Heading West—Camper or Train? - Page 2 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Camping | Places, Gear and Planning > Trips and Travel Planning
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-26-2022, 08:58 AM   #21
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: chicago, Illinois
Trailer: don't have one yet
Posts: 7
Just a suggestion: Perhaps you can partner with someone who is waiting for an escape or wants to do the road trip. They drive out west and take their time along the way . You train or fly out - meet up with them, they go home and you see your sights and drive it home-so each does one way. The west is just so beautiful and rugged - worth the trip and time. When we head out there I can't help but think about our ancestors that traveled via wagons.
joanwaldron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2022, 09:36 AM   #22
Site Team
 
MrLynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by joanwaldron View Post
Just a suggestion: Perhaps you can partner with someone who is waiting for an escape or wants to do the road trip. They drive out west and take their time along the way . You train or fly out - meet up with them, they go home and you see your sights and drive it home-so each does one way. The west is just so beautiful and rugged - worth the trip and time. When we head out there I can't help but think about our ancestors that traveled via wagons.
Interesting idea, Joan. Going to put that in the pot with the train+RV rental suggestions. Not sure I'd know how to find that 'someone', though. Actually, come to think of it, there was a forum member last winter who offered to go out to the West Coast and pick up a used Escape for us. . .

Speaking of rentals, has anyone here used RVshare.com? You're renting from an individual RV owner, not a big firm. I see there are plenty in AZ and UT offering Class Bs and Cs, which might be an option if we took the train out, rather than towing our 21C. Maybe better looking at Spring than this Fall, given the reported lead time for reserving sites in National Parks. And Bedrooms on Amtrak trains get bought up, too. . .
__________________
• "The Molded Fiberglass Obsession," https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress....ass-obsession/
MrLynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2022, 09:48 AM   #23
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
There is always the Copper Canyon RR trip
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2022, 10:07 AM   #24
Site Team
 
MrLynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,023
Thanks, Jim. That would be really something! Assuming that RR is more than a tourist route; are they mining there?
__________________
• "The Molded Fiberglass Obsession," https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress....ass-obsession/
MrLynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2022, 10:25 AM   #25
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrLynn View Post
Thanks, Jim. That would be really something! Assuming that RR is more than a tourist route; are they mining there?
I have no idea....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2022, 05:03 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Abiquiu, New Mexico
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21 2017 GMC Canyon Duramax Diesel
Posts: 328
Mr. Lynn,
We certainly agree with you that it is too bad that Amtrak does not offer something like the "RV on Train" to Florida for the East/West trip. We live in NM but cannot afford the time away to travel to the east coast and to Canada's Eastern Provinces towing our trailer. We would love to do both trips but the driving time isfor us, the problem also.
Chama
Chama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2023, 09:12 AM   #27
Site Team
 
MrLynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,023
Follow-Up

Well, here it is almost a year later. Speedy decisions are not our forté. But we have finally decided to leave the Escape in our yard this October and use up the Amtrak Rewards Points: take the California Zephyr to Grand Junction, CO; rent a car and tour some of the national parks (and the Durango and Silverton RR), end up at Williams, AZ (after two nights at the Grand Canyon Village), and back on the Southwest Chief.

Of course the Chief doesn't stop at Williams, but at Flagstaff, so we'll have to drive back there and figure out how to turn in the car and find a place to crash until time for the 4:30 AM train. Anyone here know how safe it is for two old folks toting luggage to walk from a nearby hotel to the Amtrak station in Flagstaff at 3 AM? Still stewing over this kink in the plan.

I'm not ruling out future trips westward with our Escape. Last attempt for a week-long excursion to the Pennsylvania Wilds ended just 30 miles from home, when the line to the transmission oil cooler on our Expedition blew—thankfully, it was not 300 miles away!
__________________
• "The Molded Fiberglass Obsession," https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress....ass-obsession/
MrLynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2023, 10:51 AM   #28
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Ocean Park, Maine
Trailer: 21NE picked up in May 2022
Posts: 205
The places to stay in FLagstaff will have the answer on how to get you to the train station safely and on time. Flagstaff is a great college town also. Ask them when you get there.
Randy in Maine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2023, 11:07 PM   #29
Senior Member
 
Mike G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Trailer: 2012 E19
Posts: 1,733
Maybe a taxi, or an uber/lyft driver.
__________________
Losing weight puts one at much greater risk of becoming thin.
Mike G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2023, 11:19 PM   #30
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Colfax, California
Trailer: 2024 Escape 23 on order, 2022 RAM 1500 5.7L Laramie
Posts: 583
My last trip on the California Zephyr was from Chicago to Sacramento. I had fun in the Vista Domes.

It was also in 1949.
bborzell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 09:06 AM   #31
Member
 
mr.stang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Trailer: 2022 escape 17B
Posts: 74
Does the Zephyr go thru Denver? If it does the train ride from Denver to Glenwood springs was the nicest I have been on, and I have been on quite a few. Stan
mr.stang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 09:55 AM   #32
Site Team
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Trailer: 2023 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 809
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrLynn View Post
Amtrak goes to Williams, AZ, whence you can take the Grand Canyon Railroad to the Canyon, a train I'd like to ride. For the Zion et al. parks, they get you to Grand Junction, CO and then you rent a car to tour the parks; or something like that.
The Grand Canyon Railroad is a lot of fun and an enjoyable ride. If it were me, I would hitch up and head west with the Escape.
SageRpod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:02 AM   #33
Site Team
 
MrLynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr.stang View Post
Does the Zephyr go thru Denver? If it does the train ride from Denver to Glenwood springs was the nicest I have been on, and I have been on quite a few. Stan
It does go through Denver. Thanks for the tip; looking forward to that part of the trip.
__________________
• "The Molded Fiberglass Obsession," https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress....ass-obsession/
MrLynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:03 AM   #34
Senior Member
 
TahoeJoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: South Lake Tahoe, California
Trailer: 2017 5.0
Posts: 523
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrLynn View Post
Of course the Chief doesn't stop at Williams, but at Flagstaff, so we'll have to drive back there and figure out how to turn in the car and find a place to crash until time for the 4:30 AM train. Anyone here know how safe it is for two old folks toting luggage to walk from a nearby hotel to the Amtrak station in Flagstaff at 3 AM? Still stewing over this kink in the plan.
I know that area pretty well...which hotel are you staying at, have you already booked one?
__________________
“We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
TahoeJoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:11 AM   #35
Site Team
 
MrLynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by SageRpod View Post
The Grand Canyon Railroad is a lot of fun and an enjoyable ride. If it were me, I would hitch up and head west with the Escape.
We're going to take the GCRR from Williams to the GC and back, and spend a couple of nights in the GC Village.

We're taking the train out west this time. Nowhere as convenient as towing your own cabin, but considerably less time, and I do like trains—always have.

We'll be taking the Escape down to Virginia for Thanksgiving (hoping to stop in PA at the East Broad Top RR). Toying with continuing on to Florida. . .
__________________
• "The Molded Fiberglass Obsession," https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress....ass-obsession/
MrLynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:16 AM   #36
Site Team
 
MrLynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by TahoeJoe View Post
I know that area pretty well...which hotel are you staying at, have you already booked one?
Coordinating rental car agency pick-up and drop-off with train times wasn't working out, so likely we'll just get a hotel near the airport (drop-off) and try to get a taxi to the RR station c. 3am. Open to other ideas, though.
__________________
• "The Molded Fiberglass Obsession," https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress....ass-obsession/
MrLynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:25 AM   #37
Senior Member
 
ghosthunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mount Vernon, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15 B. Room4Two
Posts: 440
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike G View Post
What about shipping the trailer out and back on a separate freight train? Just a wild thought, not advocating.


Mapping it out, I see it's 2600 miles and (estimated) 39 hours by a direct route. Yeah, that's quite a ways. If I were going to take a trip of that distance, I would look for things I'd like to see or do at daily (or semi-daily) intervals along the way. I'd treat the trip as a vacation to see all those places, so each day could potentially feel sort of like a destination. And I'd leave the trip open-ended; if I get to a certain point in the trip and change my mind about continuing on, I'd simply start back; any reservations made at hard-to-get-into western parks could be cancelled (a partial loss, but not much money in the grand scheme of things). That way there isn't a sense of pressure, of "we have to get there even though we no longer feel like it". In other words, I'd lose myself in each day's adventure and not think of it as "a whole month of this stuff". Footloose and fancy-free is the way to be. Getting up every morning and saying, "What do I feel like doing today? Do I feel the urge to put on some miles? Or shall I lounge around, or what?"
Exactly

We are doing exactly that to see Idaho in a few weeks. No time schedule, some destinations, but loose as a goose. Get tired stop a couple days Explore, move on.

Nothing you do will be perfect. I would take my camper over a train any day.
ghosthunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:49 AM   #38
Senior Member
 
TahoeJoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: South Lake Tahoe, California
Trailer: 2017 5.0
Posts: 523
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrLynn View Post
Coordinating rental car agency pick-up and drop-off with train times wasn't working out, so likely we'll just get a hotel near the airport (drop-off) and try to get a taxi to the RR station c. 3am. Open to other ideas, though.
Well my other idea was to stay at one of the hotels that are just a couple blocks from the station, but now that I think about it and remembering the last time I was there, that area right around the train tracks is not the best or safest area to be walking at 3 am with your stuff. So I think I like your idea better...
__________________
“We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
TahoeJoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:52 AM   #39
Senior Member
 
brroberts's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Overbrook, Kansas
Trailer: 2021 E19 (Padawan)
Posts: 1,904
We love both the train and ferries. Fast enough to get somewhere, slow enough to soak some in, and comfortable enough to relax. We only fly when really needed.

We have a future Alaska plan that is a few rental cars, limited hotels, lots of trains and ferries, and some backpack gear.

We do travel several months a year with the Escape. We “camp” travel moving at a slow pace. We don’t often just go hang out at one of the local lakes “camping.”

We do travel fairly structured. I plan trips ahead. I don’t enjoy looking for places to stay while traveling. We stay in an area awhile, so we day trip to things that pop up. We schedule days for things that are unscheduled as well as rest and chores. We seldom drive back to back days. In this day and age, some things we want to see take reservations a year out or we won’t get to see them. Typically we move 200 miles at a time and day trip up to 100 miles in any direction. It easily takes us 4 weeks to cross MO, TN, and get back to NE KS for example.

Some folks by choice or need do it differently.
__________________
Randy & Barb
1998 C 2500 (Cruncher) and 2021 Ranger (Yoda)
brroberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2023, 10:52 AM   #40
Site Team
 
MrLynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghosthunter View Post
Exactly

We are doing exactly that to see Idaho in a few weeks. No time schedule, some destinations, but loose as a goose. Get tired stop a couple days Explore, move on.

Nothing you do will be perfect. I would take my camper over a train any day.
I agree that Mike G's approach is the ideal one, if you're traveling: footloose and fancy free. Not for me these days, maybe for no good reasons, but here I am.
__________________
• "The Molded Fiberglass Obsession," https://walkingcreekworld.wordpress....ass-obsession/
MrLynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

« Alaska 2025 | - »
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:04 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.