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How to get there from here..routing advice, North Rim to Moab

How to get there from here..routing advice, North Rim to Moab

Old Jan 27th, 2015, 04:27 PM
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How to get there from here..routing advice, North Rim to Moab

We sometimes like to do a 2-part vacation, and have one planned for this fall. However, instead of connecting a week in one location to a week in another via flying, this time we are flying into Salt Lake City and basically doing a figure 8. We also like to avoid 1-night stays. Inevitably, we have come across a couple of connections that are resolved either by a looong drive (to me, more than 7 hours without factoring in stops) or a 1-night stopover.

Would like your thoughts on one in particular. We will be leaving the Grand Canyon North Rim for Moab. If I can snag a 2nd night at GC North, it is definitely a long day drive from there to Moab - if so, what would you recommend as the best route, with maybe a couple of short stops for scenery or interest? Or if 1 night at GC North, we can drive halfway to Moab and stay somewhere - giving us more time for visiting some other parks, but what and where?

This will be nearing mid-October. We will spend 4 nights in Moab afterward, and will have previously been to Bryce. Honestly, I am not sure if there is anything so different from other stops to win over 2 nights at the North Rim (if we can get it), rather than 2 consecutive 1-nights.

Since DH and I have been chewing this over nine ways from Sunday, at this point I'd be grateful for anything to break the mental vapor lock..

P.S. Week 1 is in Yellowstone and week 2 in Utah, if that is at all relevant.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 04:53 PM
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I would stay at Goulding's Lodge -
http://www.gouldings.com/
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 04:56 PM
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Here's an interesting read about Harry Goulding -
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/fe...t-valley200903
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 05:45 PM
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Natural Bridges Monument--hike down into it and see all the bridges.
Overnight at the Recapture Lodge in Bluff--maybe do a day hike around Cedar Mesa.
See the Edge of the Cedar Museum in Blanding (I think it is still open--its really awesome)
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 06:31 PM
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Agree with any of the above and you could take a trip into the Needles District of Canyonlands, a bit past Monticello off 191.

If you decide to go to Natural Bridges, head up the Moki dugway, stop in at Goosenecks of the San Juan SP for a quick look.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 04:01 AM
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We did this trip......drove from SLC (1N) to Zion NP (2N) then headed to Vegas as we were so near (1N). Stayed at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim (2N) then drove to monument valley but stayed in The View (2N) then on to Moab (2N). If you do go to MV then take the Navajo Monument Tours twilight trip and early morning Mustang ride....phenomenal!!
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 05:30 AM
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AAA offers a couple of alternatives; it sounds like you are all recommending the southern option through Arizona then up? It looks like south on 89 then 160-191 or 89 then 160-163-191 (if going to Natural Bridges). Would that be correct?

One route will take us through Capitol Reef National Park: 89-62-24-I70-191. It is the longest routing, but there appear to be a couple of lodging choices near Capitol Reef.

The quickest routing option I see is north on 89 to I-70 then 191 into Moab. If we end up driving straight through, AAA recommends that one, but it likely means going back through an area already traveled.

Since this would be a single night with not a lot of time spent there, I am reluctant to go for rates such as Gouldings or the View (which both sound fantastic!). Do not see much else on that route, although I did check out the Hampton Inn in Kayenta (no availability). Any recommendations for reasonably priced but fairly decent places on that route or around Capitol Reef?

Thanks!
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 05:36 AM
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"Since this would be a single night with not a lot of time spent there, I am reluctant to go for rates such as Gouldings or the View (which both sound fantastic!). "

This is one example (the best example I can think of) where the journey IS the destination.

The reason that people are directing you south is seeing Monument Valley IS the best thing you can do - not just between Point A and Point B, but (IMO anyway) more important than Points A and B.

If you decide to bypass Monument Valley (which I think would be a crying shame), then I'd stay at the North Rim (which I LOVE) for another night and then go your fast, interstate route.

IMO if all you do is absorb the surroundings, spend the night and see a sunset/sunrise that very may well be your favorite night of the entire trip.
If money is a concern, I'd save $ elsewhere on the trip just to splurge for one night IN Monument Valley (and not the Hampton Inn).
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 08:20 AM
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Starrs you are so right....I am surprised that we even made Monument Valley with the amount of stops we took to admire the view.....even stood where Forrest Gump stopped running! Monument Valley is a must...it is a truly spectacular/spiritual place....to see the sunset and sunrise (so worth getting up early) as backdrop for the buttes is worth the journey alone...
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 08:54 AM
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There is a motel across the street from the Hampton Inn that used to be a Holiday Inn. I think it is called Kayenta Monument Valley Inn now.

