ma

Is this too ambitious?
Arrive ABQ on a Monday morning. Drive to Moab that afternoon, Tues. in Arches, Wed. in Canyonlands, drive to 4 Corners Thurs. am, drive to Mesa Verde Thurs. pm. Spend Friday in Mesa Verde, drive to Santa Fe Fri. pm, half day in Santa Fe Saturday and fly out late Sat. afternoon. Definitely want to do Mesa Verde and ABQ had cheapest flights, but am open to other things besides Moab. (mid April)

DebitNM

When is this trip as weather might be a contributing factor?

ma

Mid-April

DebitNM

I just saw that in your OP! Sorry.

IMHO, yes, I think it is too rushed. What are you wanting to do at each place - just a look see sort of thing; or do you want to hike/explore?

I personally would want more time in each place. I would do Mesa Verde/ Durango; then on the Santa Fe with a day trip up to Taos. I would also spend a day in ABQ and go to Acoma Peublo.

I would leave Utah for another trip. But that's me.

tomfuller

Change the order a bit. ABQ to Gallup and then north on US 491 to Ship Rock and US 64 west into Arizona to US 160 which takes you to the 4 corners. The 4 corners are worth no more than 1.5 hours of your time IMO. Go from 4 corners to Mesa Verde and spend Monday night somewhere near there.
Tuesday head for Moab seeing what you can of Canyonlands on the way.
Spend as much time as you can in Arches including the hike out to Delicate Arch if there is no snow on the ground.

ma

I had wanted to head to 4 corners and MV first but Far View Lodge doesn't open for the season until the end of the week. I was thinking staying there helped with getting the most out of MV, but maybe it's not necessary??
We are a family of 4 (2 boys 10 &12). We are fit, but not into super long hikes.

DebitNM

While staying at Far View Lodge is nice; there are several motels in Cortez, which is 10 minute drive from the entrance of MVNP [additional time to exit park +/- 30 minutes depending on where you are in park. There are also several good, reasonably priced restaurants in Cortez. There is also Anasazi Heritage Center in nearby Dolores that is excellent:

https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ahc.html

RVvagabond

Do Mesa Verde, Aztec Kiva, Chaco Ruins, Taos Pueblo, Santa Fe town itself and its art and go home. Also visit historic Acoma village west of Albque.
While at Taos, visit Georgia O'Keefe museum
Near Cortez are the Hovenweem ruins.

Next year plan southern Utah for two+ weeks.

Vaga

emalloy

We took a similar trip in 2013 in a couple more days than you plan. We stopped for the night in Bloomfield then went to Mesa Verde because we didn't get in till noon and were on east coast time. You could get to Moab first if you got in a little earlier.

The TR is at:


http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...uthwest-us.cfm

ElendilPickle

DebitNM has given you some good advice.

Lee Ann