Community Forums

Ptapia6118 · 07-27-2014, 08:42 PM

Hi, I'm planning a trip to grand canyon from NJ and would like to make the trip as fun as possible stopping in different states for a couple of days on each state in the route and return thru a different route.
What places should I visit, what city, state and campground name?
Any suggestion is appreciated.

Skip426 · 07-29-2014, 12:29 AM

How long are you planning to be on the road , 4 weeks, 6 weeks, more ?
What are your interests , historical landmarks, hiking , golf ?
Just you and your DW, or will you be traveling with kids and trying to keep them entertained too?

RVThere · 07-29-2014, 05:14 AM

Ptapia,

I did this trip from NJ a few times (we are in Hunterdon County).

We like to head down I-81 and then across TN, etc.

- Nashville
- Memphis (see Graceland)
- Albuquerque
- Petrified Forest in AZ
- Meteor Crater
- then on to the southern rim of the GC

On the way back, you can take a more northerly route and hit:
- Monument Valley
- 4 corners
- Mesa Verde
- Durango, CO
- Pike's Peak
- St. Louis and Gateway Arch

Safe travels

Ptapia6118 · 07-29-2014, 02:05 PM

I'd say 4-5 weeks and it'll be me and my wife. We like everything but Golf and hiking
Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

How long are you planning to be on the road , 4 weeks, 6 weeks, more ?
What are your interests , historical landmarks, hiking , golf ?
Just you and your DW, or will you be traveling with kids and trying to keep them entertained too?

Skip426 · 07-29-2014, 02:41 PM

To Tom's , trip , I'd add from the south rim around the western end and Zion , Bryce and the North rim , before Monument Valley and 4 Corners.

Another thing , if you feel this may be a once in a lifetime trip, take a map and cross off areas you have already seen , or may get the opportunity to visit later. Then at the start of your trip roll on the miles that will put you across those areas and into new territory, giving yourself more time in spots you may not get to again.

38Chevy454 · 07-29-2014, 02:59 PM

Highway 40 (not I-40) across UT and CO is a beautiful drive. You can drive Hwy 40 from Denver, CO to Park City UT. Drop south of Salt Lake City and go Hwy 6 south. Beautiful drive through mountains, go through Price, and then end up on I-70, go about 30 miles east and then go south to Moab, UT which has a lot of nice ways to spend time and enjoy the area.

Per the earlier suggestion of RVThere, once on I-40 you can jump off and take as much of old Rt 66 as possible. Lot of nice small towns and older America to see and experience. Rt 66 basically parallels I-40 and you can jump on and off as desired.

Being in NM, I will put a plug in for northern NM, take the enchanted circle around Taos-Red River-Eagles Nest-Angel Fire. Reap pretty area and a lot of nice things to do. Little east of enchanted circle make a stop in Chama, NM and ride the steam train (Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is the official name) from Chama to Antonito, CO and back; ride train and return is bus or vice-versa.

There area lot of good ways to make your trip better, most of my suggestions involve getting onto highways and stay off the boring interstates if you have the time.

Ptapia6118 · 07-29-2014, 06:22 PM

Thanks for all that info.
My next question is; what months are the best for this trip

Firebug5 · 07-29-2014, 06:35 PM

The aspen trees in the Colorado mountains turn colors around mid-September thru mid-October. The first big snow storms usually occur around Halloween, but can happen anytime. Most CG's close sometime after Labor Day, but you can still find places to stay year-round. Checking the weather, and being able to change your plans accordingly is what we usually do. Travel safe, PM me if I can help with your Colorado leg of the journey. BTW, what 38Chevy354 said is golden! Been there, done that, and cannot wait to go back again.

38Chevy454 · 07-29-2014, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 38Chevy454

Highway 40 (not I-40) across UT and CO is a beautiful drive. You can drive Hwy 40 from Denver, CO to Park City UT. Drop south of Salt Lake City and go Hwy 6 south. Beautiful drive through mountains, go through Price, and then end up on I-70, go about 30 miles east and then go south to Moab, UT which has a lot of nice ways to spend time and enjoy the area.

Per the earlier suggestion of RVThere, once on I-40 you can jump off and take as much of old Rt 66 as possible. Lot of nice small towns and older America to see and experience. Rt 66 basically parallels I-40 and you can jump on and off as desired.

Being in NM, I will put a plug in for northern NM, take the enchanted circle around Taos-Red River-Eagles Nest-Angel Fire. Real pretty area and a lot of nice things to do. Little *west* of enchanted circle make a stop in Chama, NM and ride the steam train (Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is the official name) from Chama to Antonito, CO and back; ride train and return is bus or vice-versa.

There area lot of good ways to make your trip better, most of my suggestions involve getting onto highways and stay off the boring interstates if you have the time.

Oops, edited to be accurate, Chama is west of Taos area. Can't find the edit button for orig post?

Also agree Sept into Oct is the best time, still warm and sunny, but cooler evenings. By late Oct it can get frosty mornings, but being at altitude it warms quickly.

Arch Hoagland · 07-29-2014, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ptapia6118

Thanks for all that info.
My next question is; what months are the best for this trip

Not June, July or August. School is out then and all the working people with children are on the road and filling up the campgrounds.

Spring or fall is when we like to travel the most.