When we go to Europe, I plan where we will be every night and have hotel reservations made ahead of time. This way we know where we will be and how much we will be spending.

Do I need to do the same for a trip to Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and the southern Utah national parks in late May, early June? Or can we count on finding relatively inexpensive motels wherever we need them at that time of year in those areas? It would be nice to be more flexible that way, but I don't want to be sleeping in expensive places (or the car!) just because we didn't plan ahead. (I know that lodges in the park are virtually impossible to reserve even now -- for May of this year.)

Just my opinion. But I prefer to plan well ahead in advance and stay in the park lodges. They generally aren't that much more and it is so much easier. You should probably allow 30 minutes to Mesa Verde from Cortez, and more from Durango. Grand Canyon is a long way from anything, so you will for sure want to stay there one or two nights. Why not just plan on staying 2 nights at Mesa Verde, 2 Nights at Grand Canyon, and 2 nights in either Bryce or Zion. At Bryce and Zion you would have a better option of staying outside of the park, although I personally would still opt for inside the park if available. I know what you mean about just being spontaneous and going with the flow, but even at National Parks, I think it does a lot of good to plan well in advance. Especially during the busier summer months. We plan most of our trips one year in advance. We get lodging decided on first and then try and get a good early airfare. I would also suggest going earlier than later in summer to beat the heat and miss some of the crowds. I bet Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon might be tough to get lodging, but I bet Mesa Verde, Moab (Arches, Canyonlands), and Cap Reef would have available rooms. We went to Moab last Memorial day and had a great time there. Mid-day was a little warm, but not unbearable. If you hit Durango/Mesa Verde/Four Corners/ Arches/Canyonlands/Capital Reef. I would think it would still be doable and get pretty much the lodging you want. You could spend two weeks in Canyonlands and Capital Reef each and still have a lot left to see. You could see Monument Valley as well.

We stayed at Zion, Bryce and North Rim - it's fantastic to stay in the parks if you can get the lodging. There is nothing like walking out your door for a sunrise.

I would try to do that in advance. If your plans change, you can easily cancel without a penalty. If nothing is available, book a back-up place and keep trying. They told me they get cancellations closer to summer.

It might be busier than you think in June, but I wouldn't give up on in park lodging. I get the impression local schools are out in June because when we were there in mid-August, they were all back to school.
Good luck!

For Grand Canyon, South Rim, yes you most certainly do need advance reservations. Xanterra told me that I very was lucky getting them 5 months out. Normally, there is a 12-13 month wait in peak season. On the other hand, numerous posters on this forum have suggested calling over and over for late cancellations. That might be your best strategy!

I do understand about the park lodges. My question is really about all the ones OUTSIDE the parks.

IMO it's better to have reservations. If you need to alter them a little it is easier to change your dates if you already have reservations. The hotels seem to be more accommodating as opposed to trying to get in at last minute. You will probably get better prices, too. Have fun!

For the Grand Canyon South Rim, if you can't get lodging inside the park, you do need to book one of the places in Tusayan ahead of time, especially for a May or June visit. That is a very popular time to visit.

For our April visit last year, my sister decided about 5 weeks ahead to join us. We had booked our rooms inside the park a year in advance, and nothing was available there. It took a good bit of searching to find them an available room in Tusayan. When we went to their hotel (the Quality Inn) to meet up, there was a long line at the reception desk---all people who had just "shown up" and were inquiring about rooms. The desk clerk told there there was nothing left---nowhere in Tusayan. So all those people had to turn around and drive back to Williams or someplace else.

You should plan on at least one full day at Mesa Verde NP. There is a motel right on the grounds and if you are planning on being at the park for 2 days, staying at the motel will save you a lot of driving [out at night and in the next morning]. It is a basic, simple place. Far View Lodge,

http://www.visitmesaverde.com/lodgin...view-lodge.cfm

Cortez is the closest town [of any notable size with choices of visitor facilities] to the entrance of Mesa Verde NP. It is a 10 minute drive, but it will take you another 30 minutes to get to the visitor center from entrance. Durango is 35 minutes to the entrance. There is a closer town, Mancos, but it is very small with few places to eat and fewer places to stay.

Cortez has a variety of chain motels, {Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn and Best Western are the nicest} and several smaller, local less expensive ones. There are also quite a few places to eat in Cortez.

Durango has lots more, but will cost more too.

http://www.cityofcortez.com/visiting.shtml

http://www.cortezchamber.com/Visitor_Info.html

Deb

In Mesa Verde you will need to allow 1 to 1.5 hours per day just for driving if you don't stay in the park. I didn't think the lodge there was that expensive. In Grand Canyon you will need to allow even more time. The Utah parks you will most likely be able to find lodging somewhere that doesn't require more than a 15 minute drive. The Utah parks will probably have something available outside the parks without an advance res as long as it isn't Jeep weekend in Moab.

If the time includes the Memorial Day weekend near the Grand Canyon, Bryce or Zion, then I'd say have reservations for that weekend for sure!

These places are getting so crowded you almost need reservations for camping except for maybe Mesa Verde!

Utahtea

We stayed in Tropic near Bryce

There aren't a great deal of lodging choices out in southern Utah with the exception of Moab, Springdale and some other smaller towns like Torrey. We usually leave a few nights open so we have some flexibility. On our fall Utah trip, we ended up not camping one night due to rain and had a little trouble getting a room since we couldn't keep our room at Austin's for an add'l night. There aren't abundant choices.

We made a last-minute trip to Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks last Memorial Day. Everything in Moab was booked solid, so we stayed in Cortez and drove the 90 minutes or so to Arches from there. We got almost the last room at the Cortez Econo Lodge; they were turning away people every time we went in the lobby.

So do be sure to book your rooms ahead of time.

Lee Ann

I have taken everyone's advice and booked all my motels for a May20-29 trip. Thanks to all. All my reservations can be changed in case I want to be more flexible in the end.

I think you have made a good decision. You will still have plenty of time to do things spontaneously. I would probably go for 2 days @ Mesa Verde and Grand Canyon each. Then pick a couple of others parks and maybe some other highlights along the way. I think you are getting there just before the weather gets to hot. Should be great!!!!!

Mesa Verde is one of my absolute favorite places. I have gotten in without reservations. However I would get a reservation and would ask for a room on the rim as opposed to the center. The rim rooms have a view of 50 or 100 miles. The Far view Lodge is a very nice restaurant. I would spend 2 nights.

As a matter of fact I have been able to get lodging in the Mesa Verde park and snagged a cancellation at one of the Grand Canyon lodges also! Thanks to those who have suggested this avenue. I have two days at each park planned.

We are going to be in Mesa Verde and Four Corners area May 22-28. Maybe our paths will cross. What else are you doing along the way besides GC and Mesa? We are doing Mesa Verde, Monument Valley hot air balloon ride. Staying one night at Valley of the Gods. Natural Bridges National Monument, Durango train ride with zipline adventure.

We're going to see Sedona area, Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly, and Hopi Indian Reservation. Possibly Durango train, not sure.

just wondering where you are starting from? thinking of doing a very similar trip in Oct for about the same amount of time. we are in San Diego and have mulling over what "loop" we should take. hope you will post a trip report when you return. i am very interested in the canyon de chelly. have been to Grand Canyon and Sedona but not the other places you are planning.