I am planning a trip for two couples to drive to Utah. Would welcome any and all comments about what is a must do, and what can/should be avoided so we don't waste our time. We will have approximately one week, and plan on visiting all five national parks. So far, that's all that is on our itinerary. We will also be traveling there from central Indiana by car, so suggestions on what to see along the way are also invited. Thanks!

One week, five national parks. That's less than one day per park when you add in drive time & hotel check in/out.

Limiting your visit to 2-3 of the parks would avoid wasted time.

I have only been to Bryce & Zion and they re both spectacular. Others who have been to all 5 can give your their 2c.

When are you planning to do this trip? Fall?, Winter? Spring? Summer?

Does the week include the two or three days it will take to drive from central Indiana to Utah?

What kinds of things do you want to do in the parks? Many could spend a week in one or two without feeling they had "seen it all". Or is this to be a drive by, been there, check it off the list type of trip?

If you click my name and scroll down, you will find several TRs that we've done to the area which might help you decide what you might want to miss.

>>We will have approximately one week, and plan on visiting all five national parks.Indiana? That would be a full two week trip - and even that would be rushed.

Either 1) lengthen your trip, 2) cut back to 2 parks max, or 3) Fly out to SLC or Vegas, do a loop drive/fly home.

Oh, and we will go in the fall. Is Septeber or October better to do our planning?

More info to help...

We will be gone two full weeks, including the book-ended weekends on either side.

Driving so we can take in the Colorado Rockies for my husband, who is the only one of the three of us who has never seen them.

We are all in good shape and like to hike--although nothing crazy.

Thanks for more input.

>>We will be gone two full weeks, including the book-ended weekends on either side.>We will have approximately one week

Have been to Zion, Bryce, and Arches and can say from experience they're all wonderful. The first two have the advantage of being fairly close by each other.

two weeks is much better. When you get to Colorado, check to see if Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mt. NP is open. If so, you could loop up and drive through then back to I- 70 for your drive west.

A few miles past Grand Junction, CO look for UT 128 and take it down to Moab. It parallels the Colorado river for quite a while and goes by Fisher Towers (where the commercial of the girl with the credit card climbed up)

If you don't have lodging near the parks yet, you might find the close by places already filled up. We have done some trips without reservations and have often been lucky enough to find lodging in the parks, but you can't count on that in October as there are school breaks and lots of seniors who like to travel then. In any case, there usually will be lodging near the interstates and you can drive a bit more if you need to.

These are my standard recommended books for the southern Utah parks area.


1. All parks in the west - Fodor's The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West . All of western US About 330 pages.
2. Fodor's Utah: with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef & Canyonlands National Parks About 325 pages
3. Overall touring guide of southern Utah Parks: Utah Parks Driving, Hiking and Mountain Biking. Available in Kindle (about 1,000 pages) and paper back format (about 750 pages). This book gives a time saving mile-by-mile driving guide.
4. Hiking(serious): Hiking, Biking and Exploring Canyonlands National Park and vicinity by Michael R. Kelsey. He has a host of hiking books each about 300 pages of small print.
5 . Hiking (family): Wow Utah Canyon Country –Very well illustrated. About 440 pages.
6 . Backroad 4-wheel driving: Canyonland National Park Favorite Jeep Roads and Hiking Trails. White Rim Trail (road) is the premier scenic area in Island In The Sky. This 190 page book has an excellent description of Island In The Sky 110 mile road.

All available at Amazon.com

Vaga