We live in Vegas; but have spent the summer with family on Long Island. My husband drove the car over 3 days alone; and wants US to drive back together seeing some of the sights.

What are some of the top things, (especially National Parks, etc) to see on the way? I have always flown, don't care for long drives, and if I'm going to go, want to make it pleasant.

We do not have a route, I was thinking to make one after marking the best parks and sights along the way.

Any help you provide will be greatly appreciated; (and perhaps preserve the marriage!! )

Hi again,
Okay. As I keep checking back, I am guessing that you folks are getting tired of the same questions. For once I have a few minutes, and will do some research here. I've been doing research on Google, and in my opinion the website for the National Parks could be way more user friendly.

I'd still welcome any friendly adivce on great sights between Long Island and Vegas!!! I'd be happy to return the favor!


Wordlady

Believe it or not the, the Arch in St. Louis is a national park. It's a beautiful sight driving in from the east--just don't confuse East St. Louis with St. Louis, Mo.

Anheuser Bush has a great brewery tour that's free and so are our other sites like the top notch St. Louis zoo, art museum, Science Center. (Residents pay a small amount in their property tax to keep these attractions free.)

Good luck on your drive.

Hop on I-15 to a little past St. George, Utah and then take Hwy 9 to Zion National Park.

Exit Zion by taking Hwy 9 to hwy 89 and travel north to Hwy 12. You pass thru the Red Canyon before reaching Bryce Canyon National Park.

After leaving Bryce continue on scenic Hwy 12 thru the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument and over the Boulder Mountains to Torrey, Utah.

At Torrey head east on Hwy 24 to Capitol Reef National Park.

Keep heading east on Hwy 24 until you reach Interstate 70. Head east until you reach Hwy 191. Go south about 20 miles to Moab, Utah which is home to Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park and Dead Horse State Park.

When you leave Moab, Utah travel east on scenic Hwy 128. This takes you along the Colorado River. You start out in a beautiful canyon.

Once you reach Fruita, CO you can exit on Hwy 340 to go see Colorado National Monument. If time is getting short then skip this one.

Interstate 70 from Grand Junction to Denver is pretty scenic all on it's own! Before you reach Denver you might be interested in taking a side trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

If you stay on I-70 it's pretty boring thru Kansas. Missouri is much better and the St. Louis Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/

If you are going to be going to several of these National Parks then you might consider purchasing the National Park Pass for $50.

I'm much better with info on the west than I am on the east.

Here are some websites to look at:

http://www.so-utah.com/

http://www.americansouthwest.net/

http://www.desertusa.com/park.html

http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parksearch/geosearch.cfm

Happy Road Trip!

Utahtea

I did the following some years back. Traveling from NYC the first national parks visited was Mesa Verde in Southwest Colorado. From there i went to Moab to visit Arches and the Canyonlands. Moab is northwest of Mesa Verde but it is only about a 130 mile trip. From Moab I drove south to Monument Valley (about 150 miles). From the Valley I drove west to the Gr. Canyon, North RIm. The next stop was Bryce followed by Zion and then LV.

Just wanted to take a moment to reply and thank you for your responses. I've looked over the information and am taking notes now.

Tomorrow the trip starts, and I'm planning on visiting several of the places you mentioned. Thanks very much

worldlady,

Have a good trip and come back and do a trip report!

Utahtea