Road trip during Winters in Utah-NV
 

I am planning for a road-trip in UT during winters with my family (spouse, and 2 kids - 11 yr and 14 yr). I will be driving 4x4 Nissan Pathfinder car with decent experience of driving in mountains.

Let me know if this route is okay (specially the last leg from Arches National Park to South Rim Grand Canyon) for drive during the last 2 week of Dec.

I will appreciate if you can also suggest me -
a) road condition in this route,
b) good lodging options on this route.
c) good scenic lookout points that i should not miss

Day 1 - Las Vegas to Zion canyon via I-15 & UT-9; Explore Zion Canyon and Stay overnight.
Day 2 - Explore Zion Canyon and drive to Bryce Canyon via UT-89 & UT-12; Explore Bryce Canyon and Stay overnight
Day 3 - Stay in Bryce Canyon and Explore local areas
Day 4 - Drive from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef National Forest via UT-12 (Let me know if this is a good idea to drive on this in Dec end) & Stay Overnight in Torrey
Day 5 - Explore Capitol Reef National Forest and explore local region; Stay overnight in Torrey
Day 6 - Drive from Torrey to Arches National Park via UT-24 -- I-70 -- UT-191; Explore region and Stay Overnight in Maob
Day 7 - Drive to Canyonlands National Park via UT-191 & UT-211 and Stay overnight in Maob
Day 8 - Drive From Maob to Grand Canyon (south rim) via UT-191 -- UT-160 -- UT-89 -- UT-64. Stay there for 3 days
Day 10 - Drive back to Las Vegas

Don't know those routes but want to give you a warning:- stay on the main roads. Don't try any short cuts. People have gotten into grave trouble by doing this.

I've done a winter trip in the area and was very lucky that the weather was clear, cool, with no snow, ice, freezing rain. We do understand that we were very lucky this is a lot of driving and it does snow at that time of year.

You should not have trouble finding lodging at that time of year, but make reservations that can be cancelled in case you need a plan B.

I would only want one full day in Grand Canyon and would add the day to Moab.

If you do have bad weather east of Vegas, head west to Death Valley, visit Valley of Fire SP, and/or Red Rock Canyon.

Only drive in daylight, and remember days are short in winter.

Because you are planning a very rushed trip, you need to be aware that winter weather might cause you to eliminate some stops. You might only get half as far as you plan with all this driving and brief visits to the parks.

If you are OK with staying flexible and knowing that you may only see some of the parks, not all, then go for it.

Exact time of visit will dictate whether or not you need to book reservations ahead of time. Zion is very popular over the Christmas holidays.

Also come prepared with very warm clothing. Bryce WILL have snow. Boulder Mountain (Hwy 12 between Bryce and Torrey) WILL have snow. You will need to watch the weather forecasts daily and you may very well need to stay over somewhere an extra day to wait out a storm.

This last winter, the areas where our parks are located, southwest and central east Utah, all had above average snowpack. That means a lot of winter weather and driving.

And, as Bedar mentioned above, don't just follow a GPS or Google, mindlessly. Have a real and detailed paper map, understand the route, ask locals' advice on roads and road conditions each day. They live there and know. People in Utah are generally very friendly and helpful.

Dayle's warning of Boulder Mountain snow is real.

About two miles north of Boulder town is a gate that closes when driving is not safe.

While in Boulder, visit their Anasazi Indian museum.

Since you will be driving a 4-WD vehicle, there is an alternate route to Capitol Reef that is scenic.

From the town of Boulder, drive on east on Burr Road to Notom Junction (about 35 scenic miles) and then north about 35 miles to highway 24. Turn west.

Day 8. At the junction of 89/64 to Grand Canyon, buy gasoline at that junction. Gas at park is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Vaga

I think they close 12 over Boulder Mountain depending on snowfall. I wouldn't count on going that way. Better to back track and drop down south to get to Arches. Torrey really shuts down in winter--you will need to check lodging and I am not sure about restaurants. I have friends who have a house there and there are slim pickings in winter. Zion will be fine and Moab will be fine. Fewer restaurants will be open but you can find a place to eat.

Make sure you carry in your car: snow shovel, winter coats/hats/gloves, sleeping bags, winter boots, extra food and water.

In Zion, we like the Desert Pearl Inn or Cable Mountain Lodge. At Bryce, we always stay at Rubys Inn. In Moab, we like the Marriott Suites hotel north of town. You could also find places to stay through property management companies there--just make sure its in town vs. on the golf course.

If you click on my user name you will find trip reports with kids for all of these places.

