Road trip to rock-y landscape from NC
 

My teenage son in begging for a road trip to somewhere he describes as "rock-y". We live in central NC so we visit the beaches and mountains often. He wants to see a rocky landscape as in the Grand Canyon or Badlands. We would be driving and bringing our senior dog who is perfectly content hanging out in the vehicle for us to sight see so the temperature is important - really the cooler the better. Given that, we are looking to travel during spring break from school which will be late March 2016. We will have 9 days for travel and sightseeing. While NC is generally beyond any wintry weather by then, I realize many parts of the country are not.

We have considered Mt. Rushmore/Badlands but replies to another post suggest this may be a bad idea considering weather. We do not have an issue with exploring in the cold and snow but would not relish a situation where we are stranded and cannot go exploring.

Any suggestions given these factors - rock-y; dog; weather. Thanks for any suggestions!!

9 days to get out west AND get back home? That is not very long. And re the dog -- pets are VERY limiting on most National parks. They cannot be left in cars in most of them. Just something to think about.

I'd try to find something closer to home unless you can add several days to the trip.

I have to say that if I were somewhere and saw a dog hanging out IN a car while the humans were off somewhere for who-knows how long I would get concerned. Would you at least consider leaving the pet in your hotel/motel?

Charlotte NC to Flagstaff AZ is 1954 miles. Round up to 2000. If you drive 500 miles a day, it will take you 4 days to get there and 4 days to get back. That's 1 day to explore the rocks of Arizona.

Charlotte to Denver (Rocky Mountains) is 1561 miles or 3 days. The Rockies will be cooler than the desert SW. The in-between is a boring drive. You could make the drive in 2 days if you wanted to do some serious driving. That would be 4 days in all and 5 days to sight-see.

I just read this - " we are looking to travel during spring break from school which will be late March 2016"

You'd have snow in Colorado then. The desert SW will be cooler then and may even have snow. Keep in mind that if you go the Grand Canyon, you may have to kennel your dog there but they have a nice kennel.

I love my dogs but I would leave them behind with a good sitter or in a good kennel and make this a human trip.

If you both can drive and are willing to do about 1000 miles per day when you are going out and heading back, then here is my see rocks plan:

Day 1 and 2:drive out 40 to Flagstaff then up to Grand Canyon.

Day 3 explore Grand Canyon night there or at Cameron Trading Post at the junction of 64 and 89

Day 4 if from GC head east on 64 to 89 (otherwise just up 89) to 160 to 163 visit Monument Valley night in Mexican Hat.

Day 5 163 to 191 to Moab quick drive through Arches NP

Day 6 and 7 explore Arches and Canyonlands

Day 8,9,10 head back home through Colorado on 70 if it is not snowy

Do find a kind person to care for the dog.

Keep an eye on the weather and on the way back and be prepared to alter plans if it gets bad.

Have a great trip.

Thanks for all the input and concern for the dog. We have some time to work out the details so I may be back again as we fine tune our plans. We have our reasons why the dog really must travel with us but there's no need to bore you with the details. Suffice it to say the dog will not suffer in any way. Thanks again!

>>Suffice it to say the dog will not suffer in any way<<

I didn't assume you would abuse the poor guy :)

But you do need to know that most western National Parks do have very VERY strict rules about pets and most paces they cannot be left in cars (ever) and they are not allowed on may of the trails.

Some State Parks as well.

" Given that, we are looking to travel during spring break from school which will be late March 2016."

We took a great trip during spring break many years ago.
Flew into Denver.
Drove south along the front range (rocky) and the over to Alamosa.
Visited Great Sand Dunes NP (sandy)
Continued west to Durango.
Visited Mesa Verde NP
Past Four Corners
Down to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. It snowed for three days.
Through Monument Valley to Arches NP. A bit of ice was still on the trail to Delicate Arch.
Back into Colorado and skiing at Buttermilk / Aspen.
Back to Denver to fly home.

Lots of rock-y landscape.
Temps won't be hot for the pup.
It may be difficult finding places to sleep with a pup.
You may have to day kennel the pup while you are in the parks. The Grand Canyon kennel is nice.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/pets.htm

Enjoy your trip!