My work has graciously approved me to work remotely from a camper van and I'm planning to head out from Arkansas sometime in June. I've been out west 6-8 times but the last trip was as a teenager 16 years ago so I'm looking forward to seeing everything as an adult.

Rough plan is to take 3-4 weeks to get to southern California through southern Colorado and Arizona. 2-3 weeks with friends and family there then up and through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming then either back through the Dakotas or back over to Utah.

I have about every app there is for RV and boon docking locations but I'd trust recommendations from here more than most of the app reviews. Electric and water hookups aren't a must as I'll be able to go 4-5 days on solar and generator but cell coverage is a must during the work week.

Any recommendations or hidden gems would be appreciated.

Edit to add I'll be in a 1990 Chevy Astro Tiger Provan. I'll have ~22gal of water, solar with ~300aH of batteries and a small portable generator so 4-5 days without any sort of hookups is doable but having cell phone reception for hotspot during the week will be a must.

This one isn't mine but it gives you an idea.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kJu3PM]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sureshot45,

For a refreshing pause, stop at Butterfield RV Resort in Benson AZ. Restock and resupply (grocery store next door, Walmart 1 block away). Wifi available. The only RV Resort with its own Observatory (16 Inch telescope). www.rv-resort.com

Good cellular service. Darn good water too.

The valley between the Sawtooth and White Cloud mountains, near Stanley Idaho, is amazingly beautiful. Drive up through Sun Valley to get there. Lots of great campsites in that valley along the Salmon river.

What kind of vehicle will you be taking?
Also, what is your connectivity needs?

You want to go to Oregon from southern California? Take US 395 north starting in Hesperia, CA. There is about 200 miles of desert scenery, and starting in Bishop up to the NV border is the eastern Sierra Nevada, including Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, the eastern entrance to Yosemite near Lee Vining, Mono Lake, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. (The latter probably won't have any cell coverage, and the road may not be suitable for the really large RVs.) East of the 395 corridor is Death Valley, but that will be very hot in June.

the Canyon, Arches, Bryce, Lake Havasu...all good stuff

and Bensen is a good stopping point to provision up. Also, if in NM, check out the small town called Demming - they have a great restaurant there called the Adobe Deli Steakhouse on Lewis Flats Road

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
What kind of vehicle will you be taking?
Also, what is your connectivity needs?

details added at the bottom of original post

If you come through the Walsenburg area, let me know. You can camp on my land for free if you need, or, there are a couple of RV parks around the area. Of course, lunch or drinks are on me.

Taking a drive through the Highway of Legends (Hwy 12) is a must around here. Over La Veta pass, into the San Luis Valley, you can goto the Great Sand Dunes. Further west is Durango, and the old Indian pueblos.

Lots of sightseeing to do in the area, but most are a good drive away.

Send me an email if you need any specifics.

Gouldings campground in Monument Valley UT.

A nice campground surrounded by magnificent scenery

If you are planning on taking the 10 or 8 to SoCal, then when you get into AZ I recommend camping at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. You’ll have plenty of options for activities and fairly close destinations to visit (Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Flagstaff, and even Prescott).

I was in Big Bend NP in November and was surprised that there was cell service there. My prior trips there it was not available.

West in quotes? Do you think this region of the country is some sort of subjective construct?

Wait! Maybe it’s because you’re headed to California

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
West in quotes? Do you think this region of the country is some sort of subjective construct?

Wait! Maybe it’s because you’re headed to California

I really had to think about it but yes. In some circles anything past the Mississippi is the West in which case I'm already where I'm planning to go.

The south end of CO is great.

Take the road from La Junta to Durango. Along the way there are places to camp and fly fish. Park in Durango, take the Durango to Silverton RR for a round trip up through the old mining RR country.

From Durango you can head to Farmington NM and on to AZ.

Wyoming; Town of Cody. Also Thermopolis - head in to there from the South down Wind River Canyon - it is the most beautiful drive I have EVER done.

