Advice on a tour in April
 

Your advice would be welcome on the following.
We are flying to Phoenix in early April. We will stay with a friend for a couple of days and then have planed the following. Overnight Kingman, 3 nights Springdale (for Zion), 2 nights Tropic (for Bryce), 3 nights Moab, 3 nights Bluff or similar (for Monument Valley etc) and 2 nights in Sedona to finish. Is it practical to drive fro Trobic to Moab in one day? Any suggestions, warnings etc most welcome. Thanks in advance. Adam C

Adam,

There is much more to do in Moab than there is in Monument Valley. I would recommend staying just 1 night for Monument Valley and adding 2 nights to Moab. Also, after seeing Zion and Bryce, Sedona may be a disappointment. I went there many years ago and was completely turned off by the development. It is pretty, but it's NOT a national park.

Also, if you possibly can, stay at the Lodge at Bryce rather than in Tropic. There is nothing like the sunrise at Bryce!

Yes, you can drive from Tropic to Moab in one day, but here's another suggestion. Hys 12 is so awesome that you might want to do a hike along the way. Spend one night in Boulder!

Have fun!

Hi Adam,

Sorry I didn't answer sooner but I've been out of town.

Is there a reason for going to Kingman? If not, then it would be 50 miles shorter and more scenic to take Hwy 89 up to Page, AZ and spend the night there before going into Zion National Park.

There are two different routes that you can take from Tropic to Moab. Continue on Hwy 12 thought the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument, over the Boulder Mountains to Torrey, Utah and then take Hwy 24 east through Capitol Reef National Park, Hanksville and up to I-70. This route has a lot to see and do and will take ALL day but would be my choice for scenery!

The faster route would be to take Hwy 89 up to I-70. This route is 5 hours and you will travel thought the San Rafeal Swell.

I agree with Dayle. I would spend only one night at Monument Valley. Take a tour on the afternoon you arrive there or early the next morning before you leave. I also agree that Sedona is beautiful but way to developed and is not a national park. If you are into spas and shopping then you might be interested in Sedona.

You might want to just spend one night in Sedona just to get closer to Phoenix. With the extra night, I would spend it either in Torry to see Capitol Reef, Moab or Canyon de Chelly National Park.

Utahtea

Thanks Dayle and Utahtea. I could say I always wanted to see Andy Devine's birthplace but it isn't true!! Too late to change we are booked at Kingman in The Brunswick Hotel. We actualy wanted to see the Hoover Dam and drive through Las Vegas (I've promised my wife we wouldn't stop!)

We are now staying 3 nights in Springdale, then overnight at Bryce Canyon Lodge and a further night at Torrey.

3 nights Moab and 3 nights Bluff to allow a trip to Canyon de Chelly and one to Monument Valley.

We stayed in Sedona 2 years ago and really wanted a lazy day to finish after all the driving. Really appreciate your input - any any other tips from locals would be welcome. You can e-mail me direct if you prefer, Adam C

Canyon de Chelly is a 2 hour drive (one way) from Bluff. To bad you couldn't spend one night nearby so you wouldn't have to double back.

Hovenweep National Monument is an hour drive from Bluff, if you can find the time.

When in Moab, Utah make sure you drive out scenic Hwy 128 to Fisher Towers.

Utahtea