Routes & Itineraries

Vehicle: 2014 Ford E350 Super Duty shuttle-bus conversion — 5.4L V8 (gas, 87 octane), RWD, 2WD, class 3 (~22–24 ft), 10–12 mpg loaded, ~40-gal tank → 400–480 mi realistic range, ~225k mi, one dog aboard. Scope: Five states — Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, New Mexico. Method: Compiled Sep 2026 from NPS/state DOT/recreation.gov/AAA sources. Anything marked [VERIFY] is stale, single-source, or price-volatile — check again before relying on it.

How to Use This File

Pick a season first, not a destination. The single biggest constraint on a 2WD gas bus is when you can be where, not where you can be. Section 2 is the master calendar — read it before any itinerary.
Then pick a 2-week, 1-month, or 3-month blueprint (Section 3) and adapt it. Blueprints are day-by-day drivable chains, not lists of cool places.
Then read the Route Engineering section (4) for every mountain pass your chain touches. Two passes in this region are genuinely dangerous for this bus; ~6 more need a gear-down plan. Fuel gaps are the second big constraint (Section 4.3) — three empty stretches in NV/NM/CA will strand you.
Then set your reservation alarms (Section 5) — recursion.gov opens reservations on fixed dates; popular NPS campgrounds sell out in minutes, and this bus’s key campgrounds (Mather, Death Valley Furnace Creek, RMNP) all require specific timing.
Logistics cadence (Section 6) is the daily rhythm — water, dump, power, resupply, connectivity. Treat it as a checklist per stop, not a plan you remember.
Know the street-legal rules (Section 7) before you park in any city. Phoenix bans this bus outright on residential streets; Tucson has a 2-consecutive-day rule. [VERIFY] San Diego/city beach parking bans. These are the #1 ticket risk.

Ground rules assumed throughout (from ../vehicular/ford-e350.md + camping.md):

2WD only. No unpaved road beyond well-graded dirt, and only when dry.
Bus does 55–60 mph max on grades; plan 400–480 mi hard ceiling per tank, target ≤350 mi/day for comfort.
Boondocking is primary style (BLM/USFS dispersed, 14-day limits); NPS campgrounds are for the marquee spots.
Dogs: pets restricted below rims (Grand Canyon), on most NPS shuttle routes, and inside some visitor centers — plan rig-shack time accordingly.

Confidence key: facts sourced from NPS, CDOT, recreation.gov, or AAA are HIGH. Prices and conditions dated before Sep 2026 are tagged [VERIFY]. Drive-leg mileages in §3.4 are OSRM road distances (OpenStreetMap/OSRM via the maps skill), computed Sep 24, 2026 — durations are OSRM estimates; actual bus pace is slower on grades (400–480 mi hard ceiling per tank, target ≤350 mi/day for comfort).

Companion file: calendar.md is the dated 2026–2027 itinerary layer on top of this seasonal framework — event dates, camping bases, drive legs, and dog-home-base boarding windows.

1. Seasonal Strategy

The Master Calendar (bus-based, 2WD-friendly view)

State abbreviations in tables: AZ, CO, CA, NV, NM. Seasons marked per state. This is the “when can I be here” layer — everything below derives from it.

Window	AZ	CO	CA	NV	NM	Notes for this bus
Jan–Feb (Winter)	★★★ Best	✗ Avoid	★★★ SoCal/desert	★★ Southern NV	★★ Southern NM	Desert season. Death Valley, Quartzsite RTR, Anza-Borrego, Joshua Tree, Organ Pipe. CO high country closed/ice; northern NM snow.
Mar	★★★ Peak	✗ high country	★★★	★★	★★	Saguaro bloom, Sedona shoulder. Still winter in CO/N CO passes.
Apr	★★ good	★ fields, ✗ passes	★★	★★	★★★ Best	Best NM month — Chaco, Jemez, White Sands before heat. CO low valleys OK, passes stay closed till late May.
May	★★ warm	★★ opens late	★	★	★★	CO: Independence Pass reopens ~Thu before Memorial Day (May 21, 2026). Wolf Creek Pass is year-round but snow possible.
Jun	★ hot lowlands	★★★ Best	★ coast	★★	★★	CO/NM high country prime. Monsoon doesn’t start until ~Jun 15 (northern AZ) but first storms can come early.
Jul–Aug	★ monsoon	★★★ prime	★ coast/warn interior	★ warn	★★ monsoon	AZ monsoon official Jun 15–Sep 30; northern AZ typically starts first week of Jul — 40–50% of annual precip falls these months; flash floods in washes. CA interior furnace (Death Valley 110–120°F). CO is the crown jewel.
Sep	★★ recovering	★★★	★★	★	★★★ Best	Best overall middle-ground month. Arizona still monsoon until Sep 30 but easing; CO/NM golden.
Oct	★★★ Best	★★ shoulder	★★★	★★	★★★	Peak color + no monsoon. CO first snows at high pass elevations mid-month (cliff edges). Death Valley reservation season opens Oct 15.
Nov	★★★ good	★ closing	★★	★★	★★	Independence Pass closes ~Nov 7 first snow. Southern deserts ideal.
Dec	★★★	✗	★★	★★	★★	Winter sun season peaks. CO mostly ski-town-only; avoid passes.

