Tom's National Park Adventure

OK, i guess its time to stop talking about doing this and actually do it.

Many years ago I wrote a blog where I shared my activities while driving big trucks all over the country. I posted pictures and let my family and friends know where I was in the world at any given time. My brother in law, Gary Buresh, reminded me that I had done this before and suggested that I do it again while on this trip. So. if the blog ends up being extremely tedious …… you can blame Gary!

This trip will be the first of many that I will do in an effort to obtain a stamp in my “Passport To Your National Parks” for every National Park currently in existence in the United States of America. The inspiration behind this goal comes from my late wife’s excitement to accomplish this feat. Diane and I were introduced to the Passport by some dear friends we made along our way on our last big trip where we visited five National Parks in Arkansas, Texas and New Mexico. We visited Jeff and John in August of last year while out seeing our son Logan and his soon to be wife Alex. Diane was introduced to the “Passport” by Jeff and was instantly hooked on the idea of visiting every park. Unfortunately Covid came into our life and I lost Diane in October of last year.

It is my intention to complete what Diane and I had started to do. I can think of no better way to honor her memory. I am sending the address to this blog to family and friends who have requested access to it. I plan on posting to it on a daily basis with pictures and a short narrative of either the plan for the day and or a recap of what happened on the previous day.

Below please find my itinerary for the trip:

August/September National Parks Trip

August 13 – Drive to KC 4 hrs 15 min 273 miles Sunday

August 14 – Drive to Mid America Camp Inn
6 hrs 425 miles Monday

August 15 – Drive to Aspen Glen CG – Rocky Mountain National Park – Site #22 Tuesday
4 Hrs 2 min 257 miles
August 16
August 17

August 18 – Drive to Devils Garden CG – Arches National Park -Site #043 Friday
7 Hrs 7min 421 miles
August 19
August 20

August 21 – Drive to Watchman CG – Zion National Park – Site #43 Loop B Monday
5 Hrs 39 min 359 Miles
August 22
August 23

August 24 – Drive to North Rim CG – Grand Canyon National Park – Site #03 Thursday
2 Hrs 42 min 122 miles

August 25 – Drive to Furnace Creek CG – Death Valley National Park – First Come First Serve
6 Hrs 25 min 396 miles

August 26 – Drive to Quaking Aspen CG – Sequoia National Park – Site #024 Saturday
5 Hrs 54 min 316 miles

August 27 – Drive to North Pines CG – Yosemite National Park – Site #132 Sunday
4 Hrs 34 min 200 miles
August 28
August 29

August 30 – Drive to Manzanita Lake CG – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Site #B15 Loop B
6 Hrs 27 Min 360 miles
August 31

September 1 – Drive to Farewell Bend CG – Crater Lake National Park – Site # 002 Friday
4 Hrs 10 min 238 miles

September 2 – Drive to Logan and Alex’s house Saturday
4 Hrs 18 min 254 miles
September 3
September 4

September 5 – Drive to Coho CG – Olympic National Park – Site #024 Loop B Tuesday
3 Hrs 5 min 168 miles
September 6

September 7 – Drive to Newhalem Creek CG – North Cascades National Park Site #015 Loop A
4 Hrs 32 min 245 miles

September 8 – Drive to Ruby’s Resort & RV Center Site #11 Friday
6 Hrs 381 miles

September 9 – Drive to Apgar CG – Glacier National Park – Site # D189 Loop D Saturday
4 Hrs 50 min 285 miles
September 10
September 11 Monday

September 12 – Drive to Lewis Lake CG – Yellowstone National Park – Site # 044 Loop C
7 Hrs 30 min? 430 miles?
September 13
September 14 Thursday

September 15 – Drive to Coulter Bay CG – Grand Teton National Park – Site # 158 Loop H
5 Hrs 45 min? 300 miles?

September 16 – Drive to Sylvan Lake CG – Custer State Park, SD – Site #SL22E Saturday
7 Hrs 48 min 463 miles
September 17
September 18
September 19

September 20 – Drive by Wind Cave National Park then drive to Cedar Pass CG – Badlands
National Park – Site ???
2 Hrs 50 min 157 miles

September 21 – Drive to Janine and Larry’s house in Ames, IA Thursday
8 Hrs 15 min 532 miles

September 22 – drive home to Cuba
6 Hrs 32 min 381 miles Friday

41 days 6563 miles