Community Forums

richf · 03-06-2014, 02:02 PM

My suggestions: Estes Park/RMNP over Trail Ridge Road (US 34) to US 40 to Steamboat Springs; south on CO 131 (beautiful wild flower area in June) to I-70; west to Utah 128, south to Moab; tour Arches and Canyonlands NP's; back to I-70, west to Utah 24, south to Capital Reef NP; Utah 12 to Bryce (stop at Calf Creek Rec. Area and hike to lower Calf Creek Falls); one day at Bryce and Zion each; back to N Rim Grand Canyon and start home.

What a trip!! We've done it a couple of times and never tire of the scenery.

Kasebeau2 · 03-07-2014, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom3205

The "hogback' is hwy 12 in Utah. From Escalante, to Torrey, it is only 65 miles, but it is the most breathtaking ride. We did it in a motor home. It is an ABSOLUTE MUST DO...
From Lexington, only you can decide if you want to go "Southern route" and return "Northern route." It really makes no difference if you go in June. But the Southern route gets hotter, sooner. Two weeks is not enough to see all there out there. We spent a month in Utah and did not see it all. If you have "streets and trips", you can plan a route, find nearby places, etc.. Most of all, HAVE FUN...

Thank you! I'm beggining to think two weeks might be too short. I might have the class B dropped off near Phoenix or Denver and fly out in order to save 4 days travel to and from Louisville, KY.

What is "streets and trips?"

Kasebeau2 · 03-07-2014, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom3205

Since you have a class B you will DEFINITELY want to drive the "trail ridge road", in the Nat'l Park, outside Estes Park. Another MUST DO..

Just curious, I've read elsewhere others thought "trail ridge road" would not be suitable for a large class A diesel? I've done that route in an suv and didn't think it would be difficult for a diesel at all, really. But you are right, the B is ideal for the T/R road.

Tom3205 · 03-07-2014, 07:37 AM

Streets and trips is a route planning program, sold by microsoft, I think, and you can select a route, look for campgrounds, casinos, nat'l parks, a whole bunch of what they call "nearby places", You can select a "stop", which would be about the distance you would like to travel in a day, and it will tell you what is in the area. It will calculate the costs too. But first you have to tell it your personal criteria, such as price per gallon,mpg. speed, etc etc. There are other "trip planning" programs available also. It is a useful tool. Another tool is "gas buddy". It knows where you are [gps??], and shows prices along that route. If you can calculate your total round trip mileage, divide

by 14, you will see how many miles you have to drive per day, then decide if that is doable.

Gormleys · 03-22-2014, 08:21 AM

It sounds like the consensus is that you should start at the Grand Canyon and then head towards Estes Park. That is probably some of the most breath-taking scenery in the world! Two weeks and you will only scratch the surface. But I agree start on the north rim and then head up north. You will have to determine what of the myriad of parks and monuments you must see and which you will save for another day. Meteor Crater, 4-Corners, Mesa Verde, Durango and the train, the million dollar highway, Dinosaur Nat'l Monument, Steamboat Springs, then over the top into Estes is a fantastic trip, but skips most of Utah.

You will have to choose and choose wisely...