gnomemom

Hi Everyone,

I am planning two years out for our big Grand Canyon/Utah National Park trip. We are a family of five, mom, dad, three kids (ages 9,9, & 10 at time of travel).

In order to keep peace with the children (ie Balance out all of the scenic driving and looking at rocks ), we will choose to stay in hotels with pools as often as possible on our trip. I'd love any hotel recommendations at any of our stops!

Any thoughts on drive times and how long we need to get a basic feel for each National Park/stop would be appreciated!

Here is our itinerary:
Leave home, driving west, to Moab. This will take three days.
Arches and Canyonlands (We can do both of these based out of Moab, right?, How many nights?)
Monument Valley (one night?)
Grand Canyon, South Rim (one night)
Page - (2-3 nights? Half day float trip, Glen Canyon Dam, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend)
Zion (We can bypass Las Vegas by driving from Page to Zion, correct? I saw another family did this, and I was thrilled. Nothing against Vegas, but I'd rather just stick with the National Parks) (How many nights here?)
Bryce (2 nights?)
Then, I'd like to drive from Bryce to Where? Torrey?
We can stop at Escalante, and Calf Creek Falls (?) and Capital Reef, but I have no intention of lots of time in these places, just stopping at lookouts. How long is this? A full day of driving on Rt 12?
Then, Goblin Valley and home.

Thoughts on the timing for each place? I'd say we'd do just a little bit of hiking - more lookouts and very easy and safe trails. My husband and I are in decent shape, and our kids are normal kids - healthy.

I'd love input. I know it's a bit far out time wise, but I love the planning almost as much as the traveling

Thanks!

utahtea

Moab makes a great location for seeing Arches and Canyonlands. I'd plan on one full day at each park. You might want to visit two sections of Canyonlands. Island in the Sky just north of Moab and Needles sections south of town.

Also there are several scenic drives like Hwy 128 out to Fisher Towers, Potash road Hwy 279 which follows the Colorado River west out of town where you can find petroglyphs and Kane Creek road on the other side of the Colorado River that has more petroglyphs. If you have the time, I'd spend 4 days in Moab.

One night should be enough time for Monument Valley. You might consider two nights at the Grand Canyon to ride the shuttle buses to all the different overlooks and walk along the rim.

You will want 3 nights and two full days at Page, AZ for all the activities you have planned. Be careful with your kids at Horseshoe Bend because there are NO GUARD RAILS and it's a long drop to the river below. The float trip goes thought Horseshoe Bend and we were lucky enough to be there at the time to catch some of the float tours.

There is no reason to go get anywhere near Las Vegas to get from Page, AZ to get to Zion. Take Hwy 89 to Mt. Carmel Jct and enter Zion on Hwy 9. Spend at least two nights and one and a half days. Three nights and two full days would be better. There are so many great family hikes to do in Zion.

One full day and 2 nites will work for Bryce. From Bryce continue north on scenic 12 to Torrey. Calf Creek won't take to long unless you plan to do the 5 mile hike. Capitol Reef is worth several hours. Make sure to stop at the Petroglyphs on Hwy 24 and try to fit in the scenic drive.

Utahtea

Connie

Since all your itinerary is north of Grand Canyon, have you thought about staying at north rim instead of south rim? I actually prefer it--higher elevation, cooler, less crowded, better rim hikes and better canyon views (IMO).

utahtea

It's only 60 more miles to go to the South Rim and hit all their destination spots compared to the North Rim. If they get stuck behind a slow moving RV on the road into the North Rim they could easily loss that hour of travel time. If this is their first time to the Grand Canyon, I highly recommend the South Rim.

Utahtea

gnomemom

Thanks for your replies! Yes, it is our first time for all of these destinations. The south rim is a must do for us - I know my girls, especially, will expect it to look like all the pictures they've seen of the Grand Canyon.

Connie

You see the same canyon from either rim. Many people think the views from the north rim are even better than the south rim. I've been to both rims and hiked to the bottom. Just giving you my opinion.

spirobulldog

You might try both rims if you have time.

www.deserthighlights.com while in Moab

Little Wildhorse Canyon is a great slot canyon and is about 10 minutes from Goblin Valley. it is easy. Probably similar to Antelope Canyon, but it is free and doesn't require timing your trip with a guide. There is nothing to eat or drink in this area, so pack a cooler and food. The visitor center only sells gatorade from their refridge and it is limited supply.

