Planning A Western Drving Trip This Summer?

The first step is deciding where, when and how long the trip can be. Your interests and available travel time should be the major consideration and a visit to your local AAA branch office can provide you with information focusing on your specific destination(s). An United States map and Regional area maps can assist with the “big picture” view of your proposed route. (Tip: Towns printed in red on AAA maps indicate locations of AAA approved lodging). AAA Tourbooks provide information on GEM (Great Experience for Members) attractions (including fees and suggested minimum visiting time), lodging and dining options. The branch offices also have free National Park Guides which have in-depth information on the specific park and how to obtain a Federal Recreation Lands Pass (Tip: highly recommended if you are planning to visit numerous national parks/monuments). Additional destination information may also be found on the AAA TripTik Traveler Planner program (under Travel Guides and Road Trips) on AAA.com. An additional point to consider is the timing of your vacation; driving routes through the majority of the national parks located in the western United States and the Canadian Rockies are not easily accessible until after Memorial Day.

AAA recommends driving no more than approximately 8 hours per day, which is approx. 500-550 miles (the approximate distance from Harrisburg, PA to Indianapolis, IN). You will want to factor in rest/fuel and food stops along the way, as well as giving yourself time to perhaps have an adventure, ie; the unexpected “find” which makes traveling so interesting! AAA counselors often encounter itineraries which are too ambitious for the allotted time frame. A common error is not anticipating the lengthy driving times between attractions in the western United States. For example, it is approximately 4 hours from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the more remote North Rim; and approximately a 7 ½ hour drive from Yellowstone National Park to Glacier National Park. AAA maps have driving distance and time charts and the TripTik Traveler Planner allows you to enter up to twenty-five stops to calculate mileage and driving time (Tip: TripTik Traveler Planner has an option that allows you to set the desired driving time on trips which are longer than four hours). Getting off of the interstate highways and enjoying beautiful scenery along the way is the bliss of a western vacation; and once again, AAA’s mapping products can assist. Designated scenic highways are indicated on AAA state maps by small dots along the road and on the TripTik Traveler Planner Program by selecting “Scenic” under Map Layers; zooming in and clicking on the green highlighted scenic route will reveal sight-seeing details. Popular scenic drives include the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado), “Going-to-the-Sun Road (Glacier National Park) and the “Grand Circle Tour” (Utah), to name just a few. AAA counselors can verify driving conditions on these roads and specific requirements for RV/Trailer travel.

Accommodations are a necessity and especially if you are planning on staying within a National Park, should be reserved as soon as possible. It is not uncommon for lodging in the most popular parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite to fill up six months or more in advance. AAA counselors offer members the time-saving convenience of making hotel reservations for them. If camping under the starry skies is more to your liking, campground information (including the types of campsites and amenities) may be found on AAA.com/campgrounds.

Once your plans are finalized, AAA Central Penn continues to offer the iconic printed “TripTik Booklet” which contains the detailed maps and narrative directions for your route. They are calculated using the easiest driving route to follow, with the least number of route changes. The routings are prepared taking road conditions for RV/trailer travel and construction information into consideration. They also contain the exit locations of rest areas, gas, food and lodging availability along the way and will be routed directly to your planned accommodations and attractions. A “shared link” of your routing can also be provided for you to download to a preferred mobile device.

Visit or phone your local AAA branch office today; our member services counselors are ready to assist you planning the trip of a lifetime!