Western Trip - CO, Utah, NV
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Western Trip - CO, Utah, NV
Your suggestions and comments on a family trip, 6 of us, in a SUV going from August 1-14, 4 kids from 8-15 years old. We would start at Fort Collins, Colorado go through Steamboat to Vernal, Utah area for dinosaurs, on to Salt Lake (Bonneville Salt Flats, and some suggestions), then down to Las Vegas just to see the lights on our way to the Grand Canyon, then to Lake Mead (take the tour of the Dam), then to the Grand Canyon then up to Durango, CO and then to the Colorado Springs area (Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge).
I haven't mapped out the distance and driving time. We don't like to spend too many hours a day in a car, usually a max of 6-7 hours but a glance at the map suggests that the trip we are looking at should fit that easily.
I would appreciate your suggestions and comments about sights to see, places to stay, and any thoughts you have about modifying the trip to make it better. We are a family,and I'm a disabled vet so we don't have a bunch of money to work with so this is an economy trip. I haven't made reservations and that may be a problem. I'm driving a 2000 SUV but it's in good shape. Thanks a bunch. I look forward to hearing from you.
I haven't mapped out the distance and driving time. We don't like to spend too many hours a day in a car, usually a max of 6-7 hours but a glance at the map suggests that the trip we are looking at should fit that easily.
I would appreciate your suggestions and comments about sights to see, places to stay, and any thoughts you have about modifying the trip to make it better. We are a family,and I'm a disabled vet so we don't have a bunch of money to work with so this is an economy trip. I haven't made reservations and that may be a problem. I'm driving a 2000 SUV but it's in good shape. Thanks a bunch. I look forward to hearing from you.
#3
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We use to have to travel in the summer too when our boys were young and in school. Yes it will be hot, but you should be able to manage. Dinosaur National Monument is very interesting especially for the dinosaur lovers. It's also a very scenic area.
Do you have your hearts set on Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats? That is going to be very HOT and I'm not really sure what you could do at the Salt Flats except drive by unless you plan to be there for speed week. With 4 kids, I'd skip Las Vegas too. Why drive out of your way to somewhere where it will probably be 100+ degrees.
I would suggest dropping down from Vernal to Capitol Reef National Park, take scenic Hwy 12 down to Bryce National Park and Zion National Park before heading to the Grand Canyon. On the way to the Grand Canyon check out Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Recreational area) I prefer Lake Powell to Lake Mead....much more scenic. Capitol Reef and Bryce are at higher elevations so they should be a little cooler than Zion and Grand Canyon.
Before you reach Durango you might check out Monument Valley Tribal Park and Mesa Verde National Park. From Durango head north on the Million Dollar Highway 550 to Montrose and then head east to Colorado Springs.
Your route is approx. 2100 miles and mine route is approx. 1850 miles.
Utahtea
Do you have your hearts set on Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats? That is going to be very HOT and I'm not really sure what you could do at the Salt Flats except drive by unless you plan to be there for speed week. With 4 kids, I'd skip Las Vegas too. Why drive out of your way to somewhere where it will probably be 100+ degrees.
I would suggest dropping down from Vernal to Capitol Reef National Park, take scenic Hwy 12 down to Bryce National Park and Zion National Park before heading to the Grand Canyon. On the way to the Grand Canyon check out Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Recreational area) I prefer Lake Powell to Lake Mead....much more scenic. Capitol Reef and Bryce are at higher elevations so they should be a little cooler than Zion and Grand Canyon.
Before you reach Durango you might check out Monument Valley Tribal Park and Mesa Verde National Park. From Durango head north on the Million Dollar Highway 550 to Montrose and then head east to Colorado Springs.
Your route is approx. 2100 miles and mine route is approx. 1850 miles.
Utahtea
#4
Most of your destinations will be extremely <red>HOT</red> so don't plan any hikes after maybe 10AM.
>>I'd skip Las Vegas too. Why drive out of your way to somewhere where it will probably be 100+ degrees. seem very VERY hot/bleak. And Vegas will just be HOT.
>>I'd skip Las Vegas too. Why drive out of your way to somewhere where it will probably be 100+ degrees. seem very VERY hot/bleak. And Vegas will just be HOT.
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I just drove a 2000 RAV4 with 200,000 miles on it in a somewhat similar trip. If you trust your car, it's doable. Have you considered camping as an option? That would reduce costs considerably both for accommodations and meals, as evening meals will tend to be cooked at the campground (cheaper than eating out).
My trip report is not ready, and might not be by the time you tend to take your trip. But here's what we did in three weeks: From San Francisco to Sequoia, Mojave National Preserve, Flagstaff (staying in a motel), Navajo National Monument, Moab (one motel night and the rest camping) to visit Arches NP and the northern part of Canyonlands NP, Canyonlands NP, Hovenweep NP, Mesa Verde NP, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, motel in Delta, Utah, National Forest campsite outside Austin, NV and then back home to San Francisco. The places mentioned reflect one or more nights stay.
