories.

Thanks for sharing the pics

[theresa p]

beautiful trip photos, kathy...thanks for posting! we've not had the chance to explore the US west coast yet but it's on our bucket list. those photos just make me want to go check it out for myself even more!

[RRIZZO]

Good post Kathy, thanks for the info and lovely pictures.
Hey to CALCOP

[rgrugg]

I want to go. We had a trip to the west coast planned for this summer but.....My wife is currently in hospital being treated for multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer. Hopefully we can go later in the summer.

[Evergreengirl]

Bob, I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's illness. I sure hope she will be well enough to go traveling this summer too. Wishing you both the very best.

[Ken C]

Great photos thanks for posting