Booklover44

My mom has always wanted to see the GC, she turned 70 last summer, and so the bucket trip plans began. We will be driving from MI, and seeing as much as we can fit in, plans have already changed some, and there is a lot of driving. My mom is in great shape, but doesn't want to do any hiking - just moderate walks, and we will have 2 teens with us, 13 & 16, but this trip is for my mom. As we planned, she kept seeing how 'close' so many amazing places are, and added them to our itinerary - she doesn't figure she will ever get back out west and wants to see as much as possible. Still, some parts of the trip seem impossible, help is esp. appreciated with driving distances, as I know there are many places where a mile is more than a mile! All drive times came from mapquest w/o stops.This is our itinerary as of now:
Fri. 6/17 leave MI, drive ~ 4hrs (just get going!)
Sat 6/18 Drive - get as close to Badlands as possible
Sun 6/19 arrive at Badlands- stay in park, sight see in afternoon and next day
Mon 6/20 drive ~ 4 hrs, toward Yellowstone
Tues 6/21 drive all day to outskirts of Yellowstone
Wed. 6/22- Friday 6/24 enter Yellowstone early and see sights, 3 nights in park
Sat 6/25 leave Yellowstone early, drive (thru GT? ) and stop ? (SLC)
Sun 6/26 drive ~ 4hrs arrive Bryce, see sunset, sunrise and Queens/Navajo loop
Mon 6/27 drive to Zion couple of short hikes, emerald pools, beginning of Angels Land?
Tues 6/28 leave Zion late afternoon drive to Vegas see lights and fountians at Belliago
Wed 6/29 leave early to drive to Sequoia NP- stay in park, see trees, short walk in evening and next day (we changed Yosemite to Sequoia, b/c it seemed to make it easier to see Bryce & Zion w/o backtracking, but not sure if it saved any driving tho)
Thur. 6/30 drive to LA see Rodeo Drive stay ? (may need to skip either LA or big trees)
Fri 7/1 drive to GC arrive asap, stay in park (drive too long ?) - see sunset/sunrise and rim sights (Fri evening & Sat 1/2 day)
Sat 7/2 drive to Moab thru monument valley, etc, time ? 6hrs? best short stops
Sun 7/3 see 1/2 day of arches and head out drive ~ 5 hrs at end of day
Return to MI by end of Tues 7/5
It seems like too much, and maybe it is, mostly would like help with driving distances/times for the Yellowstone to Bryce and the GC to Moab as these are the places that are new to me also. I think that something needs to go, and the in park lodging dates make things less flex. Thanks for all your help in advance, I hope this is clear

qwovadis

roadtripusa.com

mapquest.com

you seem to be cramming way to much in

might pare back a bit for better experience

relax roll with the flow...

Happy planning,

qwovadis

In 3 weeks or so from MI for me

Badlands/Mt Rushmore/Crazy Horse/Devils tower

Yellowstone.com St Gearge/Zion Vegas

grandcanyontours.com Santa Fe/Taos

Denver/Rockies then Home

You might squeeze that in and still have some fun

outside of your car...

qwovadis

oops forgot visitsedona.com between GC and Santa Fe

makes a nice stop... happy travels!

Booklover44

Thanks - Badlands (is on the way to) YNP, big trees, GC are the main pts., although a lot of car time, seems like the views will make it bearable, this is a road trip!

tomfuller

Drop Los Angeles. Head to South Rim Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. Make a stop at Hoover Dam for a tour.
If she ever wants to see anything in the LA area, fly there and rent a car. The Mojave desert is not that interesting to drive through.
Maybe make stops in Mitchell SD (Corn Palace) and Wall SD (Wall Drug). Badlands may be very hot when you are there.
Make sure you go over Route 12 in Utah on the way to Bryce.

RVtraveler

You seem to have two choices - get more time or do less miles! Consider that if a place is worth spending hours to reach that it is deserving of adaquate time to enjoy by getting out and walking about. The memories should be of the places visited and not of the fatigue of traveling. Relax!

Mapquest and other maps give unrealistic times - they do not allow for construction delays; congestion; touring; stops for fueling, food, rest areas; etc. Your route is about 6,000 miles scheduled for 15 days or 400 miles a day without provision for stays of 2 and 3 nights at some destinations. Also, have you considered the extreme heat in Las Vegas (about 100 degrees) in late June?

utahtea

No one loves a good road trip more than I do, but as other have mentioned, you are going to find the times you have allotted for driving are best case scenario and really don't allow for road construction, eating, gas and pit stops. How often does your mother have to go to the bathroom a day? If it was my Mom, we'd be stopping every two hours for pit stops.

I would skip Big Trees and Los Angeles, if for nothing else to keep you from being at the Grand Canyon on the 4th of July weekend! The 4th of July crowds will be traveling on Friday and traffic out of LA will probably be murder on that day! Don't know about your area, but people mob the roads over holiday weekends out here in California! It's about 500 miles from LA to Grand Canyon Visitor Center and it's going to be a grueling day of driving!

