New to this from UK

[geffers]

Hi, we are coming over to the US in July and are renting a cruise america RV from LA doing a grand tour and dropping it off in San Fransisco.

We intend to stay around LA for a couple of days and then travel to San Diego then off to the Grand Canyon, Arches, Bryce, Zion, Los Vegas, Sequoia, Yosemite and then on to San Fransisco. All in 25 days (phew).

If anyone out there can give me advice on where to park up at night at sites that aren't exorbidant prices, I would love to hear from you.

Happy RV'ing.

 

[Honest John]

Welcome!  Hope you enjoy your visit to the US.

Hopefully you will get responses from members who live in the areas and have more direct information. 

You might also check KOA at their website http://www.koa.com/.  I know they have a campground on the "strip" in Vegas which is very convenient and is reasonable.  While you are on the KOA website you can search for campgrounds in many locations.

Hope this helps,

John

 

[Marsha/CA]

Welcome Geffers,

I've removed your other post as it is a duplicate.  Also having questions in different places tends to get messages scattered.

I'm sure others will chime in with information.  There are a couple of things I thought about with your schedule.  We have quite a few folks from the UK inquire here about their plans.  What they don't realize is how big the US is and the distances involved.  So, you might want to rethink your plan, it's a lot to do in 25 days.  Also, Las Vegas will be HOT....very hot and RV's are difficult to cool down, so you might want to see Las Vegas at a different time of the year.  Zion will also be hot; but not as bad as Las Vegas.  Below are a couple of things to consider:

*LA, San Francisco and to a lesser degree, San Diego are difficult cities to get around.  There are very few campground in the metropolitan areas.  Also be aware that you can not just pull over and park on the street.  We have city ordaninces against overnight camping/parking. 
*You will need reservations for Yosemite camping and camping in the San Diego area.    As far as keeping your camping site costs down, that might be hard.  Campgrounds close to big cities and big tourist areas are pricey.  Also driving RVs can be difficult in and around the big cities.

If you click the search button at the top and do a search for your areas of interest, you should find quite a bit of information.

Again, Welcome!
Marsha~

 

[mbay]

HI Geffers....I'm planning a 17 day holiday in the south eastern US I've also hired a RV from cruise America and I'm also from the UK

I've gleamed a lot of great info by asking questions and searching this site.

State park camp grounds are cheaper than privately run commercial ones, but need to be booked in advance if you want to guarantee a place so careful route planning is needed and don't try to do too much.  (I've two long 6hr legs on my route the rest are a max of 3hrs)

Google maps and Google earth are fantastic tools for planning your route and working out distances you can even go into street mode and check out places you plan to visit and make sure there is room for you to park.

All the parks I've checked out have have pm arrivals and am departures like hotel's so if you need to relax and explore the area you going to need at least 2 nights stay at every campground

just a few little things I've picked up,  hope they help you with your plan. 

Trevor

 

[seilerbird]

I agree completely with Marsha. You are planning too much in too short of a time period and at the wrong time of year. You have chose the middle of our summer, the hottest time of year, to go to the southwestern US, the hottest spot in the country. It gets to 115 in Vegas in July and inside your RV the A/C would cool it down to about 95 if you are lucky. At night it might get down to 85 inside the RV. You are going to need reservations 6 months in advance to get into Yosemite and most of the other places you will need reservations a few months in advance. If I were going to do the trip you outlined I would take at least 2 months and start in September.

 

[Tom]

We see this so often; Folks from the UK and elsewhere hope to "do the US" in a few weeks. We moved to California from not-so-sunny South Wales 30 years ago and, although we've travelled throughout the US a number of times (we've been RVing for 25 years), we haven't scratched the surface. We haven't even seen a fraction of California.

What I'd say is slow down and smell the roses. You've received some good advice, and you shouldn't underestimate the temperature issue, coupled with a much lower humidity than the UK. 46oC and single digit humidity can cause dehydration in folks who're more used to wearing welly boots. So be sure to carry and drinks lots of water, something we always tell our countless visitors from the UK.

 

[Britmick]

Hi, we are coming over to the US in July and are renting a cruise america RV from LA doing a grand tour and dropping it off in San Fransisco.

We intend to stay around LA for a couple of days and then travel to San Diego then off to the Grand Canyon, Arches, Bryce, Zion, Los Vegas, Sequoia, Yosemite and then on to San Fransisco. All in 25 days (phew).

If anyone out there can give me advice on where to park up at night at sites that aren't exorbidant prices, I would love to hear from you.

Happy RV'ing.

Hi from a fellow Brit, I've been living over here in 'Vegas for the past 4yrs (arrived 6/6/06!!!tempting fate or what?)
Anyway, as some of the others say, it IS HOT in July, but if you've pre-booked, then let's assume a different slant on this.
If you must stick to the provisional route, then forget San Diego, it's nice, but extreemly expensive for RV parks ($75 a night!) & nice, but not worth the effort.
Next, 'Vegas, if you're going to Utah, you may as well stop off in 'Vegas, there is a cheaper alternative RV park at the side of Sam's Town Casino on Boulder Highway which is a 20min bus ride from The Strip, it has trees & shrubbery, & isn't the usual casino style tarmac parking lot that is the norm.(which Circus-Circus is, & it's dearer than a room there!)
Next, Utah is magnificent, but take a tip, buy a Nat;Parks annual pass for $80, it will pay you back after visiting 4 parks!
The trek back to San Fran is unrewarding most of the way, but you could pay a visit to lake Taho on the way across the #50 highway.

Now if you are flexible, & after being to all the places you've mentioned, re-rent your motorhome to start & finish in SF, & head north up the Oregon coast, you will stay cool, & also see some of the most stunning coastline ever!

Whichever route you take you'll be happy, but believe me, until you've spent July in 'Vegas, you don't know how uncomfortable it can be in an RV.

Mick.