Help with overambitous trip
 

I wanted to go out west and compulsively booked my airfare before really thinking about driving times etc. We are flying into Vegas on the 15th of May leaving AM of 17th. I have reservations at Grand Canyon that night. I have to make it to Denver by the AM of the 25th. Would like to see as much as possible before leaving Denver on 25th. Is a trip through Arizona and NM impossible in this time frame?

You are arriving at the Grand Canyon on the 17th. You will want to spend the 18th seeing the Grand Canyon. That gives you 6 other days to tour around and get to Denver. <BR><BR>That's plenty of time to drive to Denver via AZ and NM. It's around 900 miles from the Grand Canyon to Denver via Alberquerque.<BR><BR>Is there a reason you want to go to New Mexico? Have you considered driving through Utah. You could hit 5 National parks like Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, & Canyonlands. Check out this web site: <BR><BR>http://www.so-utah.com/<BR><BR>Utahtea<BR><BR>

Not only is it possible, I've done it. But you'll have to confine yourself to the northern portions of both states (ie, no Phoenix, Tuscon, White Sands). You'll still have time to pass through (but not really experience) Canyon de Chelley, Petrified Forest NP, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos; followed by a long drive up I-25 to Denver.<BR><BR>However, as the above poster noted, the Utah national parks would be a FAR better choice for scenery.

Thanks for your tips;;;;do you think it would be allright to "play it by ear" as far as lodging goes? We are thinking that we'll just wing it when we get there, but I am not a Motel 6 person and would want a decent motel

You'll be traveling the week before Memorial Day Weekend; ie, before the start of the traditional summer rush. A lot of you traveling will also be mid week; when lodging is easier to find. Other than making reservations on Saturday 18th and Friday 24th, you should be able to find lodging without too much trouble.<BR><BR>NOTE: if a festival happens to coincide with the town you happen to want to stop at, all bets are off. I once showed at Telleride just to see the waterfalls, and unintentionally found myself in the middle of the Bluegrass Festival! Although it took me an hour to drive through a town of a few hundred (which had swelled to 10,000 for the festival), I was fortunate in not planning to spend the night nearby!

Just returned from the above mentioned trip and wish I had listened to the poster saying to do Utah. While Sedona and the GC were great for scenery, the rest of the ride was just so-so. And yes the long drive from Sante Fe to Denver was long......

Well, there is always "next time".<BR><BR>Utahtea