OR-UT-AZ road trip. Recommendations?

[Paul K]

All:

Mrs. K & I are taking a road trip in early September, heading down to Moab the first day, then taking a week to visit Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and the Grand Canyon. If you know of anything else worth looking at in that area, or good restaurants/brewpubs, please let me know. We’re taking the Range Rover so not really looking for good sports car roads (it’s supercharged but it’s no 911).

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Paul.

[kevin993]

Utah is a stunning place. Aside from the destinations, the scenic drives can be marvelous.

Zion - don't miss the east entrance/exit (route 9)

Hidden Gem - Goblin Valley

Capitol Reef State Park (Route 24)

Escalante (Route 12)

[Sooner or later]

It has been 20 years but I spent 3 weeks going across the entire length of Utah. Camping, hiking, backpacking, and 4 wheeling in an XJ.

You can't go wrong with any of them. Personally, I thought Bryce was magical.

[VillaRicaGA911]

See Wall Street in Moab then go opposite direction (going up stream of the Co. River) which will be on your left if going up stream. See Island in the Sky in Moab/Canyon Lands and Mesa Arch, the view is stunning one of my favorites (and I lived/raced bicycles for years in UT). Dead Horse point in Moab is also worth seeing. Strongly recommend a short side trip from Moab to Cortez, CO such a cool little town and see Mesa Verda (cliff dwellings) near Cortez - unbelievable.

[Sooner or later]

I thought about mentioning Mesa Verda but it was in the opposite direction. It is great.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by VillaRicaGA911

See Wall Street in Moab then go opposite direction (going up stream of the Co. River) which will be on your left if going up stream. See Island in the Sky in Moab/Canyon Lands and Mesa Arch, the view is stunning one of my favorites (and I lived/raced bicycles for years in UT). Dead Horse point in Moab is also worth seeing. Strongly recommend a short side trip from Moab to Cortez, CO such a cool little town and see Mesa Verda (cliff dwellings) near Cortez - unbelievable.

+1 to all of the above.

Mesa Arch at sunrise is amazing, but you have to dodge all of the Peter Lik wannabe's with their cameras. Maybe add Antelope Canyon to the list on your way to/from the GC.

[Arizona_928]

Really don't see the point of going into AZ unless you want to see the grand canyon.
There's a few things in n. AZ. Devil's bridge, slide rock outside Sedona, bearizona, Lowell observatory (if they're open), maybe wagon wheel.

[porsche4life]

If you have time, book a tour for the Antelope Canyons outside of Page AZ. Super cool, but it’s nonnative land so you can only get in with a tour guide.

[unclebilly]

No trip ‘down there’ is complete without going into Beaver...

[Bigtoe32067]

Slide rock and Sedona are worth the trip. You can also do the Route 66 drive so you can get a picture of yourself standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona. Everyone needs one of those.
Good luck and be safe
Tony

[GH85Carrera]

There are more cool places to visit than you can do in one trip.

My wife and I want to Flagstaff, AZ and used it as a "home base" and took day long trips to the different sites in that part of the county. Drive south down Oak Creek Canyon, beautiful and fun. We went to the Volcano nation park and of course the north rim of the Grand Canyon. It is way better than the south rim.

[Seahawk]

If you want to take more than a day to get from NE Oregon to Moab, I can recommend some very rural drives you'll never do again

Where in NE Oregon?

I envy the trip. Almost, as others have mentioned, too much to see and do.

Enjoy.

[LakeCleElum]

Side trip into SW Colorado....Telluride, Ouray, and S/B on the Million Dollar Hwy and then into Monument Valley of AZ.......Magic

[GH85Carrera]

Dinosaur national park is really cool. The Colorado one has bones to see. The Utah side is a beautiful one mile hike after going up a open range nice road. Just watch for cows and deer. I had to drive through some real BS. Actual BS on my car.

The end of the trail looks like a slightly smaller Grand Canyon but with no one else around. Amazing place. Highly recommended.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Where in NE Oregon?

La Grande, right on I-84 between Pendleton & Baker City. 11 hour drive from Moab.

We might drive down to Boise the night before, to give us more time on Friday.

[t6dpilot]

I would echo Kevin993's suggestions. Take 191 out of Blanding to 95 to 24 to 12 to 89 to 14 into Cedar City. Pass through Canyonlands, Grand Staircase, Natural Bridges, Capitol Reef, Hogs Back, Escalante, Bryce Canyon, Brian Head, Zion. Head south on 89 to Kanab and then Monument Valley. Stop at the bridge over Marble Canyon. There is a plaque in honor of my grandfather who was an intrepid adventurer and photographer of the southwest. Have fun. Lots of eye candy.

[Sooner or later]

You need a month.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Paul K

La Grande, right on I-84 between Pendleton & Baker City. 11 hour drive from Moab.

We might drive down to Boise the night before, to give us more time on Friday.

My route would add five hours and have you stayng the night in Austin, Nevada on Route 50.

My rule of thumb? Take the long way there, the quickest way home

Great trip in any event!

[Sooner or later]

You are going to get nailed with a bunch of entrance fees at each of the parks. Look at the cost of an America the Beautiful pass. It will probably save you some money since you are planning on hitting so many.

edit: with the virus situation I am not sure which parks are charging fees.

[GH85Carrera]

Mexican hat is a great place to spend the night after going through National Arches park. Mexican hat is on the river that starts the Monument valley area. Make reservations and eat at the hotel. There are only two gas stations in town, and not many places to eat. Great views.