Road trip LA - Denver

[Nolicorice]

Hey guys!

My father and I are taking a road trip from LA to Denver, and back again. Do you (local) guys have any suggestions on what to pass along the way or which route to take? If we just want to get from point A to B I'm guessing we should take I-15 to and past Las Vegas, and then take I-70 to Denver.
But there is just so much to see between LA and Denver (Grand Canyon, Bonneville Salt Flats etc...), and we're quite open to detours (within reason).
Any suggestions?

Thanx!

[Brian Ellis]

Death Valley is a must. A detour to Moab (UT) from the GC takes you through some of the most magnificent scenery, ending at Arches NP and Dead Horse Point SP, via Monument Valley, if the Apaches don't get you

[rylan]

If you're going by Las Vegas, you might as well take a little trip to see the Hoover Dam and surrounding lake Meade area. The dam is pretty impressive, although sad with how low the water level is now from the original line. Its only about a 45 min drive from downtown vegas.

[Nolicorice]

Death Valley is a must. A detour to Moab (UT) from the GC takes you through some of the most magnificent scenery, ending at Arches NP and Dead Horse Point SP, via Monument Valley, if the Apaches don't get you

I've heard it's a very beautiful drive, do you have any highway numbers? My current map isn't very detailed... And how long time do you think it'll take to drive from GC to Moab? We only have about three or at the most four days to get from LA to Denver.

BTW, why is Death Valley a must, isn't it just hot as h*ll there?

[ND66]

Death Valley is a must. A detour to Moab (UT) from the GC takes you through some of the most magnificent scenery, ending at Arches NP and Dead Horse Point SP, via Monument Valley, if the Apaches don't get you

I second on this one.
And please allow more then couple of hours for Arches National Park, lots to see there.

[Dr Mordrid]

Ditto, and take a camera

http://parkerlab.bio.uci.edu/nonscientific_adventures/deathValley.htm

There's some beautiful scenery in Death Valley, but get your AC charged up before leaving

Dr. Mordrid

[degrub]

Drive through Zion, detour to the North Rim of the GC, reverse up to Bryce Canyon, further north take a right to the interstate going east to Moab and Arches. ( or go east and south out of Bryce through the edge of Canyonlands and then up to Arches ). Stop in Georgetown CO to see the loop train in the canyon and then on to Denver.

BTW, make SURE you have a place to stay. The lodgings get booked out in the summer and places to stay are FAR FAR apart. Otherwise take a tent and a couple sleeping bags and stay in state parks, national forests, private camps etc.

Hope you have a week each way (or more !) lots of scenery to see.

[Brian Ellis]

We did a very leisurely drive from Moab to Tuba City (not far from GC) with many detours and stops in less than a day. We stayed in a Navajo motel in Tuba City (no alcohol). I'd guess 4-5 h non-stop - but you'll want to stop!!!

From GC South rim, eastern end, take route 64 E, 89 N, 160 E (Tuba City is a few km along this road), 191 N, takes you straight to Moab. I'd say allow 2-3 h for Arches NP (+2 h if you want to the hike to the end of Devil's Garden and to Delicate Arch - note latter means walking on slick rock) and the same again for the Dead Horse Point plateau http://www.utah.com/stateparks/dead_horse.htm with stunning views of both the Colorado and Green Rivers Canyons. Both are a few minute's drive from Moab. Been there several times.

You may think Death Valley is a dry desert and nothing to see. It was one of the highlights of our tour of W USA, there is so much to see there that you won't see anywhere else in the world. We even got caught in a blizzard while viewing the crater - in late April, if you please! Just have a look at http://www.nps.gov/deva/pphtml/nature.html and go through all the menu items on the left, just to give you an idea. We stayed the night at Stovepipe Wells.

[Byock]

Living here in Utah, I must agree. Some of the most beautiful scenery in Zions, Bryce, etc.

[ND66]

Living here in Utah, I must agree.

Lucky you!

[TnT]

Don't just drive through Zion, stop there and take a couple hikes.

[Claymonkey]

If you have a AAA membership I highly recommend having them make you maps. They can do scenic routes that show you all the good stuff along the way. I did that when I moved form Boston to Portland Oregon a few years back. HIGHLY recommended.

Also look into buying a start park pass. A lot of the stuff you'll want to see are state parks and will cost anywhere from $6-12 each (if not more it's been a few years). However the pass will get you into all of them for one fee. It adds up quick and nothing like nearing the end of your trip and having to be selective about what you see.

[Nolicorice]

Thanx guys for all your input! Do you have any opinions on taking a much more northern route? I might be interested in seeing the Bonneville Salt Flats. But is there anything else worth seeing along a more northern route that passes Bonneville?

[Claymonkey]

The Salt flats are awesome. When I did my trip I was probably a bit more north than you. Some of the things I saw that were awesome were: The Badlands, Devil's Peak, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, The Crazy Horse Monument. I think I still have my AAA maps somewhere.

By the way. NEVER take the interstates if you can help it. It makes everything look like everything else. Try and stick to the old state highways. It doesn't add much time (not that you care) and it's SO much more interesting.

[Dr Mordrid]

I totally agree. Stick to the state highways, but do what the locals do: carry some water (for the radiator & drinking), bandanas & sand goggles for everyone.

Sandstorms and dust devils can arise with little/no warning and can be a bitch without the latter two. Learned that the hard way

Dr. Mordrid.