Colorado to Northern California Roadtrip
 

I am planning a road trip back to school in San Jose, CA from Colorado. I am thinking of stopping in Moab and a few other places in Utah/Nevada. Any suggestions? Vegas is kind of out of the way and we are not really interested as it will be my mom and I (under 21). Any other good stops in Nevada? Quirky towns/ pretty places?

ok anything worth seeing on 80 through nevada. vegas is out of the way and that is the long stretch with no stops...

Will you be driving I-70 through Colorado to Utah and stopping in Moab? If so, then at Cisco, Utah exit and take Hwy 128 into Moab. The first part isn't much but once you cross the Colorado River the scenery gets better and better. After crossing the New Dewey Bridge, stop to look at what is left of the old Dewey Bridge. We crossed over the old one lane Dewey Bridge back in the 70's! Also on Hwy 128 is Fisher Towers which are interesting to look at. As you get closer and closer to Moab the canyon walls get higher and closer. Very scenic drive. http://www.milebymile.com/main/Unite...el_guides.html

If you decide against Hwy 128, then stop in Thompson Springs and check out Sego Canyon Rock Art and Ghost Town. http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/mor...go_canyon.html

There is so much to do in Moab that you could easily spend a week here.

Depending on how much time you have for this trip, you might want to swing down to Capitol Reef National Park if not staying on I-70 you will drive though the San Rafael Swell which is also very scenic. Make sure to stop at the scenic pull outs.

If you take I-80 you will see the Great Salt Lake, the Salt Flats and while driving watch out for the Tree of Life http://www.utah.com/amusement/metaphor_tree.htm You can't stop but it makes for a great landmark.

In Winnemucca there is a giant piece of drift wood on the main drag. http://www.winnemucca.com/attraction...o_the_sea.html

If you want more Quirky towns, then I'd suggest taking Hwy 50 thought Nevada. http://travelnevada.com/view-guides/...val-guide.aspx I love this road and it's also called the Loneliest Highway in America but it has a lot of interesting and quirky places to stop and see. You drive near Great Basin National Park and it's just a short distance out of your way. Many old mining towns like Ely, Eureka, & Austin, NV. Make sure you don't need gas in Austin because it will be high there. There are the Hickison Petroglyphs, Pony Express Stations, Sand Mountain, & Grimes Point http://www.cmdrmark.com/grimes.html and it ends in Carson City, Nevada. http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2033/travel.html

Utahtea

April 2008 the Dewey Bridge on Scenic ByWay 128 burned, a seven year old was playing with matches, tch, tch. Beside driving along the Colorado River, consider playing on it. 70 year old grand parents and kindergarten children have enjoyed guided raft trips out of Moab. You may go for a day or half day. A day trip includes lunch for about $55 + tax. There is also a 4 hour jetboat tour downstream toward Canyonlands. Just incredible scenery and an awesome narrated guided tour.

At Main and Center Street, you will find the Moab Information Center. It has pamphlets for self-guide tours of rock art panels, dinosaur trackways and fossils, (there are 3 designated) Scenic byWay routes and movie locations.

Just saw "Joe Dirt" and the opening, when the boy is lost at Grand Canyon, is actually Moab's Dead Horse Point State Park. Dead Horse park peers into Canyonlands. You could swing into Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point if your route comes off farther west of Cisco at Cresent Junction/Hwy 191 South into Moab.

I-70 past Moab's turn off will be a vision when you see the San Rafael Swell area. You might want the Roadside Guide to Utah Geology to read aloud to one another and understand the crazy, other-planet looking scenery of Utah.

My first thought was yes, stop in Moab, drive I-70 through the amazing San Rafael Swell, and take Hwy 50 across Nevada. I think it's a lot more interesting than I-80, and there are a couple of small, historic quirky, but friendly towns along the way.
Great Basin National Park is little-visited but very interesting. You can take a tour of Lehman Caves there. I can't remember the name of the town on Hwy 50 where we stopped for dinner, but it was very friendly and we ate at a bar/restaurant that had fantastic food and delightful service.
You can also take a little detour near Austin to vist Berlin-Ichtheasaurus State Park.