Planning an extended trip, looking for advice.

[lablover]

If you plan on staying in any National Parks, you can make reservations 6 months in advance. I highly recommend this if you will be traveling in the summer. Every time you leave a NP and reenter the next day I believe you pay another entrance fee. That can get costly and it is very unlikely that you can really see the park in one day. What I can say about the weather in Utah, Arizona, Colo and NM is that if it was hot during the day, it always cooled down at night. We never used the ac at night.

[Zargonians]

Originally Posted by lablover

If you plan on staying in any National Parks, you can make reservations 6 months in advance. I highly recommend this if you will be traveling in the summer. Every time you leave a NP and reenter the next day I believe you pay another entrance fee. That can get costly and it is very unlikely that you can really see the park in one day. What I can say about the weather in Utah, Arizona, Colo and NM is that if it was hot during the day, it always cooled down at night. We never used the ac at night.

Many, if not all, of the National Parks charge at fee for entering the park which is good for seven days. If you plan to visit several National Parks, you can purchase an America the Beautiful pass which allows you unlimited access to every National Park for one year from date of purchase. It also allows access to other National forest lands that charge fees. It more than paid for itself on our last trip. The cost is $80 and allows everyone in your vehicle unlimited access for a year.

[Gzrglide]

Originally Posted by flagstaffman

First I would suggest you purchase a Good Sams Membership about $25.00 per year, that will get you a 10% discount at several campgrounds. I would also suggest that you purchase a Passport America membership which cost abut $40.00 per year. This membership will get you 1/2 price at any part participating campground. Both of these memberships will pay for themselves on your first visit. Your Good Sams membership will also allow you to purchase items at any Camping World in the country. I would also obtain both a Good Sams campground directory and a Passport America directory to have if you do not have good wifi reception. There are so many wonderful campgrounds but until you have a better idea of the approximate route of travel it would be very hard to recommend some to prevent you from hopping all over the place. Hope this helps.

Just wanted to second what FLAGSTAFFMAN said about the Passport America, we Purchased one this year and it more than paid for itself on our first trip to Hernando Point Campground just south of Memphis Tn. Normal rates there are 20 USD/day, and we paid 10 USD/day.

Their are numerous National Parks, Corp of Engineer camp grounds around the US that are beautiful and convenient to many sites and attractions (within 30 or 45 minutes drive). Around Memphis, you have Elvis Presley's mansion Graceland, also casino's in Tunica Mississippi if you want to gamble, a little further south you have Natchez Trace and Vicksburg Battlefield. If you want to fish some, the Corp of Engineer Lakes in Mississippi (Arkabutla, Enid, Sardis, and Grenada) have world class crappie fishing with guide services available.

In Arkansas you have COE campgrounds around Norfork and Greers Ferry Lakes with world class Trout fishing in the Rivers below the dams on each lake with Guide services available there also.

The possibilities are endless and it is hard to pick places for someone else's trip not knowing what you and your wife like to do or what you enjoy seeing.

[Major Oz]

Whenever, wherever......if you are on the Florida east coast, check the launch schedules from Kennedy Space Center.

A rush to beat most others.......

[mikakuja]

Thanks everyone for your input, you have given me a ton of ideas. I apologize for not responding sooner but have not been on line much over the past couple weeks due to two separate family emergencies, and a lot of my spare time spent in the hospitals.
I will be taking time to jot down a list of all the suggested stops and routes and start planning potential routes in the new year.

Merry Christmas to everyone and have a safe holiday season.