Don't miss Yellowstone or Devils Tower.

SD, do the monuments and the badlands. And, don't miss the Crazy Horse Monument in process.

I'm sure there is more that I off hand can't recall but that should get you thinking.

Google ... Bob Wells Vanlife ... he has a ton of information both written and video about camping/living in a van. Well worth the time to research both for the information and where to van camp in what cities.

Bob Wells was also in the movie Nomadland.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
You want to go to Oregon from southern California? Take US 395 north starting in Hesperia, CA. There is about 200 miles of desert scenery, and starting in Bishop up to the NV border is the eastern Sierra Nevada, including Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, the eastern entrance to Yosemite near Lee Vining, Mono Lake, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. (The latter probably won't have any cell coverage, and the road may not be suitable for the really large RVs.) East of the 395 corridor is Death Valley, but that will be very hot in June.

395 is one of my all-time favorite driving routes as you're driving along the eastern wall of the Sierra's, right up against a number of 14,000ft peaks. The area between Bridgeport to Lone Pine is my favorite stretch, particularly driving Southbound (which would my recommended direction, easier on the engine and trany), right before you get to Mammoth Lakes, you drive right towards Mt Morrison, known as the Eiger of the Sierras...just a fantastic view. Bishop is the big town for markets, any repairs and a hot shower, Mammoth Lakes is the major resort-area, June Lake is the more toned-down resort spot. Mono Lake is a photogenic high-desert lake with a unique history, Owens Lake further south also has a dubious history, Lone Pine is in the shadow of Mt Whitney, highest point in the lower-48. Manzanar Internment Camp sits in-between Lone Pine and Independence, a very sobering reminder from WWII.

If you're headed West...just pull up a map of National Parks, Monuments and Historic Sites, there's enough there to fill several year's worth of travel itineraries. Around each of the National Parks is usually BLM land where you can camp virtually anywhere along with many National Forests, along with a satellite of small towns and private camping spots that support the parks.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
What kind of vehicle will you be taking?
Also, what is your connectivity needs?

Thanks for filling in the blanks.
We almost bought one of the Tigers a few years ago. Nice set up.
There are so many places to stay I’ll let others answer that but 3 comments I’ll add:

1. Get the iOverlander app. It’s free and a crowd sourced listing of places to stay off the grid, virtually all over the world. It’s great for finding out of the way places to boondock for a few days.
2. If your funds allow get a Weboost cell phone range extender. They’re about $500 but they work very well. On our 10 week trip to Alaska from VA last year my wife continued to work while I drove. Once at a campsite we used the truckers antenna to increase the range and were happy with the results. It will not create a signal out of thin air but if you have one bar it will bump it to 3 or so.
3. If you’re over 62 get the lifetime national park pass. It’s $80 and gets you free entrance to all National Parks, Monuments etc. and gives you a 50% discount on camping there as well. Best $80 you can spend.

If you're looking for perhaps the most remote place in the west, might I recommend Blue Notch at Lake Powell. There isn't an address, so here are the coordinates:

37.72801398182232, -110.42969775474944

If you had some paddle boards or kayaks, and you don't want to see anybody (off the lake), this is the place. You get there by taking 206A off of UT Hwy 95 between Blanding, UT and Hanksville, UT. Basically between Natural Bridges National Monument and Hite Crossing Bridge, UT, then take 206A west until you see the lake. The road will sort of end first and you'll be driving through the desert. For the very adventurous and the "leave me the hell alone" type.

If you need cell coverage, you'd better schedule this one for the weekend. Like I said, it's remote.

Not all the way West - but the campsites at Big Sandy, Wind Rivers WY are spectacular.

You might want to check out the coverage maps for your cell phone. A lot of the west is not covered by various cell companies. For instance, T-Mobile and Verizon are pretty much useless in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento. And much of the interior of Nevada has no cell coverage at all.