Friendship88

We are planning our first family road trip (4 adults) to Utah from 20th Dec to 29th Dec 2015 (both days inclusive) and this will be our first time driving in USA and in winter. We will be using this itinerary: http://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-t...k-of-your-life except that from Zion, we plan to drive to south rim Grand Canyon, overnight there then fly out from Phoenix on 29th Dec 2015. We interested in scenery, photography and food and are not likely to hike for more than 2 hours.

I know I need to make my room reservations soon and have the initial plan below. Your suggestions, comments on the itinerary, lodging, driving routes (or anything!) are most appreciated.

20th Dec – Arrival in SLC at noon. Pick up rental car. Head towards Arches National Park. Overnight Moab
Question: Will we enough time for Arches National Park or should we set aside an additional day the next day to go the park for full day?

21st Dec – Canyonlands National Park. Overnight Moab.

22nd Dec –Monument Valley
Question : Should we overnight in Moab or Monument Valley?

23rd Dec - Natural Bridges National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park
Question: where should we stay tonight? Capitol Reef National Park, Capitol Reef County or Torrey?

24th Dec -Bryce Canyon National Park
Question: Its Xmas eve. Is it a better bet to stay in Bryce Canyon City if we want dinner at a decent restaurant? Or are restaurants closed?

25th Dec – Zion National Park
Question: Springdale was recommended for better price to quality lodging. True?

26th Dec – South Rim Grand Crayon with detour to Page and tour Antelope Canyon. Overnight Grand Canyon

27th Dec – Grand Canyon
Overnight Grand Canyon

28th Dec – possible spare day depending on whether we should extend an extra day for Arches National Park on 21 Dec

29th Dec -5 hours drive to Phoenix Airport for flight at 5pm.

Is this an ambitious plan? We prefer lesiurely drives and hope that the roads will be OK in winter. Thankyou for any advice and suggestions.

Mei

Dayle

Mei,

I am sorry but this is a bad idea!

Utah is not a good place to try and do a rushed "road trip" in the winter. Not only are we famous for our beautiful National Parks, but also for our snow.

If you do visit in the winter, you need to allow time for delays due to weather. It gets dark here at 5pm, so if your flight is late you will be driving to Moab in the dark. It is a minimum 4 hour drive from SLC in good weather. On icy roads and poor visibility it could take twice that.

Have you checked the driving distances on your route?

Torrey, the small town next to Capitol Reef, closes down in winter. There might be 1 restaurant open , but probably not during the holidays. Bryce will have Rubys open, but highly doubtful about getting any good meals anywhere.

The town of Springdale outside of Zion is tourist oriented enough and close enough to major cities that several restaurants will be open. Make you res now because Zion and Springdale are always busy on long weekends and holidays.

Again, with a return out of Phoenix, you may miss your flight if winter weather hits.

Really for this trip you would be better flying into Las Vegas, visiting Zion, then Bryce if driving conditions allow. If you then go to GC it will be a long drive, but doable in good weather.

Where are you traveling from? With no experience of winter, I am honestly worried for you. We loose tourists occasionally because they come woefully unprepared. Thinking they are going to have a Dinsneyland resort experience. You will not.

It's nature at her best , it's wilderness. There are long distances without cell phone coverage, or any other type of help, unless someone comes along. You need to fully understand what you are getting on to and how to be self sufficient.

Are you willing to rent a full 4 x 4? Are you able to read detailed maps and orient yourself? If you plan to rely on a GPS, you are already in trouble.

There is an entire list of winter gear to bring, but we can leave that for later if you decide to go ahead with this winter road trip.

Please do more I depth research. You don't have enough time to do all you listed, especially in winter.

tomfuller

You might run into snow in southern Utah. If you do, wait until about 11AM to start out to give the road crews time to get the roads safe to drive.
You could fly to Las Vegas and rent a cheaper car to do a smaller loop skipping SLC, Provo and Price.
Do go to see Goblin Valley if it is open.
Do you have a rental company that does not have a drop fee and covers your insurances?

Friendship88

Hi Dayle and Tomfuller,

Many thanks for your helpful advice. We have no experience driving in snow or in wilderness. Looks like we need to rethink our itinerary