Author: Link
Date: 02/05/2006, 06:43 pm
First time posting.. hope this got into the Utah post this time

I have been reading these post and have made my choices accord to all the really great info posted here. But, still not sure what to do first.

We are arriving in Salt Lake City and plan on driving a loop around to the Black Hills and ultimately reaching
Yellowstone & Grand Teton and returning to SLC. We know it's a lot of driving, but we have about 3 weeks time.

Every time I look at the maps, I want to keep adding to our trip, My question for now is, can we squeeze in Arches NP, but I would also like to see Dinosaur NM near Vernal. From here we plan on heading east, then north to the Black Hills.

What do we do first, Arches and then DNM, maybe up thru Flaming Gorge, then east to Cheyenne. Or DNM first and then Arches and head east thru Denver? Or just leave Arches for another time? I just know someone out there has an answer for me!!! Thanks for all the help you have already been to me. I know I will have more questions for the Wyoming post.
PS..... We have already done the other Utah Parks on a previous trip, just didn't get to Arches.
Thanks to All!!!

Stop adding to your trip - it is so easy to do in that part of the country. Allow enough time to drive thru Yellowstone if you are trying to make schedule/flight, etc. In addition to wanting to stop and see everything, it is also possible to get stuck in an "animal jam" that will add an hour plus to your time.

PS - There is no "Utah post". That is merely a serach feature on this board. All posts to US board go onto general US board. Welcome. You might want to take advantage of "search" feature on fodors. It works (when it is working) like any other search feature where you type in a key word. Lots of good posts in past year on National Parks in that part of the country.

Thanks Gail, I think we will take your advise and stick to our original plan. We need to slow down and take the time to smell the roses!! Don't think we will find any out west, but I get the point!!!

So,from SLC we will head right to Dinosaur NM then up to
Flaming gorge. Can anyone tell me about this, haven't read much on it. How much time should we allow here? Then east to Cheyenne.
Can anyone tell me the aproximate travel time from Rock Springs ( I guess this would be a good place to spend the night) to Cheyenne. The map show it as interstate all the way. Is there anything along the way that I should make time to see?
Thanks again!

I find mapquest.com a fairly accurate site in terms of drive time and route. You can either enter a location or a site/attraction in destination.

It is almost as good as utatea (poster here) in routing and directions.