Seasonal driver: the two-month swing

Summer (Jun–Sep): the bus “lives” above 7,000 ft — CO Rockies and San Juans, Flagstaff/Sedona rim country at ~7,000 ft, NM mountains (Jemez, Sandia). Low deserts are too hot during the day; monsoon makes wash camping dangerous from mid-Jul.
- Monsoon dates: official AZ monsoon runs Jun 15 – Sep 30; northern AZ usually starts first week of Jul; 40–50% of annual precip falls in monsoon; rain arrives as afternoon/evening thunderstorms; flash flooding rocks slot canyons, washes, low-water crossings — never camp in a wash, never cross a flooded crossing (water depth deceptive, road often destroyed underneath). [VERIFY] per-year shifts in monsoon start (±2 wks).
- High-elevation altitude sickness (>8,000 ft) is real for anyone, especially moving from sea level: hydrate, slow ascent, first night lower if possible. Bus is sluggish above 8,000 ft — downshift aggressively on grades.
Winter (Nov–Mar): the bus “lives” in the low deserts — southern AZ (Quartzsite, Organ Pipe, Saguaro), Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Anza-Borrego, southern NV (Las Vegas belt), NM lowlands (White Sands, Las Cruces). CO high country is ski-town boondocking or not at all; passes close; RMNP winter road closures.
Shoulder (Apr–May, Sep–Oct): the sweet spots — NM spring (Apr) and fall (Sep/Oct); AZ fall; CO Sep–Oct before snow. Boondock anywhere, thin crowds, no monsoon, no freeze.

State-by-state seasonal windows (2026-anchored)

Arizona | Season | Window | Bus reality | |—|—|—| | Winter sun | Dec–Feb | Primary season. 60–70°F days, 30–40s nights. Quartzsite RTR mid-Jan; Organ Pipe; Anza-Borrego adjacent; Grand Canyon South Rim winter = quiet, 20s–40s nights, snow plow-light, roads not salted, FCFS sites sell by ~8am — [VERIFY] winter Mather availability. | | Spring | Mar–Apr | Peak color and mild temps. Sedona/Flagstaff crowded shoulder. | | Monsoon | Jun 15–Sep 30 (northern AZ ~Jul) | High storm risk mid-Jul–Aug; flash floods; avoid washes; plan afternoon thunderstorms in afternoon; watch {VERIFY] flood closures on AZ 89A / Sedona area roads. | | Fall | Oct–Nov | Second best. Alcohol of monsoon gone; rim country golden; low deserts comfortable. |

California | Season | Window | Bus reality | |—|—|—| | Winter | Dec–Mar | Death Valley = bus highlight, but summer is a furnace (110–120°F) — reverse-season park. Furnace Creek CG 136 sites w/ water+dump; reservation season Oct 15–Apr 15, FCFS Apr 15–Oct 15. Some sites booked out weeks ahead at peak [VERIFY]. | | Spring | Mar–May | Joshua Tree may fire-restriction-free (restrictions Jun 15–Oct 1, 2026 — wood/charcoal fires banned, gas stoves OK w/ 3-ft clearance; same restriction window typical annually [VERIFY]). Anza-Borrego wildflower. | | Summer | Jun–Sep | Avoid interior except coast. Sierra passes open but Monitor Pass (SR-89, 8,314 ft, 13% grade) is the worst-grade road in this whole plan — see Section 4. Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay (SR-89) = same stretch, narrow + crowded [VERIFY]. | | Fall | Sep–Nov | Best coast Sierra shoulder. |

2. Itinerary Blueprints

2A. Two-Week Samplers (5 states, each ~14 days)

AZ sampler — winter sun + canyon (Jan–Mar)

Tucson (Gem Show Feb 6–8, 2026; public land + city, mind parking rules) — 2–3 nights
Saguaro NP (Cactus/Rincon districts; entrance fee or ATB pass) — 1 night
Organ Pipe Cactus NM — 2 nights (borderland quiet; check east/west loop closures [VERIFY])
Quartzsite — 3 nights (BLM long-term visitor areas; RTR Jan 10–15, 2026; Big Tent RV Show Jan 17–25, 2026)
Joshua Tree NP (CA — 3 h) — 2 nights (fire restrictions Jun 15–Oct 1; yearly pattern [VERIFY])
Grand Canyon South Rim — 2 nights (Mather, book 6-mo out; elevation 7,000 ft; dogs only on rim trail — no below-rim)
Flagstaff/Sedona — 2 nights (creeks, red rocks; Oak Creek canyon overflow parking rules [VERIFY])

CO sampler — high country (Jun–Sep) (CO = rec-legal — dispensaries dense Denver/Boulder/axial towns)