My trip report is not ready, and might not be by the time you tend to take your trip. But here's what we did in three weeks: From San Francisco to Sequoia, Mojave National Preserve, Flagstaff (staying in a motel), Navajo National Monument, Moab (one motel night and the rest camping) to visit Arches NP and the northern part of Canyonlands NP, Canyonlands NP, Hovenweep NP, Mesa Verde NP, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, motel in Delta, Utah, National Forest campsite outside Austin, NV and then back home to San Francisco. The places mentioned reflect one or more nights stay.
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Your itinerary seems to bypass two of of my favorite destinations: Rocky Mountain National Park and Zion National Park.
I understand the desire to visit Las Vegas--there is no place else like it. However, a better itinerary for you and your family would be: Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain National Park, Vernal UT, Zion National Park, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon NP, Durango, and Colorado Springs.
In case you don't know, the drive from Durango to Ouray is one of the most scenic in the US, and you could include it and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on your way from Durango to Colorado Springs.
HTtY
I understand the desire to visit Las Vegas--there is no place else like it. However, a better itinerary for you and your family would be: Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain National Park, Vernal UT, Zion National Park, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon NP, Durango, and Colorado Springs.
In case you don't know, the drive from Durango to Ouray is one of the most scenic in the US, and you could include it and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on your way from Durango to Colorado Springs.
HTtY
#12
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Wow! Great, great tips and suggestions and comments. I agree with everyone that it makes sense to cut out SLC. We are used to hot but we're not masochistic about it. I like the shorter trip, more time for the kids to run around. Our cars in good shape and I appreciate the encouragement. Camping is something to consider given the cost but I'm disabled and so we will have to see how it goes.
I really appreciate all of your comments and truly thank you for taking your time to give us some wonderful ideas. I can see we are going to have a great trip thanks to you all. I'll be checking back to see if anything has been added but I got enough to get started on.
Bless you all for sharing.
I really appreciate all of your comments and truly thank you for taking your time to give us some wonderful ideas. I can see we are going to have a great trip thanks to you all. I'll be checking back to see if anything has been added but I got enough to get started on.
Bless you all for sharing.
#13
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Check out this site https://store.usgs.gov/pass/military.html for the access pass for disabled vets. It allows free entry into any national park, BLM and National Forest lands, and half price for camp site if there is a fee. This means $11 per night for National Parks, and usually $7.50 for BLM and National Forest sites (rates vary according to the state).
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Capitol Reef National Park will save a handicapped spot till 5 pm each night and it's a beautiful campground with lots of cottonwood shade trees. This campground is on first come first serve and other spots fill up early. No showers.
Bryce is high enough elevation and located in pine trees you would also stay pretty cool. I would try and make a reservation if you decide to camp here. Bryce has showers in the park
Zion first come first serve campground fills up by noon if not sooner. If you can get in on a cancelation in Watchman you may or may not have shade depending on the site. No showers but they do have some in the nearby town of Springdale.
Grand Canyon is high enough in elevation to make it not to uncomfortable to camp. Again, I'd make reservations. Has showers.
Arches or Canyonlands or the Moab Area I would stay in a motel or at least a camping cabin. It's just to hot in the summer! No showers in the park.
If you do decide to camp, you don't have to camp every night. When we use to camp in our van we would have a few nights in a motel to get cleaned up.
Happy travels,
Utahtea
Bryce is high enough elevation and located in pine trees you would also stay pretty cool. I would try and make a reservation if you decide to camp here. Bryce has showers in the park
Zion first come first serve campground fills up by noon if not sooner. If you can get in on a cancelation in Watchman you may or may not have shade depending on the site. No showers but they do have some in the nearby town of Springdale.
Grand Canyon is high enough in elevation to make it not to uncomfortable to camp. Again, I'd make reservations. Has showers.
Arches or Canyonlands or the Moab Area I would stay in a motel or at least a camping cabin. It's just to hot in the summer! No showers in the park.
If you do decide to camp, you don't have to camp every night. When we use to camp in our van we would have a few nights in a motel to get cleaned up.
Happy travels,
Utahtea
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Do not know what your disability is so please disregard if not applicable- but we've had better luck in terms of accessibility when it comes to privately owned campgrounds like KOAs. Downside is that although often the campgrounds may have more amenities like free hot showers or a pool, they also aren't in the best locations i.e. beautiful nature. On the other hand, staying at a state park tonight and the only two showers are also true handicapped accessible- probably because they were built last year- I though that was pretty cool. I think camping may be possible, but be sure to call around to get the lay of the land as online stuff can be kind of misleading.
And elevation does matter- but I actually think camping in the heat helps in terms of daily heat acclimation, so I don't mind it. Going from air conditioned hotel to hot hiking is much harder on my body than going from the more stable temperature I experience in a campground to hot hiking.
And elevation does matter- but I actually think camping in the heat helps in terms of daily heat acclimation, so I don't mind it. Going from air conditioned hotel to hot hiking is much harder on my body than going from the more stable temperature I experience in a campground to hot hiking.
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frunze
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Feb 21st, 2005 09:11 AM