Georgia to the Grand Canyon

[mj096]

I'm try to put together a good itinerary for a trip to the Grand Canyon. My plans are to leave GA and get to the grand Canyon in about 3 days. I will have 21 days to do my trip and i would like to come back slow and enjoy places in New Mexico, Texas, and other big stops on the way home. Has anyone on this form taken a similar trip? I would appreciate any feed back. I will be traveling wife and kids ages 5 and 8.

[Matt_Colie]

I just have to ask.

Are you out of YOUR MIND?

Depending on the start and finish you pick, that is 1800~2100 miles. We don't have kids in tow.
We have a very comfortable and easy to drive coach and have done one 1108 mile day.

You are looking at 3 ea 600~700 mile days. That is no fun. You are actually lining up road days that are 12~14+ hours. That is a bad day. You don't outline the vehicle, but if it is not a passenger car, you will be exhausted.

Please - reconsider your plan. Make going both ways fun.

Matt

[Dick_B]

Search this Forum for `Grand Canyon' and read on. It's a long way to travel to see where most tourists spend less than three hours at the South Rim. If you still want to go I'd plan to do both Rims. We spent more time at the North Rim than the South.

[BB_TX]

Assuming Atlanta as a starting point, it would be 1,800 miles to the south rim. That would be 600 miles per day and about 12 hours travel time (counting stops for food, fuel, and rest) each day, every day. Can the wife and kids handle that? I would look for a point of interest about half way, stop for a couple days sightseeing and rest, and then finish the drive to the GC. That would still leave you 16 days to tour the canyon and work your way back.

[justaboutretire]

We were there last year. We stayed at the Grand Canyon railroad camp ground in Williams, az. Very nice place. We made the reservations for the campground, we also made them for a round trip on the train to the south rim and a hotel for an overnight stay. There is a lot of walking so staying overnight was great. The kids will love the train ride.
We took a pink Jeep tour in Sedona, az out on the red rocks.
In New Mexico near Las Cruces is White Sands National Monument. Kids can sled down the sand dunes.
San Antonio has the river walk and the Alamo
Houston Johnson Space Center

Bill

[CA_Traveler]

We take 10/17 through Phoenix midday w/o issues. Any secondary or street roads will be longer. You could try 202/101/17.

[NMDriver]

What time of year are you planning on going? What part of Georgia?

In most of your route Spring is windy, Summer HOT, Fall is nice, winter is COLD.

When I lived in Huntsville, AL I always drove I-40 and to me there was nothing worth seeing until I got past Albu. I like dry rock desert and large vistas. Your interests may be different than mine. Memphis did have good BBQ but OKC, Little Rock, Amarillo, etc were just traffic jams to me.

Using I-10 the country gets interesting west of San Antonio and if you get off the interstate and use US 90 it is very nice. If you use I-10 find a by-pass around Phoenix. I have pulled from Flagstaff straight through Phoenix but it is best avoided IMO.

Once you get west of the Pecos river you have lots of options for recreation and scenery depending on the time of year. East of the Pecos I like TX Hill country and the Gulf coast section of I-10. Particularly Baton Rouge and Mobile but again it depends on the time of year.

[2chiefsRus]

north or south rim? what time of year?