[kwthom]

Well thanks for all the reply's...
That is a lot to take in..but it all
helps in making it a great trip...
We were thinking of leaving early June...
So if we leave lets say early June...
Is the snow in the mountains gone?
My first idea was to just ride from here
to Colorado..and start all from there and
go south first and work our way north
and back home...

How far south?

June is the hot month in the deserts of Arizona. 110 plus during the day.

June? Some of the high elevation roads may or may not be opened...kinda depends on the snowpack for that year. (Sierra Mountain roads of California, for example, Beartooth near Yellowstone...a few others I've missed, I'm sure...)

Start with my link in post #4 of this thread - make that list of places you really want to see, then come back to this thread with some of the caveats that have been brought up.

 

[PoorUB]

If you go early it will be cooler in the south, but you might hit snow at higher elevations in Colorado and other more northern states with mountains. If you go later, less chance of snow, but the south west will be triple digits for daily highs.

We left for the west on Labor Day and hit snow at Lake Tahoe and a couple national parks roads were closed with snow. We hit over 100F temps in northern Nevada.

We got home the middle of July. We were gone seven weeks and still like each other!

 

[Hondacub]

How far south?

June is the hot month in the deserts of Arizona. 110 plus during the day.

June? Some of the high elevation roads may or may not be opened...kinda depends on the snowpack for that year. (Sierra Mountain roads of California, for example, Beartooth near Yellowstone...a few others I've missed, I'm sure...)

Start with my link in post #4 of this thread - make that list of places you really want to see, then come back to this thread with some of the caveats that have been brought up.

Here is a quick list of what
places are on our trip wishlist.
Along with a million other places
to see along the way.


We will be leaving western NY...
Head west about the only thing would be
the St Louis Arch before we get to Colorado.
This maybe somewhat of the route we take

Once in Colorado
Pikes Peak
Estes Park
Rocky Mt Park
Million Dollar Highway

Utah
Moab Area and parks
Four Corners

Arizona
Monument Valley
Sedona
Grand Canyon

Utah
Zion
Bryce

California
Yosemite
Lake Tahoe
Eureka (Redwoods)

Oregon
Crater Lake

Idaho
Craters of the moon

Wyoming
Grand Tetons
Yellowstone
Beartooth
Chief Joseph
Devils Tower

South Dakota
Mt Rushmore
Needles Hwy
Badlands

Head East to back home

 

[ATCguy]

Here is a quick list of what places are on our trip wishlist. Along with a million other places to see along the way...

Ok, wow... by my count, you've listed 25 destinations... many of which are located a good distance from each other, even when in the same state... on a 45 day trip, not counting to & from NY

Yeah.. good luck with that.

Please forgive me for making assumptions, but I think you're underestimating the vastness of the west. I mean, ok... I guess in theory you could do it... but that would be more like a super ironbutt ride, instead of a comfortably-paced leisure trip. In my opinion, you're going want to add a least another week-to-10 days on to your schedule.

Also, if I could add one other opinion: in re the Craters of the Moon park in Idaho... unless you're a geologist, or if it just happens to be on your route to someplace else, don't make it a priority. It's a very small park, with very little scenery, only one access road... and trust me, you're not going to want to go hiking there. It's a national park for historical & its unusually-located geological aspects only. When I visited, I was literally in & out of there in less than 20 minutes.

If you wanna see really beautiful geological formations, may I suggest you substitute the Petrified Forest Nat'l Park (commonly called the Painted Desert)... both the north side AND the more scenic south side... just east of Winslow, AZ.

 

[Motor Guy]

Also, you can see that arch from the interstate as you drive past it. For traffic and other reasons, I suspect you’ll want to get through St. Louis as quickly as possible. Your call...

 

[Hondacub]

Ok, wow... by my count, you've listed 25 destinations... many of which are located a good distance from each other, even when in the same state... on a 45 day trip, not counting to & from NY

Yeah.. good luck with that.

Please forgive me for making assumptions, but I think you're underestimating the vastness of the west. I mean, ok... I guess in theory you could do it... but that would be more like a super ironbutt ride, instead of a comfortably-paced leisure trip. In my opinion, you're going want to add a least another week-to-10 days on to your schedule.

Also, if I could add one other opinion: in re the Craters of the Moon park in Idaho... unless you're a geologist, or if it just happens to be on your route to someplace else, don't make it a priority. It's a very small park, with very little scenery, only one access road... and trust me, you're not going to want to go hiking there. It's a national park for its unusually-located geological aspects only. When I visited, I was literally in & out of there in less than 20 minutes.

