mmiley wrote:
We would advise you to save the south part and Texas for another trip. You just don't have enough time and you'll be worn out before you even get to Arizona.
2350 miles @300 miles/day = 8 days: A straight shot from New Jersey to Grand Canyon via I-280/I-70 at Indianapolis; I-44 St. Louis; I-40 Oklahoma City to Grand Canyon, Arizona. The big thing about the national parks is hiking and if you don't plan to do so, your trip is very doable in the time you have allotted.
May 13th - Depart NJ 7am - 8 days - and not real long ones so you stay refreshed and have some relaxing time!
May 21st - Arrive Grand Canyon, AZ- You'll need your rest by now!
May 22nd
May 23rd
May 24th - Depart Grand Canyon area; arrive Boulder City/Hoover Dam/Lake Mead/Las Vegas area (approx. 4 hrs. driving) We are thinking of staying at an RV park on the strip near the Circus Circus casino. But not positive since we would like to see hoover dam and maybe rent a house boat for the day at Lake Mead. (SUGGESTIONS ON THIS LEG OF TRIP APPRECIATED)
There are probably day tour boat trips available. Renting your own boat, if possible, would be extremely expensive.
May 28th (after the Memorial Day weekend rush) - Depart Boulder City/Las Vegas area; arrive Zion
Do not try to do both Zion and Bryce from one campsite, especially since you'd have to break camp without a towed vehicle. Move to each park for a more relaxing time.
May 29 - Zion
May 30 - Zion
May 31 Depart Zion for Bryce
June 1 - Bryce
June 2 - Bryce
Skip Mesa Verde if you're not hikers/climbers. Some of the ruins tours requires ladder climbing.
June 3rd - Depart Bryce and take Hwy 89 north to I-70 East to Arches/Canyonlands area.
I'd suggest Hwy 12 from Bryce to take in Escalante/Capitol Reef but without a car it would be difficult to tour that area. It would just be a highway drive. Hwy 12 is definitely doable with a 31' MH but it is twisty and steep toward Capitol Reef but a beautiful drive. Thousands of RVers drive it.
June 4 - Moab/Canyonlands
June 5 - Moab/Canyonlands
June 6 - Moab Canyonlands
June 7 - LV Moab for Grand Tetons (1 very long or 2 days of driving)
June 8 - Grand Tetons
June 9 - Grand Tetons
June 10 - LV Grand Tetons for reservations in Yellowstone
June 15th - Depart Yellowstone 9am arrive Cody, WY taking our time arrive some time in the afternoon.
June 16th Cody (Definitely do the Museum)
June 17th - Depart Cody, WY 8am arrive Custer, SD (stopping along the way to see Devils Tower) sometime around 3:30pm
June 20th - Depart Custer, SD 8am drive thru Badlands (driving approx. 10 hrs. this day stopping somewhere overnight)
June 21st - Driving to NJ drive around 9 hrs. Seems like a fast, long trip home in 2 days.
June 22nd - Driving to NJ drive around 8 hours arrive HOME.
If you want to work in Monument Valley, you need to change the routing to include it. Allow at least 2 nights.
Other background: We will be renting a car in Yellowstone to do daily driving around the park. Our RV is a 31ft. Class C motorhome. We are not pulling anything and I am traveling with my in-laws in their mid 70's and two dogs.
This is a very aggressive trip but only you know how everyone in your group will tolerate it, including the dogs. Good luck!
