Cruisers Forum

Main Forum => Adventure Anywhere => Topic started by: mciai2000 on October 13, 2010, 11:07:59 pm

Title: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on October 13, 2010, 11:07:59 pm
Hi All:

We are planning a vacation to Yellowstone next summer. We are leaving PA and traveling to Yellowstone.  Any and all ideas on routes and must see's(sp) will be appreciated.  We have two (2) children ages 9  and 12, so we want to hit the high spots.

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Bob Mahon on October 14, 2010, 09:39:10 am
Generally, we’d rather use US Highways to drive through places than to use Interstates to drive past them.

We are also from NE PA and have a few suggestions, depending on how much time you have:
1.  Pick up the Mormon Trail in IL and meander through some neat areas. In NE you’ll pass Chimney Rock National Historic Site and a few other parks. The park in Scottsbluff, NE is pretty neat and a 2350 is small enough to be allowed to make the climb to the summit (if you need tire work, Dale’s Tire in Scottsbluff treated us well).

2.  In our experience, Cody, WY, the eastern gateway to Yellowstone, is a must. We stayed at the KOA and used the shuttles to town, took the city tour, visited the museum, watched the nightly gunfight outside the Irma Hotel (built by Buffalo Bill and named after his daughter). There is a Bus at the KOA that will take you to the nightly Rodeo, which was fun. Park the PC and use the local transportation.

3.  While in the area, drive the Chief Joseph highway to where it ends at US 212 (Beartooth Highway). Turn right at the “T” and head to Red Lodge, MT over Beartooth Pass (approx. 10,950 feet and open only from May to October). It’s a very interesting and beautiful drive but be aware there are severe grades and switchbacks. I stayed in 3rd gear most of the way and used the brakes for very short jabs. DO NOT RIDE THE BRAKES!!!! There is a Gas station in Red Lodge; use it (we did the Beartooth both ways). Charles Kuralt called the Beartooth Highway “The most scenic drive in America”.

Above all, stay safe and God bless.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on October 14, 2010, 09:41:40 am
How many weeks do you have to work with?
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: TomHanlon on October 14, 2010, 09:50:11 am
DJM you don't say how long you plan on taking to get to Yellowstone, how long you can be at Yellowstone and how long to get back. Yellowstone is my favorite place to go. I go in the spring, summer, fall and winter. Love it in the snow, but not for everyone.

    On the way out I would suggest stopping at: Mitchell, SD to see the corn palace, the Black hills to see Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park, Cody, Wy to see Buffalo Bill Center and the rodeo (take Wy. rt 16 accross the mountains, not rt 14 or 14A). From Cody, you can enter the parks east entrance or take the Chief Joseph Hwy to Cooke City, Mt and on to the northeast entrance, through LaMar valley to see all the buffalo and elk, then to the Mammoth Hot springs and out the north entrance to Gardiner. Coming back into the park, go down the east side of the loop and see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone including the upper and lower falls. Cut across the middle of the loops and go to West Yellowstone, Mt. There you will want to go to the Grizzly and Wolf center to see them up close. You have to be really lucky to see them in the wild. Coming back into the park, take the lower western loop to Old Faithfull, stopping along the way to see the many sites, springs, mud pots etc. After Old Faithfull go out the south entrance toward the Grand Tetons and Jackson, Wy. These are just some of the many sites to see. You could spent weeks in Yellowstone and not see everything.

 One of the best write ups on the web is here http://www.rvcruzer.com/index.php  2o2

If I can help with questions please email me at tomhanlon@comcast.net
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on October 14, 2010, 06:25:51 pm
All:

We are in the beginning stages of planning.  My wife has the whole summer off, as she is a teacher.  I own my own business so I can take as much time as my conscience allows. I will just have to make sure my staff works while I am out (hmmm).  Anyway, probably 3 weeks give or take a few days.

Thanks for the help.  Lots to plan and decide.

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on October 14, 2010, 10:05:07 pm
Okay, 3 weeks then.

