blackmons

I am planning a trip to Kanab, Utah, in October and need some advice. I'm from Chicago so I am not used to driving in the mountains and am absolutely phobic about driving along curvy, mountainous roads. So I have a dilemma. We did this trip last year past Zion National Park, at night, in the dark (my husband was driving), and it was an absolute nightmare (for me.) This time I'm going alone and I see there is an alternate route through St. George. Would that be a straighter, less scary option? I could also take a shuttle from Las Vegas to St. George and rent a car there if that would make things easier, but I would still have to drive from St. George to Kanab. I know a lot of you probably don't consider either way a difficult drive, but for someone like me who doesn't want to have a panic attack while I'm driving, what would you suggest? I would be most grateful for whatever advice you have for me.
Thanks,
Laurie

happytrailstoyou

Google Maps sends me through St. George, Hurricane, and Colorado City for a 200-mile drive that takes about 3 hours behind the wheel.

I've driven this route several times, and I don't recall a lot of switchbacks--if any. My advice:

*Don't drive at night.
*Plan for frequent stops.
*Pull off the road if somebody tailgates you.

Stop three or four times on the trip to give yourself time to relax and unwind. We scout out McDonald locations because they are great places to stop for a clean bathroom and beverage, and AAA maps show the locations of rest stations on major routes.

When driving on two-lane roads, I find it nerve wracking to have somebody tailgating me. When that happens, I look for a safe place to pull off the road to let the tailgater pass me. I am more relaxed driving when I know I am not driving in front of somebody who wants to drive faster than I am driving.

HTtY

utahtea

The Virgin River Gorge between Las Vegas and St. George isn't that curvy but it's narrow in some spots and there was road construction last fall...don't know if it's done yet or not.

From St. George to Kanab via Hwy 9 to Hurricane, Hwy 59 to Colorado City, AZ Hwy 389 to Fredonia, AZ and Hwy alt 89 to Kanab, UT only has one short section of a switch back as you climb out of Hurricane on Hwy 59 and the road is decent. The rest should not be an issue.

Make a stop at Pipe Springs National Monument on the way.

Utahtea

Dayle

But don't stop in Colorado City.

blackmons

Thanks so much for your reassuring posts and good advice. I wish I didn't have this issue. I may still look into a shuttle, but then I have the pressure of possibly missing it if my flight is delayed or having to sit at the airport for hours if I want to guarantee I have enough time to catch it. I might be better off just making the drive myself.
Thanks,
Laurie

blackmons

Me again. I need to rent a car. Any advice on what would be the most suitable for the trip? Is small better, considering the narrow roads, or do I want something with more horsepower?
Thanks,
Laurie

Dayle

Laurie, you can rent whatever you are comfortable driving. The roads aren't that narrow. Remember tour buses and semis drive these roads too with few restrictions.

peterboy

I'd rent the car in Vegas...it will be cheaper. There's nothing between Vegas that should be a problem. I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge is 4 lane, divided highway and, while curvy there are no sharp turns, big drop off or switchbacks. Following Utahtea's route, there is nothing of concern along the way.