American Southwest trip thoughts

Since you're going thru Albuquerque, Los Alamos is mentioned above. However, in the same area is Bandelier Nat'l Monument with some nice Indian ruins.

If you're going to Grand Canyon South Rim you could exit via Hwy 64 east to Hwy 89. Then the Flagstaff area also has some good ones to explore: Take Hwy 89 south and before reaching Flagstaff you'll come to Sunset Crater Nat'l Monument. Right at the park entrance is a lovely forest service campground, Bonito. Then drive through Sunset Crater and you'll come to Wupatki Nat'l Monument with excellent ruins. This road is a loop so continue on and it'll bring you back out to Hwy 89. Flagstaff also has Walnut Canyon Nat'l Monument - more ruins.

Then if you're heading to tour Sedona, I'd suggest staying in nearby Cottonwood and Dead Horse Ranch State Park - very nice. A couple miles away is Tuzigoot Nat'l Monument and also Montezuma Castle Nat'l Monument is nearby. Also near is the funky little town of Jerome but don't take your RV up there. You can see the lights of Jerome from Dead Horse Ranch State Park - pretty.

DeanRIowa wrote:
What are the thoughts on the below itinerary? What changes if any would you make? i.e. Different parks or time. We have 2 or 3 extra days to fill, where or how would you fill them.

Here are the overnights and duration

Starting Northeastern Iowa

• Aurora, CO - 2 Nights - Visit friends
• Albuquerque - 1 night - Travelling Stop
• Grand Canyon - 3 Nights
• Sedona/Flagstaff area - 2 Nights
• Las Vegas - 2 Nights
• Zion -2 Nights
• Bryce - 2 Nights
• Chaco Canyon Historic Park - 2 Nights
• Pueblo - 2 Nights - Visit friends
• Aurora, CO - 2 Nights - Visit friends
• ? - 1 night - Travel Stop to home
  

Notes:

• Not a big hiking family, limited by some family members
• Would liketo see another native American sites

Thank you for your help.

Dean

You have picked some interesting areas to visit. Your itinerary sounds a little like a a mini marathon:) I like the north side of the Grand Canyon, would skip the Sedona area, too commercial for my taste. I would add those 2 days to the Bryce and Zion parks. Unless you like the **** tables( I do) in Vegas, I would skip Vegas and add them to the national parks. Just my opinion

Here's a few more, but you only have so much time.

Canyon Land is thought by many to be better than the Grand Canyon
Los Alamos, NM where the first atomic bomb was built - part of day
Need a picture "standin on the corner in Winslow, Arizona"
Bryce Canyon
Tucson Air Museum - a full day
Maybe as you're heading home - Tombstone, White Sands NP, Carlsbad Caverns, Kartchner Caverns, Bisbee AZ take the mine tour

Bill

Mesa Verde in SW Colorado is pretty cool if you haven't seen it yet. Native American cliff dwellings that you can tour. We were pleasantly surprised by it and will remember it for sure!

1 day would be enough there.