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mekkerl's avatar
mekkerl
Explorer
Jan 09, 2017

Suggestions for our X-Country Itinerary

I am planning our trip for August 2018 and would welcome some suggestions from you guys. I've been to all of these locations with the exception of Capital Reef, but my wife and four kids (11,9,7,5 in 2018) have never been. I need to keep this to ~four weeks; and will be leaving and returning to Rochester, NY.

I am not sold on seeing Capital Reef NP, but since we are so close, figure it is wise to do?
I am not too eager to stop at RMNP, but it is on the way home, unless we change the plan.
I like what I have been reading about Petrified Forest NP…may add this right before Grand Canyon?
I may have to cut a few days off the itinerary…which will likely be Louisville, 1-day in Lake Powell, 2-days of Capital Reef
I am not tied to this route either, so if you think due to the time of year, or the locations, that a different route is more ideal, then please share! (ie do Grand Canyon last and start with the Rockies)
You will realize that we have time at each location on our driving days, all depending on how long the drive is.

Day 1 – Drive to Louisville (10-hrs)
Day 2 – Louisville, KY (visit friend)
Day 3-5 – Drive to Grand Canyon (25-hrs)
Day 6-7 – Grand Canyon NP (2 full days)
Day 8 – Drive to Zion (4.5-hrs)
Day 9-12 – Zion NP (4 full days)
Day 13 – Drive to Bryce (2-hrs)
Day 14-15 – Bryce Canyon NP (2 full days)
Day 16 – Drive to Capital Reef (3-hrs)
Day 17 – Capital Reef NP (1 full day)
Day 18 – Drive to Lake Powell (2-hrs)
Day 19-21 – Lake Powel / Glen Canyon NRA (3 full days)
Day 22 – Drive to Arches (4-hrs)
Day 23-25 – Arches NP / Canyonlands NP (3 full days)
Day 26 – Drive to Rocky Mtn (8-hrs)
Day 27-28 – Rocky Mountain NP (2 full days)
Day 29-31 – Drive to Sandusky, OH (22-hrs)
Day 32 – Cedar Point Amusement Park
Day 33 – Drive to Rochester, NY (5-hrs)
  • My question is, isn't it going to be very HOT during that time of year to be visiting the desert?
  • Yes, two drivers...my wife hasn't driven the truck/camper just yet. But I will get her behind the wheel a little bit for our trip to Florida this April and trip to Maine this July. Her driving an hour here and there will definitely help.

    We have been driving 15-hrs non-stop overnight to Savannah several times a year over the past 6-8 years with the kids. Even did it for a weekend once! Heck, even non-stop from Orlando two years ago which was about 22-hrs. Yeah, I am the guy who puts a small toilet in the car for the kids (and sometimes the wife :)) as I don't like to stop.
    Now I will admit, all this non-stop driving takes place in our minivan...so doing these hours in my truck will be an entirely new experience for us...starting with heading to Florida this April!

    I've set up this cross-country trip initially with no overnight driving...that could change depending how we are doing at the time.
  • You have several ten hour driving days and with 4 kids those will be long long days.