Utah National Park Trip June 2018
First, I have searched the bulletin boards and am still feel out of my element. For background, we've crossed the US 13 times over my naval career but never found the time to stop and really see our ...
Forum Discussion
I have camped in Arches NP in mid-June when it was 104 degrees and at Cedar Breaks NM on Memorial Day when it was snowing. You can't plan for weather 3 months before you go. Obviously, the parks in Utah would be cooler and less crowded if you could go in late May, before school gets out, than in June. But you just need to plan your trip to see the parks and monuments you are most interested in and go whenever you can go.
Personally, I would by-pass Denver and I-70 through the mountains and, in saying that, I live in the Denver area only two miles from both I-70 and the mountains. If I were traveling west on !-70 from Maryland, I would get off at Limon, CO and take US 24 to Colorado Springs. If you are so inclined, you could stay at Cheyenne Mountain State Park and drive the toll road to the top of Pikes Peak. From there, take CO 115 to US 50 at Canon City, go up the Arkansas River Canyon and over Monarch Pass to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP (electric hookups). Then take US 550 to Ridgway State Park (full or partial hookups), with a couple of days traveling to Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride in the Jeep (be sure to drive some of the easier Jeep roads in the San Juans, like Ophir Pass between Silverton and Telluride). Then head west on CO 62 to CO 145 to Naturita, then through the Paradox Basin on CO 90 and into Utah. There you will meet US 191 and can head to Moab and the rest of your trip. This route will get you off the interstate and into some of the more scenic parts of Colorado, but still not take you out of the way for getting to Moab.
If you happen to be interested in Anasazi culture, you could even take a short detour down CO 145 to Mesa Verde and hop on US 491 to get up to Moab. If you are doing that, consider staying at the Juniper CG at McPhee Reservoir (electric hookups) and commute the 10 miles to Mesa Verde in the Jeep. And your campground will be right next door to one of the best Anasazi museums in the US.
Personally, I would by-pass Denver and I-70 through the mountains and, in saying that, I live in the Denver area only two miles from both I-70 and the mountains. If I were traveling west on !-70 from Maryland, I would get off at Limon, CO and take US 24 to Colorado Springs. If you are so inclined, you could stay at Cheyenne Mountain State Park and drive the toll road to the top of Pikes Peak. From there, take CO 115 to US 50 at Canon City, go up the Arkansas River Canyon and over Monarch Pass to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP (electric hookups). Then take US 550 to Ridgway State Park (full or partial hookups), with a couple of days traveling to Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride in the Jeep (be sure to drive some of the easier Jeep roads in the San Juans, like Ophir Pass between Silverton and Telluride). Then head west on CO 62 to CO 145 to Naturita, then through the Paradox Basin on CO 90 and into Utah. There you will meet US 191 and can head to Moab and the rest of your trip. This route will get you off the interstate and into some of the more scenic parts of Colorado, but still not take you out of the way for getting to Moab.
If you happen to be interested in Anasazi culture, you could even take a short detour down CO 145 to Mesa Verde and hop on US 491 to get up to Moab. If you are doing that, consider staying at the Juniper CG at McPhee Reservoir (electric hookups) and commute the 10 miles to Mesa Verde in the Jeep. And your campground will be right next door to one of the best Anasazi museums in the US.
