south Idaho thru Utah to Grand Canyon Lte March/April

Starting about the end of Feb to the end of May is my favorite time of year for exploring Southern Utah, and we head down there multiple times during this time frame every year. While temps getting quite cool, even below freezing sometimes are common, daytime temps in the upper 50's to high 70's are quite common and great for hiking. You'll also find the crowds greatly reduced which is great. If you do get a snow storm, it generally doesn't last on the ground for long, and the place looks almost magical with snow.

Once you hit Boise, the odds of your hitting significant snow on the roads will go down a great deal, and if it does snow it tends to melt off quickly so if your travel schedule is flexible it shouldn't be an issue. Three Island Crossing state park east of Boise is just a little bit off the freeway, and will make a good overnight stop in an area likely to have reasonable weather mid March. Antelope island a little North of Salt Lake City might make a good stop for the next day. March/April are one of the best times to visit Antelope island because it's generally snow free and more importantly bug free. It's a good time of year to hike the trails and explore out there.

In Southern Utah you'll want to check on when the Easter Jeep Jamboree will be going as it's one of the biggest events of the year in the Moab area and will be quite crowded. Bryce Canyon will commonly get snow this time of year, but in my opinion that's a plus. For exploring there Kodachrome basin state park is a good option as they have full hookup sites available. Watch the weather if you'll be taking hwy 12 as the section over boulder mountain is pretty high elevation and might get snowy. They clear it off pretty quickly most of the time though.

Zion NP area is fantastic this time of year. Other than hiking canyons where you'll be in the water, you'll be there in some of the best hiking weather of the year. Most of the areas I like exploring in Zion involve quite a bit of hiking, which can be rough when the temps are well above 100 degrees in the summer.

As long as you have a decent heater and plumbing that can handle moderately freezing temps for a couple hours at night you should find it a great adventure.

Thanks for the info/advice. We will watch the weather and probably head out of western Washington later March/early April. The 84/15 route is what I had in mind. Looking to see the parks in SW Utah, GC and hopefully much sunshine in the Southern reaches of our trip before heading back North late May.

March is too early for your trip. As full-timers we wintered in Arizona and a couple times in our beginning years we headed north in April and always got snowed on, including a big storm at Boise, ID. I'd suggest at least waiting until April.

After learning our lesson we always stayed in Arizona until May 1 and then headed north.

Unfortunately you're a little early to see a lot of Idaho's high country. On the way back I'd recommend getting off the freeway and checking out Craters of the Moon, Ketchum, Stanley/Sawtooths, McCall and some of the other cool spots in central Idaho. Mid-March is too early, though.

South of Boise areas is the Birds of Prey
1000 Springs and Hagerman Fossil beds on US 30. Great scenic route
Shoeshone Falls in Twin Falls. In Twin Falls, they allow base jumping from Snake River Bridge on northern end of town.
Traveling down US 93 is a alternate to Interstates. Then east from Wells on I-80 across Great Salt Lake to SLC

I -84 to I-15 should be your best bet. You can have snow that time of year. We were at the Grand Canyon in late April one time and there was 6 inches of snow on the ground. I would make sure you carry a snow shovel, chains and Good Sam or some other type of emergency road service just in case. I bought the kind of chains that slip through your rims. They aren't made to leave on,just to help you out of a jam.

Depends on the weather, which hasn't been promising so far this winter as you should know. Down on the southern end of this trip you should be OK. Not much in southern Idaho unless you like to climb rocks, City of Rocks is south of the interstate.

We really need more info from you:

Do you plan to do the SW Utah parks?
What are you interested in? Hiking or finding urban areas to visit.
The North Rim of Grand Canyon will still be closed.
What about the AZ parks south of GCNP?
What are you going to camp in, what type of RV
What are you driving?