Help me pick a spring break destination

[robinb]

We're renting a campervan. I don't tent camp, like at all, ever. But I love van camping. My girls and I traveled for almost 6 weeks in my DIY minivan-camper conversion in 2019 and spent 3 weeks in a rented campervan in Alaska this past summer. And I have a credit from a pandemic-cancelled trip with a campervan rental company that has locations all over the lower 48, so I'm looking at the possibilities for a spring break meetup - DD13 & I escaping Michigan winter, DD20 flying in from San Francisco to join us.

That sounds really cool! Can you share where you are renting your van from?

 

[Lumpy1106]

We did Zion/Bryce for spring break a few years ago and LOVED it. Weather was nice in Zion - 70-80 all week, then a storm rolled in and it cooled down. We were headed to Bryce that day anyway, but on the way we noticed it's at about 7500 ft elevation - HEY! We'll probably see snow! We did - it was awesome. The drive was easy. Hiking the Queens trail with 2-3 inches of freshly fallen snow was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. Crowds are not bad for Spring Break - Summer gets kinda crazy. Jumping off for Zion-Bryce is probably a little easier from Las Vegas than it is from Salt Lake. From Salt Lake you probably want to head north to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Those are likely more snowy than Zion/Bryce.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Bureau of Land Management. They operate a lot of public lands, many with camping.

Thank you, that makes sense. I grew up camping all over the US, but was not familiar with this.

All I could think of was Black Lives Matter, and that’s what came up on Google.

 

[sarah4770]

I know. You look at a map, and it doesn’t look that far, but its far. Everything in the areas OP posted is just beautiful it’s just so hard to narrow it down to only a week.

 

[Kestryl]

We did a trip to the Grand Canyon in October and flew into Phoenix. We weren’t road tripping (we based in Flagstaff), but I could easily see how it would be possible. In a week, we covered the south rim of the Grand Canyon 2 days), Sunset Crater, Wupatki, Montezuma Castle and Well, Tuzigoot, and the Petrified Forest. All of these were covered with the NP pass. The Petrified Forest was actually a surprise highlight- I’m not sure what I expected, but I was surprised at the openness and total lack of people. You really are free to explore and go off trails.

We did hit up Sedona on the way back to Phoenix but found the area unbearably crowded. It was impossible to find legal parking at any of the main hike points and police had barricaded several roads (presumably due to filled lots at trailheads). Maybe it was just bad timing on our part.

 

[lisaviolet]

I voted for LA. But screwed up as I was thinking of a trip to Santa Catalina Island, which I just adore.
You ask for a road trip and I give you an island that does not accept a vehicle!

But there are so many places to see within driving distance in all directions of Los Angeles. San Diego, Big Bear, Santa Barbara......

And quite a few National Parks in driving distance -

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/travel/national-parks-within-driving-distance-of-la

 

[lisaviolet]

My girls and I traveled for almost 6 weeks in my DIY minivan-camper conversion in 2019 and spent 3 weeks in a rented campervan in Alaska this past summer.

What wonderful memories.

 

[Cheburashka]

We'll have a week for a road trip, starting from any of the cities in the poll. It has to be one of those specific cities because the impetus for the trip is using up a travel credit from a cancelled trip earlier in the pandemic, so we'll be starting from one of the places where the company has a rental location. "Other" is not an option.

The parameters: not too cold or snowy, decent hiking/outdoors opportunities, and enough interesting places to explore to fill a week-long loop in the general area. Bonus points for national parks, since I have my annual pass already, and places with good BLM, state park or dispersed camping availability.

Phoenix. It's within driving distance of the Grand Canyon and Gila National Forest. And it has mild winter weather.

 

[Colleen27]

That sounds really cool! Can you share where you are renting your van from?

Escape Campervans. We haven't used them before but we've seen enough of them around the national parks out west that I wanted to give them a try.

Thank you, that makes sense. I grew up camping all over the US, but was not familiar with this.

All I could think of was Black Lives Matter, and that’s what came up on Google.

I really should know to specify that by now, because it is a misunderstanding that has come up before online and IRL.

 

[Kittyblue]

If you go to Vegas, Valley of Fire is about an hour away and has some good hikes.

 

[anniemae]

Phoenix. It's within driving distance of the Grand Canyon and Gila National Forest. And it has mild winter weather.

Yes, I would do this!

 

[MillauFr]

Vegas is loads of fun. Our family enjoys our trips there.

 

[izzy]

Another vote for Phoenix. The weather should be nice that time of year. And definitely a side trip to Sedona, one of my favorite places in the world.

 

[mommabo]

Is anyone a baseball fan? Phoenix also has spring training for many MLB clubs during February and March. I’m not a sports fan, but it’s quite the draw for many people. As for Sedona, yes it gets crowded with tourists. Since you’re in a camper van, you can scoot a bit further north to one of the many Oak Creek camping grounds. Easy enough to visit Sedona for a short while, but stay away from the hustle and bustle.

 

[monsterkitty]

March is Denver's snowiest month. Our best storms have always been the last week/ week and a half of March. One year we had the entire week before Spring break off due to snow.

We've done Vegas for Spring Break and would do it again.