09/24 - Lake Powell 2011

Indeed, and we are all in favor of a caravan. The only question for us is dates, we may not overlap much with the main group, as we are probably going to come earlier in the month. Also, bear in mind, we launch at Bullfrog not Wahweap.

Usual stops are all Walmart parking lots. The deal is, we made different stops on the way down and way back, some constrained by time lost to two flat tires! Usually cover about 400 miles a day, have done as much as 500 but that is a long day pulling a trailer.

You are going to get to Utah and south of Salt Lake City from Washington State pretty easily, just look at any atlas (the Walmart Rand McNally atlas for $7 is a great buy). East on I-90 to Ellensburg, south on I-82 through Yakima to I-84 in Oregon, east on I-84 through Idaho to Utah, south on I-15 to Spanish Fork, east on Utah 6 to Price. The Price, UT, route is head and shoulder above the others. From Price to Green River on Utah 6, then east on I-70 a very short distance to Utah 24, south on Utah 24 through Hanksville to Utah 276 to Bullfrog.

There are a lot of Walmarts all along this route, it just depends on how far you want to go in any one day. We will dig out the details and list all the Walmarts we have stayed in either coming or going.





Dreamer":27p6uu5t said:
Merv,

I think Pat Anderson has documented his favorite route to LP, complete with Wally World stops and trailer repair facilities :sad Maybe he'll chime in here with some info.

This could be a great wrap-up of Summer.
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I'm just going to follow that bright shining light on top of Roger's boat :lol:

Thanks Pat. Real world experience is helpful. My biggest bug is usually finding gas (diesel) stations that I can get into without crushing things.

M
 
Hi Amanda, these are boaterhomes when on the road. best of all worlds comforts of home when traveling and then into the water and more exploring.
 
Pat Anderson":237w6c3l said:
East on I-90 to Ellensburg, south on I-82 through Yakima to I-84 in Oregon
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For years, I have been shaving an hour off this route with an easy shortcut. Get off I-82 at Prosser and follow 221 south to Paterson, then parallel the Columbia on 14 back to 82 just before the bridge over to Umatilla, OR. There is a short, steep grade out of Prosser to the plateau, but I have no problems pulling the Tom Cat up at 50 mph, or engine-braking on the way back.

This route takes you right past the Columbia Crest winery, but I have never stopped there.

Warren
 
When I brought my C-Dory back from Sportcraft in Oregon I spent one nite in a motel and 2 nights at KOA's (very noisy). It never occurred to me to just park at a Walmart. Thanks for the notion. I will use it when I travel from my home in Arizona to Lake Powell next September.
Amanda
 
jacuthbert":341nr99a said:
When I brought my C-Dory back from Sportcraft in Oregon I spent one nite in a motel and 2 nights at KOA's (very noisy). It never occurred to me to just park at a Walmart. Thanks for the notion. I will use it when I travel from my home in Arizona to Lake Powell next September.
Amanda
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Be advised that not all Wal-Marts allow overnight parking; some local communities do not allow that. Look for "No Overnight Parking" signs in the lot, and if you don't see them, it's a good idea to check in with Customer Service in the store. Then, be sure to buy something while in there.

Plenty of discussion out there...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/national/11rv.html

http://rvtravel.com/blog/boondocking/20 ... rking.html

http://www.roamingtimes.com/walmart/index.aspx

http://ezinearticles.com/?Small-RV---Ti ... id=2764194

Lots of people just pull in and don't ask. Be a "good neighbor" and see what any particular store's policy is.
 
I was told that Walmart sells an Atlas of the US that includes all of the store locations, and whether or not the stores allow camping. I have not checked it out to verify.
 
Yes, we call it "Camp Walmart." Just look along the edge of MOST Walmart parking lots any evening, you will see the RVs - and occasionally a C-Dory or two. There are only a handful of Walmarts that do not allow RV / Boaterhome parking. They are usually ones with residential neighborhoods right across the street, which if you check the usual Walmart is fairly atypical.

It is a good deal for us, and good deal for them - we always go in and spend money!

jacuthbert":ptyo9b00 said:
Am I to understand that you guys park in Walmart parking lots and stay overnight in your C-Dory when you are on long haul trips?
Amanda
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Yes, we do this too. Jim on Laurna Jo showed us this shortcut. I don't think the Patterson route saves an hour, but it is a few miles shorter. I just omitted it in the interest of simplicity.

Doryman":1r8qwo0k said:
Pat Anderson":1r8qwo0k said:
East on I-90 to Ellensburg, south on I-82 through Yakima to I-84 in Oregon
Click to expand...
For years, I have been shaving an hour off this route with an easy shortcut. Get off I-82 at Prosser and follow 221 south to Paterson, then parallel the Columbia on 14 back to 82 just before the bridge over to Umatilla, OR. There is a short, steep grade out of Prosser to the plateau, but I have no problems pulling the Tom Cat up at 50 mph, or engine-braking on the way back.

This route takes you right past the Columbia Crest winery, but I have never stopped there.

Warren
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Mike George and Kerri On are signed up and looking forward to the trip. I'm thinking a few weeks in Sedona after the Lake. Any suggestions on Lake Powell places to park rigs? And any ideas in Sedona for storage for a couple or three weeks? Need some time in the desert, George
 
George...plenty of room for rig parking at the ramps. I don't think I would try to store down in Sedona...if you could find storage it would be expensive. Many storage places in the Page area...also check out Bigwater...just west of Page. Nice indoor storage there that friends use.

Jeff...I thought that ranger was great too...but this time you gotta wear the hat!
 
Nauti-Gal would like to join up with all of you at Oak Canyon this year at Lake Powell. Please put us on your list . Thank You
 
Norm,

I believe you need to self-register for the "Event Signups."

It's pretty simple. You just click on Event Signups, then choose the one you want (ie. Powell) and it gives you the option to Join. ...and you're onboard

Best,
Casey
 
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