Utah Vacation

HWY 50
oldcat1 and ORbiker. You mention Hwy 50. Possible option.
I don't have any specific reason to go Interstate 80 to Reno, then to Salt Lake City, then to Moab. Going 50 ftom Sacramento to Moab is about 100 miles shorter but no big deal. I may take 50 to Moab and also on way home. Depends what feedback I get and additional research about 50 across Nevada.
Does anyone have info on Hwy 50 from Lake Tahoe across Nevada. How is the road? Two lanes or four, places to get diesel fuel, rv parks, etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Traveling with 40' 5th wheel, 2016 3500 Chevy dually, I will be putting a 61 gallon fuel tank in place of the 36 stock tank before leaving.
Thank you

Hamnet wrote:
HWY 50
oldcat1 and ORbiker. You mention Hwy 50. Possible option.
I don't have any specific reason to go Interstate 80 to Reno, then to Salt Lake City, then to Moab. Going 50 ftom Sacramento to Moab is about 100 miles shorter but no big deal. I may take 50 to Moab and also on way home. Depends what feedback I get and additional research about 50 across Nevada.
Does anyone have info on Hwy 50 from Lake Tahoe across Nevada. How is the road? Two lanes or four, places to get diesel fuel, rv parks, etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Traveling with 40' 5th wheel, 2016 3500 Chevy dually, I will be putting a 61 gallon fuel tank in place of the 36 stock tank before leaving.
Thank you

Highway 50 is a good road, mostly 2 lane, but little traffic and usually passing lanes on inclines. However, this is called the loneliest road in the US for a reason. Towns are small and far between. I have never had any issue finding fuel, but if you need repair work (say on a diesel engine) you could find yourself far from a dealer/mechanic capable of doing the work, with no cell phone reception. Personally, I enjoy these out of the way places, but thats just me.

There are RV parks along that route, but they are pretty bare bones. There are several federal and state campgrounds (and of course boondocking) if you don't need hookups. There is a wonderful steam railroad museum in Ely, NV. Great Basin National park is also on that route and has a beautiful campground and an amazing cave tour. Time permitting, you could also consider taking Hwy 24 through Capital Reef instead of I70. Torrey, UT has some nice RV parks and if you enjoy hiking, Capital Reef is hard to beat.

DanNJanice is right on. It is a lonely road with spotty cell service. But it's good surface and mostly flat. With a new truck and a 61 gallon tank I would not hesitate.

DanNJanice wrote:

Hamnet wrote:
HWY 50
oldcat1 and ORbiker. You mention Hwy 50. Possible option.
I don't have any specific reason to go Interstate 80 to Reno, then to Salt Lake City, then to Moab. Going 50 ftom Sacramento to Moab is about 100 miles shorter but no big deal. I may take 50 to Moab and also on way home. Depends what feedback I get and additional research about 50 across Nevada.
Does anyone have info on Hwy 50 from Lake Tahoe across Nevada. How is the road? Two lanes or four, places to get diesel fuel, rv parks, etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Traveling with 40' 5th wheel, 2016 3500 Chevy dually, I will be putting a 61 gallon fuel tank in place of the 36 stock tank before leaving.
Thank you

Highway 50 is a good road, mostly 2 lane, but little traffic and usually passing lanes on inclines. However, this is called the loneliest road in the US for a reason. Towns are small and far between. I have never had any issue finding fuel, but if you need repair work (say on a diesel engine) you could find yourself far from a dealer/mechanic capable of doing the work, with no cell phone reception. Personally, I enjoy these out of the way places, but thats just me.

There is a LOT of straight stretches that look like this.

In front


Over the shoulder to the back.


Some stations look like this.


The flat long stretches are 20 to 25 miles or so and then the road goes up for a small strip of hills, then back down to another straight stretch.




Eureka is a very interesting old town.

Orbiker, thanks for the pictures. A couple pictures reminds me of Eastern Oregon. We spent time in Eugene and Blue River Oregon over the past years as parents lived in Blue River for yesrs. I can deal with the stretches of roads per your pictures. Roads look good to me.

Bryce Canyon is incredible. Zion is more famous but Bryce magnificent.

Get information on things in each area you are going to. Some things that do not make the National Parks are great.

If you have children 4 and up Goblin Valley will be a great stop for one day.

Jealous

I think Busskipper had the right question and observations. There is a lot to see in Utah besides Arches and Zion. You length of stay at each place is probably ties to how much you plan on hiking.

Example, Arches is beautiful but if you just take your car in and stop at the viewpoints you can be finished in a day. If you take some of the beautiful hikes, I would imagine three days would be pushing it.

Zion is the same thing, take the shuttle, get off at the stops, look around (with you and a few million of your closest friends!!). However, there are great hikes which would extend you stay MORE than one day.

Canyonlands would be two days minimum without hiking. Staying in Moab is doable, but the south and central parts is one full day and the north viewpoints and Dead Horse SP the second.

Bryce and be done in one day but the drive from Zion TO Bryce (or the other way0 is also the better part of a day as well. Lots of reasons to stop and smell the roses along the road. Forgot the highway number but you can miss it.

As others have mentioned, there are a TON of sites to see. To do it justice, based on your time frame, you would need two more trips to see everything.

We spent 6 weeks in Utah this last fall and it was not even close to being enough. Send away for tourist pamphlets from the state and you will start to see the challenge you have. It is or should a trip that is on everyone's bucket list that is for certain.

We visit Utah regularly to see the G-kids and always get in another visit to a beautiful Nat. Park--just pick one. One suggestion at Bryce is to visit during a dark (no moon night) and take in the Ranger led star viewing with their telescopes. You have so many great recommendations--more than 1 trip will be needed.

You can't see everything, but Utah has it all.
I would suggest some more time outside of the National Parks. Then it is much easier to get away from the crowds. Take a day hike where you see no one. Have some time for contemplation.