Grand Canyon in the summer is crowded and a holiday weekend will be worse. Do you have reservations yet? If not, I just can't imagine you finding any over the holiday weekend.

From Yellowstone to Bryce is going to be a very long day if you go though the Grand Tetons but it would be so worth it. Do you have reservations yet for Yellowstone? If not, keep checking for cancellations and look for lodging at West Yellowstone. West Yellowstone will be the most convenient place to stay outside the park and get to the major attractions in the park.

SLC to Bryce will 4 hours unless you hit traffic in the SLC area.

If you skip Sequoia and LA, you can spend more time in Moab and on the road getting home. Maybe even drive though Rocky Mountain National Park.

Hikes: You said you're Mom likes moderate walks, so Queens Garden might be a little challenging because there is a pretty good decent into the canyon which might be to strenuous hiking back out. The hike along the rim from Sunset to Sunrise is very easy. In Zion make sure you do the 2 mile round trip Riverside Walk. This is an easy walk as the canyon walls get narrower and narrower. Lower Emerald Pools will be pretty easy but Middle and Upper pools get more strenuous. Summer is HOT in Zion so try and get your hiking in early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Utahtea

utahtea

Forgot to mention! At the first national park you enter, have your Mom get the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Senior Pass for $10.00 http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

Utahtea

StuDudley

You are skipping Yosemite in favor of Rodeo Drive??? Please explain !!!

A month ago, we visited many of the places you are considering - covering the Calif Gold Country, Yosemite, Sequoia, Mojave, Grand Canyon, Route 66, Sedona, Zion, Death Valley, Eastern Sierras, Gold Country again, and then home (San Francisco area). It took us 18 nights.

- 1 night Gold Country,
- 2 nights Sequoia
- 1 night Mojave desert
- 1 night Mojave desert/Kingman
- 2 nights Grand Canyon
- 1 night Winslow Az
- 4 nights Sedona with friends
- 1 night Zion
- 2 nights Death Valley
- 1 night Eastern Sierras (actually, South Lake Tahoe)
- 1 night Gold Country

Best
Yosemite
Grand Canyon
Zion
Death Valley
Red Rocks in Sedona - the town/village is "skippable"

OK
Sequoia
Eastern Sierras
Gold Country in spring - not in summer

Skippable
Mojave area
Kingman
Winslow

I did a mapquest thing for our trip, and was able to better mapquest's times on the major highways. It took us 4 1/2 hrs to get from Sedona to Zion & mapquest said 6. I think mapquest planned on traveling the speed limit - but everyone was driving faster. Obviously, mapquest did not allow for any "stops" - as RVtraveler noted. On slower roads we "paced" mapquest.

I agree with tomfuller - drop LA. I would drop LV also. I would not visit Death Valley in June. If possible, DO NOT miss Yosemite - but getting reservations this late may be a problem.

Stu Dudley

Barblab

The Badlands can be seen (espically if you don't want to hike, and it is hot as it will be in June) by simply driving the loop road that goes through the park. That would give you the next day to see Rushmore, Crazy Horse, perhaps Wind Cave NP, and end up at dusk in Custer SP to see the herds of animals.

Save the California parks and sights for Bucket List Trip #2.

If you drop California then I would drive from Yellowstone through Grand Teton and straight to Vegas. Personaly I would cut Vegas too, but just my opinion. After Vegas I would visit Zion, Bryce, then head north on 12 to 24 visiting parks along the way to Mohab. You could then head home via 70 with a quick stop at Rocky Mountain NP or drop down and see Mesa Verde and then Great Sand Dunes NP via 160 in Colorado.

Have fun!

janisj

You have waaaay too much in too litle time -- especially at that time of year.

Las Vegas, Sequoia, Beverly Hills, Yosemite, even the Grand Canyon -- I'd drop off THIS trip. Concentrate on Badlands, Yellowstone, Zion/Bryce and anything in between there and MI.

OR -- forget the northern bits and concentrate on the Grand Canyon/LA/Yosemite/Sequoia

IMO, this is either 1) a two trip itinerary -- or -- 2) needs about an additional 5-7 days. Some places will be VERY hot and even in a car w/ a/c it will be draining to be on the go so much.

Jean

I'd leave California and Las Vegas for another trip when you fly rather than drive from Michigan. This is just too much driving (probably 22+ hours) in those 3-4 days to enjoy any destination when you get there, and none of the route is particularly interesting IMO. You'll also save about 1,000 gas miles.

As someone mentioned, if you don't already have lodging reservations for the long July 4th weekend (from Wed. or Thurs. before to at least Tues. after), you may have to drive away from your destinations to find availability. I'd nail down that part of the itinerary ASAP and book some lodging.

elnap29

I'm with Utahtea. If Grand Canyon is the main attraction, please skip Sequoia and LA (or any of California) for this trip. Go directly from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon.

Bryce - Yes, I was thinking the same thing: I'm not fond of that drop-off on the Queens Garden Loop. Walking the rim at sunset and sunrise is nice. If you want a taste of the inner canyon, head down Wall Street, perhaps to the bottom, or at least as far as you are comfortable. Then turn around and walk the switchbacks back up. That way, you'll know exactly what you're in for.

