Road trip wheelin.

Watermin71 · 03-26-2009, 11:05 AM

Hey guys, I'm going to be taking a road trip in May from east coast to west coast, on the way out there taking a southerly route (AL, MS,LA,TX, NM, AZ, CA) and on the way back a northerly route (NV,UT,WY,MT,ND). Any suggestions on must go places with my Taco; off the beaton path type stuff, like trails, desert driving, Taco gatherings etc. Nothin to crazy, I have an 09 stock OR. Thanks for the input.

extremepaint · 03-26-2009, 05:12 PM

id throw colorado in your list, wyoming and montana are good for nothing but yellow stone and corn

RedRunnertc · 03-26-2009, 06:39 PM

Just check out the chapter forums, maybe post up when you'll be coming through and people can plan around it.

DocS98 · 03-26-2009, 09:26 PM

Crater of the moon, moab, death valley. Thanks

indebound · 03-27-2009, 06:59 AM

check out expeditionportal.com. I'm planning on doing this same type of trip and am finding a lot of helpful bits of information here.

DocS98 · 03-27-2009, 08:18 AM

Monument Valley. Thanks

Irish_11 · 03-27-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extremepaint

id throw colorado in your list, wyoming and montana are good for nothing but yellow stone and corn

I beg to differ, Montana has some sweet views and nice rivers. Eastern Montana sucks though, I'd drive right through to the Missoula area and forget the eastern part, haha

equin · 03-27-2009, 05:08 PM

If you'll be coming through northeast TX on I-20 or I-30, check out Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area in Gilmer, TX (about 2 hours east of Dallas). It's a private 1800-acre ORV park.

If you'll be coming through southeast TX on I-10, I believe Spring Creek is near the Houston area. Check out the TX TTORA chapter forum for more info on TX off-roading. Most of Texas is privately-owned, though, so you'll have to settle for relatively small, pay-as-you-play ORV parks.

Watermin71 · 03-28-2009, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extremepaint

id throw colorado in your list, wyoming and montana are good for nothing but yellow stone and corn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish_11

I beg to differ, Montana has some sweet views and nice rivers. Eastern Montana sucks though, I'd drive right through to the Missoula area and forget the eastern part, haha

I agree with Irish 11 here, Western WY and MN are amazing. I have a buddies that that live in Jackson Hole and Missoula, both are going to be stopping points. And I will go through Colorado as well, guess i forgot to throw that in there.

I'm also going through WV and TN (Smokey Mountains to Nashville)

Thanks for all the input, please keep it coming. I'm taking notes...

RedRunnertc · 03-28-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watermin71

I have a buddies that that live in Jackson Hole and Missoula, both are going to be stopping points.

Colorado will be considerably out of your way then.

DocS98 · 03-28-2009, 10:57 AM

Something to keep in mind. It doesn't sound like you do this very often so.....Plan your route and prioritize the sights or places you want/need to see. The reason for this is there is a very good chance at some point in the trip you will run out of time/energy/money/or the quest to see anything new. When that happens you will have the urge to dead head to your destination and you might miss the #1 thing on your list. Just something to keep in mind. Thanks

rader · 03-28-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watermin71

I agree with Irish 11 here, Western WY and MN are amazing. I have a buddies that that live in Jackson Hole and Missoula, both are going to be stopping points. And I will go through Colorado as well, guess i forgot to throw that in there.

I'm also going through WV and TN (Smokey Mountains to Nashville)

Thanks for all the input, please keep it coming. I'm taking notes...

How long is your vacation??? driving in the west eats up days like you can not imagine. We spent close to a month once going to National Parks, National Monuments and points of interest in Colorado, the desert south west, northern Mexico, and California. We ran out of time, before we could see all we had planed to see, and we started out in Montana. You could spend a month in each of the western states and only scratch the surface, so carefully target spots you want to visit.

I travel extensively and have been to all the states you mention. If I was driving from Pennsylvania west, I would stick with the freeways or fastest routes and drive day and night until I got to West Texas. You can see the East and Midwest on shorter vacations and long weekends.

Be sure and take the southern route on your way out because, the rockies mountains and high elevation in May, can mean snow, no leaves on trees, and not even a new blade of green grass (except) in towns and roads in the valleys. At my house we can have significant snow fall until mid June (6,200ft. elev) in plain words, the weather until mid June can be shitty in the mountains.

If you make it to Montana, and the snow in the high country clears early this year, be sure and see Glacier Park and Many Glaciers, in Montana and Waterton Lakes Park just North of Glacier in Alberta. Also when you drive through Yellowstone be sure and drive the "Bear Tooth Highway" on your exit or entrance,depending on your route.

If your time is not limited on the return trip, and if you don't mind traffic, AND haven't already O.D.ed on mountains. I would forget ND. and drop down to Colorado it has great scenery.

Check out the links for Montana info, and be SURE and check out the slide show of 74 photos of clearing the snow on the "Going to the sun highway" in May and June.

http://www.nps.gov/glac/photosmultim...lowing2008.htm
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/byway/mt_beart.htm
http://visitmt.com/regions_towns/

cajun65 · 03-29-2009, 04:03 PM

If you come along I-20 through Louisiana en route to Gilmer, TX as someone above said (Barnwell Mountain), you can stop in at Catahoula Recreation ORV in Sicily Island, LA ('bout an hour south of Monroe). Email us at info@bslca.com to let us know when you're coming through. If you roll along I-10 in south Louisiana, you can forget trail riding but we can take you to some scenic bayou country eateries with the Bayou State Land Cruiser Gang. Holler at us.

Marty

Watermin71 · 03-29-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rader

How long is your vacation???

