Southern Utah

Wow, thank you for reaffirming my initial thoughts!
This is an August 2018 trip for my wife and I, plus four kids (11, 9, 7, 5). I need to start making reservations and want to nail down my route. Here is the trip so far...we have about 32 days total to use...so I have about 3-4 days to add to the trip still (ie. maybe a day in St. Louis on the way out).
We have a 40' 5'r so likely will not be able to stay in all the parks.

Day 1-4 – Drive to Grand Canyon (35-hrs)
Day 5-6 – Grand Canyon NP South Rim (2 full days)
Day 7 – Drive to Lake Powell (3-hrs)
Day 8-9 – Lake Powell (2 full days)
Day 10 – Drive to Zion (3-hrs)
Day 11-13 – Zion NP (3 full days)
Day 14 – Drive to Bryce (3-hrs)
Day 15-16 – Bryce Canyon NP (2 full days)
Day 17 – Drive to Arches (5-hrs)
Day 18-20 – Arches NP / Canyonlands NP (3 full days)
Day 21 – Drive to Rocky Mtn (8-hrs)
Day 22-23 – Rocky Mountain NP (2 full days)
Day 24-26 – Drive to Sandusky, OH (22-hrs)
Day 27 – Cedar Point Amusement Park
Day 28 – Drive to Rochester, NY (5-hrs)

Time frame? July or August? If so make sure the air conditioner is in good working order. Hot, hot, hot this summer.

Lauren wrote:
I agree with all the above - you will be spending most of your time looking at the inside of a windshield instead of seeing the places you came for. You need more time at each - then you can say you SAW the places instead of BEEN TO the places.

Think Lauren has it right - need to Get out and Hike it - Touch it - Feel it - otherwise you just are driving Through it.

To say you've been to Zion but not Hiked the Narrows or taken a Photo from Angels Landings, or stared into the Starry Sky from the Canyon on a Moonless Night, sort of misses the point.

So much to see

No, one trip in the Summer will not allow enough time for all of it but at least SEE/TOUCH/EXPERIENCE a few of the sights.

JMHO,

Lauren wrote:
I agree with all the above - you will be spending most of your time looking at the inside of a windshield instead of seeing the places you came for. You need more time at each - then you can say you SAW the places instead of BEEN TO the places.

I totally agree with the above.

I agree with all the above - you will be spending most of your time looking at the inside of a windshield instead of seeing the places you came for. You need more time at each - then you can say you SAW the places instead of BEEN TO the places.

mekkerl wrote:

We are planning a trip out west

(from Rochester, NY).

My current route has us staying a few nights in Lake Powell,

Bryce,

Zion,

GC.

My brother recommended staying at one of those places, like Lake Powell,

and making day trips to see Bryce, Zion, GC, etc...

Any recommendations from you guys?

Thanks!

Obviously your brother is not in School yet, once he learns to read a map he will understand why that makes no sense. :S

Sorry but I seriously doubt you will get one poster who will second that recommendation.

Just not the way to have fun in Utah.

Lake Powell to say Grand Canyon - MAP - do that 144 miles one way and you'll quickly understand why not.

Now let's try Zion - MAP - better only 112 miles each way.

So without going through the whole list I think you get the Idea.

Bad suggestion.

Stay at each - actually stay IN each if Possible - When is this trip? - How long do you have? what is the Mission? Does it involve Kids? ages?.................

IMHO, each of these deserves at least a Full day or Two - Don't forget all the State Parks - Kodachrome - Escalante - Goblins.....................

So much to see so Little time, please do not waste it driving from camp grounds that are afar.

Best of Luck,

They're too far apart for day-tripping. You wouldn't have time to even scratch the surface of the parks. Moving closer to each one isn't a big deal. You'll save time, fuel and your patience!

Locations are too far a part for day tripping and seeing anything.
Bryce to Zion is even too far for many. Staying around Carmeel Junction is a good location for day trip to Zion, Day trip to Bryce.
Grand Canyon south rim is a stop on it's own.
Routing to and from area would be good to make additional comments.

Good morning, IMHO Lake Powell is to far from what you want to see for day trips. For Zion and Bryce stay closer like Panguitch or Carmel junction etc. Maybe even Kanab which is closer to the GC north rim, Zion and Bryce. South rim of GC is a different trip entirely as its several hours away (3-5) depending on where you are staying.

Dave