Headed west!!

[Dornibroc]

DW and I are headed west from Deep South Georgia. Will be stopping to visit family in Memphis and Prescott Valley Arizona. Plan is to head north out of Arizona to Montana then east before heading south again via Omaha where a short stop is planned. Have never been to these parts of the country and am looking for absolute “must sees” and absolute “don’t go theres”. We have about 3 weeks after leaving Az.
Pulling a FunFinder 214WSD With a Tundra.

Thanks in advance for suggestions,

Rodndeb

[Dornibroc]

Oh, forgot to mention that we should be headed north out of Az around May first.

[runner421]

Wow - the WEST is awesome for roadtrips. Much will depend on where in Montana you're going to and when you leave Montana, how you head back to Georgia. But Utah: Arches National Park. You are headed near Tetons National Park, Yellowstone, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands. There's Devils Tower too. Plan your route to see what you want. Watch those mountains, make sure your tow vehicle is in great shape.

[Dornibroc]

Originally Posted by runner421

Wow - the WEST is awesome for roadtrips. Much will depend on where in Montana you're going to and when you leave Montana, how you head back to Georgia. But Utah: Arches National Park. You are headed near Tetons National Park, Yellowstone, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands. There's Devils Tower too. Plan your route to see what you want. Watch those mountains, make sure your tow vehicle is in great shape.

Thx. Any words of wisdom as to where to not go?? We have no itinerary. Montana seems to be a must see.

[runner421]

Hmmm. . . what not to do? Show up and expect to stay in Yellowstone without reservations? Try campsites outside of the parks (Google is your friend!) We've done so much more than once, and so far, haven't done anything out west where we said "never again." Expect tons of traffic in the parks. Montana=Glacier National Park - Road to the Sun. Campsites fill up early, if no reservations, people circle the campgrounds to pull in to sites as soon as someone leaves, many are first come, first served. Even "Wall Drug" off the interstate in SD is a glitchy tourist trap that everyone should do at least once. Never stayed in the Tetons Ntl Park-sights seem to focus manly on backcountry hiking & camping.

[Chirpz]

We really liked "Car Hinge", in Alliance, Nb. "Spam Museum" is really worth seeing too.

We drove by "Crazy Horse" but didn't stop. We didn't want to get scalped. "Mt Rushmore" was a little disappointing, but I would still recommend it. "Pipestone National Monument" is small and unexpected but it has become one of our favorite places to visit in our photographs and memories. I would go there again. Parking is almost impossible at "Little Big Horn" but it is a rather touching place to visit. If you go to "Pompey's Pillar" you see where Lewis and Clark wrote their names on a big rock, you can also be bitten by the descendants of the same mosquitoes that bit them....and there are a lot of them.

We did not care for "Corn Palace".... but we hit is when they were redoing all the art work and everything on the outside was torn up. "Wall Drugs" is a big big tourist trap, but even so, it is kind of neat.

We really liked the drive through "Bad Lands", but stopping at the near by "Nuclear Missile" place was only good if you are really interested in such.

When we travel, I program my gps to avoid Freeways. When you take the old road, you see a lot of interesting and locally flavored things.

[Gerald Miller]

Agree with Chirpz, don’t travel freeways if you can avoid them. You’ll see real America that way. We just returned from our second tour out West. And agree with the above suggestions. And always do those things that interest you, not necessarily all the most popular visited spots.

[Silverado]

Like the others have mentioned, Yellowstone but try to go early in the season as there is millions of visitors each year. Also going to the sun road in Montana is also a favorite spot to revisit, if I am even remotely close to it the wife knows we are going to go and drive it again. (4 times so far) Also if you are in Wyoming stop in at Cody a neat little city just East of Yellowstone. They are known as the Rodeo Capital of the World and have an outdoor rodeo every night for 90 days Starting June 1st. An also must see is the Buffalo Bill Museum in the same town. Silverado

[Eagle]

IF visiting Yellowstone area, East side, don't miss going to Cody Wyoming and visit the Cody Museum. A walk thru the Irma Hotel is nice ... Buffalo Bills' hotel w/fantastic back bar given to him by the Queen of England. https://www.travelwyoming.com/cities/cody
and Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel, Historic Lodging & Restaurant Dining in Cody WY near Yellowstone
In the Black Hills area, DO NOT take your camper with you on the Needles Highway, narrow road and low/narrow tunnels. Also watch for the tunnel signs limiting access.
The Badlands drive is pretty awesome. https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm
Also, as already mentions, a visit to the missile sites just east of Wall Drug is well worth visiting. https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/p...-historic-site

Check this: https://www.shesatripblog.com/minuteman-missile-site/

Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[Rocky Mtn marmot]

Grand Canyon National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Durango, Colorado & Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Just to name a few!!!

[Dornibroc]

Wow. Thanks everyone for the great tips. One more day and we’re outta here!

[Dornibroc]

Sitting here listening to music and looking at the Grand Tetons. Beautiful country we have.

[Dornibroc]

Well we have made it toWaco for the Chip and Joanne Gaines stuff, Grand Canyon, Zion NP, Bear lake Idaho, Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons and soon Yellowstone and more heading back to Deep South Georgia. Quite the trip. Beautiful country we have!!

[Eagle]

How wonderful you are enjoying your trip and no major issues.