Hello, My family is planning a road trip from Boulder at the end of June. We have about 7 days. This is our tentative schedule, we would like to spend a couple nights in each place. we have a 4 yr old.
thoughts?
BOULDER -- > GLENWOOD SPRINGS
GLENWOOD SPRINGS --> ARCHES/MOAB / CANYONLANDS
CANYONLANDS --> BRYCE OR ZION? (Which one?)
ZION OR BRYCE --> SALT LAKE OR LAS VEGAS? (which is shorter?)
are there any places I've missed?
thanks!
ROAD TRIP: BOULDER TO SALT LAKE CITY or LAS VEGAS?
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As to Zion or Bryce, depends on which one holds more appeal to you. Go to www.nps.gov and search both parks.
After that, if you decide on Zion, Vegas is a couple of hours closer than Salt Lake City; Bryce is a bit closer to Salt Lake City.
There is plenty you have missed along the way, depending on how you plan to go.
Have a nice trip.
Is this a one way trip from Boulder, CO to either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City in 7 days?
It will be a little longer going from Bryce to Salt Lake City. IF you decide on Bryce then you would be better off at least driving though Zion on your way to Las Vegas.
Since you have a 4 year old, keep in mind that Bryce is viewed from the top of a canyon looking down so you will have to keep a good eye on your child. Zion is viewed from the canyon floor looking up.
When driving towards Moab, Utah get off Interstate 70 at Cisco, Utah exit 214 and take VERY scenic Hwy 128 into Moab.
When you leave Moab go back up to I-70 and then take Hwy 24 thought Capitol Reef to Torrey and then take scenic Hwy 12 to Bryce or keep going down to Zion if that's what you choose. Even if you choose Zion, you could make a stop to see what Bryce is like.
Utahtea
We were in Glenwood Springs last week and had a great meal at Italian Underground. Personally, I wouldn't spend two nights there with a 4 year old though. I would add a night at Zion.
Definitely take HWY 24 to Torrey and HWY 12 to Bryce. On the way, in Boulder UT there's a great place called Hell's Backbone Grill ( http://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com/ )- if you can stop there for a meal I'd highly recommend it. Also in Boulder, UT is the Anasazi State Park (http://www.utah.com/stateparks/anasazi.htm) which we found very interesting.
The petroglyphs in Fruita, UT are definitely worth a look - you'll go right past them on HWY 24 before getting to Torrey (which, incidentally, also has a great restaurant called Cafe Diablo - http://www.cafediablo.net/)
From Bryce you would have the same driving time to go to Salt Lake as you would to go through Zion to Vegas so it would seem like that would make the most sense.
Have fun - it's an amazing part of the world!
Heather (in Boulder, CO)