I would go for a pool in Moab and maybe Torrey. However, for Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon(north or south rim), I would definately stay "in park" at the lodges. Since you are planning this far in advance you can probably get a cabin directly on the rim at north rim or Bright Angel Cabin right on the rim in the south. Call the very first day they are available, which is usually 12 or 13 months. Sometime they are available on the first day of the month for the following year. You would want to do this for Bryce and Zion as well.

Calf Creek Falls water was very cold when we were there last week. I didn't see anyone stay in the water more than a couple of minutes. I had hoped to be able to actually swim in it. It is a tougher hike than I had imagined. You need at least half a day for it. It is a nice hike and cool site to see.

Get pie at The Gifford House in Capitol Reef, not far from Torrey. The begin selling the pies at 8:00am and when they run out that is it for the day. We had them for breakfast. One pie is enough for two people. They are little mini-pies and very good. Eat them in the picnic area with the deer. The picnic area is right by the Gifford House.

I think 1 night for each rim.
2-3 nights Zion
2 nights Bryce
1 night Torrey
3-5 nights in Moab depending on what you want to do.
1 night in Monument Valley

Are you not going to see Rainbow Bridge at Lake Powell?

If you happened to have 2-3 more days, you might consider doing Mesa Verde.

Buy a National Park Pass and save some money. $80 and it is good for all parks, monuments, historical sights, etc. It is good for 1 year. It will not work at Monument Valley though. It also saves you on some ranger hikes, camping, etc.

Finally, you might get a National Park Passport book. They stamp it at each park. I could shoot myself for not doing this. I have been to 29 Parks and many Monuments and I wish I had started this as a kid.

StantonHyde

You can check my signature/postings--I have done several trip reports on Zion and Moab with kids.

Zion--do NOT stay at Zion lodge. MUCH better to stay at the Desert Pearl Inn or Cable Mountain Lodge. They both have pools and great grassy areas to play and lots of dinner options or you can do what we do--get the kids a pizza and snag some decent take out for ourselves. Let them eat/watch TV while we drink some good wine and have a decent dinner. The Emerald Pools trail system is great for kids, as is the River Walk. Kolob Canyon section is awesome and way less crowded.

In Moab--Don't stay in the condos at the golf course. It is a haul into town. I know people who do and they enjoy it--I just like being in town better. Google "Old Town Bungalow" for a great property rental company. We have stayed in several of their places and like them alot. They rent out places in the Cottonwood Condos, which has a pool. (that is the one big selling point of the golf course condos) I have actually taken my kids to the community pool in Moab and it was great. As for food options--its all basic tourist food. If you sit at the patio at Eddy McStiffs, they actually have a magician who comes to your table and entertains before your food! There are several great coffee places on the main street for breakfast.

Arches is great for kids. YOur kids will be old enough to do the Fiery Furnace hike--awesome and the longer hike at the end of the park road (mommy brain has me blanking on it). Delicate Arch is a MUST. My kids did this at 4 and 6 so it is very doable even though the beginning is hard. Canyonlands involves more hiking--or maybe a jeep tour if you can stomach it.

Monument Valley--I would spend the day there but then drive on to somewhere else to spend the night--just my opinion.

The Grand Canyon warrants more time than Page--but again, just my opinion. Antelope Canyon is awesome--but you may not be able to do it if there is a possibility of flash floods. Rainbow Bridge is great and maybe in 2 years the water levels will be up again--right now it is a couple hour boat to get to a trail that you then have to hike into Rainbow Bridge. Too much for my kids. (or too much whining for me And South Rim is the way to go for first time visitors UNLESS you are going in the middle of summer, then I would consider the North Rim just because it is cooler.

Bryce--I would stay at Ruby's Inn--modern convenience. Bryce somehow isn't as exciting to me as Zions--I don't know why.

Capitol Reef--stay in one of the hotels in Torrey. Eat at Cafe Diablo--yum. Also Slackers Burgers and there is a great pizza place too. Your kids can do the Calf Creek Falls hike outside of Escalante. My kids did the Hickman Bridge trail when they were little, so easy for your kids. Total ditto on the pie!!!! Anasazi State Park in Boulder is really cool.

gnomemom

StantonHyde - Thank you so, so much! It's like you know my family! I can tell your tips are right on for my kids (you had me at "feed the kids pizza and get takeout for the adults" LOL!).

Thanks so much for your reply and tips!!!