Author Topic: Northern USA Roadtrip In 48 Days And 9.5K Miles (Read 24822 times)

cgr · « **Reply #120 on:** July 19, 2024, 01:10:44 AM »

Day 34: Thursday/ July 18

States: Oregon, Idaho
Miles driven: 387
Total trip miles to date: 6,197
Notable stops:
Smith Rock State Park
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument: Painted Hills Unit
Time Zone: PDT to MDT

I think we had the largest temp jump today. Started the day at a cool 46°, and hit a toasty 105°.

Smith Rock State Park

Painted Hills

WayBackMachine · « **Reply #121 on:** July 19, 2024, 01:13:03 AM »

how many miles of walking does this trip entail?

cgr · « **Reply #122 on:** July 19, 2024, 01:25:04 AM »

Quote from: WayBackMachine on July 19, 2024, 01:13:03 AM

how many miles of walking does this trip entail?

I hope we'll get at least 100 miles of hiking in. Don't have an exact tally yet.

efflpetzel · « **Reply #123 on:** July 19, 2024, 01:18:02 PM »

I'd love if you can give us a snapshot of a typical day on this trip

cgr · « **Reply #124 on:** July 19, 2024, 07:56:45 PM »

Day 35: Friday/ July 19

States: Idaho
Miles driven: 23
Total trip miles to date: 6,220
Notable stops:
Boise
Time Zone: MDT

For everyone worrying about our car's oil, it's been changed. The mechanic said the color wasn't too bad- I guess because most of that 6k miles was highway miles.

Idaho State Capitol

cgr · « **Reply #125 on:** July 19, 2024, 08:12:50 PM »

Quote from: efflpetzel on July 19, 2024, 01:18:02 PM

I'd love if you can give us a snapshot of a typical day on this trip

Really depends on if we're camping (park) or in a hotel (city). In parks we're generally up at 7 or 8AM, ready by 9 or 10AM. We hike and drive to viewpoints til about 4 or 5PM. Then we eat (usually a grill), make a campfire, shower, and set up the car, preferably all before sunset (which is usually around 9PM).

WayBackMachine · « **Reply #126 on:** July 20, 2024, 10:13:15 PM »

how did you spend the shabbos?

HudZ · « **Reply #127 on:** July 20, 2024, 10:19:59 PM »

Quote from: cgr on July 19, 2024, 07:56:45 PM

For everyone worrying about our car's oil, it's been changed. The mechanic said the color wasn't too bad- I guess because most of that 6k miles was highway miles.

This, you should've gotten a picture of.

For some, it seems it would've been the highlight of their trip.

cgr · « **Reply #128 on:** July 21, 2024, 01:23:46 AM »

Day 36: Shabbos/ July 20

Location: Chabad Boise:
Had a beautiful shabbos at the Lifshitz's! Amazing food and great company!

yitzgar · « **Reply #129 on:** July 21, 2024, 08:40:26 AM »

Would you recommend voyageurs for family with young kids? Any specific must do's?
Also want to know about Duluth area

cgr · « **Reply #130 on:** July 21, 2024, 02:31:25 PM »

Quote from: yitzgar on July 21, 2024, 08:40:26 AM

Would you recommend voyageurs for family with young kids? Any specific must do's?
Also want to know about Duluth area

Unless you're specifically looking to cover all National Parks, I think there are better choices in Northern Minnesota and Michigan's UP than Voyageurs NP. Also check the mosquito levels for the season you're going- it was brutal when we were there.
Regarding Duluth, we didn't spend much time there but it's a beautiful city. We basically walked along the waterfront.

yitzgar · « **Reply #131 on:** July 21, 2024, 02:56:08 PM »

Quote from: cgr on July 21, 2024, 02:31:25 PM

Unless you're specifically looking to cover all National Parks, I think there are better choices in Northern Minnesota and Michigan's UP than Voyageurs NP. Also check the mosquito levels for the season you're going- it was brutal when we were there.
Regarding Duluth, we didn't spend much time there but it's a beautiful city. We basically walked along the waterfront.

