We are planning a trip from Ohio to LA, but we are in the dreaming stage. We would travel to LA Dec/Jan and return late March, so we plan to take the southern route through Texas/New Mexico/Arizona.
First question is in regards to tolls in Texas. Are there any reasonable and warm (above 50) routes that do not include tolls or should we purchase yet another toll pass?
Second question, any recommendations regarding stops on the way or cautions to consider? We are life-long Midwesterners.
thanks!
joan
I have a couple of suggestions:
Along the way, Sedona, Arizona is magical. All of the USFS campgrounds are closed during that period, but there is a private RV park, Rancho Sedona, near the center of town that is open year round.
The Grand Canyon shouldn't be missed. The main RV campground, Trailer Village is a parking lot, but there aren't any other choices inside the park.
Others National Parks in the area are Zion and Bryce, but watch the weather- you could get snowed in. And of course there is also Las Vegas- lots of RV parks, take your pick. You can even overnight in most casino lots.
In the greater LA area, a very nice destination RV park is Newport Dunes in Newport Beach, Ca. It is a very high end RV park with sites that surround a lagoon off of Newport Harbor. From there you can branch out and see the stuff in Orange County like Disney Land. It is a little far to the LA stuff though.
David
The deserts out here, like Joshua tree or Borrego springs, are really nice in the winter, but not technically in LA. I guess it depends on how far away from civilization you want to be. Most of the campgrounds within 50-75 miles of LA are up in the mountains a bit, which can be really pretty, but cold. LA "cold" might mean 35-40 degrees at night. The deserts have great sunsets.
Quote from: @catmanriff" source="/post/26116/thread" timestamp="1480361407The deserts out here, like Joshua tree or Borrego springs, are really nice in the winter, but not technically in LA. I guess it depends on how far away from civilization you want to be. Most of the campgrounds within 50-75 miles of LA are up in the mountains a bit, which can be really pretty, but cold. LA "cold" might mean 35-40 degrees at night. The deserts have great sunsets.
Thanks! Yes, we will be all over Southern California for 6 weeks and not really near L.A. much at all. In fact, we will be in Borrego-Anza State Park and surrounding area for part of our visit, as well as Desert Hot Springs, San Clemente Beach, and the Santa Barbara areas as well. Really looking forward to it!
For such a trip, it would be worth looking at the classic Route 66...eh...route.
[quote timestamp="1480453981" author="@gbpack" source="/post/26134/thread"][quote source="/post/26116/thread" author="@catmanriff" timestamp="1480361407"]The deserts out here, like Joshua tree or Borrego springs, are really nice in the winter, but not technically in LA. I guess it depends on how far away from civilization you want to be. Most of the campgrounds within 50-75 miles of LA are up in the mountains a bit, which can be really pretty, but cold. LA "cold" might mean 35-40 degrees at night. The deserts have great sunsets.
[/quote] Thanks! Yes, we will be all over Southern California for 6 weeks and not really near L.A. much at all. In fact, we will be in Borrego-Anza State Park and surrounding area for part of our visit, as well as Desert Hot Springs, San Clemente Beach, and the Santa Barbara areas as well. Really looking forward to it![/quote]I enjoyed the Borrego palm canyon campground but we stayed in the outside more primitive loop without hookups. Nice clean place, good showers, great views, quaint little town.