Denver/Estes Park side — 1 night en route (Casa Bonita dinner, Lakewood — reservations online-only, book summer bloc ~Mar 16; if mid-late Sep: Denver Night Lights projection art + Denver Walls street-art fest, RiNo; see events.md §CO add-ons). Open camping: dispersed free on most BLM/USFS, 14-day — near-Denver = Pike NF Buffalo Creek ~40 min SW
RMNP — 3 nights (Moraine Park — book at 6-mo window; timed entry May 22–mid-Oct included with camping)
Trail Ridge Rd (11,000 ft+) to Grand Lake — full day transit 96-mi alpine loop [VERIFY seasonal]
Hot Sulphur Springs / Kremmling BLM — 2 nights
Glenwood Springs — 1 night (hot springs; I-70 corridor)
Aspen/Independence Pass (12,095 ft; open mid-May–early Nov, gear down both sides) — 2 nights
Telluride/Ouray — 2 nights (note: Red Mountain Pass US-550 is Maroon-bells-style alpine pass — see Caution list)
Wolf Creek Pass (US-160; 7% W grade, 25–45 mph posted, brake at summit) — transit day to Pagosa Springs — 1 night
Mesa Verde — 2 nights (interesting: what do you think “hyper-optimizing trip times” implies? see below)

CA sampler — Death Valley + coast (Oct–Mar)

Las Vegas inbound (fuel, Wal-Mart)
Death Valley — 4 nights (Furnace Creek CG reservable Oct 15–Apr 15; dump + water on-site; [VERIFY] current furnace temp)
Anza-Borrego SP — 2 nights
Joshua Tree — 2 nights
Needles/Lake Havasu — 1 night transition
Flagstaff — 1 night
Grand Canyon South Rim — 2 nights

NV sampler — loneliest roads + basin (Apr–May or Sep–Oct)

Reno/Tahoe — 1 night
US-50 “Loneliest Road” — 3 nights (Austin, Eureka; fuel at ~100-mi intervals; cell dead zones)
Great Basin NP (Wheeler 13,063 ft — but 2WD careful on snow) — 2 nights
US-6 Ely → Tonopah — 168-mi no-gas stretch (the single most dangerous fuel hole in this plan) — plan fuel in Ely; Tonopah then fuel check
Tonopah → Beatty — 93 mi (Goldfield small station ~66-mi mark, expensive) → Death Valley — 2 nights

NM sampler — pueblos + dunes (Mar–Apr or Sep–Oct)

Santa Fe — 2 nights (old town; plaza parking rules) — recommended buffer: bus oversized for plaza, park outside
Bandelier NM — 1 night
Jemez Springs — 2 nights (7,880 ft)
Chaco Canyon — 1 night (yes EOH, but see 4.2 first; Gallo CG — reserve rec.gov; call 505-786-7014 for road)
Grants (resupply) — 1 night
El Malpais / Ice Caves — 1 night
White Sands NM — 1 night
Las Cruces — 2 nights (Mesilla; Organs; pass control north — an altitude acclimatization spot before CO)

2B. The One-Month Southwest Loop (AZ → NM → CO → NV → CA → AZ), ~28–31 days

Why this loop: it hits all five states in valid seasonal windows, on a fuel-safe ring, and cycles between marquee NPS campgrounds (booked) and boondock zones (free). Designed for Sep–Oct or Apr–May.

Leg	Days	Route	Stops	Notes
1	3	AZ: Phoenix → Tucson	Saguaro, Kartchner Caverns	Mind Phoenix street ban.
2	3	Tucson → NM via I-10	Las Cruces, White Sands	Messila Valley; gas at Green Valley→Deming spacing.
3	4	Las Cruces → Santa Fe/Jemez	Bisbee? no — Chaco leg	Chaco 13 mi dirt only dry.
4	3	Santa Fe → CO via I-25	Raton Pass (resurfaced 2025), Trinidad	Cumbres Pass (CO-17, 10,022 ft) alt scenic route.
5	5	CO high country	Great Sand Dunes, Gunnison, Aspen, RMNP	Build 2–3 passes into one leg; downshift plan each.
6	4	CO → NV via I-70 W → US-6	Grand Junction, Moab? no — stay in NV	Kill the loop west; fuel schedule I-70 Grand Jct→Green River.
7	4	NV: US-50 or US-6	Austin/Eureka or Ely/Tonopah	Fuel gaps — see Section 4.3.
8	3	NV → CA	Death Valley (N), Lone Pine	395 corridor.
9	4	CA → AZ	Baker, Needles, Quartzsite	Border ag station — no fresh fruit/produce through CA check.

2C. The Three-Month Migrations (Winter Sun / Summer High Country)

Option A — Winter Sun (Nov 1 – Jan 31, 2026/27) Structure: slow position march south and west, ending at Quartzsite RTR, then Grand Canyon South Rim, then back out via SoCal.

