California AutoCamp Roadtrip

I’m seriously considering a major roadtrip next winter, and I’m thinking about hitting up the current AutoCamp locations in California. Right now, there are 3 – Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and Russian River. Next year, there will also the new one – Sequoia.

So, I’ve started looking at the mapping to decide: go to the 3 this year? Then go back again after Sequoia is opened up? Or break it into 2 trips.?

Help me make up my mind!

Option 1: Wait and visit them all at once

Keep in mind I’ve never really seen much of California, so this is particularly exciting to me. However, here is what the trip would look like if I waited (not happening…no patience…but maybe for the repeat/re-visit trip!) and did them all, south to north:

So…yeah, not waiting. I am itching to get to California. It’s a question of WHICH AutoCamps on this upcoming trip. Scratch Option 1. Several more to consider…

Option 2: Fly to Palm Springs and Visit 3 Parks

So the next option is to visit the 3 existing parks. But here is my, personal, complication:

Do I fly out and do 3 nights in Joshua Tree then 4 each in Yosemite and Russian River, flying into Palm Springs and out of San Francisco? Is that really enough time, or am I shortchanging myself. I’ve been to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree a few times. I don’t need any time there. But I’ve spent NO time in Yosemite or Russian River. I feel like this option would be just “checking it off” and not really experiencing the areas and parks. Any feedback?

Option 3: Cross-country road trip?!

I have a dog. A crazy cute dog who loves me more than the air she breathes or Milk Bones she eats. I won’t leave her for more than 2 weeks. So, another thought is to drive cross country with her and then take our time in California, including adding in the Pacific Coast Highway!

We’d join in near the Russian River location and drive down to San Diego.

How the hell long would this take?! I think we’d make some stops between NJ and CA, so maybe a week in each direction? Then, 3 nights in Joshua Tree, 4 nights in Yosemite, 4 nights in Russian River then the PCH for, say 4 days? That’s a total of 28 days. 4 weeks. Hmmm, not as bad as I thought! I can work from the road. It annoys me, but I can and do. 4 weeks would be a minimum. This is a serious contender.

Option 4: Just 2 AutoCamp Parks

Maybe I’m biting off too much, making it too big. Perhaps I should just fly in/out of San Francisco and just go to Yosemite and Russian River? I can leave Sequoia for when it’s open and pair Joshua Tree with it then. That’s a thought…

So then I figure 1 night “in transit” and 4 nights each camp. 9 nights. this is far more “reasonable”. But it’s not as fun and exciting as Option 3!

What should I do?

The winter weather will be a big factor into which option I end up pursuing. Some of the meteorologists I follow are saying there are signs (no “predictions” yet) that we could be seeing a winter unlike any other. Frankly, I’d want to stay closer to home to take care of my house. If it’s a normal-ish winter, I wouldn’t mind a get-away. So, I’m going to sit on these options and consider other variations, as well. Time – and weather – will tell!

But…this has my brain racing…that big trip could be amazing! What would you do?!