MSHappyCampers
Columbus, MS
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We are planning a trip out west sometime this spring and wonder what would be the best date. We will be going to New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, etc. We probably won't be pulling the 5er, just taking the truck. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Joe & Annette
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TexasShadow
Spring Branch, TX USA
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May or September
TexasShadow
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agesilaus
North Florida
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x2 on May if you start in the south and work your way north since the snow may not be gone in May, probably won't be. Not a problem in September tho you might start getting snow in the mountains then, tho you can get snowed on any month.
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Dave's Wife
Albuquerque, NM- The Land of Enchantment
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I agree with May and the first part of June, then September are good times but coming from MS you may not mind the heat especially 'dry heat'. July throught early August tend to be oppressive heat wise in the low lands 5000 ft and below but if you are in the Mountains it's wonderful during that time.
Sheila aka....
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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Adventure Caravans has a guided tour of the Western Parks that takes the entire month of September.
Dick_B
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vermilye
Oswego, NY, USA
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MSHappyCampers wrote:We are planning a trip out west sometime this spring and wonder what would be the best date. We will be going to New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, etc. We probably won't be pulling the 5er, just taking the truck. Any suggestions will be appreciated. While I'll agree with making your trip in May to avoid the desert heat, iIt depends on what you want to do & where you want to go. I wanted to hike the Narrows at Zion & the Virgin River was still closed in mid June. It was one of the wettest springs in awhile. On the other hand, hiking most of the Utah parks was comfortable in May & early June. The Going to the Sun Road (well worth a visit to Glacier National Park) didn't open until July 13th (another later than normal date).
Jon Vermilye Travel & Photo Web Pages ... My Collection of RV Blogs & Journals
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Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, MT
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WyoTraveler
Powell, WY
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One of the problems is when it is the best weather for vacations in Wyoming a lot of the wild life goes to the higher elevations. In the spring, fall and winter we see hundreds of elk, deer, and antelope in the farm fields. Even in Yellowstone Park we don't see as much of the wildlife once it warms up. Sometimes it gets frustating because the large herds of elk break down our fences.
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DesertHawk
Las Cruces, New Mexico
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A trip in the Spring....Depending on the elevation and how far south you are looking....Spring can happen early in places and later in others. As for being too hot to visit in the summer, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona have some Alpine areas which can be very mild to down right cold in the summer in the higher altitudes. Bring some warm clothes with you for the cool areas as well as shorts for the hot. NM will tend to be cooler in most places than say Arizona. Our 110 degrees will not be as bad as your 90 degrees due to the dryness of the heat.
Southern New Mexico & Arizona will warm up earlier than the Northern areas of these states. However, we normally get wind & often wind & dust in the Spring when Pacific Fronts start to come through (we get wind & dust, Texas, OK and on ward get tornados). When this happens, don't travel for a day, maybe two, until it calms down.
For more northern tiers it will take somewhat long for Spring to arrive. May would be pretty good for the southern areas, June for some of the northern.
We had some cool to cold tempts camping in the Cloudcroft area in July as we did the summer.
Depending on if the areas are in severe drought conditions (like last year---most being closed due to fires or dangers of fire), the national forests might be closed to camping. Praying for snow & rain, still. It was end of Aug before we got to camping close to us.
Our End of August ~ Early September Camping Trip last year: Clicky
Another Spring Time post.
Summer in NM, etc.
Save Colorado & Wyoming for later in the year.....some places there will not be Spring like until June and July. I'd suggest starting in the southern part of the Southwest & work your way up to Wyoming.
DesertHawk - Las Cruces, NM USA
2005 16' Scamp Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailer
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Before school gets out or after it's back in again SURE keeps the crowds down anywhere you go. When kids are in school campgrounds are VERY much easier get into. If you're hoteling it though won't make as MUCH difference.
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dave17352
LINCOLN, NE
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Joined: 09/20/2004
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Just curious why you are not taking the 5er with you. We took a two week trip out west two years ago. I sure liked having our rig with us.
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