Road trip help

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Not been around here for a while, but I'm planning a US driving holiday for 2015 and remembered that I got lots of great tips / recommendations on here for previous trips.

We are planning a tour of the Southwest incorporating Utah, Colorado and Arizona. Our starting point would be Salt Lake City and finishing in Phoenix. We originally wanted to include New Mexico (Santa Fe) but I don't want to try and cram too much in. I'd like to be able to spend a reasonable amount of time in some key places and am limited to approx. 15-16 days.

My provisional plan is below. Could anyone let me know if I'm not planning to stay long enough in some locations, too long in others, or any recommendations of places to stay things to see. Any information / insights greatly appreciated.

Day 1: Salt Lake City > Bryce Canyon (1 night stay)
Day 2: Bryce Canyon > Moab (3 night stay)
Day 3: Arches National Park
Day 4: Canyonlands National Park
Day 5: Moab > Durango (2 night stay)
Day 6: Durango / Silverton Railway round-trip
Day 7: Durango > Monument Valley (Kayenta) (3 night stay)
Day 8: Monument Valley
Day 9: Monument Valley
Day 10: Monument Valley (Kayenta) > Canyon de Chelly National Park (Chinle) (3 night stay)
Day 11: Canyon de Chelly
Day 12: Canyon de Chelly
Day 13: Canyon de Chelly (Chinle) > Flagstaff (2 night stay)
Day 14: Flagstaff
Day 15: Flagstaff > Phoenix

Thanks in advance.

[MarkW]

We did a similar trip in 2006, flying in and out of Vegas.  From memory it went;

Vegas to Zion National Park
Zion to Bryce Canyon NP
Bryce to Moab (where we did Arches and Canyonlands NPs)
Moab to Mexican Hat (just because we liked the name, and it's close to Monument Valley)
Mexican Hat to Flagstaff
Flagstaff to Scottsdale (to visit family)
Scottsdale to Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon to Vegas for a few days before flying home

We didn't spend much time at Canyon de Chelly, and not sure what you'd do there for three days tbh.  All of the other national parks were fantastic, and the UT / AZ / NV scenery is stunning.

[Shug]

Moab and the surrounding areas are really awesome.  You might consider an overnight rafting trip out of Moab, lots of choices.  http://redriveradventures.com/   

A few years ago, we took our teenaged boys to Moab and we did a really nice 1 night rafting trip with this company http://moabadventurecenter.com/activities/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyMafBRCU7OCRyc2vitsBEiQAKV4H9GeY9JH4trfJGd7QvQq2sJPeYmY-r1pnUNAdmEHtTacaAkuI8P8HAQ on the Colorado river just east of Moab.  Fairly mellow in summer, but still some exciting rapids and just a good time.  I'd really recommend it over a day trip, something great about sleeping out under the stars next to the river, it can't be beat.

We also did a crazy jeep tour on the red rocks, really cool.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGOpAqxHuN8 Moab's got world class slick rock and mountain biking, too.

I've not stayed in the Monument Valley or Canyon de Chelly areas, so I don't know for sure, my but first reaction is that might be too much time there for some.  Its pretty in a desolate way, but really out in the middle of nowhere on the Native American reservation.  You might want to consider heading over to Kanab and maybe even all the way to Zion national park instead of all those days in Monument Valley and Canyon De Chelly.  You could also consider some watersports on Lake Powell, too.

Think about doing one of the slot canyon tours.  http://www.dreamlandtours.net/day-tours/kanab-tours/mystical-slot-canyon-tour-better-than-antelope-canyon-tour/

Sounds like a great trip.  What time of year are you doing it?  It's fricking HOT in the summer, obviously, and it makes doing outdoor stuff in the midday hours uncomfortable.  If I think of other stuff, I'll chime in.

