Detroit to Tucson...three weeks...?

Well we have gone from Northern Michigan to the southwest twice with an RV and once by car. Slightly different route. Each time. Our interest are hiking,photography birding and cycling, yours might be different. We enjoyed Palo Duro Canyon Tx, Painted Desert, Canyon De Chile (sp) White Sands, Big Bend NP, San Antonio, Padre Island, Mustang Island Mohab and the parks near it, just to name a few of our stops when going to AZ. We really liked Tuscon and will be back in 2017 for a month.
We tend to move around a lot. We try to stay in a NP or State Park whenever we can.

Thanks to all for your insight!

Looks like some planning is required, but staying flexible and having a 'plan B' helps take the stress out!

We will follow the general advice offered and appreciate folks taking the time to help out a 'first time' cross country adventurer!

I would not take highway 50. If you have a 35 foot trailer you are in for some excitement that would not be fun. Its two lane most of the way. Monarch pass is okay, then a pass or two here and there, then La Salle, its lonely out there and tight.

You are best off to take I-70 then cut south to the Moab area. Much better roads, facilities and plow services, it can snow any day of the year in the high country. Yes, roads are closed in October. The Grand Canyon campgrounds close in part toward the end of September and more October. You need to look and have a plan.

Most people seem to like the southern route.

Good luck.

Rick

Looks like we could make it there by the second week of October.....Thanks for the information!

Singleminded wrote:
We're driven Rt66 (in a Mustang convertible....8 years ago) and it was a fantastic experience! Great suggestion though!

Based on what I'm hearing, I'm beginning to think we should stay South and perhaps head directly for Southern Utah and plan to be there the second (and third) week of October.....less chance of running into snow at the higher elevations!

Has anyone camped on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? We've been to the South rim many times but never to the North rim! Would mid October be too late?

Save further North for earlier in the season! We are trying to escape a Canadian Winter, after all!

The Campground stays open until the 31st of October but the Lodge and other facilities close the 15th of October.

We're driven Rt66 (in a Mustang convertible....8 years ago) and it was a fantastic experience! Great suggestion though!

Based on what I'm hearing, I'm beginning to think we should stay South and perhaps head directly for Southern Utah and plan to be there the second (and third) week of October.....less chance of running into snow at the higher elevations!

Has anyone camped on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? We've been to the South rim many times but never to the North rim! Would mid October be too late?

Save further North for earlier in the season! We are trying to escape a Canadian Winter, after all!

I was going to suggest working your way along Route 66, at least to New Mexico, but that takes you well south of any part of Utah. If you want to see southern Utah, I recommend getting there late September or early October at the latest. Your route would be taking you across the Rockies about the time Colorado is seeing previews of winter weather (I posed with piles of snow in Monarch Pass late September) but the Colorado Plateau is particularly glorious that time of year.

Also be aware that seasonal RV parks start closing end of September through Colorado and Wyoming, while public campgrounds tend to stay open until they can no longer cope with the problem of clearing snow from the roads. My last trip across US-50 was last week of September, and I would not want to do it any later in the year.

Thanks for all the input! I think we'll try the Northern route (having driven the Southern route a couple of dozen times over the past 20 years....by car) and will definitely try to book into the parks in S. Utah (if allowed....?)

Long run from Chicago to Denver or Salt Lake City.....any 'must see' stops along the way?

Thanks!

We stayed at the Hitch n Post in Panguitch to visit Bryce and used Mt Carmel Motel and RV Park for Zion. When we were there in early November the campground in Zion was full and they were still running the buses. Link for Mt. Carmel http://www.staynearzion.com/bryce-canyon-RV-park.cfm?utm_source=RVParkReviews.com
Link for Hitch n Post http://www.hitchnpostrvpark.com/Contact_Us.htm?utm_source=RVParkReviews.com

I'd be prepared to change my route based on predicted weather. But otherwise, October is the absolute best time for southern Utah/Az/NM/CO. US 50 is a good quality road, but it is desolate in spots and not the place to be in a snowstorm.