I live in SW CO not too far from Moab. I think you may be referring to 160 and 89 in AZ not UT. I have travelled this route well over 150 times, passing the east entrance to the south rim traveling up 89 to 160 across the reservation. Generally, this route is in good shape however, it seems like every mid- December like clockwork, there is a major snowstorm which shuts down some of the roads in northern AZ temporarily. You should also be aware that the reservation does not provide quick or efficient snow removal. No matter what the weather, I suggest you not travel this section of road after dark; it can be very dangerous with road hazards, human and animal.

I agree with emalloy, spend more time in Moab, less time @GC

Hello from Italy : )

As you know since you are experienced in mountain driving, road can be very dangerous. Just follow UDOT on Twitter and download the UDOT app for the Utah section of the trip, they will provide continous and reliable informations on the road conditions, including webcam images.
I was on UT-12 last december, driving a rented 4wd Explorer with cheap (and useless) winter tires and it was pretty tricky to make it, but nothing can compare to the views that you get there.
As someone has already suggested, I would add at least one day in Moab, the trails at Arches are really enjoyable in winter (just remember good boots and traction devices).

Thanks for all your extremely inputs; I will work towards updating my itinerary based on the inputs shared here.
Meanwhile, I will also like to get some suggestion on stays in Monument Valley, Maob, Torrey area.

Let me know which parks we should not miss out in case if we have less time due to weather.

Also let me know few key things in each of these parks that we should view/hike in winters.

If you can, stay in the NPs. For Grand Canyon, elTovar is the nicest, but Thunderbird, Kachina and Bright Angel lodges are all on/close to the rim and Yavapai and Maswick are just a short walk from the rim. Other than elTovar they are basic motel type lodging and you are paying for the location. Here, hike along the rim trail and also go down below the rim on either Bright Angel trail or south Kaibab trail at least a short way.

Bryce and Zion also have lodges in the park, but many stay nearby, in Springdale for Zion, Ruby's for Bryce.

For Arches and Canyonlands stay in Moab. We've enjoyed Cali Cochita, a B&B with great breakfasts. In Arches, do go out to Landscape Arch and the short hikes to Sand Dune, Turret Arch, etc. If it isn't icy go to Delicate Arch. In the Island in the Sky part of Canyonlands, do hike to Mesa Arch, and out on Grandview.

Monument Valley is a Navajo park, not a US National park and there is lodging there at the View and across the road at Gouldings. If they are full, look in Kayenta or Mexican Hat.

If you don't already have an America Beautiful pass for the US parks, get one. It will probably be the same cost as 3 or 4 entries and will be good for a year at all US Nps.

When in Canyonlands, I would not miss the White Rim overlook (from White Rim TH) and the short trail to the Upheaval Dome: it is an easy and short trail but the view of the crater from the top is really enjoyable.

Thanks for valuable suggestions on my trip. Please suggest few good options for White Water Rafting in Maob area and any skiing place in this areas.

>>Please suggest few good options for White Water Rafting<<

There is no rafting in Winter. There are nearly 20 ski resorts in the area.

There is no rafting in the winter. The only ski areas that I can think of within less than several hours drive from the areas you are visiting are smaller areas such as Brian Head, a couple hours from Zion, Flagstaff Snow Bowl, about 1 1/2-2 hours south of south rim of Grand Canyon and Mt. Charleston about an hour out of Las Vegas. None of the ski areas would be considered major ski areas; more like locals type ski areas.

Don't know what happened there . . . meant to say >>There are nearly 20 ski areas in Utah<<. Can't multi task I guess :)

There still isn't any rafting in winter . . .

In Torrey, you will need to check. Lodging should be open but I don't know about restaurants. Some should be but not as many. In Moab, we like the Springfield Suites for families. Again, a few restaurants will be open. Not sure which ones.

Take a day off Grand Canyon and add it to Moab. Also take a day off Bryce and add it to Zion. You've only got one day in Zion and that's really not enough.

Make sure your rental car has a scraper with brush to clean off the windows. Not sure if rentals in Vegas would have those so you may have to buy one.

Do your driving during the day and understand that the shorter winter days mean you can't adhere to the same itinerary as the normal summer tourist. You just won't have time to see as much so you'll need to get up and get moving in the morning or risk wasting valuable daylight. Sunrise is 7:30 - 7:45 and the sun goes down around 5:30.

Thanks for all your suggestions; I am working on refining my trip based on all your feedback.

Also please suggest if areas around Torrey is worth staying for Capital Reef area.