1) Want to tour a big city? Wilis (Sears) tower?  Chicago.  But difficult in an RV.
2) Badlands National Park (one night)
3) Minuteman Missle Silo & Control Center National Historic Site (at the entrance to Badlands) (half day) (NEED TO MAKE RESERVATIONS MANY MONTHS IN ADVANCE, ADVISE TO DO IT NOW) CLICK HERE (http://www.nps.gov/mwr/mimi/)
4) Waldrug (a few hours)
5) Mount Rushmore (half day) (the visitor center consession sells great icecream "cheap" there, all food is affordably family friendly)
6) Custer State Park, lots of buffalo, Needles Highway (next to Mount Rushmore) (half day)
7) Wind or Jewel Cave National Parks (half day)
8) Devils Tower (the movie close Encounters Filmed There) (half day)
9) Get to Yellowstone (too much to advise here)
10 After Yellowstone, be sure to head home south through Grand Teton National Park
11) Jackson WY
etc.

All those little stops before Yellowstone is real nice for the kids and parents too.  Much variety without killing much time.  EXTREMELY EDUCATIONAL.  They see desert formations, caves, a nuclear missle in it's silo (no warhead or fuel anymore) the underground control room, cold war history there. Mount Rushmore history is good too.

Be sure to make the kids watch the movie Close Encounters while driving to Devils Tower.  The ride is long enough, but get the move started right away.  Don't tell them you are heading there.  Don't mention Devils Tower anytime during the trip.  Let it surprise them.

At your first National Park entrance, buy the annual park pass.  It's a lot of money, but if you do as I advise, it will pay for itself and then some.  Don't buy it ahead of time because it's good for 12 months starting the month you buy it.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Bob Mahon on October 15, 2010, 06:01:45 am
I suggest Crazy Horse in the Black Hills of South Dakota. As much for the family building it as for the monument itself. The Father, Korczak Ziolkowski, also worked on Rushmore and started the Crazy Horse Monument for the Tribes in 1948. His surviving family continues the dream.
What kind of man starts a major undertaking knowing full-well he'll not live to see it completed. I find that inspiring.

We saw Rushmore once, which is fine.
But we'd go back to Crazy Horse again.

To each their own.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on October 15, 2010, 05:53:29 pm
I suggest Crazy Horse in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Oh yes, I was to include Crazy Horse, but didn't type it in...senior moment there.

I could add taking the tour of the active current day industrial gold mine in Lead, and some others too, but then you burn the entire 3 weeks in South Dakota...Oops!
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on October 16, 2010, 10:29:33 pm
Thanks for the replies.  Keep them coming.  We are sitting in our kitchen now starting the planning stages. Ron, when you say to make reservations at minuteman, do you mean for the tour?  We went to Mammoth cave last year and we should have made reservations for the tour beforehand. We did not and had to spend about an hour or so in the in the mh waiting for our tour to start.  We were reading a book to the kids on that trip and we went back to the mh and continued to read to them. No problems.  It seems to us you could get stuck in SD for a while.  Who would have guessed.

Thanks.

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on October 16, 2010, 10:36:19 pm
Meant to post this last time;

Any ideas for stops on the way back?

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on October 16, 2010, 10:58:10 pm
Tom:

What route or road do you mean when you say the lower western loop at Yellowstone?

Thanks

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on October 17, 2010, 07:33:19 am
Meant to post this last time;

Any ideas for stops on the way back?

