Trip Route Planner

Road Trip Planner

Chelsea, AL · 4Runner + Teardrop Camper + Starlink · Two trips planned and growing.

2 Planned Trips
7 National Parks
6,400+ Est. Miles
2026 Summer
Planned Trips
Trip 1 19 Days Aug 6–24, 2026 Original Plan

Trip 1 — Glacier · Yellowstone · Grand Teton · Ouray

Working trip — weekday drives after 3pm, full days off Aug 6–7 and Aug 12, and weekends. 12 stops total. Drives north through OKC, Denver, and Teton Village before reaching Glacier at peak wildflower season, then drives direct to Yellowstone and on to 3 nights at Grand Teton, returning south via Pinedale, Steamboat Springs, and Ouray's San Juans, then Albuquerque before coming home through Amarillo. Each popup shows drive details, things to do, sleep options (cheapest first), and pet status.

🚗 OKC · Denver · Teton Village 🏔 Glacier NP — 3 nights 🌋 Yellowstone NP — 2 nights ⛰ Grand Teton NP — 3 nights 🏞 Pinedale, WY ♨️ Steamboat Springs 🏔 Ouray / San Juans — 2 nights 🏜 Albuquerque, NM 🤠 Amarillo · OKC return
~5,200Est. Miles
371Gallons @ 14 mpg
~$3.91Avg $/gal on route
~$1,451Est. Gas Cost
Open Map 🖨 Print Guide
Trip 1 · Aug 2026
📓 How it actually went →
Trip 2 Planning

Trip 2 — Horseshoe Bend · Zion NP · Grand Canyon North Rim & CO Towns

Departs Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 7am — a few weeks after Trip 1 returns. Out via Trip 1's actual return route in reverse to Choctaw/OKC and Monument Valley — Brian works remotely from the KOA there Monday morning, then drives out mid-afternoon — through Horseshoe Bend and on to a 2-night Zion anchor for the Narrows, the North Rim (visit confirmed, overnight TBD), then a 3-night stay at the free BLM site near Silverton, and a further 3 nights at a camping spot up South Mineral Creek Rd. Mesa Verde RV Resort stays on the list to meet a friend, timing TBD.

🌙 Night 1 · Sat 9/19: Choctaw/OKC 🌙 Night 2 · Sun 9/20: Monument Valley — works remote Mon 9/21 til afternoon 🌉 Horseshoe Bend (Mon 9/21 eve, day stop) 🏜 Zion NP · 2 nights (Mon 9/21–Tue 9/22) 🏞 North Rim GC (Wed 9/23, tentative) 🏕 Silverton BLM · 3 nights (9/24–26) ⛺ South Mineral Creek · 3 nights (9/27–29)
Open Map 🖨 Print Guide
Trip 2 · Departs Sat 9/19
📍 POI Reference Map

Points of Interest — CO · UT · ID · MT · WY

A running list of places I like across the Western US — no fixed route or schedule, just a map to browse and pull from when planning future trips. 25 POIs and counting: national parks, favorite camping spots, and a few personal revisits.

🏔 Rocky Mountain NP 🔴 Moab · Arches NP 🌊 Zion NP 🧡 Bryce Canyon NP 🏔 Glacier NP 🌋 Yellowstone NP ⛰ Grand Teton NP 🍁 Banff + Icefields Pkwy
Open Map
POI · Reference
💳
America the Beautiful Pass — $80 · One pass covers all passengers in your vehicle. Trip 1 entry fees add up to $105 (Glacier + Yellowstone + Grand Teton at $35 each) — the pass pays for itself and saves $25. Valid 12 months from purchase, so it rolls right into Trip 2 as well. Buy at store.usgs.gov →
Gas Prices by State (87 Octane)

⛽ AAA State Averages — Regular Unleaded

Source: gasprices.aaa.com · as of Jul 25, 2026 · 87 oct @ 14 mpg
Alabama$3.628
Oklahoma$3.589
New Mexico$4.001
Colorado$3.973
Wyoming$4.021
Montana$4.093
Idaho$4.049
Utah$4.009
Nebraska$3.863
Missouri$3.652
Natl Avg$4.111

Gas estimates assume 14 mpg (4Runner + loaded teardrop trailer). Cheap = green (<$3.80), Mid = teal ($3.80–$4.05), Pricey = orange (>$4.05). Route-weighted averages favor the cheaper southern states on both options.

