No question…there aren’t lodges in ALL of the parks.
But there are also NOT bathrooms near all of the campsites in the campgrounds either.
For me…the bathroom issue would be the deal breaker. I am just too old to,get up in the middle of the night and schlep to the nearest bathroom in the dark with a flashlight.
I did that in my 20’s but not now!
Yea, and some folks get up multiple times in a nite–trudging to a strange bathroom in an unfamiliar place in a dark area is an invitation for an accident.
Loving all of the info! H and I are planning a Western US NP trip in two years when he retires. We are alloting at least four weeks and maybe 6. We are in the process of routing the trip and then we will tackle transportation and sleeping arrangements. We usually drive our car and do inexpensive hotels when visiting NP. Last year we drove to Montana and stopped at Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, Sturgis and Rapid City. Once in Montana we stayed at a great high end Dude Ranch!Had a blast! Keep the info flowing!
Back in the Stone Age, I did the same trip…6 weeks worth…with two friends. We camped most of the time but did have some friends along the way. We left from Ohio, and went to Chicago, then I think Madison. Then to the Badlands, Black Hills, Mitchell SD to see the Corn Palace, Wall Drug, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Crater Lake…then drove to Oregon…and into CA…went to Sequoia, Redwoods, Yosemite, then to Disneyland, then spent a few days in Long Beach.
Then went home by way of Death Valley. South rim of,the Grand Canyon…and a LOT of driving so,we could have GOOD steaks in Oklahoma.
Then drove to…New Hampshire.
We had three drivers, however…and that made those LONG LONG drives possible!
It was a fabulous trip…but like I said…I was in my 20’s.
DH says to remind anyone…no private vehicles are allowed in Yosemite…they shuttle people in and out. He thinks.
That’s why we are leaning towards a high-roofed van with a queen platform bed, storage, manual pump operated sink, simple potty. Easy peasy - buy van, insulate, build bed, add storage shelves… I can’t wait!!!
Traveled across the country twice with a pop-up, probably 40 nights total on the two trips. We could set up in 30 minutes. Buy a $70 Anderson Leveler and you are level in minutes. A level pop-up is far easier to set-up. Our family set up like a NASCAR pit crew. I wouldn’t want to do it with a preschooler but it was fine with preteen/teens who pitched in.
Drove to San Diego (I-5) and to Montana (I-90) back in the good old days. Camped in a tent at various KOAs. During one such trip, Mr. drowned his only pair of sunglasses in the ocean near LA, so I had to drive all the way back to Seattle! Really enjoyed the scenery in Montana. While crossing Idaho, stopped in Wallace, a silver mining town where a volcano disaster movie was filmed… (still have the silver plated birch leaf we bought there). Enjoyed a tour of the Lewis and Clark Caverns in Montana.