greetings,

For an upcoming trip to the SW in April/May, I'm in need of some help in routing. I'm thinking of a trip between of about 10 days. Any suggestions about how to cover these sites:

1. Grand Canyon
2. Canyon de Chelly
3. Monument Valley
4. Saguru (sp?) Nat'l Pk
5. Chaco Canyon
6. Arches or Bryce
7. Chaco Canyon
8. I"d also like to include Albuquerque or SFe, although I've been travelling there often for work, b/c my partner's not seen them.

Also, suggestions on which cities to fly into an out of are appreciated. I'm using Hilton honors pts for the hotels (and free tkts for flights!), so am hoping to end up staying, for the most part, in places that have hotels in the "Hilton family."

Many thanks for any/all responses.

happy trails, Ellen

Hi elr, I am going for 2 weeks and am doing Santa fe, Cortez(Mesa Verde), MOaArches & Canyonlands), Canyon de Chelly via MV then Albquerque. IMO, I would pare down your itinerary just a simdgeon. Utahtea is great with time frames and distances...maybe she can help. We did Grand Canyon, Sedona, Zion & Bryce last year. It is a big area,,,whew. They call it the Grand Circle FYI. Judy

That is a tall order for 10 days. I plugged in all your stops. If you fly into Phoenix, head south 120 miles to Saguaro National Park, then head back north to Grand Canyon, and then do the parks in this order: Bryce, scenic Hwy 12, Captiol Reef, Arches, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, Chaco to Albuquerque you will be covering over 1,700 miles. That doesn't give much time for exploration.

You might consider doing the route and places below. Be warned that even stopping at all of these places is going to make for a world wind tour in 10 days. Miles driven will be about 1300.

Fly into Las Vegas,

Day 1 Drive to Zion National park (160 miles)
Day 2 Bryce Canyon National Park (86 miles)
Day 3 Grand Canyon via Lake Powell (290 miles)
Day 4 Grand Canyon
Day 5 Canyon de Chelly via Hwy 264 (233 miles).
Day 6 Take morning half day tour of Canyon de Chelly and drive to Monument Valley (100 miles)
Day 7 Monument Valley take morning tour and drive to Farmington (155 miles)
Day 8 Visit Chaco and drive to Alburqueque (266 miles) but the driving to Chaco will be slow on a dirt road. Please check road conditions before traveling to Chaco!
Day 9 Alburqueque
Day 10 fly home or add some where on the trip.

Utahtea

thank you, thank you. and I knew there was some name to the drive for people who flew into LV, but was not sure of it.

I think it's obvious that we are going to have to pare down or go for a few more days.

Saguaro NP is a bit priority for us. Do you think it makes more sense to fly into Tucson and then head north?

Thanks again for your insight.

Since Saguaro is high priority, then Tucson would be the closest city.

You will want to then go to the Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, & Chaco. I've read that the road in from the north to Chaco is much better than the road from the south. I would add a couple more days to your trip if you can, so you can enjoy each place.

Utahtea

Hi E,

Except for your arrival and departure cities, I don't think you will find Hilton hotels in these destinations. I've never used their chain for rewards, but I doubt their "family" is soextended that they have anything remotely near our National Parks.

Might have to re-think the hotel plan!

thanks, We've been throwing around ideas of what to cut out, and it seems the first victim is Chaco. Once we plot this out, we should find other places to cut.

as always, people on this board are incredibly helpful! thanks again.

Yes it's a WHIRL-WIND tour.
Saguaro is divided into two parts on the east and west sides of the city.
We prefer the west and it's also the best location to continue on with your trip.
Have a great time, you will love it.

Wanted to say ""yes it is a WHIRL WIND tour but you can do it.""
And you will love it.
You will be covering a lot of ground but there is much to see and enjoy between sites also.

so, my husband thinks that S. AZ is the most out of the way....

please stay tuned for the exact itinerary!

thanks again.

Look forward to hearing what the final route will be!

Utahtea