If you want to stay at a nice State Park with hookups, check out James M Robb State Park in Fruita, CO (west side of Grand Junction). Then visit Colorado Nat'l Monument from there.
If you come back to Moab via I-70, drive on scenic Hwy 128 along the Colorado River down to Hwy 191, instead of turning off I-70 at Hwy 191.
If by 87 you mean I-25, that is a fine drive. 160 is a pretty drive and totally doable. Just be aware of Wolf Creek Pass. Road is very good, long climb, then just gear down on descent. I've never been on 491.