Phase	Dates	Base	Notes
1	Nov 1–15	AZ: Tucson/Saguaro	Book winter shoulder; light crowds.
2	Nov 16–30	CA: Joshua Tree/Anza-Borrego	Pre-Christmas shoulder.
3	Dec 1–20	CA: Death Valley (O-O booking!)	Furnace Creek reserved Oct 15.
4	Dec 21–31	NV: Pahrump/Amargosa	Holiday crowds dip; warm-ish.
5	Jan 1–15	AZ: Quartzsite RTR	WRTR Jan 6–8, RTR Jan 9–14, 2027.
6	Jan 16–31	AZ: Grand Canyon S Rim / Flagstaff	Winter quiet; roads not salted; dogs on rim only.

Option B — Summer High Country (Jun 1 – Aug 31) Structure: leapfrog north as heat rises; camp above 7,000 ft June–August.

Phase	Dates	Base	Notes
1	Jun 1–15	NM: Santa Fe/Jemez/Sandia	Jemez 7,880 ft; monsoon starts mid-Jun.
2	Jun 16–30	CO: Great Sand Dunes, San Luis	8,000+ ft; first monsoon cells.
3	Jul 1–31	CO: Gunnison, Aspen, RMNP	RMNP timed entry + camping res = same booking (see 5).
4	Aug 1–31	CO: Durango/Wolf Creek; Mesa Verde	Avoid Monsoonal washout on 160; watch flash-flood on Wolf Creek drainage after heavy rain.
5	Sep 1–15	NM highlands again	Aspen gold in Jemez; perfect.

3. Route Engineering for a 2WD Gas Bus

3.1 Passes & Mountain Grades (the honest matrix)

AVOID — these are not worth this bus: | Pass | State | Why | |—|—|—| | Monitor Pass (SR-89, 8,314 ft) | CA | 13% max grade, winter-closed, steeper toward US-395 side. Do NOT tow/take motorhome here — detour via US-395 → Carson City → I-80 to Truckee/Reno. | | Red Mountain Pass (US-550, 11,018 ft) | CO | 8% grades, narrow, no shoulders, avalanche-prone, big-rig legal but hairy; shorter-wheelbase vans OK, but for a 22-ft cutaway with 2WD + snow, risk exceeds reward in shoulder seasons. [VERIFY] current washout status on improved sections. | | Emerald Bay Road (SR-89, Tahoe) | CA | Same corridor as Monitor; narrow cliff-side, crowded summer, occasional rockfall. |

Rule of thumb for every pass:

Up: downshift before speed drops; hold 45–55 mph; don’t chase semis.
Down: gear-lock to engine brake; save service brakes for emergencies; brake-check at summit; target same speed down as up.
2WD + snow/ice = stop. Park, wait for plows or daylight. This bus weighs ~9–12k lb and has nothing under the diagonal — it is a sled on ice.

3.2 Roads & Terrain — the do-NOT list

Road	State	Status for bus	Note
Chaco Canyon (CR 7950, north route)	NM	Dry OK, wet NO. 13 mi unpaved (last ~4.5 very rough, washboard + ruts).	Call 505-786-7014 before leaving. Do not attempt if rain forecast or rained within 24 h. Plan arrival ~1 pm, leave same after sundown [VERIFY timing]. Alternative: skip or shuttle from Nageezi.
Chaco south route (Hwy 57)	NM	Do not take bus — 21 mi rutted rock; NPS says “not recommended for RVs.”	Use north route only.
Schnebly Hill Rd (Sedona)	AZ	Dirt, 4x4-listed	Avoid for bus. Use paved 89A/179.
Oak Creek Canyon (AZ-89A)	AZ	Paved but tight switchbacks above Sedona rim	OK in daylight, no snow.
US-50 “Loneliest” / US-6 NV	NV	Paved, fine	Fuel gaps only — see 3.3.
El Malpais backcountry roads	NM	Lava rock, rut	Avoid; scenic drive is fine from paved NM-117.
White Sands interior roads	NM	Packed gypsum	2WD fine [VERIFY] wind-blown drifts; avoid after storms.
Sequoia/King’s Canyon Generals Hwy absent	CA	(not in plan)	Skip — 6%+ switchback sections not worth bus.
SR-190 W of Panamint Springs → Lone Pine	CA	The 7-mile steep switchback segment	Fine descending E→W; climb W→E at 30 mph low gear; sunset light gorgeous — travel morning instead.
Sand Hollow Rd (Anza-Borrego)	CA	Dirt, washboard, deep-mud when wet	Dry only, slow. True closed in rain.

3.3 Fuel Strategy (the other hard constraint)

Bus reality:

Tank ~40 gal; 10–12 mpg loaded; 400–480 mi absolute ceiling; target fill at 300–350 mi.
No diesel conversions: this is gasoline (87 octane).
Altitude quirk: many high-elevation stations (CO, NV, WY) sell 85 octane regular — [VERIFY] whether 5.4L Triton accepts 85 at altitude without ping (generally OK above 5,000 ft, but verify against owner’s manual; if in doubt, one tank of mid-grade at the next stop).

