Destinations & Routes
Season-driven 5-state Southwest strategy (AZ, CO, CA, NV, NM) with master calendar, itinerary blueprints, pass grades, fuel gaps, reservation timing, camping guides, and budget for full-time road travel.
This section covers the complete destination planning for the 5-state Southwest corridor — Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, and New Mexico — tailored for a 2WD gas bus with one dog.
Pages in this Section
Strategy & Planning
| Page | Description | Status | |——|————-|——–| | Trip Overview | 5-state strategy, seasonal anchors, architecture decisions, top pitfalls, roadmap phases, confidence assessment | ✅ Complete | | Routes & Itineraries | Seasonal master calendar, 2-week/1-month/3-month blueprints, pass grades, fuel gaps, reservation timing, logistics cadence | ✅ Complete | | Dated Calendar | 2027–2028 dated itinerary with events, camping bases, drive legs, dog-home-base windows, booking alarms | ✅ Complete | | Policies & Dog Rules | Dog-policy cheat sheet by jurisdiction, camping pricing norms, amenities matrix, trails by state | ✅ Complete | | Pitfalls & Risks | 20-item risk severity matrix: hazards, regulations, mechanical, preventive checklists | ✅ Complete | | Master Budget | Consolidated annual budget: fuel, tickets, camping, boarding, passes, propane, maintenance, contingency | ✅ Complete |
Camping & Boondocking
| Page | Description | Status | |——|————-|——–| | Camping Guide | Per-state destination stack: RV parks, state parks, NPS, BLM/LTVA, free overnight, dog flags, bus fit | ✅ Complete | | Boondocking | AZ & CO free dispersed camping spots, LTVAs, rule frameworks, power/water/waste mgmt, checklists, apps | ✅ Complete |
Events
| Page | Description | Status | |——|————-|——–| | Events Master List | Burning Man, Saguaro Man, regional burns, flagship festivals, 420/710, volunteer links, dog policy matrix | ✅ Complete | | Flagship Festivals | 14 music festivals with RV camping: EDC, LIB, Wasteland, Lost Lands, fit matrix, booking timeline | ✅ Complete | | Western Burns | Regional burn circuit, BRC RV logistics, playa protocols, dog-policy corrections, April collision warning | ✅ Complete |
Seasonal Strategy at a Glance
| Season | Where the Bus Lives | Key Anchors |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Nov–Apr) | Low deserts: AZ, CA, NV, NM | Quartzsite RTR, Death Valley, Organ Pipe, White Sands, Lake Mead |
| Summer (Jun–Sep) | High country: CO, NM mountains | RMNP, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Jemez, Flagstaff rim |
| Shoulder (Apr–May, Sep–Oct) | Transition zones | NM spring (Chaco, Jemez), CO fall (aspens), AZ fall |
Key Constraints
- Vehicle: 2WD, 5.4L gas, 10–12 mpg, ~400–480 mi range, 225k mi
- Dogs: Travel everywhere; NPS parks = pavement/campground only; dog-friendly anchors required
- Fuel Gaps: US-6 Ely→Tonopah 168 mi no gas (deadly); US-95 Beatty→Tonopah 93 mi marginal
- Passes to Avoid: Monitor Pass (13%), Red Mountain Pass (8%), Emerald Bay (cliff-side)
- Booking: Rec.gov 6-month window; marquee 6 campgrounds only (Mather, Moraine, Furnace Creek, DeMotte/Gallo, Morefield, Trailer Village)
Budget Snapshot (Annual, Excl. Food)
| Category | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | $2,600 | $4,800 |
| Vehicle Maintenance | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Event Tickets | $1,700 | $3,800 |
| Camping/Sites | $800 | $2,000 |
| Dog Boarding | $0 | $900 |
| Total (excl. food) | ~$7,400 | ~$14,000 |
Full budget breakdown in Master Budget