It can be done - Trip of a lifetime.

[hunt247]

For all the community members considering how far their Sunseeker can take them I want to share our trip of a lifetime we accomplished this past summer. Over the course of 5 weeks(June 30-Aug2), we traveled from home (in CT) to california the southern route and back the northern route covering 7300 miles, plus an additional 1300 miles on our 4-door Jeep Wrangler toad. Our 3170DS had 17,000 miles on it when we started the trip. Mechanically the trip was flawless and it towed the Jeep perfectly, only an oil change in California was needed halfway through the journey. Here is the iternery we accomplished:

1. 1st Night in Illinois rest area
2. 2nd Night in Walmart in Amarillo, Texas
3. 2 nights in Albuquerque, NM campground
4. 1 Day in Petrified Forest/Painted Desert
5. 1 Night at Meteor Crater
6. 3 Nights at Grand Canyon Southern Rim
7. 2 Nights at Lake Meed/Hoover Dam, plus stop in Vegas
8. 1 Night in Kings Canyon/Grand Sequoia
9. 4 Nights in Yosemite
10. 3 Nights in Redwoods National Park, Ca
11. 2 Nights at Crater Lake National Park, Or
12. 1 Night in Idaho rest area
13. 4 Nights in Yellowstone National Park, Wy
14. 1 Night at Devils Tower National Monument
15. 2 Nights in Rapid City, Mount Rushmore and Badlands NP
16. 1 Night in Illinois rest area (again)
17. 3 Nights at Cedar Point Amusement Park RV resort
18. back home

Some other interesting facts: 6.7 MPG, total fuel cost $4,040. 13 campgrounds and visited 12 National Parks. The longest mileage covered in a day was 900 miles, shortest day was 200 miles. Hottest temp - Lake Meed 114 degrees, coldest night in Yellowstone 38 degrees.

If anyone is considering "Can this be done?" It can and it can be relaxing, my wife and I are 41yrs old with 2 teenage boys and we are so happy they experienced this before they leave the house.

[DocsDad]

What a dream trip. Thanks for the share.

[dutch]

Wow. That is a lot od driving and it looks like you had a great time and seen some great places. Question I have is did you map this trip out on how far you would drive everyday and did you reserves camping spot at each camp ground ahead of time.

[hunt247]

Good Question, yeah the route was pre-planned but we only had reservations for half the spots: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Redwoods, Yellowstone and Cedar Point. Occasionally we adjusted our arrival/departure from each spot +/- 1 day depending how we felt. We did a ton of research ahead of time with campground info for every spot and we just called ahead before arrival. We were never turned away due to campgrounds being full. I will try attaching an image here, not sure how it will look in the thread.

[Poppy94]

That's awesome. Not a bad price tag for a 5 week vacation either! Congrats on the investment of memories with your family

[mud yapster]

WOW is all I can say. Very nice trip!!!

[raoulwv]

A trip similar to this is on my bucket list. Did you have any issues with the size of your rig in the national parks?

[Kevin & Judy]

Thats a great bunch of places to go, Most of them our on our list for over the next few years, Last year took 9 weeks and put on 15,000 miles doing a Canada and Alaska trip, Still many places in Canada & Alaska we would like to go but have to wait a few more years untill we can retire and have more time to go, Next summer looks like a similar trip to what you took, Thanks for sharing all the locatoins, Hope to be there next year.

[rbetzwieser]

Awesome! Now I just need 5 weeks of vacation.

[D-mo]

thanks for this ..

d-mo

[B47]

You drove 900 miles in one day!

How many hours did it take in your one day to drive 900 miles? It must have been a long day considering stopping for fuel,tire checks,etc.

I'm assuming you and your wife shared the driving, did any of your Sons also drive?

[MacDR]

Wow... Incredible trip.. Congrats


Columbus 340RK
43 days Camping 2014 'Winterized'

[asquared]

So jealous. This is what I have been wanting to do with my Dhaka and dd but rules at work prevent me from taking more than two weeks at a time.

[brewjaz]

Thanks for posting. This is on my bucket list.

[PAWDWCamper]

Great trip and even better recap with details!

[trdutch]

I am going to save this itinerary for the future
Congrats on the "trip to America"so many of us say we will do but never seem to get done

[hockeytownmom]

That is amazing and a reason why we bought the Sunseeker! We took the Roo to Lubbock TX in April and my dh said never again. Since we have family there, that's not an option! lol. I can't wait to head back to TX in the comfort of the Sunseeker.

[chucknviv]

We are planning a trip out west next year. Please post which campgrounds you stayed in. Thanks.

[hunt247]

Here are some answers to your questions: 900 miles one day took 16 hours (6am to 10pm) it was from Rapid City to Illinois about a half hour outside Chicago. My wife and boys didn't drive, I drove all 7300 miles.

Here are the campgrounds we stayed at, all were full hookup except Yellowstone where we used the dump station upon exit. I recommend all of them except Kings Canyon, we just needed a nights stay and we didn't climb the RV several thousand feet into the park. This was located just outside the NP entrance, we un-hooked the Jeep to drive in for the day and see the large Sequoia's.

1. ABQ - American RV Park
2. Meteor Crater - Meteor Crater RV Park
3. Grand Canyon - Trailer Village RV Park
4. Lake Mead - Lake Mead RV Village at Boulder Beach
5. Kings Canyon - Kings Canyon Mobile home park
6. Yosemite - Yosemite Lakes RV Resort
7. Redwoods day1 - Mad River Rapids RV Park
8. Redwoods day2-3 - Redwoods RV Resort
9. Crater Lake - Crater Lake RV Park
10. Yellowstone - Bridge Bay Campground
11. Devils Tower - Devils Tower KOA
12. Rapid City SD - Happy Holiday RV Park
13. Sandusky OH - Cedar Point Amusement Park RV Resort

[youroo]

When you used (900 miles and 16 hours) in a day and (Relaxing) for a Vacation Trip of a Lifetime is when I got (Real Confused)? Youroo!!