Gap map — must-fill points (from AAA/Google fuel check, Sep 2026 [VERIFY for your dates]):

Stretch	Gap	Verdict	Fix
US-6 Ely → Tonopah (NV)	~168 mi no gas	DEADLY for this range	Fill Ely; top off again Tonopah. Never roll this on less than 3/4 tank.
US-95 Beatty → Tonopah (NV)	~93 mi direct (Goldfield station ~66 mi, pricey)	Marginal	Fuel at Beatty or Tonopah; Goldfield as emergency only.
US-50 E of Fallon (NV)	>100 mi between Austin/Eureka	OK if planned	Fill Fallon; then Austin (small); Eureka (has stations).
I-70 Green River → Grand Jct (UT/CO)	~<100 mi	Fine	Normal.
US-550 / 160 transitions (CO)	spaced ~60–90 mi	Fine	Summit-fill at Durango/Pagosa.
I-40 W. AZ → Needles, CA	~ <70 mi at towns	Fine	Border ag station ahead, no fuel implication.
CA-190 / SR-395 (CA desert)	Lone Pine ~45 mi	Fine	Death Valley to Beatty ~50 mi west side.

Cost map (Sep 2026, regular) — [VERIFY on your dates; 2026 = price spike year]: | State | Typical/gal | Note | |—|—|—| | AZ | $4.50–4.75 | Cheapest of five | | NM | $4.05–4.50 | Cheapest runner-up | | CO | $4.20–4.40 | | | NV | $4.95–5.20 | Sin-tax bump | | CA | $5.80–6.20 | Heaviest; plan to fill in NV/AZ before crossing |

Rule: enter CA full, exit CA full; treat NV US-6 gap as the tactical one; always carry at least one 5-gal Jerry can [VERIFY legality of carrying gas in containers in NV — generally allowed ex-spill risk].

3.4 Drive Leg Reference (OSRM road distances, computed Sep 24, 2026)

All legs below are OSRM road distances for the bus alone (no tow vehicle). Durations are OSRM estimates — actual bus pace is slower on grades (plan ≤350 mi/day for comfort, 400–480 mi hard ceiling per tank). Fuel prices: AZ $4.50–4.75 < NM $4.05–4.50 < CO $4.20–4.40 < NV $4.95–5.20 < CA $5.80–6.20 — enter/exit CA full. [See also §3.3 fuel gaps and calendar.md for dated legs.]

Phoenix-centric (home base)

From → To	Road mi	~HR	Used in
Phoenix → Tucson	113	2.0	Feb Gem & Jam leg
Phoenix → Willcox	195	3.5	Apr Saguaro Man (direct from Phoenix)
Phoenix → Quartzsite	~190	~3.6	Jan RTR leg (via Gila Bend 68 mi + US-95 N ~120 mi)
Phoenix → Vegas	~300	~5.0	BRC outbound staging + EDC leg (I-10 W → I-15 N)
Phoenix → Farmington, NM	401	8.0	NM high country / Chaco leg (I-40 E → US-550 N)
Reno → Phoenix	717	14.5	BRC return home — SPLIT INTO 2 DAYS (Reno→Kingman ~370 mi via I-80/I-40 + Kingman→Phoenix 113 mi; or Reno→Flagstaff ~540 mi + Flagstaff→Phoenix 87 mi)

Within Arizona (winter desert + spring shoulder)

From → To	Road mi	~HR	Used in
Tucson → Willcox	83	1.5	Apr Saguaro Man (from Tucson base)
Willcox → Quartzsite	323	5.6	Apr→Jan connector; long day — fill in Gila Bend or Yuma
Tucson → Saguaro NP East	~50	~1.0	Mar spring bloom
Tucson → Saguaro NP West	~30	~0.6	Mar spring bloom
Saguaro East → Sedona	~110	~2.5	Mar shoulder
Sedona → Flagstaff	30	0.7	Mar shoulder
Flagstaff → Grand Canyon Village (South Rim)	87	1.8	Mar GC leg; dogs on rim only
Quartzsite → Death Valley (Furnace Creek area)	322	6.5	Winter CA leg; long — fill in Gila Bend or Yuma; CA-190 via Baker

California / Death Valley / Vegas corridor

From → To	Road mi	~HR	Used in
Death Valley → Vegas	123	2.7	Winter NV leg (CA-190 → US-95)
Death Valley → Baker, CA	183	~3.5	CA-190 W; Baker = I-15 crossing; CA ag station — no fruit/produce/firewood
Baker → Primm, NV (I-15)	50	1.0	I-15 N; CA/NV border ag station
Death Valley → Beatty, NV	46	1.5	BRC corridor (from DV side); CA-190 → US-95 N

