CO/UT/AZ National Park/Road Trip
 

Hey Everybody,

I am planning a speculative trip to CO/UT/AZ. My idea is to fly into Denver and then drive to Zion, and swing down to Las Vegas to fly back. I have a wish list of places and mapped out a route. My list is:

Rocky Mountain National Park
Arches National Park
San Juan National Forest
Mesa Verde
Grand Staircase
Antelope Canyon
Zion National Park

And my mapped route is: https://goo.gl/maps/sR8a9

How much time do you think is required for this realistically. I realize I won't see everything extensively, but I'd like to see some highlights in each place. My thought is 2 days in RMNP and Zion, and 1 everywhere else. I don't mind driving 1 or 2 nights for the longer treks to make up some time, and I will have a second driver with me as well.

I'd love some feedback and thoughts, as well as recommendations on places to stay/eat/whatever.

Thanks!

You can do Mesa Verde in a day, booking two tours and doing the one available on your own. You might want to take a look at my trip report from this June, which covers quite a bit of the territory you mention; click on my name to find it.

What time of year do you plan to take the trip? That makes a big difference in what you can count on being open and weather problems.

While you are in Moab for Arches, add a day to see the part of Canyonlands called Island in the sky. I would want to visit Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon while you are driving right by them.

Feel free to click on my name and scroll down for some TRs in the area to get an idea on times between places, lodging, etc.

Besides what time of the year, how much time do you have for this trip.

Not sure I'd recommend driving at night for two reason. One you will miss the scenery and second a lot of these are back roads and there is wild life you have to be careful of. I'll add a third, there is NOT a lot of cell phone coverage on some of these roads and you don't want to break down at night.

Utahtea

I say spend far more time in each place and really cut it down.

I've been to Utah 6 times. Thought I could do it in one trip. Its that good. Frankly, I think Mesa Verde needs 2 full days. See it all while your there, IMOP. I could spend a week just around Moab.


Just as spectacular are places like Goblin Valley, Little Wildhorse Canyon and more.