Hi folks, Short summary, we are headed to these places (this order) from June 9 to July 9 2017:- Grand Canyon- Hoover Dam- Zion- lake Powell- Bryce- Capitol Reef- Moab (see Arches and Canyonlands)- Monument Valley- Four corners- Mesa Verde- Durango- Great Sand Dunes I have reservations at GC and will be making Zion Watchman reservations as soon as the window opens up. I had planned to leave everything else open to adjust our itinerary as the trip unfolds. For example we may skip some things, get a wild hair and go up to Rocky Mtn NP... etc.My understanding was that GC and Zion needed reservations far in advance. I thought I could wing the rest. But I just found out that the Arches CG is closed next year for construction, which makes me think I need to grab a spot in Moab. (Yes I know putting Lake Powell in there means some backtracking but that's the best place I thought to put it. I really want to get some Lake time with the family and rent a boat).Thoughts on making reservations?

Reservations---Make as many reservations as possible! You can always cancel or reschedule. Just check the cancellation policy requirements for each park! Getting to an RV park and they are full is not my 2st choice

There are lots of dispersed camping opportunities and smaller public campgrounds that do not take reservations in the Four Cornets area if that style of camping would work for you. For Lake Powell and Glen Canyon NRA, check out Lone Rock Beach primitive camping and Lee's Ferry. We stayed at and enjoyed both when in that area last Fall. Kaibab NF and BLM lands also offer a number of possibilities so I don't think reservations are a must unless you really want to stay within a certain Park. We'll be in southern Utah for a month next May with more than a dozen other campers and have made reservations only for Watchman and the North Rim. The rest of the time we have a primary spot picked out along with two or three nearby alternates if the first choice is full.Hope you have a great trip.

- Grand Canyon--absolutely needed- Hoover Dam-no- Zion--probably a good idea- lake Powell-no- Bryce-- Yes tho I thought that the in park CG maybe no reservation.- Capitol Reef- probably yes- Moab (see Arches and Canyonlands)- Monument Valley-- no- Four corners--no- Mesa Verde--yes- Durango--no- Great Sand Dunes--the CG was never full the times I've been there

I live just outside of Phoenix, AZ - have you thought about how hot it will be in the middle of the summer for some of those places? I personally try to get away from the desert in the summer and head to the beach.

Southwest trip summer 2017 - where should I reserve?

michigansandzil
Explorer
Dec 13, 2016
No suggestions, but your trip sounds amazing. Have a great time!
TriumphGuy
Explorer
Dec 13, 2016
HPYHILM wrote:
Reserve anywhere they have 50 amp, you'll need it!

True! I lucked out and got the last 50 amp site available in Zion for our dates!
TriumphGuy
Explorer
Dec 13, 2016
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Unless you absolutely have to - I'd skip Arches in 2017.

Not only will the CG be closed - but the entire main drive will be under construction. A 'normal' summer day at Arches is a two hour wait to get into the park as the traffic backs up by the entrance stations. 2017 should be worse.

We found the Valley of the Gods drive outside Medicine Hat on BLM land much better road and just as good of sights as Monument Valley. We stayed at Goosenecks State Park - dry camping for $10 per night on the San Juan River canyon rim. Beautiful, and not crowded.

I'm really wondering about Arches. We will be so close and I have no idea if we'll be out that way again. I'm going to have to do more research ... I can get the family up super early if that's our only way to get in there in a reasonable amount of time
HPYHILM
Explorer
Dec 13, 2016
Reserve anywhere they have 50 amp, you'll need it!
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
I remember at Zion it was about 100 degrees and I didn't even break a sweat.
bumpy
Lauren
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
Based on experience with the places / areas you mention I HIGHLY recommend reservations. Many do not have cancellation fee and some maybe $10-15. Sure beats looking all over the place for someplace to stay when you want to see what you came for in the first place. And then getting the leftover spots.
Busskipper
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
TriumphGuy wrote:
Thanks everyone for the input.

Yep, I know we're going into "hot" season. I had the trip planned for earlier in the year but we just couldn't swing it with the kids' schedules. So it is what it is and we'll make do.

It looks like there are reasonable cancellation policies at most of the places so I'm going to grab the spots that I can now and change later if needed. Since we already know our trip dates, we might as well.

Thanks!

I think you have made a good choice,

Travel during the heat of the day and Hike early and Late - Hot or Cold it's still Beautiful!

BOL,
PawPaw_n_Gram
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016
Unless you absolutely have to - I'd skip Arches in 2017.

Not only will the CG be closed - but the entire main drive will be under construction. A 'normal' summer day at Arches is a two hour wait to get into the park as the traffic backs up by the entrance stations. 2017 should be worse.

We found the Valley of the Gods drive outside Medicine Hat on BLM land much better road and just as good of sights as Monument Valley. We stayed at Goosenecks State Park - dry camping for $10 per night on the San Juan River canyon rim. Beautiful, and not crowded.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2016
If you're going to consider adding in RMNP, you will absolutely need reservations if you want to stay inside the park, unless you stay on the west side at Timber Creek, which is all first come/first served. I've already got my first reservations for within the May window, and my first choices were already booked; I even got up early on the "window day" to book and still didn't have any luck and had to go with other choices. Between Moraine Park and Glacier Basin, you may have better luck in Glacier Basin. Watch the window, sites do go quickly.
BubbaChris
Explorer
Dec 10, 2016
For Moab/Arches/Canyonlands - Consider Green River if winging it and having a hard time getting into a place. A bit more of a drive to the sights, but still a nice option.

In Green River the John Wesley Powell Museum is worth a couple of hours if looking for something air-conditioned, low key, and not crowded.

If traveling with dogs, the State Parks in Utah are more dog-friendly than National Parks - e.g. Dead Horse Point SP is right next to the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands and dogs are allowed on hiking trails.

Have fun!