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Stabbing Westward

Wish me luck everyone. Taking the Escort wagon from Muncie, IN to Estes Park, Colorado (rocky mountain national park) to Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming to Redwood National Park, California to Yosemite National Park, California to Death Valley State Park, California to Zion National Park, Utah to The Grand Canyon, Arizona and back to Muncie, IN.
Total Miles 5950 or so. Two weeks off and I'm making the most of it. Typing this just before I leave. Taking the Escort since I can lay an air mattress down to sleep on in the back if need be. It's going to be awsome. Love visiting parks and this will be the furthest west my wife and I've been. Hopefully I can average @35 mpg.
VT247

Two weeks? Maybe if your visit to each park is just long enough to snap a picture.

I envy your travel! I hope you enjoy to the max w great mpg.

If you see any roosters, downshift it a gear, stomp the gas hard and aim!!!
Just kidding... see daily annoyances/daily smiles!!

That's a pretty ambitious trip, vacationtime247, but you can do it. I went from San Diego to Miami to Boston to Denver and back to San Diego (12,000 miles) in 31 days. We visited Petrified Forest, Chaco Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Everglades, Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian, Bunker Hill, among other places.

Last year, I rented a Kia Rio and took my granddaughter and wife 3600 miles in 2 weeks from Albuquerque to the Black Hills to the corner of SD/MN/IA back to MT and ID. We visited Rocky Mt. NP, Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave & Jewel Cave, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, etc. I averaged 43.7 mpg for the trip, not bad for a rental automatic.

On the 22nd of this month I'll be starting my roadtrip for the Summer. Starting in Racine, WI and finishing in Monterey, CA, about 2300 Miles 1 way(spread out over 4 days). We'll be there about 5 days before heading up to Weed, CA to camp for another 5 days. From there we'll be heading to Denver, CO to visit some family, then coming back here to Northern Illinois. Overall about 5100 Miles over a 2 week span.

I agree with Jamesqf, two weeks? man you're gonna spend more time on the road than in the parks haha

I did a ~2000mile, 7-day road trip in February with a friend, starting a couple hours north of Toronto, going through 10 states (admittedly 3 of them were pretty well only entered for the ability to say we'd been there) and back where we started. The route was roughly this: Barrie, ON, Canada to Barrie, ON, Canada - Google Maps (google maps)

It was incredibly awesome, but I would have loved to have had twice the time to do the trip in, so we could have actually seen more of the places. Hopefully in a few years once I've finished my degree and earned some money I'll be able to head back and do a similar thing again, with a bit more time.

lol
every time I see this thread I think its a discussion about the band :)

That was AWSOME!!!! Left Wednesday and stopped in between to sleep. Got to the Rocky Mountains by mid Thursday. Went to see a waterfall and about 15 ft away there's a huge brown bear. Looked me up and down, stood up, got back down then walked off. Grabbed my wife and all I could think to say was 'bear, bear, Bear, BEAR!' It walked up river looking for fish. We left and seen a herd of elk in the basin.
Camped out Thursday to Friday morning. Got up and drove around the park, stopping wherever we liked. Snow capped mountains in mid July, pretty cool.
Drove Friday evening near to the Grand Teton NP. Slept that night and finished the drive Saturday morning.
Spent Saturday at the Grand Teton. Saturday evening drove up to Yellowstone and camped there.
Got up Sunday and toured through Yellowstones lower and upper loops. We were there a few years ago so we stopped at our favorite sites. Sunday night drove part way to Crater Lake, Oregon.
Monday drive to Crater Lake NP Oregon. Had a tire go bad on me in the middle of no where, no spare, no jack. Tire still held air, but it had a horrible vibration on the front. 60 miles to the nearest town. Limped it into the next town at 30 mph. Got a used $25 tire and drove on. Crater Lake was a volcano that erupted and the inside turned into a lake after. Drove the rest of the way Monday night to the Redwood Forest in California. Slept at the northern most tip of California Monday night.
Tuesday got up and drove through the Redwoods in California. Then to the beaches of Crescent city. The smell coming up from the flowering cliffs overlooking the ocean was pure bliss. Seen a blue whale and her calf in a river. Ranger stated it was odd but they had been there for 5 days.
It's late, will finish the rest tomorrow. First day back to work, sucked.
VT247

Wow! Sounds like you had a fantastic time. Pics?

I'm glad you had a great time, even if you BEARLY got by the bear!
For your sake, I wish you could have bottled some of the cooler air for your remainder of summer at home!

Joenavy85: I bet you can't wait to escape the heat! Sounds like good timing; enjoy!

Oh yea this trip was by far the best one I've been on. LOTS of pics, once I get them uploaded I'll post some up.
So, where was I? Oh yes, Wednesday evening drove mid way between the Redwood Forest and Yosemite.
Got up early Thursday. Had to get the alignment checked, seemed to be pulling right. Got it in and was determined that the tire had radiul pull. Had no visible defects but vibrated and pulled. Swapped sides on the front tires and sure enough, it pulled to the left. Went to another tire store and got a Toyo 185/80/13 mounted, balanced and installed for $30. So, the fronts match in size but are different brands. No more pull or imbalance. Rear is the $25 oregon les shwab 185/80/13, other side 175/80. Left the shop before noon Wed. Got to Yosemite and drove around that Thursday evening. Thursday night drive to Kings Canyon / Sequoia NP.
Friday got up early to tour Kings Canyon and the Sequoia NP. Grizzly falls is incredible! Brakes got nice and hot a few times down the Mountains. Kept having to pull over and let them cool for a few. Friday evening / night drive to Las Vegas.
Saturday walked the Vegas strip. Seen the Pawn Stars shop. Water display at the Bellagio, Ceasars Palace really cool, MGM lions den. Saturday evening drove towards the Grand Canyon but didn't make it far. Noticed another vibration coming from the rear. WTF! Used tire I bought gone bad already. Had to stay in Mesquite, NV. Found a room at a casino for $40. Virgin River Casino, really nice place for the $.
Got up Sunday and went to Walmart and had to get 2 new tires for $120 > : ( They were 175/70/13's up front, 185/80's in back. Drove to the Grand Canyon that Sunday. Sunday evening started back home. Monday and Tuesday were pure hell. 60-65 mph in near 100* weather with no a/c. How to keep cool without the a/c? Pour ice and water down your back. mm hmm. Fun and entertaining for other drivers to watch. But, I did average @ 38 mpg for the entire trip.
VT247