[Crispy]

I love travelling this part of the country, especially Utah. Since you're expecting to do three days around Monument Valley, I would recommend instead of going straight from Durango to Kayenta: follow the San Juan to Bluff, then up to Natural Bridges, then back down Utah 261 to Mexican Hat and on to Monument Valley. "Highway" 261 is partially gravel in the short section where it climbs an escarpment, but the views are incredible, it's so awesome if you don't lose your shit going down that hill. Hey, if the Google Street View guy can do it, you can.

You might not want to spend that much time in Kayenta, though I guess you could get all Ed Abbey and pretend you're Hayduke bopping around the coal mines on Black Mesa after checking out the Navajo National Monument.

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'd read about the heat in summer so was thinking of going in September / October so it should be more bearable then.

The common theme seems to be that we've got too long in Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. My thinking was that I'd like to do at least a full day on horseback in one of them, and at least a full day guided hike in another. I know from previous experience that places I think I'm going to like I never stay long enough in. But I'll have a re-think to check whether there is enough to do or if we reduce the time there.

I'll check out all the links you suggest. Definitely interested in some mountain biking, rafting and jeep tours (maybe).

[Shug]

Sept will still be hot in Arizona.  It usually starts to cool off in mid October, but it has been well over a 100 degrees F at the end of October in Phoenix some years.  Some places you are going will be cooler (like Flagstaff and Durango). 

[Shug]

LD reminded me that you should definitely not miss Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.  There will not be a shortage of red rock formations on your trip, but still there is something special about Sedona, even with the infiltration of New Agey vortex seekers and aura readers.  Native American ruins and petroglphs, excellent hiking, creeks to cool off in.  Its really great.  And a drive on Hwy 89A from Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon is an awesome way to get there especially when the leaves are turning colors in the Fall (second half of October should be good)

Are you staying in Flagstaff to see the Grand Canyon?  Sedona works just as well as Flagstaff as a base for a day trip to the South Rim, but Sedona is much nicer than Flagstaff, IMO.

And then there is the mountainside mining town of Jerome just south of Sedona.  I think that would be pretty cool for you to visit as well.  On a weekend you can catch local bands at the Spirit Room.  If you are lucky, my friend Mark Zubia and Los Guys or Tramps and Thieves will be playing there.  http://spiritroom.com/

If you are going to see the Grand Canyon or if you have already been to the South Rim, the North Rim is a lot less crowded and has a different, more pine-y feel.  Its a long way around, but its a really nice drive.  If you end up spending less time in Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly, you could drive over to Kanab, Utah and then to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and then down past Tuba City to Flagstaff and Sedona.

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Thanks for that. I'd been put off of Sedona because of the New Age aspect to it but a colleague just returned from a driving trip across America and said Sedona was one of his favourite stops in the entire journey. I'd already marked down the Oak Creek Canyon drive and possibly a trip to Jerome from Flagstaff, but if you say Sedona and Jerome are nicer than Flagstaff I'll look into that. We're not doing the Grand Canyon, as we did that a few years ago, and I really wanted to get out into some other areas like Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly etc.

After quite a lot of activity in the trip at the start I thought it would be nice to have a few days to unwind in one place at the end, and I'd read that Flagstaff is pretty nice. Main aim would be to use it as a base but come back in the evenings for food, bars and hopefully some music. But I'll definitely look into Sedona and Jerome.

I'll probably cut down a day each in Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly which will give me a bit more time to play with for staying in some other places.

[Shug]

Flagstaff will definitely give you more choices for dining, drinks and music than Sedona, you are correct.  Its a college town, and NAU is a bit of a hippie school, nothing wrong with that.  Sedona is more about being outdoors.  Head down to Red Rock Crossing State Park and hang out in the creek and look at Bell Rock, so good!

[walterfredo]

I'd second the Sedona recommendation.  Went there with the fam on our Grand Canyon vacation a few years back and it was the highlight of our trip.  Such a beautiful spot.  We rented a sweet condo right on Oak Creek.