🐾 Traveling with Pets
✅
Pet-Friendly
BLM, NF dispersed, most state parks, wildlife refuges
⚠️
Restricted
Campgrounds & roads only — no trails in any National Park
❌
Watch Out
Yellowstone lodge pet fee $40/night · wildlife hazards at refuges

Glacier National Park

Restricted
  • Allowed in campgrounds, parking areas, paved roads & picnic areas only
  • Allowed on Lake McDonald beach (Apgar Village) — not in the water
  • Allowed on the Apgar–West Glacier bike path when snow-free
  • No trails, no backcountry, no visitor centers
  • 6 ft leash required at all times · no tying to objects
  • No extra pet fee at campgrounds
💡 Hike Flathead NF trails just outside the park — dogs welcome on leash.

Yellowstone National Park

Restricted
  • Allowed in campgrounds, parking areas, within 100 ft of roads
  • No trails, no boardwalks, no thermal areas, no backcountry
  • 6 ft leash · must not be left unattended · must stay quiet
  • Pet-friendly lodge cabins available $40/night fee (from Apr 2026)
  • No extra fee at front-country campgrounds
⚠️ Thermal areas are extremely dangerous for dogs — enforce the 100 ft rule strictly.

Grand Teton National Park

Restricted
  • Allowed in campgrounds, parking lots, paved roads (within 30 ft)
  • No trails, no multi-use pathway, no beaches, no backcountry
  • 6 ft leash required · no unattended pets
  • No extra pet fee at campgrounds
💡 Bridger-Teton NF trails just east of the park (Spread Creek area) are dog-friendly and have great views.

Rocky Mountain NP (v1)

Restricted
  • Allowed in campgrounds, parking areas, picnic sites
  • No trails, no tundra, no meadows
  • 6 ft leash · caged or crated when not on leash
  • No extra pet fee at campgrounds
💡 Arapaho & Roosevelt NF trails outside the park are dog-friendly on leash.

Zion National Park (v1)

Very Restricted
  • Only the Pa'rus Trail (3.5 mi paved) allows pets
  • No Narrows, no Angels Landing, no other trails
  • Allowed in campgrounds & Zion Lodge grounds
  • No shuttle buses · no public buildings
  • 6 ft leash · no unattended pets
  • No extra pet fee at campgrounds
⚠️ If hiking The Narrows is the priority, a pet-sitter or leaving the dog at camp is required.

Arches & Canyonlands NP (v1)

Restricted
  • Allowed on scenic drives, parking lots, campgrounds
  • No hiking trails, no overlooks, no backcountry
  • Moab town & surrounding BLM land is very dog-friendly
  • 6 ft leash · no unattended pets except at your own campsite
  • No extra pet fee
💡 BLM land around Moab (Kane Creek Rd, Slickrock area) allows leashed dogs on trails.

BLM & National Forest Dispersed

Pet-Friendly
  • Dogs generally allowed off-leash under reliable voice control
  • Leash required in developed recreation areas & trailheads
  • No extra pet fees anywhere
  • Pack out all pet waste or bury 100 ft from water
  • State/county leash laws still apply on BLM land
💡 This is your best friend on this trip — dispersed BLM/NF camping is the most dog-friendly option at every stop.

Wichita Mountains NWR

Pet-Friendly
  • Dogs allowed on trails and throughout the refuge — on leash
  • 10 ft leash maximum (more lenient than national parks)
  • No extra pet fee · Doris CG allows pets
  • Must clean up after pets
⚠️ Wildlife hazards: rattlesnakes, bison, elk, coyote, and copperheads. Keep dogs close and away from prairie dog towns.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Pet-Friendly
  • Pets allowed on all trails and throughout the park — on leash
  • Allowed at campsites · no extra pet fee
  • No pets inside cabins
  • Must be attended at all times · clean up required
💡 One of the most dog-friendly stops on the whole trip — great sunset hike with the dog.

State Parks (OK, CO, MT)

Pet-Friendly
  • Lake Thunderbird SP (OK): Pets on leash, allowed on trails & campgrounds, no fee
  • Chatfield SP (CO): Leash required · dog-friendly beach area · no extra fee
  • Ridgway SP (CO): Leash required in campground · some trails allow dogs · no extra fee
  • Generally: 6 ft leash, clean up required, pets out of water at swim beaches

Towns Along the Route

Generally Friendly
  • Jackson, WY: Very dog-friendly downtown, many patios allow dogs
  • Bozeman, MT: Extremely dog-friendly — breweries, trails, parks
  • Steamboat Springs, CO: Dog-friendly town, Yampa River trail allows leashed dogs
  • Ouray, CO: Dog-friendly hot springs pool area · some trails OK
  • Whitefish, MT: Dog-friendly lake town, many patios welcome dogs
💡 KOA campgrounds generally allow pets on leash at no extra charge. Always confirm when booking.
Downloads
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Trip Planning Document

Full itinerary · hotel alts · BLM guide · The Narrows guide · budget breakdown · July/August tips

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Google My Maps Import

KML file · all stops + route line + hotel markers · import at mymaps.google.com

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