Where To Go

The American motor camper has a continental range. Since the construction of the great transcontinental highways our people have roamed back and forth east and west from coast to coast and north and south from the Canadian border to the Gulf. [169]

The summer touring is mostly from East to West and vice versa. In winter the movement is from North to South and back again with the approach of warmer weather.

A transcontinental tour is now a comparatively easy matter, provided the motorist carries along the necessary equipment. Formerly a motor trip across from coast to coast was somewhat hazardous, and sure to be at least an expensive and a tiring undertaking. Rapidly improving road conditions on the main routes of travel are fast making the transcontinental journey one of enjoyment and interest.

The camper, for an ocean to ocean trip, requires but little, if anything, more in the way of equipment than is needed for a week-end tour. With the steady increase of cross-country travel the traveler can secure all necessary supplies in practically every village along the main highways.

In taking such a long tour as across the continent it is well to pay a little more care to the camping outfit. Here the increased comfort will fully compensate for some added outlay. It is recommended also that the tourist be sure to have along a shovel, ax, one hundred feet of five-eighth-inch rope, and a tarpaulin. The likelihood of mud on some of the trails east of the Rocky Mountains makes this equipment advisable. Two desert water bags should be taken along if the route leads through arid country. They may be hung at some place on the car where the evaporation of the water which soaks through will cool the contents. Fill with soft water whereever [170]that is procurable, and at every opportunity.

For a long tour load the car light. You will not need to load up with gasoline or oil cans. Remember that you will have no difficulty in obtaining gasoline along the main traveled routes, and need not carry an extra supply. But it will be well to fill your tank at every station, whether it is empty or not, for thus you will be sure to have a sufficient supply of gas until you reach the next place. Of course it will be wise to have extra parts, and before starting on such a long tour the car should be equipped with new casings on all wheels and two spares with the addition of a few good inner tubes. If you have bad luck with blow-outs, new casings can be bought at almost any town along the route.

You will be able to buy needed food supplies along the route, but it will be just as well to carry some emergency rations, such as chocolate bars, seeded raisins and malted milk tablets.

The Main East and West Highways

North and South Highways

Branches of Main Highways

Other Important Trails

Great Variety of Camping Sites

The Forests

The National Parks

Opening Dates of Parks

State Parks and Forests

Boise’s Attractive Park

A Model Site in Salt Lake City

Denver’s Remarkable Overland Park