Moab, Ut to Torry, Ut

Thanks for the reply.
Heading out Tuesday the 15th a few stops on the way arriving Moab the
24th.

Been to both places several times.....two of our very favorite stops.

IMHO do the I-70 and Hwy 24. Fine roads for sure.

I could elaborate on all those but am sure you have plenty to consider.

Personally, unless you have lots of time and run out of things to do (ha!) I would not bother with the Needles area of Canyonlands unless you are well into hiking or want to drive down - best have the vehicle for it. It is a long and boring drive from Moab. Stick to the Islands In The Sky (north) section of Canyonlands.

accsys wrote:
...We took 95 and 24 across from 191 just south of Blanding. It was a very pretty drive on the back roads and also allowed us to see the southern portion of Canyonlands (Needles Area) and Natural Bridges National Monument...

UT-95 definitely has more ups and downs than US-191, I-70 and UT-24. If you have the time, there is a lot to see in the Blanding/Bluff/Mexican Hat area including: The Valley of The Gods, Goosenecks State Park, UT-261 (the Moki Dugway)Scenic Backway, Hovenweep National Monument, Bluff Fort, South Fork of Mule Canyon and House on Fire, Edge of the Cedars State Park, and The Dinosaur Museum.

In the Capitol Reef/Torrey area there are lots of scenic byways and backways to explore including: scenic byways and backways in the Fishlake area, UT-12 Scenic Byway, Scenic Backways off UT-12, Hells Backbone, and the Burr Trail.

In the Moab area we enjoyed Kane Creek Road, Potash Lower Colorado Byway, Upper Colorado River UT-128 Scenic Byway, Sago Canyon, and Dead Horse Point State Park in addition to the National Parks.

I70 is a snooze fest to get to Torrey ... if you're a truck driver and need to get there to keep your quota, go for it, otherwise, back roads!

191 south from Moab to 95 and you can stop in and see the gorgeous natural bridges national monument. Say hi to the free-range cattle, and watch out as they sometimes find themselves on the roadway.

95 starts heading north-west, through the Glenn Canyon area which is also beautiful. Stop for lunch in Hanksville, cute 50s themed diner there with awesome burgers and onion rings.

Turn west onto 24 and you'll be in Torrey in no time.

I went in June, during a drought, there was NO WIND at all anywhere in Utah, completely dead... smog from a forest fire in a neighboring state had the sky all hazy. I don't recall any killer grades, there were some hills around Glenn Canyon, just downshift and enjoy the scenery.

Here's a short look into Utah 95 around Glenn Canyon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT5Ye2oGGRw

FYI there is no land-based (terrestrial) radio stations or cell-phone coverage for much of this route, and very few other travelers ... it was GREAT :)

We did it a little differently a couple of years ago going the reverse direction. We took 95 and 24 across from 191 just south of Blanding. It was a very pretty drive on the back roads and also allowed us to see the southern portion of Canyonlands (Needles Area) and Natural Bridges National Monument. It is a little farther but I believe worth it. Our blog posting for our stay at Torrey starts here and subsequent postings go on to Moab and further points north.

You'll do just fine taking 191 north out of Moab to I-70. Take I-70 west and get off at Exit 149 at Hwy 24 and take it to Capitol Reef. It's an easy drive. Have a good trip.. both are favorite places of ours.

X3 - Route 24 is an easy drive all the way to Torrey. If you plan to head on the Bryce Canyon, route 12 is a much more "interesting" road. X2 on Thousand Lakes RV park.

X2, up to I70 & down 24. I sure hope, while U are in Moab, U See Arches Nat'l Pk. and the drive along the river on Rt 279. At Canyonlands, I hope U take the TOAD down the Shafer trail switchbacks off Rt 313, the Long canyon drive under the giant fallen rock and also to see the Gemini twin arches.
Rt.24 goes past Goblin Valley St. Pk. U should spend a nite there even tho water only. The Nat'l Pk campground at Fruita is very nice with sites plenty large enough for U, but water only. There are 2 major CG's in Torrey. 1000 lakes is probably better since the one at the intersection of Rt 12 & 24 tends to flood in wet weather.
While at Cap.Reef do the Capital gorge dirt road to its end & than walk about a 1/2 mile up the canyon to see the old Petroglyphs & pioneer names/dates on the walls.:B

There's only one route to the north - US191 to I70, west to UT24, then south.

50, 6, and 191 all are cosigned with I70, but that stretch is just freeway.

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UT72 leaves I70 further west. It crosses 8800' Hogan Pass (I70 is 6500' in this area). It doesn't look difficult, but there are more grades than UT24 further east (which is flat and straight north of Hanksville).