ROAMING WITH RICKTHE 2026 CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNAL

OCTOBER 10 – NOVEMBER 1, 2026 · ON THE ROAD

Minister of matrimony
takes an irreverent
roadtrip

From Oregon to Maryland, a family visit and an Expo meetup.
Then home through Colorado, Arches, Canyonlands and Nevada.

Eugene, ORDamascus, MDEugene, OR
Toyota Tacoma + Tune M1 camper

COAST-TO-COUNTRY EXPLORING

Outbound · map

Tap a numbered stop to take a closer look.

Showing outbound · 9 stops. View this section’s itinerary ↓

Unfolding the map…
CompletedLatest check-inUpcoming

Rick’s GPS location

Loading location…

Public GPS

OCTOBER 10–18

Outbound drive times

Planned driving · approximate times

DateDriveMilesDriving
Oct 10Eugene → Farewell Bend State Recreation Area~462~8h 45m
Oct 11Farewell Bend State Recreation Area → Massacre Rocks State Park~279~4h 45m
Oct 12Massacre Rocks State Park → Dugway Campground~407~7h 30m
Oct 13Dugway Campground → Cedar Pass Campground~476~8h 45m
Oct 14Cedar Pass Campground → Cottonwood Campground / Gavins Point~303~5h 15m
Oct 15Cottonwood Campground / Gavins Point → Tailwater East Campground~359~7h 15m
Oct 16Tailwater East Campground → Whitewater Memorial State Park~442~8h 30m
Oct 17Whitewater Memorial State Park → Shenango Recreation Area Campground~310~6h
Oct 18Shenango Recreation Area Campground → Damascus~288~5h 30m

Estimates exclude traffic, meals, fuel and sightseeing. Allow extra time for weather and stops.

23days of adventure
15campground nights
~6,794planned road miles
11federal campgrounds

ONE NIGHT AT A TIME

Outbound itinerary

Farewell Bend · Snake River
Farewell Bend · Snake River
01Oct 10 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Oregon

Farewell Bend State Recreation Area

Reservation status unavailable

Snake River views and Oregon Trail history.

~8h 45m★ 8/10Non-federal
Showers listed · unconfirmed
Massacre Rocks State Park
Massacre Rocks State Park
02Oct 11 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Idaho

Massacre Rocks State Park

Reservation status unavailable

Basalt cliffs, Snake River trails and historic Register Rock.

~4h 45m★ 9/10Non-federal
Showers listed · unconfirmed
Nearby Seminoe Dam · North Platte River
Nearby Seminoe Dam · North Platte River
03Oct 12 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Wyoming

Dugway Campground

Reservation status unavailable

A quiet night beside the North Platte River.

~7h 30m★ 8/10Federal
No showers listed
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park
04Oct 13 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Cedar Pass Campground

Reservation status unavailable

Badlands formations, sunset color and wide-open night skies.

~8h 45m★ 10/10Federal
Seasonal showers · confirm
Gavins Point · Missouri River
Gavins Point · Missouri River
05Oct 14 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Nebraska / South Dakota

Cottonwood Campground / Gavins Point

Reservation status unavailable

Gavins Point Dam and the shores of Lake Yankton.

~5h 15m★ 8.5/10Federal
Showers listed · unconfirmed
Coralville Lake · surrounding scenery
Coralville Lake · surrounding scenery
06Oct 15 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Iowa

Tailwater East Campground

Reservation status unavailable

Iowa River scenery and the nearby Devonian Fossil Gorge.

~7h 15m★ 8/10Federal
Showers listed · unconfirmed
Nearby Brookville Lake
Nearby Brookville Lake
07Oct 16 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Indiana

Whitewater Memorial State Park

Reservation status unavailable

Lakeside trails and autumn hardwood forest.

~8h 30m★ 8/10Non-federal
Showers listed · unconfirmed
Shenango Lake · winter view
Shenango Lake · winter view
08Oct 17 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Pennsylvania

Shenango Recreation Area Campground

Reservation status unavailable

Shenango River Lake and colorful woodland trails.

~6h★ 8.5/10Federal
Showers listed · unconfirmed
Near Damascus · Little Bennett Regional Park
Near Damascus · Little Bennett Regional Park
09Oct 18 2026Upcoming

Outbound · Maryland

Damascus

Arrive in Damascus before the family visit, October 19–22.

~5h 30mArrivalNon-federal
Not applicable

Drive times and mileage are approximate road-routing estimates, excluding traffic, fuel stops and sightseeing. Progress is based on planned miles to the last reached stop. Campground facilities are listed amenities; October service and availability may vary. Outbound scores are Rick’s supplied ratings; return campgrounds are not yet rated. The return route crosses Colorado’s I-70 mountain corridor, Nevada high desert and the Oregon Cascades; check current road conditions. Tap an official page for current conditions and reservations.

Photo credits

Photographs show the named site or the nearby scenery identified in each caption. Images are resized and cropped for the cards; seasons may differ from the trip dates.

POSTCARDS FROM FRIENDS

Leave a little road encouragement

A hello, a local tip, or a favorite stop.

0/300
Your name and message will be public. No sign-in required.

Loading messages…