Vegas → BRC inbound corridor (US-95 N) — NEVER take US-6 Ely→Tonopah

From → To	Road mi	~HR	Used in
Vegas → Beatty	122	2.4	BRC corridor; fuel at Beatty
Beatty → Tonopah	93	2.0	BRC corridor; marginal on full tank — part of standard SW approach; Goldfield station ~66 mi mark (expensive, emergency only)
Tonopah → Fallon	177	3.6	BRC corridor — BIGGEST single gap; top off Tonopah; never carry less than 3/4 tank
Fallon → Fernley	28	0.6	BRC staging prep; fuel + last big town before BRC
Fernley → Gerlach	79	1.6	BRC final leg (NV-447); Gerlach = ONE gas station, expensive + unreliable hours — arrive Fernley/Gerlach full
Vegas → BRC cumulative	~499	~10.5	Do NOT take US-6 Ely→Tonopah (168-mi no-fuel gap); route via US-95 N from Vegas

BRC exodus + return

From → To	Road mi	~HR	Used in
Gerlach → Fernley	79	1.6	BRC exodus (NV-447 S)
Fernley → Reno	35	0.7	Post-BRC; dump + dust wash + boarding pickup (I-80 E)
Gerlach → Reno cumulative	~114	~2.3	Post-BRC exodus
Vegas → Kingman	104	2.2	BRC outbound staging prep (I-15 S → US-93 E)
Kingman → Vegas	104	2.2	BRC outbound staging prep (US-93 W → I-15 N)

New Mexico

From → To	Road mi	~HR	Used in
Farmington → Nageezi area (Chaco approach)	49	1.0	Chaco north route — DRY ONLY, call 505-786-7014 24–48 hr before; 13 mi unpaved last ~4.5 very rough/washboard
Farmington → White Sands, NM	425	7.7	NM loop; long — split into 2 days or break via US-550/US-70
White Sands → Las Cruces, NM	27	0.7	NM loop (US-70/US-180)
Las Cruces → Santa Fe, NM	284	4.9	NM high country leg (I-25 N)
Santa Fe → Jemez Springs, NM	~35	~0.8	NM-4; 7,880 ft high-country cool
Santa Fe → Buena Vista, CO (Collegiate Peaks)	240	5.3	US-285 N → CO-24; summer CO leg (realistic routing — OSRM straight-line was wrong; see note)

Colorado summer high country

From → To	Road mi	~HR	Used in
Buena Vista → Great Sand Dunes, CO	~150	~3.5	CO-150/US-285; summer CO leg
Great Sand Dunes → Gunnison	~130	~3.0	CO-150; summer CO leg
Gunnison → Grand Junction	~100	~2.5	US-50 W; summer CO leg
Grand Junction → Estes Park / Moraine Park	291	6.0	I-70 E → US-40 (OSRM 2026); RMNP timed entry + camping = same booking
Grand Junction → Lakewood (Casa Bonita)	238	4.6	I-70 E; Casa Bonita dinner stop — adds only ~11 mi vs direct GJ→Estes
Lakewood → Estes Park / Moraine Park	64	1.6	US-36 N; RMNP approach (also covers one-night Denver metro stop)
Moraine Park → Estes Park	6	0.3	Local; RMNP area
Moraine Park → Pagosa Springs	330	7.6	Long — break via Gunnison/Delta; summer CO leg
Pagosa Springs → Durango	60	1.4	US-160 W; Mesa Verde approach
Durango → Cortez	46	1.0	US-160/US-184; Mesa Verde approach
Cortez → Dolores	41	2.3	CO-145/NF roads; Mesa Verde corridor
Dolores → Grand Junction	146	5.5	US-50 W; CO exit
Pagosa Springs → Wolf Creek Pass	23	0.6	US-160 W; 7% W grade — gear down; 2WD + snow/ice = stop
Wolf Creek Pass → Del Norte	35	0.8	US-160 W; summit brake-check
Mesa Verde area (Cortez) → Grand Junction	~226	~4.4	via Cortez→Dolores or Cortez→GJ directly; CO exit

Routing note — Santa Fe → Great Sand Dunes: OSRM’s default route routed this as 1,581 mi across the country (wrong). The realistic CO mountain route is Santa Fe → Buena Vista (~240 mi via US-285 N/CO-24) → Great Sand Dunes (~150 mi via CO-150/US-285), total ~390 mi, split into 2 days. Verified via OSRM on the sub-legs.

Routing note — Mesa Verde area: OSRM doesn’t cleanly geocode “Mesa Verde NP” as a CO destination (it resolves to a Colombia location). Use Cortez (45 mi from park HQ via CO-184/McPhee Rd) or Dolores as the nearest town. Cortez→Grand Junction = 226 mi; Dolores→Grand Junction = 146 mi.

4. Reservation Timing (the booking architecture)

Single source of truth: recreation.gov — every NPS/FS/rec campground in this plan books there (except state parks — check each state portal).

