Oh, Beth Ann, your comment about using park showers just reminded me of a couple of other tips. Bring along a pair of flipflops or, even better, water shoes, that you can wear right into the shower so your feet are never in contact with the floor. I personally like the water shoes because I don't like having to mess around with socks and shoes in those tiny shower areas, and water shoes keep my damp feet from getting dusty when I walk back to the tent.

I also recommend a cheap plastic basket with handles to carry your shampoo, shower gel, towel, clean undies etc to the shower area to keep everything dry and within easy reach. My plastic basket cost $.99 at the dollar store and is worth it's weight in gold because I can set it on the bench, or hang it from a hook, and keep everything up and out of the sometimes less than pristine floor area. I also wear a pair of sweats, or a loose T-shirt dress, sans undies to the shower to make getting undressed quick and easy. Changing into your actual clothes and shoes is easier in your own environment.

And a final hint: go for your shower either very early in the morning (say around 6 am) or mid morning (around 10:30 or 11am) to make sure that you have hot water! Otherwise, your shower can be unexpectedly refreshing and your teeth will be chattering.

And, on a brighter note, the vast majority of park showers are just fine as long as you keep things simple and don't attempt much grooming/dressing in them.

Mann: That's it exactly! I'll take workout leggings to wear underneath in case of cold weather, too. And whether I'll need a more "real pants" look will depend on where I am!

Gaylene: Such excellent advice! Public showers are my least favorite part of camping, and it's been decades since I've used them!

Sarah: Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

i don't think anyone's mentioned ticks. You'll be in tick infested areas, and this is another reason to wear long sleeved stuff. I forget about them, 'cuz they're so far not here, but I know they're in Idaho and east. We went on a short hike through tall grass, and our poor dog was covered when we checked him later.
Lyme disease isn't to be messed with. You're visiting some beautiful places.
Hope it's a great trip.

Well, I've been on exactly one extended camping/hiking trip in my adult life, so my suggestions may be a bit "city girl", but here goes. We were in Montana in September, and there were lots of bears, so take some noise makers...whistles, tin cups, etc. Make up remover cloths are great to remove facial dirt and grime throughout the day so you can reapply sunscreen. Figure out how long it takes to shower the days you wash your hair. When I was there, each token was something like 7 minutes. Turns out 7 minutes is not long enough for me to get the conditioner out of my hair. Take gum or breathmints. all the huffing and puffing had me dying to brush my teeth several times/day. Purell is a Godsend. Make sure your feet don't slide forward in your boots when you're headed downhill. I came home with only 9 toenails. Probably a good idea to cut them really short as well. It won't apply to you, but don't try to set up a tent in a blizzard because your boyfriend (mine) was in denial that there could really be a blizzard in September. Finally, if you'll make it all the way up to Canada, we stayed the last two nights at an adorable little inn on a lake at the base of beautiful snow capped mountains. I'll search out the name if you need it. That's all I've got. Have a wonderful and safe trip!

I just want to add that Smart wool socks are really good and come in many weights so you might want to look for some summer ones! Really comfortable and durable.

Well, i have been hoping to get on the computer to type to no avail, so please excuse in phone typos and autocorrects...

For hiking id use a trail runner (bonus you could get some runs in!) for runners used to a structured shoe brooks cascadia is a potential. For a flexible minimal shoe but that has a nuce rock plate i like my patagonia evermores. I have a soloman fellcross pair of trail runners too and because of them i am selling my zamberlain hiking boots. Short of needing crampons the soloman shoes can do it all. They have some trail models that are less expensive than the fellcross too. I wear mens sizing for the width and it works really well.

Socks i am a fan of the ol two pair method to avoid blisters.. Body glide on know likely to get tender on feet places then toe socks (inininji or smartwool) then thin over sock (smartwool or goodhew or defeet who also makes thin wool in addition to coolmax)

Are your leopard crocs flats? Those could be shower shoes? You can dry them with a towel and they will be ready 10 sec later. Agree about a dress etc to wear to showers.. The floor is always wet and if you try to find somewhere to balance your nice clean dry clothes they always fall and get yucky. Change into your clothes for the day at your campsite always so much easier, also showerjng at night is a great way to avoid crowds, check for ticjs and keep your bedding cleaner eadier.

