Travel

[songbird]

It is scheduled for early September (2019)  It's an overal trip to 3 (or 4) Parks, spread over several states.  Starting in South Dakota (for Mr. Rushmore)  Other states will be Utah, Wyoming and Arizona.  My questions are concerning the climate.  I'm assuming it will be very hot during the day and lots cooler at night.  I'm fine with clothes (jeans and cotton tops, long and short sleeves) and with shoes (sneakers and pair of boots)  This will be a 8 day trip.  Is my assumption correct?  Will I need a light jacket or sweaters for the evening? 

[Kachina624]

The desert Southwest states will be hotter than hades in September.  You'll need a jacket only if you intend to venture into higher elevations.

[itsmagic]

We did a trip like that last mid-September.  We flew into Rapid City and ended the bus trip in Salt Lake City. We visited Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Little Big Horn, Mammouth Hot Springs, Yellowstone,  Grand Tetons, Snake River raft trip, Jackson Hole, Oregon Trail, Salt Lake City.  We had great weather but I remember it did get cool at night in Yellowstone.  In fact one morning it snowed a bit. But most the time it was in the mid to high 60s in the high altitude during the day but it was in the 70s-80s in Rapid City and Salt Lake City.  So yes take a jacket for late evening and early morning. September is an excellent time to go because of lower crowds.  You’re going to see some beautiful sights!

[LindaSal]

@songbirdYou will need to be prepared for warm and cold.   As others stated it's all about the elevation.  We have visited many of the National parks, some of the best vacations we've taken.  Many of the ones you mentioned.   For example last July we were in Yellowstone and while the day time was 80 degrees it would fall into the low 30's at night.   Best advice is layer layer layer.........have a blast!

[SXMGirl]

@songbird, we are planning a similar trip for this spring.

[chprsp]

Layers and keep a jacket with you. In September 2012 we toured  a number of the parks. The day we arrived at the Grand Canyon it started snowing and the canyon filled up with fog. My jacket was in my suitcase in the luggage portion of the bus. I ended up buying a fleece jacket.

[BirkiLady]

@songbird  You will need a good jacket or wool sweater. SD, WY and UT all turn chilly in the evenings. AZ is hot all of the time in September! You are going to some of the most spectacular places in the US and the views are glorious.  Enjoy your vacation! 

BTW: I never wore boots in any of those places. Save you luggage space. My Birkenstocks were fine and we walked miles and miles when on family vacations in each State. My husband and son both also wore Birk's, but also took sneakers for the hike down the Grand Canyon. (Guess women really are the tougher sex! I hiked in sandals.) 

[mimomof4]

MIL just took almost the same trip this September right after labor day (sans Arizona).  The weather was very cool while she was there with her friends.  She packed a jacket - not exactly light but heavier then you would expect.  Check the weather for the areas you will be visiting a week ahead of time.  MIL was only going to back a very light jacket. We checked the weather for her before she left and temps were going down to the 30's at night so we recommended a heavier jacket.  

Be prepared for lots of walking.

[songbird]

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@BirkiLady wrote:

@songbird  You will need a good jacket or wool sweater. SD, WY and UT all turn chilly in the evenings. AZ is hot all of the time in September! You are going to some of the most spectacular places in the US and the views are glorious.  Enjoy your vacation! 

BTW: I never wore boots in any of those places. Save you luggage space. My Birkenstocks were fine and we walked miles and miles when on family vacations in each State. My husband and son both also wore Birk's, but also took sneakers for the hike down the Grand Canyon. (Guess women really are the tougher sex! I hiked in sandals.) 

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I'm a hiker and I always wear boots.  I'm covered up all the time in any woods.  Cotton long sleeve shirts and jeans with boots. I live next to a state park.  All kind of snakes and creatures out there.  I would never dream of going anywhere there without some kind of covering (including the feet)

[FrostyBabe1]

I took a trip that included overnights at Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion national parks, as well as Monument Valley in early September of 2017. 

The weather was HOT during the day (mid 80's) and very cool at night. 

Since I'm a hiker, I wore shorts and t-shirts during the day, with sturdy hiking shoes. Many of the trails in the parks are narrow, steep and rocky, with no guardrails in place. There were signs along the way encouraging folks to wear proper hiking boots/shoes on the trails for their own safety. One dimbulb in our group decided she could hike up to Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon in sandals of some sort, and ended up in the ER with a severely sprained ankle. 

Evenings were mostly jeans and a sweatshirt. I took along a pair of chinos and a sweater for dressier wear and never wore them.