The calendar mechanic

Rolling 6-month window — X books 6 months out, day-by-day, at 7 AM Pacific / 8 AM Mountain / 10 AM Eastern on-sale.
Seasons & Fees tab = the gates: some campgrounds seasonal (Mather peak Mar 1–Nov 30; Death Valley Furnace Creek reservation season Oct 15–Apr 15; RMNP Moraine Peak; DeMotte May 15–Sep 17). Check each listing’s open/close.
Popular spots sell out in minutes on opening day. Set alarms for the exact on-sale minute, book the entire stay one transaction.

Sticky dates (set 10 reminders)

Booking strategy for the bus

Book only the marquee 6: Mather, RMNP Moraine, Furnace Creek, DeMotte/Gallo, any N. Rim CG, and maybe Trailer Village. Everything else is BLM/FS dispersed or private fallback.
Boondock defaults: BLM/USFS dispersed = free, 14-day/28-day limits (camp ≥25 mi between sites to reset). Private park fallbacks (Love’s Travel Stop dry camping in a pinch; Rest stops per camping.md) for supply runs.
Midweek bias: FCFS games (Mather winter, Death Valley Apr–Oct) always favor Tue–Thu arrivals.
One-night stands: anywhere in a national park without reservation = illegal to take unoccupied sites. Don’t do it; move on to boondocks.

5. Logistics Cadence

5.1 Water

Budget: 5–10 gal/day/person + dogs (drink, cook, wash). One person + one dog → ~15–20 gal/wk ballpark.
Fills: dump stations w/ potable fill (Camper Services at Grand Canyon = free; Death Valley Furnace Creek = free dump + water; many Love’s/Flying J; [VERIFY] boondock non-potable).
Tank math: if ~30–40 gal fresh, you go ~4–6 days between fills with discipline. Book a dump station within the first 2 days of each leg — don’t chance it.
Freeze watch: sub-freezing nights (winter AZ/CO/Flagstaff) — keep water line heated or drain; [VERIFY] heated tank option exists in build.

5.2 Dump (black + gray)

Cadence: dump every 4–7 days depending on toilet/cook habits; gray fills faster with dishwater — keep a separate gray valve plan.
Sources: sanidumps.com + findrvdump.com directories (free/cheap); Love’s Truck Stops; NPS/FS stations (free listed on rec.gov pages); some USFS campgrounds too.
Never dump at roadside; treat as 10-min R&R — combine with water fill + propane + resupply at one station where possible.

5.3 Power / Solar

Winter reality: solar output collapses — short days, low sun angle, overcast; a 200W panel yields maybe 0.4–0.8 kWh/day in Dec–Jan vs 1.2–1.8 kWh/day in Jun (AZ). Budget for a charge every 2–3 days in winter via alternator (idle-runtime charging — ~1–2 hrs/day) or generator — no-free-lunch.
Heat: propane furnace + dog heat load in winter = biggest drain after fridge. Keep battery bank sized for 2+ nights without sun (specs pending).
Starlink Mini: 25–40W avg — small enough to run off solar+battery in good sun; pair with generator/idle days otherwise. Cellular is the connected-fallback; South Rim GC reports adequate voice/data (premium carriers) [VERIFY] — CM list & Starlink optional.

5.4 Resupply

Anchor towns (each with fuel + groceries + dump capability): | Town | State | Role | |—|—|—| | Phoenix (Northgate/Chandler) | AZ | Major city resupply (watch parking). | | Tucson | AZ | Gem show base; 3 grocery chains. | | Flagstaff | AZ | Rim-country hub; costco/sam’s [VERIFY]. | | Durango / Pagosa Springs | CO | Rockies resupply + propane. | | Grand Junction | CO | West-slope hub. | | Farmington / Bloomfield | NM (near Chaco) | Closest full resupply to Chaco. | | Albuquerque / Santa Fe | NM | Hub + Santa Fe farmers market. | | Las Vegas / Pahrump | NV | Cheapest NV fuel + Costco; Death Valley approach. | | Tonopah | NV | Sparse but gas on US-6/US-95 junction — refuel gate. | | Barstow / Baker (SoCal) | CA | Mojave fuel lanes; [VERIFY] Baker “height of the jelly” dump. |
Border ag stations: California agriculture inspection at all land borders (I-15 Baker, US-95 Needles, I-40 Ludlow/Needles, US-395, US-99 S) — no citrus/potatoes/firewood across. Dogs ride through normally. AZ/NV/NM/CO have no such gates. [VERIFY] current CA ag-station hours/stations.
Firewood: don’t haul wood across state lines (>50 mi) — pest rules; buy local.

5.5 Connectivity (cell + Starlink)

Coverage map reality: cell = corridors only. Grand Canyon, Death Valley interior, NV US-50/US-6, Chaco = near-zero on all carriers. Plan satellite (Starlink Mini) as the primary remote connection, cellular as fallback.
Campendium / iOverlander = source-of-truth cell reports per site (app or web) — check before picking a boondock spot if you need to work.
Hotspots: park visitor centers usually have WiFi in buildings (not at sites); libraries in towns = free + printers.