If you wanna see really beautiful geological formations, may I suggest you substitute the Petrified Forest Nat'l Park (commonly called the Painted Desert)... both the north side AND the more scenic south side... just east of Winslow, AZ.

I know that is a lot...We can take off Arizona and CA
and just do Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota.
As we have seen the grand canyon...
and we can see the redwoods some other trip

 

[kwthom]

I've provided some additional thoughts via a 'conversation' (private message).

 

[pwhite42]

Hello,
The wife and I are planning a 45 day or so trip out west next year
leaving from Western NY on a 2023 DCT tour pulling a UNI-Go trailer.
We hope to hit Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and all the states to and from those.
Just looking for any insight for the best travel dates..places to see and things to do...Things to not do...We have nothing planned in stone yet...just getting started. We do have many places on our list already.
We do not camp...our camping is done at Holiday Inn...
Hope to here some good ideas...
Thanks
Mike & Brenda

I rode to the 4 corners of the country in June 2024. I picked up a cooling vest in Tempe AZ and wished I had my heated vest on the northern route back from Washington state until Wisconsin. 113 in Az and 37 in Idaho plus wet weather in Oregon and Washington (to be expected).

 

[Slvrvalk1]

I wonder if you could use an artificial intelligence program to map the most efficient way to cover the locations that you want to see.

My $0.02, cross off Bryce if you have seen the Grand Canyon.

 

[kwthom]

I've had it snow - in June - in West Yellowstone, MT. That is not unusual.

 

[jdgretz]

Among all the other wonderful suggestions, I'd toss out the Angle Fire Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angle Fire New Mexico. It is one of the most breathtaking, beautiful and introspection inducing memorials I've ever seen. The Living Memorial Sculpture outside of Weed, California is another.

Have a great trip. I love my cross country rides. I try to stay off the freeways as much as possible as there are so many really great little towns you miss if you just ride the Interstates. Some of the best BBQ I've ever had was at a little hole in the wall place in a Texas town with a population of less than 1,000. Sorry, but I don't remember the name of the town.

jdg

 

[PoorUB]

Also, if I could add one other opinion: in re the Craters of the Moon park in Idaho... unless you're a geologist, or if it just happens to be on your route to someplace else, don't make it a priority. It's a very small park, with very little scenery, only one access road... and trust me, you're not going to want to go hiking there. It's a national park for historical & its unusually-located geological aspects only. When I visited, I was literally in & out of there in less than 20 minutes.

It is what you make of it.
My wife and I spent three hours there and intend on stopping again some day. As far as hiking, you can hike miles in Craters of the Moon, there is foot paths all over. Granted, if a desolate volcanic area isn't interesting to you I can see why you would spend much time there, but my wife simply loves that stuff and can spend and hour hiking 500 feet and examining all the rocks.

 

[PoorUB]

Here is a quick list of what
places are on our trip wishlist.
Along with a million other places
to see along the way.


We will be leaving western NY...
Head west about the only thing would be
the St Louis Arch before we get to Colorado.
This maybe somewhat of the route we take

Once in Colorado
Pikes Peak
Estes Park
Rocky Mt Park
Million Dollar Highway

Utah
Moab Area and parks
Four Corners

Arizona
Monument Valley
Sedona
Grand Canyon

Utah
Zion
Bryce

California
Yosemite
Lake Tahoe
Eureka (Redwoods)

Oregon
Crater Lake

Idaho
Craters of the moon

Wyoming
Grand Tetons
Yellowstone
Beartooth
Chief Joseph
Devils Tower

South Dakota
Mt Rushmore
Needles Hwy
Badlands

Head East to back home

If you do Craters of the Moon, consider ERB-1 . It is in the neighborhood and well worth the stop.

I also question if you can do this in 45 days. Some days you will be lucky to make one stop and a few miles. Also consider with many of the national parks you will need a timed entry pass. Also many of the p[arks are ridiculous with people late morning and all afternoon. I would plan entering a national park early morning and getting out by around noon, unless you are extremely patient. By noon you will be fortunate to fine parking spots!

Last summer we got to Mount Rainer early in the AM and took the Paradise Valley road across the south side of the park. When we got there we rode right in, no lines. When we left about 1 PM the line at the south west entrance was 3-4 miles long.

A couple years ago we got into the south entrance to Zion about 8 AM on a week day. We wanted to take a tour bus up into the park. Some areas are tour bus only in the summer, no other vehicles allowed. We pulled into the parking lot and it was full and cars circling like vultures looking for a parking spot. My wife and I talked for a minute and said "screw it" and road through out the east end of the park. Remember, 8 AM and stupid packed already.