2015 CA/NV/UT/CO/WY/SD Road Trip

[ZLoth]

After my aborted 2013 Colorado road trip, I'm starting to plan again for a two-week road trip. Right now, it's in the planning stages, and I'm looking at Summer, 2015 travel time (probably late-June). Here is what I'm looking at for destinations:

• Home base: Sacramento, CA
  
• Fallon, NV (180 Miles)
  
• Ely, NV (257 miles)- Hotel Nevada
  
• Salina, UT (223 miles)
  
• Glenwood Springs, CO (MULTI) (293 miles) - Glenwood Hot Springs
  
• Denver, CO (MULTI) (157 Miles)
  
• Rapid City, SD (MULTI) (396 miles)
  
• Casper, WY (253 Miles)
  
• Salt Lake City, UT (MULTI) (409 miles)
  
• Battle Mountain, NV (300 miles) - Big Chief Hotel
  
• Home Base: Sacramento, CA (335 miles)
  

Now, to figure out some places to stay at.... anyone have suggestions? Obviously, if I have a (MULTI) next to a destination, then I'm planing on staying for 2-3 nights, and thus I want something fancier than if I'm planning on staying at a place to just sleep. I'm also trying to be a little less aggressive with putting in the daily miles, but not always succeeding.

[ZLoth]

Would I be better traveling in late June prior to fourth of July weekend, or early July after fourth of July weekend?

[corco]

I tend to think weather is usually better in late June than it is in early July...though I have no numbers to support me.

As far as traffic, I'd think the opposite. People will be worn out from their 4th of July trips and less likely to be traveling at that point.

[agentsteel53]

there will be days that, unless you are stopping at every clump of trees to look for old Lincoln Highway concrete, you will make 500 miles without any particular effort.

[ZLoth]

500? Uff! I want to be able to stop along the way and take pictures. Last year, I drove from Sacramento to Roseburg, OR (417 miles) to Port Angeles, WA (407 miles) in two days. It was not enjoyable, plus, I had to make a ferry appointment to Victoria, BC. 250-300 miles is more of my pace.

[ZLoth]

I'm wondering if I should substitute Beaver, UT instead of Salina, UT. Salina would still be a mandatory story for fuel anyways.

[oscar]

I'm wondering if I should substitute Beaver, UT instead of Salina, UT.

Beaver would draw you south from your route, and both the town and UT 21 to get there from US 50 are pretty uninteresting.  Also, AFAIK just a handful of chain motels for lodging in Beaver.  I'm sure you can do better in Salina.