Grand Canyon to Moab Drive
 

We are considering on driving from the south rim of GC and driving Rte 64 to Cameron, 89/160 to Tuba City and Mexican Water Trading Post and then north on Rte 191 to Monticello for a three day stop in Moab. How is this drive and is there an interesting place to stop overnight and spend 1/2 a day?
or is there a more scenic route for an overnight drive to Moab?
Thanks

It's much more scenic to turn north at Kayenta on 163 ... this takes you thru Monument Valley and by the Valley of the Gods. The route you mention past Mexican Water seems much less scenic to me.

<b>is there an interesting place to stop overnight and spend 1/2 a day?</b>

Monument Valley is very popular, you can either stay at Gouldings just outside MV or at Kayenta (24 miles south of MV) or, since you are going north to Moab, at Mexican Hat, about 22 miles north of MV. If you stay at Mexican Hat the next day you can do the exciting (some say scary) drive up the Moki Dugway to Cedar Mesa on 261 and maybe stop by Natural Bridges NM, then 95 back to 191 just south of Blanding, which leads into Moab.

The other overnight stop possibilities are Bluff or Blanding (small Mormon farming towns, I'd pass on those) or Monticello (access to Needles district of Canyonlands from here, with better tourist infrastructure), but Monument Valley is pretty special and I'd stay there or at Mexican Hat.

Bill

Agree with Bill. Don't miss Valley of the Gods. It's pretty amazing.

I also agree that Monument Valley, specifically Gouldings, is the VERY best place to stop overnight.

If at all possible, stay at Gouldings. The lodge is built into the cliffs and just down the road from the valley tours. Their restaurant, pool, gift shoppe are nice but its the sunsets from your private balcony that make a difference; they are breathtaking. There's also a little museum with props and pics from the many movies made there (john wayne stayed there while filming)

And while kayenta is also close and acceptable (and we stayed once when we couldn't get into gouldings) anyone can stay in a holiday inn :)
but there's only ONE Gouldings. Its also a good midpoint stop, allowing you to do the other sites before or after.

<b>anyone can stay in a holiday inn</b>

Agree that Gouldings is best for MV, but often filled up and the most expensive option around.

If you get caught in Kayenta again the Hampton Inn is much better than the Holiday Inn or the Wetherill Best Western (the other two chain lodging choices).

Bill

Thanks Bill, luvtravl and ellen. Goulding appears to be the perfect spot. With only a 3.5 hr drive there, we'll still have time to see some scenary before checking out the sunset from the balcony. In addition, with it being less than 3 hours to Moab, we can still linger in the area for a few hours the next morning to take in some additional sites. Any suggestions for the afternoon of Sunday, May 18th and Monday morining the 19th would be great. We are not in for long hikes. We will have our 12 Yr old grand daughter and short hikes and driving routes with photo ops are more to our liking. This our first trip to this part of the SW.
Thanks a million for the Goulding recommendation.
Lee

You aren't directly in the path but close enough to consider.

If you go north on Rt 89 and then west on Rt 98, you can get in 2 spectacular sights; Horseshoe bend just south of Page and Antelope Canyon just south east of Page. No need to go into Page itself.

I'm not sure how much this adds to the trip.

Just a thought.

I meant East on Rt 98.

<b>Any suggestions for the afternoon of Sunday, May 18th and Monday morining the 19th</b>

Some things to do the 18th on the way to MV ... stop at Kayenta at the Burger King (no kidding) and check out the Code Talker's exhibit ... take one of the Navajo tours thru Monument Valley at sunset (you can drive a loop road on your own but the tour goes to more places and it's interesting learning about their heritage from the Navajo guides). Gouldings has a nice museum with artifacts from many of the famous films shot there, worth walking thru. Gouldings can also arrange the tour.

On the morning of the 19th on your way to Moab you can stop at Goosenecks State Park just north of Mexican Hat for a quick look ... driving straight to Moab isn't a bad idea because there are many different things to do in and around Moab, but if you want a detour you can do the short loop thru Valley of the Gods (just north of Goosenecks) ... if you want a longer detour (gas up at Mexican Hat first) then drive up the steep road past Valley of the Gods (261) to the top of Moki Dugway, with a great view of MV below, and maybe drive to Natural Bridges NM, then back to the road to Moab. Or, instead of that (which will take a while) drive to the Needles District of Canyonlands for a look-around, then on to Moab.

All of these side trips are scenic diversions but then again if you only have a couple of days for Moab I'd probably say go straight to Moab and start on the river drives, Arches NP, Canyonlands Island in the Sky unit and maybe Dead Horse Point SP ... there are a LOT of things to do around Moab.

Bill

Thanks Bill, this gives me plenty of choices and they all sound good.
Lee

bmk

Bill gave you the side trips I have taken and if you do take the Moki Dugway (mostly paved but 3 miles of unpaved switchbacks with no guard rails) you can go a little bit farther and stop at Natural Bridges NP. If you don't hike a lot you can hit the views from the road in an hour or so.