This is a 3 week cross country road trip from Minnesota to Yellowstone and the Tetons, Greak Salt Lake, across the NV desert, reaching California, heading up the coast before heading back home via OR, ID, MT and ND.
Numbered markers are places we are stopping for a day or a few. Interest points are places we will explore along the way.
Red Sand Lake Rd NW, Brainerd, Minnesota United States
Gardiner
Reserved. Will need to get up the next morning to snag a tent site for the next two nights before we head out on some hikes.
This is really just a placeholder. I can't add destinations in Yellowstone and the GT because the roads are closed due to snow at the moment, so no map allows me to route on them. Jackson is a good map marker for the rest of the trip. (Ignore the route coming through Idaho - we will drive through the park).
Plan two days of hikes in the Tetons. (20th and 21th). Also need to figure out campsites for these days.
Less than 3 hour drive from Jackson to the Refuge. Willard Bay is less than 7 minutes away.
Arrive 22nd, Depart 23rd
1040 West 3600 South, Perry, UT, US
Brigham City / Perry South KOA
Book With KOA
Click to find bookable tours and activities here
4 options for camping around Salt Lake. Weirdly, I'm leaning towards the KOA or the county park. Willard is right next to the highway. Antelope apparently has no-see-ums that are unfazed by bug spray. The KOA is close to the second bird refuge and is on our way.
We will stop here and visit Temple Square before leaving Salt Lake City. Hope to be on the road no later than 1 pm!
Gotta look at something as we're driving for miles and miles and miles. Travel day is June 24! On our way to California!
Rye Patch or Wilson Reservoir Rec will most likely be our stopping place for the day, unless we want to keep driving. Gets us closer to Monterey!
Salinas is the home of John Steinbeck with the National Steinbeck center. Soledad, setting for Of Mice and Men is just down the road. Cannery Row is 17 minutes away in Monterey. Nothing fancy here, but the hotel does have a laundry, appears to be rated well for cleanliness, and is the cheapest room in Salinas at the moment.
Hotel is booked for check in 23 (as a contingency - we will cancel and expect to arrive on the 24th, depart 26th). Will be our base in Monterey before heading up the coast for beach camping.
