Source
r/roadtrip•
fclaw

Western national parks road trip

I will be leaving from ga on thursday for denver and staying there for the weekend. Then I am starting monday on visiting the national and state parks in Colorado Wyoming Montana and South Dakota over the dates july 10-aug 8.

I want to see gorgeous views, hike, fly fish and backpack as much as possible.

What are some tips for this trip and suggestions for awesome campsites and activities? Keep low budget in mind please :)

Thanks

Posted Jul 7, 2013, 6:34 AM UTC

28
Feztizio•

Get a National Parks Pass. Yellowstone and Grand Tetons are awesome. Little Bighorn Battlefield (i.e. Custer's Last Stand) in Monatana is worth it. The Badlands and Black Hills in SD (especially Mount Rushmore) are good too. Get yourself a National Parks Pass.

2
darthjoe229•

You can camp for free in most WalMart parking lots, esp. car camping/travel trailers. Glacier National Park is a must, as is Grand Teton and Rocky Mountain National Park. I don't have much in the way of trails and such, though :/

1
mumblefords•

do not use wal mart parking lots. They have 24hr security an the security will kick you out. Source: big road tripper. I use hospitals when I have to. I try my best though to enjoy my drives over making them into some marathon dash. Ill drive back roads and camp off back country roads dirt where no one goes ever. Also in my past I would recommend getting an "adventure atlas" even if it is just this one: http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Road-Atlas-Adventure/dp/0792289897 It will have information on camp grounds and specific details on outdoor recreation. This is incredibly valuable. I use maps from http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ they provide detailed information and can give you a heads up to things you never knew existed. Also use this website before hand: https://roadtrippers.com/welcome?mode=explore

It sounds like your flying into Denver that kinda sucks because after transportation costs and lodging you will spend the most on food. if you drive yourself you can start stockpiling food for the trip now while you still have an income.

Also, in my experience, dont get too carried away in the over all "mission". If you don't make it to SD who cares. Do what you want when you want and be as free as you can. If you stay shackled to some schedule your going to have a bad time. You will be like "but I got to leave my lake camp site so I can drive to my next destination" if you like where you are stay until you are ready to leave. You are at your destination already: freedom from your everyday life. You will enjoy the trip more. Trust me. Try to find places that cater to multiple activities. You actually dont have to drive very far to get to hiking, fishing,and backpacking. you can literally do all of that in the same place generally. Keep that in mind and try to minimize how often you move location.

Im on a massive road trip now, been out 5 weeks. Im in CO and I havent drove more than 75 miles in the past 2 weeks. I have only spent one night in a hotel and ahve done: rock climbing, white water, desert hiking, backpacking, mountaineering and off road jeeping.

Do not fall into the thoughts that you have to move. you dont. everything you want to do can be found easily in the same place out there.

2
darthjoe229•

There are some where you can't stay, usually it's posted. 24 hour ones never kicked us out though. Usually there are a few other campers there.

2
Tim_The_Enchanter•

do not use wal mart parking lots. They have 24hr security an the security will kick you out.<<

Wrong.. most walmarts allow overnight parking. I go in and ask a manager if it is ok. Even if there are other RVs in the lot. Never had a problem.

2
UnexpectedCompany•

Just to add to this, I prefer rest stops over Wal-Mart. Also, Truck stops. Do ask the manager before you do, though. Some cities have regulations regarding sleeping in a car.

2
Tim_The_Enchanter•

Yup. If a Walmart does not allow overnight parking it is because the city has a regulation against it. Walmart corporate policy is to allow it.

We haven't done a truck stop yet. Seems like too many idling big rigs. We have hit up Cabelas, Casinos, a mall and a ski resort.

1
fclawOP•

I'm driving to colorado. Thanks for the links!

1