Moab or Durango/RMNP?

flintsters wrote:
As I am sure you can understand and relate to, there is just so much to do and see and nowhere near enough time, money or energy. I am also aware of trying to make this a great experience for both our girls and the adults. We enjoy hikes and bike rides so I expect that we will attempt to do at least some of that at each stop. I am certainly open to suggestions about route, itinerary, etc. I do have some reservations but none that probably couldn't be changed. We currently have reservations at Trailer Village (South Rim of Grand Canyon....but have been toying with the idea of the North Rim), Coulter Bay in GTNP, splitting time between Fishing Bridge and Madison Jct. in Yellowstone, and North Stockade Lake campground in Custer State Park. We are most tied to the GTNP and Yellowstone dates because my in-laws are going to join us in their MH for that leg of the trip. Below is what we were somewhat planning, although it changes daily it seems.


6/20/2018 - Drive to St. Louis (1142 miles over 2.5 days)
6/21/2018 - Arrive in St. Louis
6/22/2018
6/23/2018 - Drive to Estes Park, Colorado (909 miles over 2 days)
6/24/2018 - Arrive in Estes Park, Colorado
6/25/2018
6/26/2018
6/27/2018
6/28/2018 - Drive to Leadville, stopping in BreckenRidge to Walk and Shop
6/29/2018 - Drive RT 82 Independence Pass in the Truck to Aspen and Maroon Bells - must see
6/30/2018 - Drive to Ridgway State Park - Ouray - Telluride - Silverton - Hot tub in Ouray - Walk and Shop in Telluride -
7/1/2018
7/2/2018 -
7/3/2018
7/4/2018 - Drive to Arches National Park (400 miles)
7/5/2018 - Canyonland - Moab
7/6/2018
7/7/2018 Drive to Monument Valley
7/8/2018- Drive to North Rim of the Grand Canyon (??? miles)
7/9/2018
7/10/2018
7/11/2018 - Drive to Zion National Park (253 miles)
7/12/2018
7/13/2018
7/14/2018 - Drive to Bryce Canyon National Park (147 miles)
7/15/2018
7/16/2018- Drive to Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole (519)
7/17/2018
7/18/2018 - Drive to Yellowstone National Park (112 miles)
7/19/2018
7/20/2018
7/21/2018
7/22/2018
7/23/2018 - Drive to Cody, WY (77 miles)
7/24/2018
7/25/2018
7/26/2018 - Drive to Devils Tower (310 miles
7/27/2018 - Drive to Custer State Park (112 miles)
7/28/2018 - Jewel Cave - Mt Rushmore at Dusk - Custer and Custer SP -
7/29/2018
7/30/2018
7/31/2018
8/1/2018 - Drive to Badlands (155 miles)
8/2/2018
8/3/2018
8/4/2018 - Drive to Indiana Dunes State Park (890 miles over 2 days)
8/5/2018 - Arrive at Indiana Dunes State Park
8/6/2018
8/7/2018
8/8/2018 - Drive Home (877 miles over 2 days)
8/9/2018 - Arrive Home

Total for Trip 6284 miles

Average Per Day 123 miles


It sounds like if I were to take out Estes Park and Arches then I could focus on the mid/southern part of CO (perhaps our first stop being to Colorado Springs to take tram up Pikes Peak and then head south to Great Sand Dunes and Durango/Mesa Verde??). Also, perhaps stop at Park City, UT or Dinosaur NM for a day or two as a midpoint between Bryce and GTNP.

First off let me say this is a Good trip - works - looks good on the Map and seems to take into account a lot of what you would enjoy.

Really not a bad choice in the entire group.

BUT, Would it be possible to reassign a few more days to Colorado?
One day from St Louis? One day from Estes? Steal a day by doing just the North Rim - Steal a day from Bryce? and steal a day from Grand Tetons, the girls will be tired and not up for a long day?

Look over and see if I messed with too much - just a couple of thoughts,

It's a really big country with just too much to see and touch, and like I said you really have a good trip Planned,

Best of Luck,