“Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies
It’s time to leave this town, it’s time to steal away
Let’s go get lost anywhere in the U.S.A…”
Chili Peppers aside, I recently caved and purchased a RT flight to Denver. I’ve been extremely patient during a trying 2020, and it was time to nurture the mental health with a vacation (and first of the year, thank you very much). I felt semi-confident that the flight experience would be decent thanks to research showing not just how clean aircrafts are, but that passengers face minimal risk of exposure while traveling. And fortunately, traveling was relatively comfortable and normal. I’ll wear the mandatory mask and swim in a tub of hand sanitizer all day if it protects me and others – no brainer.
What evolved into a very loosely-planned road trip with two great friends was everything I needed and more. Throughout this post, I’ll share our route, itinerary, and some tips learned along the way.
Day 1: Fly to Denver, pick up our “Fish Tank,” and drive north to Cody, Wyoming where we got some shut eye in a basic motel. This location allowed for quicker access to the Northeast Yellowstone entrance the following day.
Tip: a solid playlist is crucial for a long roadtrip. Between the three of us, we had some serious mood music and killer jams. Here is my Spotify playlist, appropriately titled ‘Hindsight is 2020.’
Day 2: Yellowstone National Park; first night sleeping in the van, roadside in Bridger-Teton National Forest.
This hydrothermal wonderland is a perfect drive-thru park (versus being a hiking destination) and it’s incredible! We stopped at Mammoth Hot Spring, Artist Paint Pots, Grand Prismatic, and Old Faithful geyser. Bonus: the park is full of bison!
Tip: You need at least two days to see all of Yellowstone. If, like us, your time is limited to a single day, figure out your route in advance to ensure you see the best of the park.
Tip: If you’ll be visiting up to three national parks on your vacation (or over the next 12 months), buy an America the Beautiful pass. You’ll save money and it’s good for a full year.
Day 3: Grand Teton National Park; sleep at Gros Ventre campground.
We saw the start of fall in the Tetons (how many times can one say ‘wow’ in a day?), and then hiked 7.5 miles around the entirety of Jenny Lake. The highlight of the day – and maybe of the trip (!) – was the bison stampede we witnessed while off for a sunset drive through Mormon Row that evening.
Tip: to score a spot in the “first-come first-serve” campgrounds, you need to show up before 9AM (and preferably way earlier during peak season). Once you’re “in,” you can leave with your vehicle for the day, with the comfort of knowing you have a secure place to sleep that night.
Tip: you miiiight want to buy bear spray if you’re spending a lot of time outside in this part of the country. Peace of mind, if nothing else. Good call, Jess!
Day 4: Jackson, WY and Salt Lake City, UT; hosted by my former roommate.
Jackson is a wonderful little town. An old high school friend (who happened to previously live there) saw that I was around and ordered us a round of drinks on him – from afar! The bloody mary’s with a rib did not disappoint.
We then continued south to SLC for the night where Allie and Blake fed us an awesome dinner and let us shower 😀 Their baby Atlas is pure joy and it was really nice to spend some time together.
Day 5: Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon, UT and Moab, UT; sleep at Slickrock RV park.
We made our way to a great slot canyon, where we hiked, climbed, and took artsy pictures. The temperatures had increased significantly from those in the Tetons, so the ample shade the canyon provided was clutch.
Our evening was spent in the cute town of Moab, which serves as a base for those exploring Arches and other nearby parks. We enjoyed a yummy Mexican dinner and did some souvenir shopping before hitting the hay.
Day 6: Arches National Park; sleep at Big Bend first-come first-serve campsite.
After securing our fantastic campsite for the night, we set off for Dead Horse Point State Park. While basking in the sunshine at the overlook, I found myself in a meditative trance. It was truly glorious.
We then entered Arches National Park, stopping for some wild rock formations before hiking Delicate Arch (which is perhaps the most famous rock in the park). While the hike is only 3 miles RT, it’s brutal in the midday sun since you’re scaling up a steep rock face with no shade. But, as is usually the case, the views were totally worth it.
That evening we grilled by the campfire and had a blast under the stars. It was my turn to sleep in the pop top, and there was nothing better than waking up next to the Colorado River!
Tip: Do not hike Delicate Arch midday. We hiked it around 2PM in early October and it was still insanely warm (and dehydrating).
Day 7: Arches National Park, UT and Glenwood Springs, CO; sleep at hotel.
We re-entered Arches and explored Double Arch before cooking a hot breakfast roadside in the park. What a sweet morning.
The rest of the day was spent en route to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, which was completely unplanned. We decided it was time for showers and comfortable beds, so opted to book a hotel for the night. We then went downtown for a delicious Italian dinner and cocktails. Glenwood Springs was a pleasant surprise!
Tip: Should you find yourself in GS, make a reservation at one of the local hot spring spas. Unfortunately, they were all booked up since this stop was spontaneous, but I hear these are a unique and special way to spend some of your time in this part of the state.
Day 8: Vail, Idaho Springs, and Boulder, CO; sleep in the Boulder Canyon.
Another completely unplanned day! We needed to head east toward Denver, so our first stop was in Vail. A bit bougie for our liking, we walked around with coffees before resuming our journey on Hwy 70.
We then ventured high in elevation to hike Saint Mary’s Glacier, which is a semi-permanent snow field in the Arapaho National Forest. We shopped and explored the adorable hippie town of Idaho Springs afterward.
And finally, we made our way to Boulder where we met friends for dinner. It was a bit of a scramble trying to find last minute camping, so we ended up sleeping roadside in the Boulder Canyon.
Tip: While the beauty of a campervan is having the ability to sleep anywhere, if you want an official campsite (which often times have toilets and other facilities), you’ll need to book your lodging in advance – ESPECIALLY on a fall weekend in Colorado. Oops!
Day 9: Denver to fly home.
After sharing our leftover food with homeless folks in Boulder, we returned the Fish Tank and departed for the airport. With Rachel returning to LA, and Jess moving to Philly, I know it will be a while before we’re together again. We truly had the best girls’ road trip and it provided the healing that we all needed thanks to a brutal 2020.
Important things to consider for a road trip holiday:
Choose your travel buddies carefully. This is perhaps the most important consideration of all. Rach and Jess were ideal road trip partners because collectively, we’re a very laid back group, fine with getting a bit dirty, and have similar interests as far as music, food, and photography.
Reliable transportation. If much of your vacation is to be spent on wheels, the ride needs to be safe! We booked our van through Escape Campervans, and very much enjoyed the experience (both the vehicle and customer service).
Research your stops in advance but remain flexible. Although we were open to whatever, we identified our “must see” stops before the trip started. I’d rather have a general framework to plan around, versus spending my limited travel time scouring the internet through my phone.
Solicit input from all participants. You want all parties to feel happy? Make sure they feel heard! Let everyone contribute as much or little as they want. This creates agenda variety and reduces complaining later on 😉
Pack light but bring essentials. I’ll always preach that LESS IS MORE. However, don’t be like me (where I always forget something important). My forgotten essentials this time included a headlamp and a winter coat. When will I learn!?
Contact area friends. One of my favorite things to do before a trip is to contact friends in the area – not only do they usually provide helpful tips, sometimes they offer you a bed, shower, or meal. Shout out to Harrison, Allie, Adam, Hayley, and Melinda for all of your recommendations, company, and/or hospitality along the way!
What else is important to you on a road trip? Snacks!? Comment below!
