Thanks for the responses.

Now we've got to sit down and try to work on our schedules.

My DW and I had a very enjoyable trip to Moab/Arches last November. We rode on the CA Zephyr from Sacramento to SLC.
The train gets into SLC very early in the morning. We had a good breakfast at Denny's and taxied to the airport and rented a car. We stayed in Green River to save a few bucks.
The Zephyr also stops in Green River and Grand Junction.
Being retired and having the time to take trains suits us just fine.

I've been lurking on this thread and finding it very helpful. Thanks to everyone who contributed information.

Can I piggyback on a followup question that I think should probably be filed away for posterity in this thread? In a few days I'm flying into SLC, and then driving to Moab (GJT isn't an option for me at this point). The last time I did this route, I took US-6. I drove that segment at night, so I can't comment on the scenery, and I didn't realize how high the accident rate was.

Utateah recommends taking I-15 and I-70, and that's what I'm planning to do this time. Utahtea further recommends cutting over from I-15 to I-70 on US-50, from Scipio to Salina. How does that route compare to taking UT-28, passing by Yuba State Park, and through Gunnison? I guess it's not much of a difference in time (4 minutes, according to Google Maps), but would either be more scenic or otherwise enjoyable?

A few years ago I drove from SLC to Moab as follows:

15 to Spanish Fork
6 to Green river
70 to 191
191 to Arches / Moab

I had read (probably a utahtea post) about the high accident rate but saw nothing enroute that would cause an issue.

We drove the middle of the afternoon (maybe that's a better time than morning or evening rush hours) and got to Arches in time for a late afternoon hike to Delicate Arch.

Going back was from Bryce Canyon and that was a really smooth ride. Up 89, across on 20 and all the way on a very nice 15.

hawksbill, I've never taken 28 but on the map it looks like a much smaller road than 15. 15 is a divided, two-lane each way highway.

I don't remember if it was at all scenic but was a great early evening drive with no issues.

I just checked Google maps and taking 15 & 70 instead of 6 is 75 miles and an hour longer.

I would go 6 if I were headed to Moab from SLC if time were my big factor. I have never driven 6 though.

I do think that the Swell is interesting enough to drive 70(at least one way). A lot of the hikes for The Swell are on Goblin Valley Side(little Wildhorse and many others)not the hwy side. I would imagine that there would be some hikes on that side though.

We are always in our motor home when we drive Hwy 6 from Price to I-70. Once it was windy and DH had a heck of a time staying in our lane when a gust of wind would hit the side of us. It was the middle of the day and we were lucky there wasn't more on coming traffic than there was. Now I realize that everyone here doesn't drive a motor home...but you also don't want to have one of them move into your lane going the opposite direction!!!! That's why it's not my favorite route.

Utahtea

Hawksbill, the last few years the road dept has been very dedicated to making hwy 6 a safe road and it has improved immensely. We always take it on the way to and from Moab or points east. It is that extra hour shorter, which makes a difference if you go often.

If you still want to take I-15 to I-70 that is good as well, the San Rafael swell is fantastic, take the time for the pulloffs so you can really take a look.

We always take 50 when going to hwy 24 on our way to Capitol Reef. That extra 30 miles at freeway speeds always sells me on that route. Rte 28 is a local road, and you won't go as fast, but it is a perfectly good route if you want something besides freeway. Painted Rocks on Yuba has a nice view.

Well if you drive with your lights on at those safety corridors, you know that has to help things. LOL. I never have understood those. I like to be as safe as I can all the time, not just the next 23 miles.

Myer and Utah fans -

You might want to take into consideration the fact that there is major, long term road construction on I-15 borht directions in Utah Valley (1 hr south of SLC airport and before the Hwy 6 turnoff at Spanish Fork) when making your decisions.

Hwy 6 is indeed quite dangerous - a logging truck almost killed me there years ago. Just don't go that way if it is snowing. All other times exercise caution and keep your eyes peeled. The driver doesn't get to look at the scenery. the biggest issue is that many divers go way over the speed limit, loose control and go head on into on coming traffic - or go over the side. Others pass unsafely on the mostly single lane highway.

They are working on it and more areas are 4 lanes, but they have a long way to go.

Just so you know......they have just recently changed the name of the Cisco exit # 214 off of I-70 to Danish Flat. Same exit # but different name.
http://www.theanasazi.com/