RV Family trips - yea or nay?

8 people??? If its more than a couple days, don't do it. Families need their "own" time. If they had their own RV, it would be ok, but there are going to be times when you all will want to do your own thing, especially if you only have one vehicle. I've been on an overseas trip with a family and after two weeks, i felt cramped and at times i felt like i was cramping them.

 

Well I can tell you that for about 8 years during my childhood, my family went to Garner State Park with a whole clan of extended family and friends for about a week during the Summer. We had our own campsites, but were all clustered together. That was some of the best times in my life; certainly wouldn't have been the same had we gone alone (although we went on tons of trips by ourselves and had a blast).

8 people in an RV might not be so bad, especially considering that you'd be spending much of your time in the outdoors anyways.

 

would it mean a break from dd posts for 10 days?

if so, i vote yeah

 

Yellowstone is a LOOONNGG way away. How long were you planning on taking there and back? Because to me 10 days in not enough time to drive there (especially in an RV), see Yellowstone and drive back.

Also, some of the roads around and in Yellowstone can be pretty hairy, even in a car. Once you get to Yellowstone, it is a 30-60 minute drive to see the various sites. I would strongly recommend you fly into Salt Lake City or Jackson and rent a couple ofcars. Stay in Jackson Hole for a couple of days, see the Grand Teton National Park. Then drive to Yellowstone and stay in the cabins at the canyon, it is fairly central in the park and you can take day trips out from there. Get off the roads and do some hiking in the park, there are trails for every level. There is some crazy stat out there about the number of visitors to Yellowstone who do not venture off the roads. Don't be one of those people.

If you can't tell, I absolutely love Yellowstone. Don't stint yourself on your time three by driving back and forth.

 

Just no #2's in the RV. Then it should be ok.

 

I went RVing to Florida/Orlando and the areas with another family.

It was absolutely amazing. Of course, this was me being a child but my parents enjoyed the fact that at night, they had somebody else they could just converse and drink with

 

sounds awful

 

I never have
but
It sounds like a Hell of a good time

Rocket RIver

 

That trip sounds like a f'ing nightmare.

 

no robin williams joke? any1?

 

I don't know what he has to do with this but you asked for it.

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Sounds like a fun trip. However, the folks questioning the time alloted do have a point. It'd be a hard two-day drive from Austin, so that kills 4 of your 10. You'd probably want to stop and catch a few sights on the way, so it could easily be 3 days there and 3 days back. Stretch it to 12 days so you're not rushed and you'll have an incredible time.

If you do go, camp at Madison. Swimming in the Firehole River is a blast and it's not too far from the community of West Yellowstone, which has grocery stores and such. You're still centrally located in the park, so you can go NE to the falls and S to Old Faithful. (By the way, the W side of the park has some of the best and most easily accessible geysers/mud pots/hot springs.)

(I've been on three fires in the park and everytime, they have us set up camp behind the store at Fishing Bridge. It's nice, but I like the Madison area much better, plus there are less bison to worry about.)

Definitely approach the park through Grand Tetons. If you have the time, leave via West Yellowstone and track down through Utah for a stop at Canyonlands and especially Arches. Everyone needs to see Arches.

 

We(my wife, son, brother, niece, nephew & I) took my parents 19' class C (towing a car on a dolly) to Indiana to visit family & friends in the early 90's. My bro took a 5 man tent and he & the kids slept in it. We had a BLAST!! With 3 drivers we drove the 1100 miles straight thru. My wife retired in 98 & I retired in 06. In 04 we bought a 37' class A & went to Florida for my nephew's wedding. We take 2 months each year to go back to Indiana to visit family & friends, but that is just the 2 of us. Last year we took 5 months and took the rv to California, the Carolinas & home. We love rving!!

Yellowstone is roughly 1500 miles from Austin. I don't know what size rv you have nor the # of drivers you have nor the rv experience of the drivers. Is the rv gas or diesel? You will want to stop at least 1 night. That can be at a rest stop, picknic area, rv park or motel. I would suggest you get Trailer Life's RV Park Directory(lists the rv parks in each state) if you want to stay in a rv park($25 to $35 per night). Also "Next Exit" tells what facilities are at each exit on the interstate system and if they are gas rv accessible.

Our modis operendi is 300 miles or 3pm. But we aren't on a time constraint.

GlassHalfFull is right about Yellowstone. You'll love it. It is beautiful!!! Driving south from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park on the way to Jackson Hole you go through a valley where "Shane"(my favorite movie) was filmed.

I hope I have helped you. Have fun!!

 

Are you my cousin? My family has done just this for at least 17 years, except sometimes it's Inks Lake instead of Garner. I've only been about 1/3 of the time, but it's awesome everytime.

 

I'VE GOT AN RV ~ DOWN BY THE RIVER

 

so that's what KingCheetah looks like...