I basically hate cotton for camping but usually bring jeans for campfire sitting about times. I dont like to put bug stuff on after my shower and the mosquitos will bite right through those lightweight nylon pants. I dont care for the zip iff legs myself but i think thats a matter of personal comfort, id rather wear ling pants under a skirt or dress and pull them iff if i get too hot. Also i usually run hot so bare kegs work in early morning as long as i have a nice layer on top... Which brings me to "sweater weight" down jackets. The. Bomb.

ETA: Just reread, and oh my typos "bare kegs in early morning" well... that does sounds like some camping trips i've been on!

The sweater weight down vest or jacket is worth its weight in gold (which is about what they cost but....) and gets MVP status. Can put under a rain shell for warmth (aside on rain shells: I am looking at maybe getting a Helly Hansen striped Lyness which seems to have good fashion crossover factor i think but havent seen in person), can wear by itself on cold mormings and evenings can throw into small bag in it's pocket and put in bag when out for day, sleep in it if the night is colder than what you planned for... yadda yadda. I have a vest style (lowe alpine) and a jacket (eddie baurer first ascent line) never ever go into the backcountry without them.

Another item I love love love for car camping are the Ikea tarpulan bags, not the huge blue ones (which are awesome for carrying firewood btw) but their cute ones that are slightly larger than a grocery bag. Everyone gets one in our tent and they are waterproof so even if it floods your clothes stay dry. I know you will be in the camper but they are like $2 and you can set them on the ground and they dont wick water! amazing!

On the subject of water, if your camper doesnt have a water tank get some of those 5 gal collapsable jugs with the spicket. Have someones chose be to keep them filled each morning and your back and forth the the water source trips will stop cutting into your day. Baby wipes are awesome for cleaning up too and less expensive than makeup remover wipes, unscented and I always put them and the toothpaste in the bear box/bag just because i dont want any troubles. Well, now I have to go back and reread your questions because my own train of thought has taken me way off course!

CC: Absolutely right to remind me of the "present tic situation." We certainly know this tiny menace in northern Illinois --- tic checks are an excuse for tickle fights in our family!

Carter: Even City Girls like us can love being in nature once in a while! I didn't think about timed showers -- good thing I can be pretty fast (so much for leg shaving). I hadn't thought about noisemakers for bears, but I could always toss off Tosca's big finish -- you know, when she screams, "Scaaaarpia" as she throws herself off a parapet. That oughta be good for a couple of grizzlies! And I so wish we had time to get to Canada!

Sarah: Thanks for typing your foot-saving wisdom on a tiny phone keyboard! I will definitely try some of these out! I think I might take a t-shirt dress, in addition to my black one, it would be great for showering.

Okay... back to the subjects at hand. Quick dry undies. I have both patagonia capeliene and ex officio (the ExO which give horrible VPL so I dont usually wear them). The gal at the outdoor store here tells me the Ibex are the best sellers these days, they no longer carry the patagonia undies b/c they sat on the shelf while the other flew off. Not sure of their fit model. Patagona is cut super straight (I always end up adding elastic to the waist b/c it will be like 4" too big for stuff that fits my hips.)

If you are going to buy at REI do the member thing I think it is $20 for a lifetime and you get back 10% on all full price purchases. Forever. I dont buy a lot full price but I have gotten my $20 back for sure. They also so memebrs only coupons for the REIOutlet so outlet + 20% off makes the prices competitive wih pretty much anywhere out there. And I shop around for the best price You have given yourself plenty of time to plan ahead so that will serve you well to be able to be frugal.

I love merino wool T's for their ability to go at least 3 days without stinking so if they are in the budget that is nice, occasionally Sams or Costco can be a good option for this. A UPF (sun protection) shirt & hat pretty much rounds it out for me. Really though, almost all of me recommendation are "nice to have" will make you comfortable etc. I am CERTAIN you could go to your closet right now and do this trip without buying anything, you might do more laundry or not be as comfortable as you could be if it rained or whatever so realize that my lists here are my luxuries that make me comfortable when out doing something I find really fun

Sarah I enjoyed reading all your tips and am taking notes....