I travel extensively and have been to all the states you mention. If I was driving from Pennsylvania west, I would stick with the freeways or fastest routes and drive day and night until I got to West Texas. You can see the East and Midwest on shorter vacations and long weekends.

Be sure and take the southern route on your way out because, the rockies mountains and high elevation in May, can mean snow, no leaves on trees, and not even a new blade of green grass (except) in towns and roads in the valleys. At my house we can have significant snow fall until mid June (6,200ft. elev) in plain words, the weather until mid June can be shitty in the mountains.

I'm planning on the trip being 3-4 weeks long. Good point about by-passing the east, especially since I'v been in the Smokey Mountians and surrounding area already. I am a pretty extensive traveler but never taken on a month long cross country road trip. I'm super stoked, but beginning to see I needed more time to plan ha, thats cool though I want it to be sorta spontanious. Those links were crazy, I can't believe they were clearing that much snow in June!!!!

I'm thinking now.... (skeleton online of first 3/4 of trip) stream linning to my friend in Tucson AZ, hiking there for a couple of days. Then to a friend in Southern Cal, surfing for a couple of days. Then headed north to a friend in Jackson and on the way hitting the White Rim Trail in Moab... Planning still in progress, I would like to do and see more between So Cal and WY. Then I'll go from Jackson to Colorado... that's where is trails off. My cousin might be flying out to the Denver airport to come along for the last leg of the trip. I'd like to take him on a trail, but it's gonna be kinda out of the way being that from Denver east looks flat...I can't just take 70 east and go home...hmm...

rader · 03-30-2009, 12:06 PM

That sounds like a good plan, you might want to see everything you can in the Southwest and save the North for sometime that you can make a summer trip. It's only about a 20 hour drive west for you to the Badlands in SD, that's where the west really begins on the northern route. Be sure and ask the members in the states you will spend the bulk of your time in what to see in their area.

More about the weather, even in Yellowstone some roads are closed till Memorial day weekend. Be sure and check with the guys in Colorado to be sure on what they have open in May. The link below is The Bear Tooth Just north of Yellowstone in the spring look at the dates and snow. The pictures below are Feb, July4, mid August, and September the picture on the fourth of July is a trail that was still closed by snow drifts on north slopes a week earlier.
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/beartooth/opening.shtml

03-26-2009, 06:39 PM	#3
RedRunnertc Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boulder/Longmont, CO Posts: 15,028	Just check out the chapter forums, maybe post up when you'll be coming through and people can plan around it. __________________ President - CO Chapter Founding President - OH Chapter '93 4Runner lockers, armor, tcases, & stuff '96 Impala SS - my own personal cop car Check out pix at www.4wheelingoh.shutterfly.com/action

03-27-2009, 06:59 AM	#5
indebound Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 158	check out expeditionportal.com. I'm planning on doing this same type of trip and am finding a lot of helpful bits of information here. __________________ 2004 3.4L 5spd, xtra cab, black TRD 265x75x16 Goodyear Duratrac's on stock alloys OME 881's & N91S, Dakar's w/ N94s Andy's Sliders

03-27-2009, 05:08 PM	#8
equin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,048	If you'll be coming through northeast TX on I-20 or I-30, check out Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area in Gilmer, TX (about 2 hours east of Dallas). It's a private 1800-acre ORV park. If you'll be coming through southeast TX on I-10, I believe Spring Creek is near the Houston area. Check out the TX TTORA chapter forum for more info on TX off-roading. Most of Texas is privately-owned, though, so you'll have to settle for relatively small, pay-as-you-play ORV parks. __________________ Ed Q. 03 Tacoma Ex Cab 3.4L TRD 4x4

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03-26-2009, 11:05 AM	#1
Watermin71 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 110	Road trip wheelin. Hey guys, I'm going to be taking a road trip in May from east coast to west coast, on the way out there taking a southerly route (AL, MS,LA,TX, NM, AZ, CA) and on the way back a northerly route (NV,UT,WY,MT,ND). Any suggestions on must go places with my Taco; off the beaton path type stuff, like trails, desert driving, Taco gatherings etc. Nothin to crazy, I have an 09 stock OR. Thanks for the input. __________________ 83 Toyota pickup 4x4 09 Tacoma 4WD TRD OR Access cab

03-26-2009, 05:12 PM	#2
extremepaint Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: aurora, CO Posts: 1,234	id throw colorado in your list, wyoming and montana are good for nothing but yellow stone and corn

03-29-2009, 04:03 PM	#13
cajun65 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6	If you come along I-20 through Louisiana en route to Gilmer, TX as someone above said (Barnwell Mountain), you can stop in at Catahoula Recreation ORV in Sicily Island, LA ('bout an hour south of Monroe). Email us at info@bslca.com to let us know when you're coming through. If you roll along I-10 in south Louisiana, you can forget trail riding but we can take you to some scenic bayou country eateries with the Bayou State Land Cruiser Gang. Holler at us. Marty

03-30-2009, 12:06 PM	#15
rader Veteran Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 932	That sounds like a good plan, you might want to see everything you can in the Southwest and save the North for sometime that you can make a summer trip. It's only about a 20 hour drive west for you to the Badlands in SD, that's where the west really begins on the northern route. Be sure and ask the members in the states you will spend the bulk of your time in what to see in their area. More about the weather, even in Yellowstone some roads are closed till Memorial day weekend. Be sure and check with the guys in Colorado to be sure on what they have open in May. The link below is The Bear Tooth Just north of Yellowstone in the spring look at the dates and snow. The pictures below are Feb, July4, mid August, and September the picture on the fourth of July is a trail that was still closed by snow drifts on north slopes a week earlier. http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/beartooth/opening.shtml