Help with some trip planning?

[msh441]

We are planning our first muli-week trip in the Airstream. My wife, myself, two kids (9 & 11) and our dog.

The basics are in place: a loop around the northwest United States. Specifically starting and ending in the Seattle area. The general idea is to pass through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, back across southern Idaho, across Oregon and up the coast back to Seattle.

Some things are in stone (Yellowstone dates and Fort Stevens, OR dates)... but other stretches are flexible. Here's the general idea:

Leave Thursday 6/20 TBD? (make time getting to Montana and hit a rest stop the night of 6/20?)
6/21: Lewis & Clark Caverns Virginia City TBD?
6/22-23: Yellowstone (Bridge Bay)
6/24-26: Wyoming (Bufalo Bill)*
6/27-28: Thermopolis (Eagle RV)*
6/29-30: Tetons TBD?
7/1: Idaho/Oregon TBD?
7/2: Idaho/Oregon TBD?
7/3: Oregon TBD?
7/4-6: Fort Stevens
7/7: Home

TBD?='to be determined'. All listed dates are the 'night of'. So basically, were wondering about an easy sleepover the first night into Montana... Buffalo Bill and Thermopolis are optional (but we're leaning towards those places)... then the the nights of the 29th through the 3rd (spanning Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon).

Any recommendations on routes to take or not, places to stay or avoid, things to do or pass on while traveling with the family would all be appreciated.

[Phoenix]

Some suggestions for a campground in West Yellowstone, near Yellowstone National Park:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...tml#post827602

Madison Arm Resort (West Yellowstone, MT) - Campground Reviews - TripAdvisor

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Related posts:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f38/...tml#post973779

[polarlyse]

Without reservations Yellowstone NP campgrounds are a maybe at best. At the entrance they can tell you availability. If full, right outside W. Yellowstone there are several Nat. Forest campgrounds. Very nice. Very cheap. No water on site ( but nearby ), elect. on many ( maybe all ) sites. These are only 5 min from the West entrance to YNP.

[Len n Jeanne]

If you are traveling with children who like the water and your route takes you north on I-90 through Coeur d'Alene, we've enjoyed staying at the Blackwell Island RV park. It has a swimming beach and canoe rentals, plus Coeur d'Alene has a large lake and fun main street for shopping or restaurants. There is also a Camping World and an actual actual Airstream dealer further west towards Spokane (just in case...)

In Wyoming, the Tetons are well worth it. Colter Bay CG doesn't take reservations but it is big enough that it doesn't much fill up. You might stay a couple of nights if your kids are willing to do some hiking or would enjoy a concession boat ride. The Wind Rivers are beautiful mountains, but I don't know how close you can get in with a trailer, perhaps worth an inquiry.

If your Yellowstone dates and some thereafter are set in stone, it looks like you've already got revs, which is good for this busy time of year. You could easily spend several days in Yellowstone. It's a big park with lots to see, and the drives between the most popular attractions can take a while, at 40 MPH posted speed limits! (Not to mention delays while the drivers ahead of you stop interminably on the road to view wildlife.) Apparently there is often room available at the non-revs. Mammoth Spgs CG or at RV parks just north of there. Most of the neat thermal features are on the west side of the park. Just be prepared for crowds, wherever you go!

If your route takes you on I-84 there is a nice stop-over state park CG called Farewell Bend near the Idaho border.