Overseas Visitors Touring Usa/canada 2012, Any advice welcome Options

[movannernz]

Hi everyone, enjoying reading all the posts re. caravan parks. We have just booked a Roadbear C19 to tour for 64 days, picking up and dropping off RV in Vegas. Dates travelling 4th May to the 7th July '12. Plan to do Western US and some of Western Canada. Are we able to buy a Passport America pass, if yes, should we buy it from the first campsite we use? I have downloaded the PA brochure in PDF form. We are a bit concerned about having to prebook places as we like to tour and not be committed to booking ahead for sites. Is this going to be a concern? We do try to avoid busy places as much as possible as we like the peace and quiet of the countryside. Any itinerary ideas would be good and perhaps National parks that are stunning but less visited.
Also looking forward to meeting all you RVers!
Look forward to some help.

[Jerry S.]

I like RFCN2's routing and it looks quite "doable" in 9 weeks. I do want to reiterate the warnings about the timing of your trip. I have not been to the Canadian Rockies in over a decade so I do not know how "safe" it is to visit Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, etc. in June. I do know that Yellowstone and Glacier are still "iffy" weatherwise well into June. Last year, both parks had periods of closures as late as mid-June.

An aspect of your original post that I have not seen addressed is you desire to "avoid busy places" and go to "less visited" parks. While the places RFCN2 noted in his suggested tour may be less busy in May or June than they would in July or August when families are vacationing, they still draw good crowds in the "off season". You don't want to come half way around the world and not go to Zion or the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone or Lake Louise because it might be crowded. With 9 weeks to play with, maybe you can spend 2 days a week at a secluded National Forrest campground to get your quiet and solitude. There are plenty of these kinds of campgrounds close to many of the big National Parks.

Enjoy your planning and next year's trip.

[movannernz]

I like RFCN2's routing and it looks quite "doable" in 9 weeks. I do want to reiterate the warnings about the timing of your trip. I have not been to the Canadian Rockies in over a decade so I do not know how "safe" it is to visit Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, etc. in June. I do know that Yellowstone and Glacier are still "iffy" weatherwise well into June. Last year, both parks had periods of closures as late as mid-June.

An aspect of your original post that I have not seen addressed is you desire to "avoid busy places" and go to "less visited" parks. While the places RFCN2 noted in his suggested tour may be less busy in May or June than they would in July or August when families are vacationing, they still draw good crowds in the "off season". You don't want to come half way around the world and not go to Zion or the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone or Lake Louise because it might be crowded. With 9 weeks to play with, maybe you can spend 2 days a week at a secluded National Forrest campground to get your quiet and solitude. There are plenty of these kinds of campgrounds close to many of the big National Parks.

Enjoy your planning and next year's trip.

Thanks Jerry S, we do appreciate that the weather could be a problem in some places but will take it in our stride. I do think we might overdose on parks though and get "parked out". If that is at all possible! We will bring the thermal gear in case of cold temperatures. Best solitude for us is flyfishing on a beautiful river. Looking forward to writing some reviews on CP's too from an overseas tourist's viewpoint. Cheers.

[JDOLLEN]

Thanks Jerry S, we do appreciate that the weather could be a problem in some places but will take it in our stride. I do think we might overdose on parks though and get "parked out". If that is at all possible! We will bring the thermal gear in case of cold temperatures. Best solitude for us is flyfishing on a beautiful river. Looking forward to writing some reviews on CP's too from an overseas tourist's viewpoint. Cheers.

I live in Calgary which is just east of the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park. The weather in June is usually warm (by our standards). High temps in the 70s are the norm with cool evenings. http://www.canadianrockies.com/TravelEssen...WeatherClimate/

If you plan on staying at one of the few FULL SERVICE RV PARKS it would be very wise to reserve. Tunnel Mountain is the only Full Service in Banff and Lake Louise Trailer Park is the only one in Louise. http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit9.aspx

If you are into fishing there are a few Provincial Campgrounds right on the Bow River that I suggest you check out. http://www.bowvalleycampgrounds.com/ These "Camp Grounds" have limited services but are ususally very quiet. I would use one of these as a base to visit the Banff area. I find Tunnel Mountain to be Busy, Expensive, and unless you have a tow vehicle, remote. For visiting the Lake Louise area, Lake Louise Trailer Park is okay. Jasper has options as well http://www.canadianrockies.net/jasper/jnpcamp.html (and traveling the "Ice Fields Parkway" from Lake Louise to Jasper is amazing). From Jasper, the Yellowhead Highway is your route to the West Coast and Vancouver. Check out Barkerville http://www.barkerville.ca/ on your way to the coast.

You might want to download Google Earth to plot your Journey. I think it would help you grasp the magnitude of your planned travel. I have visited all of the places that have been mentioned in this thread...but not during one trip. You will have an amazing trek.

[movannernz]

I live in Calgary which is just east of the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park. The weather in June is usually warm (by our standards). High temps in the 70s are the norm with cool evenings. http://www.canadianrockies.com/TravelEssen...WeatherClimate/

If you plan on staying at one of the few FULL SERVICE RV PARKS it would be very wise to reserve. Tunnel Mountain is the only Full Service in Banff and Lake Louise Trailer Park is the only one in Louise. http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit9.aspx

If you are into fishing there are a few Provincial Campgrounds right on the Bow River that I suggest you check out. http://www.bowvalleycampgrounds.com/ These "Camp Grounds" have limited services but are ususally very quiet. I would use one of these as a base to visit the Banff area. I find Tunnel Mountain to be Busy, Expensive, and unless you have a tow vehicle, remote. For visiting the Lake Louise area, Lake Louise Trailer Park is okay. Jasper has options as well http://www.canadianrockies.net/jasper/jnpcamp.html (and traveling the "Ice Fields Parkway" from Lake Louise to Jasper is amazing). From Jasper, the Yellowhead Highway is your route to the West Coast and Vancouver. Check out Barkerville [url=http://www.barkerville.ca/]http:
/www.barkerville.ca/[/url] on your way to the coast.



You might want to download Google Earth to plot your Journey. I think it would help you grasp the magnitude of your planned travel. I have visited all of the places that have been mentioned in this thread...but not during one trip. You will have an amazing trek.

Excellent information, have used Google maps to work out mileage/kms, we have purchased 6000 miles and can pay for extra used on return of vehicle if required. Much appreciated.