In Zion, make the Riverside Walk a priority. Maybe add another night here. There are some lovely not so strenuous walks.

bon_voyage

As others have recommended, I would also eliminate California. Given that the first place you mentioned on your mom's bucket list was the Grand Canyon and given your plans to see Bryce and Zion, you might more easily fit the North Rim into to your itinerary. Be aware that Bryce's elevation is 8,000+ feet.

Myer

I agree with utahtea about Bryce. Going down into the canyon at 8000 feet of elevation may require that your mother hire her own helicopter. Much younger people will be winded. Walk the rim instead.

Definitely Riverside Walk in Zion.

Yosemite for the combination of easy walks and spectacular views.

Your monther qualifies for a Senior lifetime pass to national parks for $10. And it's valid for the entire car (or at least 4 people).

You are jamming in too much for the time. However, as I get older and try to get in what I should have known about years ago I would lengthen the trip by a week and relax a bit more between drives.

If your mother feels this may be her only chance to see this part of the country and she's the one adding destinations, go for it but for a longer trip.

Booklover44

WOW - thanks! You are echoing my trepedations, with the experience for some of these locations that I don't have. Sequoia and LA are going to have to wait, it just adds too much driving time. I didn't think about the July 4th weekend -hum. I have reservations in Yellowstone & GC, I will be canceling the ones in Sequoia and Yosemite. I wish the GC ones could be moved up so we could spend more time in and enroute to Moab.I like the ideas to add Rushmore, etc. that seems very doable ( where is spell check when you need it?)I have to work on details, but I think we'll take an 'extra' day to go through the GTNP, ? is it very similar to YNP ? and add a day somewhere between GTNP and GC - are the coral sand dunes 'close'? Vegas is a stop to rest for a day, do laundry, enjoy a nice pool (hopefully not too hot)
I will note the Wallstreet (trail) in Bryce, I just want to get mom down into the canyon - not kill her! and now that I think about it, that was no walk!
I am choosing to skip (most) of 12, and go BCNP, ZNP, GCNP instead of opposite b/c I have been to this area before, but not eastern/southern UT - want to see Monument Valley & Painted Desert on the way (somehow )

I wish we could add a couple more days,but it is not an option- back to the drawing board!

J62

Teton NP is nothing like Yellowstone. The former is tall granite mountains, the latter is geysers, wildlife, lake, & canyon.

Your plan for Vegas was to arrive late, see fountains, then leave early the next day. It'll be 105 to 110 in Vegas - too hot to hang out by the pool in the afternoon. Unless you really want to see Vegas then consider going straight from Zion to GC via Page. If you want to see Vegas then it's not too far a detour.

Consider staying at Zion for an extra day, in the town of Springdale (Desert Pearl hotel). You can relax by the pool there, do laundry, etc. Much more relaxing down time. The 2 teens can venture back into the park on the free shuttle bus and take a short hike or 2 on their own.

edeevee

What is it with 70 yo moms and bucket trips? I'm taking mine to New York this summer

Have you considered taking the train? Amtrak gets you close to a lot of the places your mom wants to go. With rail passes, it looks like you could get off and on, and rent cars for your local travel.

For instance:
You can catch a train from "Wherever, MI" to Denver thru Chicago that will get you there in less than a day. In Denver you could rent a car. Drive from there to Badlands (7 hrs), loop back to Mt. Rushmore (2 hrs?), on to Yellowstone (8 hrs). Spend a couple of days in Yellowstone, then drive to Salt Lake City. You can drop off car there and get back on train to Sacramento or spend another day or two going to Zion and Bryce.

Once you get back on the train, it looks like an overnight trip to Sacramento, arriving in the afternoon. Rent another car and Yosemite is just 4 hours away. Sequoia is another 4 hours, and from there, LA is a 5 hour backtrack.

Drop off the car again and board the train in LA for the Grand Canyon. It gets to Flagstaff, AZ really early in the morning. Maybe not early enough to rent a car and get to the rim in time for sunrise though. Spend however long you want at GC, then turn in your car and get back on the train.

It's a long ride back to Chicago and Michigan from there, but heck, you'll be tired!

Hope this helps!

tomfuller

As an advocate for Amtrak, I like some parts of edeevee's plan.
I would still drop LA and Flagstaff.
Train to Denver-rent car to go to Badlands/Mt. Rushmore/Rapid City an return car to Denver. Take train to SLC and check into a hotel since the train gets in after 11PM. Rent a car and take the trip to Grand Teton/Yellowstone first. Travel south from SLC to Moab. See Arches/ Canyonlands and then south through Monument Valley and then west to the Grand Canyon. From GC go through Page to get to Zion then Bryce. Go over Rt. 12 to Capitol Reef and Goblin Valley. If you still have time, you could continue on the train to Sacramento to rent a car to go to Yosemite and Kings Canyon. Return to Chicago on the CA Zephyr instead of the SW Chief. Yosemite and LA could easily be included in Bucket trip #2.
You could also go to the North Rim GC from Page if there are too many people at the South Rim.