DJM
After Teton National Park & Jackson, head south, then "B" Line it home on I-80.  With 3+ weeks, that's all you'll have time for, and I can't think of a substantial stop anyway.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: bigbadjc on October 17, 2010, 10:05:29 am
I'll throw in a couple of suggestions.  If you do go through Scotts Bluff, which I really enjoyed, there are several interesting museums in the area. Also, the Robidaux RV Park, which is a Good Sam park that is owned by the "city" of Gering, is a really nice, reasonable place to stay and has great views of the Bluff.  Also, if you decide to bee line it back on I-80, which is what we did coming home from Boise, at Sidney, NE, there is a nice RV park next to a Cabela's store.  They will even send a van or golf cart to give you a ride over if you don't want to walk across the grounds.  Cabela's are always fun, as they have all kinds of camping gear and are full of stuffed animals.  We also enjoyed the snack bar there that had a wide variety of food including buffalo burgers.  Another place we went which your kids would really enjoy when you're in the Rapid City area is Bear Country, a drive through park with roaming black bears, elk, deer, caribou, and some caged wolves and cougars.  I'm not sure if you can go through in a motorhome, as we had a tow car with us.  There is also a fun steam railroad operating between Keystone and another small town near Rapid City that you all would like.  Hope some of this sounds good to you.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Barry-Sue on October 17, 2010, 06:30:47 pm
DJM
We just returned a couple of weeks ago from a trip out west.  Left Michigan and traveled the Northern Route I-80 and came home through Denver I-70.  We were gone for three and half weeks.  Some of our stops:
     1.  Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD
     2.  Wall Drug
     3.  Badlands
     4.  Mount Rushmore (awesome)
     5.  Custer State Park
     6.  Wind and Jewel Caves
     7.  Crazy Horse (saw the blasting that they only do twice a year)
     8.  Devils Tower (stayed in the park - no hookups for one night)(really fun)
     9.  Yellowstone (came in from the West due to snow on the east side) - stayed at Grizzly RV Resort
    10.  Las Vegas
    11.  Zion NP (stay at Watchman Campground right in the NP)(perfect location) Alot of hiking to do but awesome again.
    12.  Arches (signed up for the Fiery Furnance Tour by the NP service)..Absolutely fantastic
    We headed home from Arches.  I-70 is high in elevation but the PC did great through Vail pass.  We did have a rear trac bar installed before we left and this was the best decision we ever made.  We installed the blue ox tiger trac.  One travel day was gust at 50 mph and the PC never swayed.

Have fun!!
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: TomHanlon on October 18, 2010, 07:50:42 am
DJM, as you look at the map of Yellowstone, you will notice the roads are in the figure "8", pointing up toward north. The right side is the eastern side and the left is the western side. The top half of the "8" is called the upper and the bottom half is the lower. West Yellowstone is on the left and the mid-point just outside of the park. The road from West Yellowstone to Old Faithfull and down to the south entrance would be the "the lower western loop to Old Faithfull" or the left side, lower part of the figure "8".

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, but we were out camping this past weekend and did not have an internet connection.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on October 19, 2010, 10:46:35 pm
All;

Man you people are better than AAA! Thank you soo much for the replies. I think we have a very basic itinerary for now.  Of course we will update that over the winter. I think on the way home we may have to stop at elkhart at the factory.  The rear of our mh was damaged upon delivery by Kermit's son and I have not had a body shop fix that yet.  It really is minor and maybe they can repair and paint it .....

Ron and Tom-- I think you guys could plan a nice caravan for me next summer. You lead I will follow.. Lol.

Thanks for the info...

DJM wavecow
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on October 30, 2010, 10:22:42 pm
Working on the itinerary again, the kids are in bed.  Do you all have any suggestions for stays or what to do in Grand Teton NP?

Thanks.

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on October 31, 2010, 01:16:05 am
If you are real good hikers, I feel the all day hike to Lake Solitude is the best day hike in the park.  The trail takes you to the back side of Grand Teton, up to a high altitude lake where the view is very pretty.  At the beginning of the hike, there is a boat ride which saves time.  Take it back as well to save more time and energy.

There is a gondola in Teton Village to the top of Rendesvez Mountian.  Take your jackets with you regardless of the heat because it's always cold up there.  If you like to backpack, continue from there, making your way back through Death Canyon to the main valley.  It's an easy 2 night backpack hike, and very agressive overnight hike.  That was our most beautiful experience doing two nights.  We felt like we were in the movie, The Sound Of Music with the views and flowers everywhere.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on July 17, 2011, 10:30:17 pm
Hi All:

Well, we just returned from our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.  What a beautiful country we have.  South Dakota is a long lonely drive.  I would hate to break down there. We hit Wall Drug, the Badlands, Big Horn Mtns, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Yellowstone NP, Grand Tetons NP, Thermopolis, Corn Palace, Jewel Cave, Devils Tower.  We entered Yellowstone via the Northwest entrance from the Beartooth hwy. We also stayed in Buffalo Bill State park in Cody.  That is a great place to park. We took over 600 pictures and put over 5000 miles on the Cruiser. We passed two Cruisers during the trip, one in Yellowstone and one on the way home in Indiana. Alas, work calls and I think my employees are sick of covering for me so time to put the Cruiser back into the garage for a while.