Arizona

Street parking is the trap. Phoenix bans vehicles over ¾-ton truck chassis rating on residential streets — this E350 (class 3) is illegal to park on Phoenix residential streets. Use proper RV parks or designated public lots. [VERIFY] whether ban = permanent or permit-exempt.
Tucson: Sec 20-263 — no RV/commercial vehicle may stay on the same street block 2 consecutive days; fine risk if you park multiple days in one residential block.
Tempe: >21 ft vehicles banned from streets 2 AM–6 AM (this bus is 22–24 ft) [VERIFY code]. Flagstaff: summer overnight parking bans on some streets [VERIFY].
Grand Canyon NP: pets only on rim trails; not below rim. Camping = Mather (no hookups, 30-ft max) or Trailer Village (hookups; currently [VERIFY] water-restricted closure).
Monsoon (Jun 15–Sep 30): never sleep in a wash; respect flood warnings.

California

Campfire permit required anywhere outside developed campgrounds — free online (readyforwildfire.org/permits); also valid for camp stoves. Fire season = Jun 15–Oct 1 typical; local orders (e.g., Joshua Tree 2026) can extend. Wood/charcoal fires banned in park under restriction; gas stoves OK with 3-ft clearance.
Death Valley summer = hostile (110°F+). Fall/winter = ideal. Resort town parking rules [VERIFY] in Lone Pine/Mammoth.
Border ag station = clean produce/firewood before crossing.
Beaches/coast dunes: many close to vehicles (Anza-Borrego fine; no beach driving except designated).
Desert washes legal for dispersed camping only in designated BLM zones; stay off washbeds after rain.

Colorado

Many mountain town ordinances ban overnight sleeping in vehicles — Vail, Aspen, Telluride, Steamboat all have municipal bans [VERIFY individually].
Pass season is real: Independence (CO-82) ~May 21–Nov 7; Trail Ridge Rd (RMNP) ~May 24–Oct 15 [VERIFY]; Red Mountain/550 washouts possible post-winter.
Altitude: >8,000 ft everywhere on your main routes — hydrate, adjust first night, watch dogs for altitude strain (they get it too).
I-70 construction zones frequent; check cotrip.org day-of for delays.

Nevada

85-octane regular is common at altitude — verify 5.4L tolerance; if ping, use mid-grade.
US-6/Ely→Tonopah = the state’s fuel-trap; plan.
BLM 14-day/28-day limits across all LVAs (Quartzsite side) — obey. RTR = free event at Quartzsite Town Park.
Rest areas: NV allows up to 18 hr overnight (per camping.md) — genuinely useful.
Gun/Mt ranges: no issue for camping; just arm’s-length from active ranges [VERIFY local noise].

New Mexico

Chaco north road only; dry only; call first. South road = no.
Jemez: 7,880 ft — altitude again.
White Sands: check weather closures (gypsum dust threatens visibility).
Many NM BLM/FS sites near Farmington are tribal land — respect no-camping signs.
Santa Fe: old town parking = tight; park outside (bus too big for plaza lots).

7. Sources & Confidence Notes

Primary sources (HIGH confidence)

NPS: Chaco Culture (access roads, Gallo CG), Grand Canyon South Rim (Mather/Trailer Village/DeMotte, pets policy), Death Valley (Furnace Creek CG), Joshua Tree (fire restrictions), RMNP (timed entry/camping), Organ Pipe.
CDOT: Independence Pass opening May 21, 2026; Cumbres Pass; Raton Pass 2025 resurfacing; US-550 status.
recreation.gov: booking windows/on-sale times; Mather/DeMotte/Gallo/Furnace Creek specifics.
AAA gas price map (Sep 2026) — high-confidence as of date, not predictive.
Homes on Wheels Alliance → AZ street-parking citations; Tucson ord 20-263; Phoenix >¾-ton.
CA fire permit portal (readyforwildfire.org).

[VERIFY] before relying

Fuel prices on travel dates (volatile 2026).
Tempe 21-ft ban code number.
Phoenix ¾-ton ban ongoing enforcement status.
Death Valley daily temps; Furnace Creek site-level availability.
Trailer Village water-restriction status (closed Aug 31, 2026 — may reopen).
Grand Canyon winter FCFS availability/pace.
Chaco road condition 24–48 h before entering (505-786-7014).
CA ag-station fruit restrictions by station.
CO mountain-town overnight-vehicle bans.
NM/CO high-altitude 85-octane tolerance for 5.4L.

Open questions for next research pass

Starlink Mini vs. cellular reliability per boondock site (Campendium data).
Solar-tilt winter gains + exact idle-charge kWh/hr for this alternator.
Private park availability/winter hours along each leg (RV hotspots: Quartzsite, Lone Pine, Needles).
Trail Ridge Rd seasonal dates; Red Mountain Pass washout status.
[Pending] power-supply.md specs (battery bank size) — needed to firm battery math in §5.3.