I was planning to go to pictures rocks in the UP and Minnesota north coast from Duluth to Grand portage. Any other specific must do's in those areas?
I don't need every single NP, but I would like to go just to check it off. Question just is if it's even worth detouring a couple hours or if the kids will be super bored, and not worth it. We are skipping isle royale for that reason...

cgr · « **Reply #132 on:** July 22, 2024, 12:27:22 AM »

Day 37: Sunday/ July 21

States: Idaho
Miles driven: 343
Total trip miles to date: 6,563
Notable stops:
Shoshone Falls
Minidoka National Historic Site
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
Time Zone: MDT

Shoshone Falls (45 taller than Niagra Falls)

Minidoka National Historic Site (Japanese WWII internment camp)

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve (Apollo 14 training site)

Dan · « **Reply #133 on:** July 23, 2024, 02:04:57 AM »

What an incredible trip. Memories to last a lifetime!

cgr · « **Reply #134 on:** July 23, 2024, 03:09:57 PM »

Day 38: Monday/ July 22

States: Idaho, Wyoming, (Montana), Wyoming
Miles driven: 420
Total trip miles to date: 6,983
Notable stops:
Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Time Zone: MDT

We went completely off script yesterday and decided to take a detour through Yellowstone to drive through Lamar Valley. Part of our goal in driving through was to finally see pronghorn (the only large animal in the parks that we did not see on our last visit) but unfortunately we were once again unsuccessful... it was still a great drive with tons of wildlife.

Grand Teton National Park- the wildfire haze was intense and lowered the beauty of the park by 80%... according to a park ranger haze like this is standard for the summer months. For comparison:

June 5:

July 22:

Antelope Flats:

Yellowstone National Park
Wildlife count: thousands of bison including many calves, 1 black wolf, 1 black grizzly. A fox and a bison joined us for dinner.

Grizzly

I would definitely recommend early June over July. No crowds. Great wildlife (I guess that's hit or miss). No haze.

cgr · « **Reply #135 on:** July 24, 2024, 02:55:13 AM »

Day 39: Tuesday/ July 23

States: Wyoming, South Dakota
Miles driven: 328
Total trip miles to date: 7,311
Notable stops:
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
Time Zone: MDT

cgr · « **Reply #136 on:** July 25, 2024, 02:23:09 AM »

Day 40: Wednesday/ July 24

States: South Dakota
Miles driven: 117
Total trip miles to date: 7,428
Notable stops:
Wind Cave National Park
Custer State Park
Mt. Rushmore
Time Zone: MDT

Wind Cave National Park- the Caves are closed through November. We saw: bison, praire dogs, whitetail deer.

Custer State Park: Wildlife Loop & Needles Highway
We saw: bison, praire dogs, burros.

Mt. Rushmore

Young explorer · « **Reply #137 on:** July 25, 2024, 12:29:11 PM »

Quote from: cgr on July 23, 2024, 03:09:57 PM

Day 38: Monday/ July 22

We went completely off script yesterday and decided to take a detour through Yellowstone to drive through Lamar Valley. Part of our goal in driving through was to finally see pronghorn (the only large animal in the parks that we did not see on our last visit) but unfortunately we were once again unsuccessful... it was still a great drive with tons of wildlife.

Grand Teton National Park- the wildfire haze was intense and lowered the beauty of the park by 80%... according to a park ranger haze like this is standard for the summer months. For comparison:

I would definitely recommend early June over July. No crowds. Great wildlife (I guess that's hit or miss). No haze.

I guess you missed the action on Tuesday at the Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion https://youtu.be/YdTi6rpnNuM?si=DKchoWngp1HIW54c

I went last year last week of Aug and had no crowds and no haze BH!

cgr · « **Reply #138 on:** July 25, 2024, 12:38:36 PM »

Quote from: Young explorer on July 25, 2024, 12:29:11 PM

I guess you missed the action on Tuesday at the Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion https://youtu.be/YdTi6rpnNuM?si=DKchoWngp1HIW54c

Yes, thankfully. My husband was a bit put out but I know my first thought would've been that the volcano is active again...

Quote from: Young explorer on July 25, 2024, 12:29:11 PM

I went last year last week of Aug and had no crowds and no haze BH!

Beautiful!

cgr · « **Reply #139 on:** July 25, 2024, 01:05:15 PM »

After 41 days we have finally spotted license plates of all 48 contiguous states + Alaska!