Thank you all for your tips.

David
Title: Re: help planning vacation to Yellowstone
Post by: TomHanlon on July 18, 2011, 06:59:05 am
I am really glad to hear you had a great trip and returned safely. Now you need to go into more detail of what you did and saw at each of the stops. We all want to see some of your pictures. What was each persons favorite stop?
What would you recommend to someone planning a trip out west?
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on July 22, 2011, 10:00:53 pm
Hi Tom:

Well sorry I did not respond sooner, I was busy at work trying to catch up.... I would have to say one of my favorite places was the Big Horn Mts. If I had my druthers I would stay in the campground there and stay a few days and just hike, fish and laze around. I also really liked the Grand Tetons.  When we were there the weather was hot and we stayed at Lizzard Creek cg in the park.  What a great find.  You can only stay there if your rv is 30 ft or less. They have access to Jackson Lake there and we actually put our suits on and went swimming in the cold glacial lake. Great time.  We also rented a motorboat there and spent the afternoon on the lake.  When we left Grand Tetons we drove the Thermopolis Wy and stayed overnight.  Spent the next day in the hot springs there.  What a nice state park they have.

My youngest son did not think much of hiking around devils tower.

Now I just have to figure out how to rectify the air mattress bed. It is not very comfortable.

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to Yellowstone
Post by: TomHanlon on July 23, 2011, 07:34:16 am
Hi David,
    We had to buy a new air mattress while on a trip because the originall one developed a hole and would not hold air. We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond, which had three different mattress. The good one ($100) looked like what we had, the better one ($200) had a pad on the top and the best one ($300) had the better pad on top. Both the better and the best ones had the motor off to one side. I felt the best one might be too thick, so we went with the better one. I ended up putting the motor at the foot of the bed and running the control wires and the electricc wire under the mattress up to the top. This allowed us to get to the quick deflate plug without laying on the bed. When we fold up the bed, we fold the leg over the mattress and then fold the bottom of the mattress over the leg bar before putting the sofa down. There is plenty of room for the motor behind the back of the sofa. If I had to do it again, I would look at the best mattress again as it might fit this way. Since my wife generallyy sleeps on the the air bed while I use the corner bed all I can say is that she thinks this mattress is far better than what came with the motorhome. I hope this is some help to you. 2o2
Tom
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on July 23, 2011, 10:29:50 pm
Tom:

Thanks for the info.  I might have to check into that. I was at Paul's seating website today to see if I could change out the airbed couch and put the old style in.  In the old Phoenix's they had a couch that folded out and I think one with a mattress. I am going to send them an  e-mail to see what options are available to me. I think I would be better off sleeping on a bed of nails than that air mattress set up.

David
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: TomHanlon on July 24, 2011, 06:05:39 am
David, Call Carol at the factory before you call Paul's seating. Carol can find out everything you need to know and can get what you want at a lower price. Ron when to Paul for his third captains chair. After his write up I wanted one also. I called Carol and ended up paying about $50 less because she got it a wholesale, not the Paul's retail price.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: bigbadjc on July 24, 2011, 09:20:53 am
I have a 2006 PC2551 that has the sofa bed that opens out at the touch of a switch and has only the padded upholstery surface.  We've really never used it, but when we opened it and tried it out, it seemed to be comfortable.  However, every time I look at  pictures of the newer models with all the nice space under the sofa, I get envious.  The older sofas have NO space under them for any storage. There may be other options, but the lack of storage really bugs me.

Jerry
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on July 24, 2011, 10:19:26 am
I did buy-direct from Pauls Seating, paying full price because the factory no longer installed my model chair (called Lexus) for their new PCs.  I was hoping PC-USA would rep for me, but I had to work direct with Paul.  I really didn't mind paying a little more because I was still able to get an exact match for a 4 year old rig.  A lengthy search of the shop revealed Paul no longer had the original leather and vinyl material.  Material from his supplier was very questionable too.  After many weeks of all that, someone in Paul's shop eventually found a small stash, just enough to make one seat.  The higher price I paid did include lumbar support which I didn't request, but was Paul's only in-stock back-rest frame.  I am very happy to have paid $425 which included delivery to the house.