There also are a couple of motels in Mexican Hat, not fancy but we stayed once in one that was probably 2*, but was clean and in a fabulous location right on the San Juan.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 11:38 AM
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Thanks for all that. I am concerned about trying to cram too much in. We've been to Monument Valley briefly, but didn't have time to devote to it, as we were on an overly ambitious road trip. This is one place we will definitely plan to visit specifically, and I would like to include Canyon de Chelly in that trip. (I envision something that includes Durango, Mesa Verde, etc.)

I'll keep checking for cancellations at the North Rim for that second night. After doing some more research, I am leaning toward the route that will require an overnight at Capitol Reef as Plan B. This second half of the trip is a "Utah Parks" week. If anybody can recommend places in Torrey, Utah, I would be grateful.

We've already cut out some things in order to be able to do others, and these are tough choices for sure. This trip is DH's wish list, since he gave us a real scare with a health crisis around Thanksgiving.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 11:47 AM
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I must not be following. If this is his wish list trip and you've been before briefly an overnight in a hotel with a great sunset/sunrise view seems the perfect thing to do with that second night.

That would be my first choice.

But if Canyon de Chelly is also on your to-do list, there's nothing wrong with heading to Chinle and doing a tour in the afternoon or the next morning before heading back up toward Moab. It's a couple of more hours of driving but would be great to see CdeC on this trip.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 12:15 PM
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I was probably being a little misleading, apologies for that. This started out as a Yellowstone/GT vacation, but then have added on some days to finally explore some of Utah. Given that, we will be looking at a few long drives.

DH wants to spend a week at Yellowstone/GT and then a second week seeing some Utah parks primarily around Moab (Arches, Canyonlands, Goblin Valley State Park, etc). But then he also had a "must do" request to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, so we will go that far just to do that, although it poses some challenges to the schedule (had to cut some other things out).

We've got some long-anticipated activities already booked. I am so looking forward to the half day mule trips at the GC and Bryce, renting a jeep for Canyonlands, etc.

Since I'm already stretching available vacation time and budget on this trip, I'll just have to plan a return trip. Not a bad thing at all! Thanks for all that advice, because I will surely be using it then.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 12:44 PM
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Ahhh. Makes sense.

I highly recommend the mule trip.

If you make it to the Cody side of Yellowstone, go here -
http://www.meeteetsechocolatier.com/
The town looks like it's out of a Western movie. It has a nice little local museum and that amazing chocolate shop. Amelia Earhart was going to live there after her flight and her belongings had already been shipped.

Are you planning to do the Beartooth Highway on your Yellowstone trip? You have a great (long) trip planned. We did a Yellowstone/Teton week followed by a Montana/Glacier week. There's no way to see everything but anything you see will be great. Enjoy!
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 01:42 PM
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Since you've seen Monument Valley (even briefly) and you haven't been to Capitol Reef, I'd recommend that route. Make sure you take scenic Hwy 12 between Bryce and Torrey!

Are you going to do the Schafer Trail up into Canyonlands in the 4x4 rental? It's my favorite. If you do, ask the rental place how to come back though Long Canyon.

Utahtea
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 03:29 PM
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Utahtea - We will plan on the Schafer Trail and Long Canyon, thanks for that suggestion. I am considering several places: Austin's Chuckwagon Lodge, Capitol Reef Resort, and Broken Spur Inn - any knowledge of those?

starrs - you know, we have not yet been to Cody. That sounds like a great idea, and I can surely get that onto the plan. Yes, we've done the Beartooth Highway, how beautiful. Likely will head that way one of the days, depending on what roads might be open/closed. We did have to cut out a separate stay down in the Tetons, but will at least drive up through there. This is an area (YNP/GT) we have been to a few times, but love it so much that we must go.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 03:37 PM
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We missed the rodeo in Cody (too windy) but loved the story of the cowboy's chocolates and had to take the short drive to Meeteetse. Really enjoyed a short visit there.

Really enjoyed the Buffalo Bill museum. Went as a "tag-along" and enjoyed it much more than I expected.
http://centerofthewest.org/

I like Yellowstone but I adore the Tetons. Can't wait to return. Hoped to get there last summer but maybe next. If you've not taken a ranger led hike, see what's available when you're there. I took one to standing petrified trees in Yellowstone years ago and it was a great experience.
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