Taking a Trip

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May 27, 2016 | 09:26 PM

CR3999

Thread Starter

Road Master

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 761

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From: College Station TX

Taking a Trip

I'm planning a trip north, leaving July 25, from TX. The second day I'll be passing through Santa Fe, NM. Going up to The Grand Tetons.
(Colorado gets its own Vacation)
I have four weeks to kill. The plan is,,,,Grand tetons, Yellowstone, if there's time the Road to the Sun,Then stop at Sturgis
and visit the Black Hills on the way home.
Meanwhile, I've got to stop somewhere on this path to check things out. (4 wks)
MY thoughts are Maybe some where around Jackson hole. Is that close enough to Utah to do a over night? I've heard good things about Utah.
I'll be passing through Vernal UT.????
I plan on getting a hotel where I can, but I am taking a tent w/ bag.
Just need sone suggestions on how to do this. I've always had a destanation as a final place to park my ***.
Never done anything like this and I want to make the most out of it.
Any suggestions? There may be someplace in Montana up there around Glacier NP???
Just looking for Ideas.

May 28, 2016 | 11:49 AM

mtgriz

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 1,644

Likes: 224

From: Coeur d'Alene

IMO, the primo riding in Utah is in the southern 1/3 of the state so just an overnight out of Jackson wouldn't work. Jackson to Moab is close to 500 miles I suspect.....but once you get there it is amazing. I like to base 2 days in the Moab area and a couple days over in Kanab. Much has been written here on this area and a search will turn up a ton of stuff.

As for camping near Glacier, those campgrounds fill up pretty quickly. I've camped at that KOA at West Glacier a couple times. Very nice with lots of comforts. I'll say this summer will be huge for travel in the West and motel prices will be stout. Motel 6 in Moab was $150/night last time I looked. Dead Horse State Park is a fine campground.

Jun 4, 2016 | 12:26 PM

cficole

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 3,133

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From: Lake County, IL

It's been a while since I've been out there, but I remember driving to Douglas, and over to Driggs, ID. Ennis, MT was a neat little town at the time. Main roads can get clogged with tourists, and Jackson can be pricy. I liked going over the Big Horns, and near the Wind River.

FYI, there's only one Grand Teton. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Teton

Jun 4, 2016 | 05:34 PM

Michael Psycle

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2015

Posts: 8,196

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From: San Francisco

Sounds like a wonderful plan. All the places you mention are really nice. Hope you can get up to Glacier while you are up that way.

Heat can be an issue. I would say there is a one in three chance that somewhere you will run into heat so hot it sucks, like 105+. Southern Utah is a good possibility. Sometimes it gets real hot there. Last year on my way back from Sturgis the temperatures were only in the mid 90's in southern Utah, so touring, stopping, getting off the bike, etc, was comfortable. Other years I have had 106+ in southern Utah. You'll be able to get long range forecasts that are fairly accurate for southern Utah about ten days in advance.

Jun 7, 2016 | 10:15 PM

CanadianRocky

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Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 20,424

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From: WetCoast

I would suggest finding an alternate route from Great Falls to Browning. They have been tearing up that road for several years now and this year they are calling for 70+ miles of construction in 4 different locations. Maybe straight up to Shelby and then West.

Road to The Sun is definitely a bucket list road. You won't be driving very fast though. Very Busy.

When in Jackson go to The Cowboy bar.

I stay in West Yellowstone and do one loop one day and the next loop the second day.

Helena Montana is a nice place, as well as Kalispell and Missoula.

I will be in Sturgis. Look for 'Darla'