About the jack-knife sofa in the earlier PC models, I have the dinette without a slide-out so I don't have first-hand experience.  But all I read from RV owners across all types of RVs, is how uncomfortable they are to sleep on.  I wondered if there was a place under or behind the jack-knife to store a rolled up foam topper, used to help with discomfort.

On one trip, I got sick and slept on our dinette converta-bed for 3 nights.  I was pleasently surprised how comfortable it was for my 5'-11" and 180 pound body.  I was just able to fully stretch out, the wood ticking both my hair and feet.  The cushions were also nice to sleep on.  I only regret getting the cloth dinette.  I wished I ordered the leather.  Maybe one day.  I still have the manufacture tags on each cushion, made by someone other than Pauls Seating.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: bigbadjc on July 24, 2011, 10:35:14 am
Yes, Ron, there is some room behind the sofa where you could probably store a rolled up foam topper.  In our unit I modified a wall shelf to fit between the sofa and the wall to be used for storing miscellaneous small items like kleenex, game supplies, iPods, etc.  In fact before we moved up to the two twin bed luxury, my wife would never sleep on any our fold out camper beds without a foam topper.

Jerry
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on July 24, 2011, 10:30:22 pm
@ Jerry:  You are right about the storage underneath.  That is where the kids put all of their clothes when we travel.

@ Tom:  My first thought is to check out bed, bath and beyond as you suggest.  That is my cheapest option.

My ultimate option would to be to trade in the 2350 and get the 2551 with the single beds in the back and a slide out couch.    The problem with the 2350 bed in the back is my darling wife is a little claustripobic (sp)  and is not cmfortable back there.  So.. the kids get the back bed and we have the blow up piece of..... 

David
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Bob Mahon on July 25, 2011, 07:43:42 am
David,

Before you make a decision on the 2551, take a ride over to my place and look at a 2552. We have the Dinette in slide but you'll get a good idea of the difference between it and a 2551. We feel there's more room inside than what you'd expect from the minimal overall length increase between the 2552 versus the 2551 and a 2552's longer wheelbase provides a bit smoother ride than the 2551 had. Also, having the Euro-lounger or another Captain's chair in the 'Salon' (I detested the barrel chair in the 2350) makes a huge difference in the livability.

As for miles per gallon (I don't use the word economy in association with Motorhome): absolutely no difference between the 2551 and 2552 but is a little bit less than the 2350. However, the E450 pulls hills better without downshifting and I'd expect it to have an easier time towing on the flats (even our Alpine had problems towing the Edge in the mountains).

BTW, Peg is also a bit claustrophobic but the twin beds are a lot more open than our 2350's rear bed was and she has no problems whatsoever.

PM me if you're interested.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on July 25, 2011, 03:57:11 pm
David, Before you make a decision on the 2551, take a ride over to my place and look at a 2552.
If I were getting close to placing an order on a 2551, I would take up that offer to check out a 2552.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Bob Mahon on July 25, 2011, 04:47:27 pm
You'll never sell that 2350 of yours.

But, you're always welcome to come visit us in the Pocono Mountains, Vacationland of the east.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Ron Dittmer on July 25, 2011, 04:53:53 pm
You'll never sell that 2350 of yours.  But, you're always welcome to come visit us in the Pocono Mountains, Vacationland of the east.
You are right about not selling our 2350.  As long as we need to cuddle up in bed, and live in a house that won't fit anything larger in the garage underneath, the 2350 is final.  But  tymote for the invitation.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Bob Mahon on July 25, 2011, 05:16:36 pm
I knew that.
Can't fool an old guy like me........................for very long.
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: mciai2000 on July 26, 2011, 09:06:05 pm
Bob:

Thanks for the offer.  For the time being I better stay away.  My checkbook could not take another hit right now.  roflol.  Maybe when the economy gets better I could.  If I ever get my accounts receivable actually collected I will be right over. ;).

DJM
Title: Re: help planning vacation to yellowstone
Post by: Bob Mahon on July 26, 2011, 10:10:12 pm
Any time.