USA Road Trip Footnotes

Vital Statistics

Capital: Washington DC

Population: 319 million

Language: English

Time: Four zones in the contiguous US, from GMT-5 (Eastern) to GMT-8 (Pacific)

International dialling code:+1

Money: US dollar ($). Tipping is expected.

When to Go: 

January, February, March, October, November, December: Snow and road closures can make travelling across national parks impossible. December-February is good for Rocky Mountains snow activities.

April, May, June: Less crowded, some attractions may be closed/have restricted opening.

July, August: More crowded but great for walking.

September: Post-Labor Day (first Monday of September) – crowds diminish: perfect for a road trip. Temps still warm; fabulous fall colours.

Health & Safety

No specific jabs required. Don’t attempt backcountry trails unless able to navigate well with map and compass. Be bear aware: carry bear spray (especially in Glacier NP); make noise as you walk; if you see a bear, don’t run. Check for tick bites after walking in long grass/forests.

Road Trip Itinerary:

Washington

Stay: Hotel Five (Seattle) is close to the Space Needle and Monorail; it offers free use of bicycles.

Paradise Lodge (Mount Rainier NP) was built in 1916 and oozes period charm.

Cherry Wood B&B (Yakima Valley; cherrywoodbbandb.com) offers stays in luxury teepees and the chance to soak under the stars in the outdoor bathhouse.

Eat: The 5 Point Café (Seattle) serves good burgers and beer 24 hours a day.

Drink: Head to Silver Lake Winery and Cultura to sample two very different local wines.

Buy: A Seattle City Pass covers access to the main museums, a boat tour on Puget Sound and a trip up the Space Needle.

Idaho

Stay: The Wallace Inn is suitable for a stopover.

Eat: The Fainting Goat offers tapas and a self-serve wine tasting bar.

Do: Paddle from Coeur d’Alene with ROW Adventures, which offers a range of half- and full-day trips, as well as cycling tours along old railway lines nearby.

Montana

Stay: St Mary Lodge and Resort has cabins with mountain views and great access to Glacier NP.

C’mon Inn is a Midwest chain hotel

Do: Visit the Museum of the Rockies, home to a treasure trove of dinosaur bones discovered in the mountains. For more dino-thrills, try the Two Medicine Dinosaur Centre.

Wyoming

Stay: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is a great place to watch elks bugling. It also offers excellent Lamar Valley Wildlife evening tours.

Jackson Lake Lodge (Grand Teton) has cabins, cafés and a glass-walled lounge with unrivalled mountain views. It also runs remote horseback tours for all levels – recommended.

Homewood Suites (Rock Springs) is well placed.

Windy Hills Guest House (between Laramie and Cheyenne) overlooks Curt Gowdy State Park; sit in a hottub, watching deer feed and owls hoot.

Do: Killpecker Tours runs passionately guided tours of the petroglyphs outside Rock Springs.

Colorado

Stay: Armstrong Hotel is on the main street, with a jazz bar below and a coffee shop next door.

Golden Leaf Inn (Rocky Mountain NP) is a lovingly restored old house with great views and even better breakfasts.

Eat: Fort Collins Brewery serves good beer and locally sourced food.

Do: Visit Fort Collins to enjoy its organic food store, independent boutiques and coffee shops. Also tour New Belgium Brewery – booking essential.