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02-24-2013, 10:35 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 4
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Grand circle trip
i'm taking my boys out west this june for a 30 day trip.i pick them up in vegas and drop them back off in vegas 30 days later.i was hoping to see grand canyon,zion,bryce,capitol reef,canyon lands ,mesa verde,monument valley,petrified forest,meteor crater,south rim and back to vegas.Is it doable in 30 days?I was hoping to stay at 3-5 select campgrounds along the way and do day trips out to see the parks.I would like to stay at nice campground with full hookups.I have a 40' fleetwood and a toad.
thanks in advance Rod
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02-24-2013, 11:30 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
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Doable? You bet. Kinda depends on how long you want to stay at each location you've mentioned, And you've selected some wonderful spots to see! We've been to all of them, admittedly more like one at a time, but that's a benefit of living in the general area. Safe travels, and have fun!
And...
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Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
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02-24-2013, 11:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Central Massachusetts
Posts: 830
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I would think you can do it in 30 days. It is an AWESOME trip exspecially for those of us from back east that have never seen a landscape like this.
We did a similar trip in a rented motorhome about 10 years ago. We only had 2 weeks and we spent 4 of the days on a houseboat in Lake Powell.
We saw everything we could but only spent one day per park which is not enough. We did take over 1000 photos and pared it down to a pretty spectacular slideshow.
We will be going back sometime in the next couple years, taking our time and really getting to see the sights.
Have a great time!
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Norm & Ellen Proud to be one of the HOOTS
2015 Newmar DutchStar 4369 (sold  )
If I knew retirement was so much fun, I would have done it in my twenties!
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02-24-2013, 11:35 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner Jayco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 244
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Sounds like a nice trip. I've been to most of those places and they are great! I would consider Yellowstone and Rocky Mt. NP if you haven't been there before. I took my DW and sons on a 4 week trip there from NY about 10 years ago. I've been to Yellowstone & RMNP a few times and they are very special. I think in 30 days you can see quite a bit of your plan. Use Google to check the mileage. Try not to plan every day with too much activities. Enjoy the trip!
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2016 Jayco Greyhawk 29MV
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02-24-2013, 11:39 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 299
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It would be tight but doable. We did all those last summer over several months. I can't recommend specific campgrounds. I will look closer at a map and see what cities or parks would make good hubs.
I would recommend adding Arches to your list of parks. In my opinion it ranks up there with Byrce and Zion.
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02-24-2013, 05:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 20,706
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First, June will be hot so be prepared. You didn't say how old the "boys" are or their interests but I assume you'll want to do the national park trails for some hiking. All these parks are great for that. Also, get reservations as soon as possible, including for some of the park tours. Use this web site for campground information: RV PARK REVIEWS
To begin in Las Vegas you mentioned Grand Canyon. You also mentioned it on your return to Las Vegas. No need to go twice..use the extra time at another area. Also, it's really hard to make base camps. The distances are great and the extra driving cuts into your siteseeing time. We always stay IN or just outside the parks for the greatest experiences.
So..LV Las Vegas and make Zion your first stop. There are RV parks just outside the entrance for full hookups in Springdale and the free shuttle service will be right there. The Zion River would be fun for the boys to play around and cool off.... or further in Hurricane in another RV park. Leaving with your 40' - don't exit via Hwy 9. Instead take UT59 and AZ389 and AZ163 to Monument Valley, staying at Gouldings RV Park. (Personally, with the great parks you'll be seeing, I'd skip Petrified Forest and Meteor. They won't be all that impressive mixed in with the other parks).
From Monument Valley, take AZ160 over to Mesa Verde Nat'l Park, CO. There are many RV parks just outside the entrance and I believe the national park also has some full hookup spots in the park itself. Mesa Verde is a fun park for boys to use their climbing skills (ladders) if you sign up for the ranger-led tours - a must. It's an excellent "teaching" area.
From Mesa Verde take 491 back into Utah and head to Moab. There are plenty of RV parks there. Arches National Park is a must! This is a great hiking park to arches, naturally, and neat formations. If your boys are old enough, definitely get signed up for the ranger-led "Fiery Furnace" hike. It is spooky and so much fun. It's popular so perhaps there's a online signup in advance. In the area you can also do Canyonlands from the same RV park. There's also a nice night boat cruise on the Colorado River.
Then head north on 191 to I-70 west and UT Hwy 24 to Capitol Reef. Again, there are full hookup parks nearby. Leaving, take Hwy 12 to Bryce Nat'l Park and stay at Ruby's just outside the park entrance.Hwy 12 is very doable with your 40' MH. We've done it often. No one drives this road fast so allow time and just go with the flow. It's beautiful! Bryce will be cooler temps so a jacket should be packed. This is another wonderful hiking park but everything is down so keep in mind you'll be climbing 'up' on the return. Wall Street is a neat hike down and you can return a different route.
From Bryce take UT89 south to the Grand Canyon for your finale!!! Right now Hwy 89 is closed both ways just beyond Page, AZ for road major damage so be sure to get an update when in the area. Your other option will be 89A which is o.k. for your 40' and our preference for it's beauty. If 89 is open by June it's an easier route and also you could stop in Page and take the Lake Powell dam tour which might be interesting for the boys. There's also the Antelope Canyon tour - walking through a slot canyon - reservations a must. Waaweap RV Park is very nice in Page.
Continuing on 89 south you can now 'do' the Grand Canyon by either taking Hwy 64 east through the eastern entrance and definitely staying at Trailer Village at the rim of the canyon. Nothing fancy but it's the best for touring the canyon. The free shuttle stops right outside the campground and you can ride it all day long getting on and off whenever. The Rim Trail along the shuttle route is great - and easy. Just go as far as you want & then hop on the shuttle again. Definitely, hike DOWN the Bright Angel Trail for just a short distance. Remember - you have to hike back UP! Going below the rim will give you and the boys a terrific experience of actually being in the canyon. Take lots of water! Even 1/8 to 1/4 mile down is worth it!
Alternately, to get to Grand Canyon from Page, continue down AZ Hwy 89 and just before I-40 at Flagstaff will be Sunset Crater Volcano Nat'l. Monument. There's an excellent loop road and Wupatki Nat'l Monument (ruins) can be viewed, too. The boys would love seeing the beautiful black volcanic rock. Beware - it's sharp. Just outside Sunset Crater entrance is Bonito National Forest Campground. It's dry camping with flush toilets and in a beautiful volcanic setting. No reservations accepted so be there as early in the day as possible for a site. If you're coming from an overnight at Page, this will be perfect. Dry camping would be worth it to tour this little area and quite a few sites are big enough for your 40'. Then you could get on I-40 west and pick up AZ180 to AZ64 taking you into the Grand Canyon from the south.
Then return to Las Vegas. Your planned trip would be an awesome memory for the boys! Have fun!!!
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Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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