Post rally suggestions please

[gschlegel]

We have our trip planned to Grande Hot Springs RV Resort for the rally, but nothing after. We’re looking for some suggestions for when we leave the rally. I prefer to be more spontaneous and not have to make reservations, but my wife likes the certainty of knowing where we will stop for the night. I realize that spontaneity is hard to do currently, but you know the PNW and may have some secrets. I was going to wait till we got to the rally to ask, but decided I ought to start checking now. I’d like to do some boondocking, just have to take into consideration we have a 32-5M.

Here is our plan to get to the rally:
Leave Omaha on the 10^th and drive 440 miles to Gering, NE (just outside of Scottsbluff, NE) and stay there for 2 days. Drive 182 miles to Estes Park, CO for 2 days. Drive 51 miles through Rocky Mountain National Park to Granby, CO for another 2 days. Then we drive 247 miles to Jensen, UT to spend 2 days at Dinosaur National Monument. Then 220 miles to Moab, UT for 3 days of exploring. 453 miles to Twin Falls, ID for an overnight and finally 294 miles to La Grande.

[Art]

Both you are basically driving by

https://tfid.org/309/Shoshone-Falls
https://www.aerospaceutah.org/

aerospaceutah has a SR71 which is kinda cool to see.
map of the site https://www.aerospaceutah.org/wp-con...chure-2020.pdf

[gschlegel]

Art, thanks for the response. Anyone with other suggestions?

[GIandlj]

Go to Lewiston Idaho and take a half day trip on the Snake River jet boats. Continue over Lolo Pass to Missoula and go to Glacier NP. From there go to Great Falls and visit the CM Russell Museum, Giant Springs. From there choices are Yellowstone and The Tetons, visit Cody, WY and the Buffalo Bill Museum of the west. or go to Big Horn Battle field NP and possibly on to Mt Rushmore if you haven't been there. Lots of possibilities.

[411 Rocket]

SNIPPED visit Cody, WY and the Buffalo Bill Museum of the west.

That museum needs at least 2 days by itself. Also the Irma hotel used to have a gunfight show on the street, very entertaining, before dinner. I stayed at the Ponderosa Campground before, will go there again if the Border eventually opens up again.

[kramden]

While in Estes Park, be sure to visit the Stanley Hotel (as in the Stanley Steamer, and yes they have the original in the lobby). Nice spot for lunch. Great access to RMNP East slope from that side also. Double check the National Park website for updates on how many can enter and what is open.

[gschlegel]

Since we'll be near Washington State and we haven't camped there yet, does anyone have suggestions for WA? Easy boondocking sites? Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

[ProfQuinn]

We are not boondockers much, but highly recommend two coast campgrounds: Fort Stevens at the NW tip of Oregon (stop in Astoria for the Maritime museum) and Cape Disappointment on Long Beach peninsula (lots of Lewis and Clark stuff and within one or two minutes walk to the beach. They are a possible long drive in a day from the Rally, but could be broken up at Maryhill State Park on the WA side of the Biggs Junction bridge (near several wineries) or even one of the campgrounds near Mt. Hood (on the OR side). If you trek that way do Not take the Washington side highway west (14 I think) as there are a couple of very low clearance tunnels nearer the coast. Our old 22H would barely clear them, but I’m not sure our 25Y would.

[gschlegel]

We think we want to leave La Grande and go to Washington State. My wife loves trees (her family was in the tree nursery business). Are there any campgrounds in the forests of Washington that we can (easily) get our 32-5M into?

[kramden]

North Cascades National Park area is beautiful but I’m not sure about RV parks near or within the NP. Others on the forum live much closer and will know. Our recommendation is the town of Leavenworth, Wa. Best RV park in that area would be Icicle River RV Resort

[HRA]

I would agree with Leavenworth. Full disclosure my wife and I both work there. Nice Bavarian themed town, lots of small locally owned shops and restaurants. The only chain restaurant is a McDonalds. There are a couple RV parks close to town, within a mile or less. There is also a KOA. Within 20 miles are a few state parks and city/county RV parks.
if you stay on the Wenatchee side I would also check out Lake Chelan. Lake is 60 miles or so long, the only access by road is the 1st 25 miles. At the other end is the town of Stehekin, now owned by USFS. Only access is boat or seaplane. There is a Large walk on boat that goes up daily with guided points of interest on the way. Really cool trip on “Lady of the Lake”.
Cashmere also has the Aplets and Cotlets factory, and does tours.
There’s a ton of things to do and see in North Central Wa. 100 miles east is Grand Coulee Dam, they do laser light shows against the dam at dusk. You park about 1/2 mile away and even I can see it without my 2nd set of eyes.
Feel free to get in touch if you would like any information, we are also planning on being at the rally.

Roger