We are visiting Utah, Arizona, Colorado in late May/early April. We have got the following driving times off MapQuest and would appreciate views on whether these are realistic. We've just seen from some earlier postings that Page to Monument Valley is 2.5 hours but this differs to MapQuest's time.

Vegas to Page - 5 hrs 38 mins
Page to Monument Valley - 4 hrs 29 mins
Mounument Valley to Dolores, Colorado - 4 hrs 45 mins
Dolores to Moab - 3 hours
Moab to Torrey - 3 hrs 43 mins
Torrey to Bryce - 2 hrs 51 mins
Bryce to Zion - 2 hrs 13 mins
Zion to Vegas - 2 hrs 53 mins

We've done Bryce to Zion to Vegas before so we are happy with these times as being reasonable - does anyone have any thoughts on the other parts?

Also, we'd appreciate ideas on the top sights to see in Capitol Reef (1 day), Moab (2 days) plus any must-sees on our route. We're not great hikers but we want to get out and see what we can in places.

Sorry for the long post, but after reading most of the other postings, this seems to be the best source we've found for info on our trip.

Ooops - our trip is in late April/early May!

Hi Sarah and Tim,

Here is what I got when I put the data into my Microsoft Streets and Trips. (Which is pretty reliable)

Vegas to Page - 5 hrs 31 min.

Page to Monument Valley - taking Hwy 98 from Page - 3 hrs 12 min.

Page to Monument Valley - taking Hwy 89 from Page - 3 hrs 39 min.

MV to Dolores - 3 hrs 23 mins.

Dolores to Moab - 2 hrs 39 mins.

Moab to Torrey - 3 hrs 52 mins.

Torrey to Bryce - 3 hrs 11 mins.

Bryce to Zion - 2 hrs. 8 mins.

Zion to Las Vegas - 2 hrs. 56 min.

Utahtea

From Page to Monument Valley you can take a 55 mile short cut using Hwy 98. This route is not as scenic as taking Hwy 89 down to Hwy 160 but you will need to add at least an hours driving time.

I'm curious why you chose Dolores, Colorado? Do you plan on stopping at Mesa Verde National Park?

If you only have two days in Moab, I would spend one day in Arches National Park going to all the view points and take the short hikes to some of the arches. If you felt up to doing 3 miles I would recommend going to Delicate Arch instead. If not you might try the 2 mile hike to Landscape Arch or Park Avenue Trail.

I would spend the second day in Canyonlands, Island in the Sky District. Green River overlook and there is a nice level hike at Grandview overlook.

If you have time one evening drive out Hwy 128 along the Colorado River for a very scenic drive. If you still have time take the Potash road to find petroglyphs.

In Capitol Reef take the scenic drive into the park. You might try hikin in Capitol Gorge or Grand Wash. Both take you into narrow canyons and the hiking is very level in washbeds. Go as far as you want and come back. Don't go if it looks like a thunderstorm!

Also remember the times given are just driving times. You are going to be driving thought some really beautiful country side and will probably make a few stops especially between Torrey and Bryce on scenic Hwy 12.

Try this web site for great information on the area.

http://www.so-utah.com/

Utahtea

Thanks Utahtea for your help. We do plan to make plenty of stops but its useful to get a feel of how long the total journey is so we can work out what we have time to look at on the way.

We're actually visiting Dunton Hot Spings (which is actually a little way out of Dolores) for a couple of days of complete relaxation to make up for the rest of the vacation in Utah which will be very hectic. It is a little out of the way of the rest of the tour but should be a little different. We do plan to visit Mesa Verde if we have time.

I heard that the USA have invented a new bomb for the war in Iraq called the Moab bomb. Why did they name it after the city? Why not call it the Memphis bomb or New York bomb?

To Hiroshi,

The Moab Bomb is not named after the city of Moab, Utah.

M.O.A.B. offically stands for Massive Ordnance Air Burst but my DH thinks they gave it those itinials because it means "Mother of All Bombs"!

Utahtea