Planning Late October Southwest Road Trip

[TripleLindy]

Would love input on a trip my wife and I are planning. We live in the DFW area and this will be our first real road trip in decades - air travel has finally beaten me down.

We love to hike and explore the outdoors, especially in national parks. Here’s our preliminary itinerary. If you have experience or recommendations for any of our stops (lodging, restaurants, things to do, etc.), or would suggest additional stops, please chime in!

Day 1 DFW to Amarillo - 1/2 day hike in Palo Duro Canyon (never been there)
Day 2 Amarillo to Santa Fe - 2 or 3 nights in Santa Fe, but we’re not sure how to spend our time there. Considering La Fonda on the Square as lodging.
Day 4 Santa Fe to Moab - 2 or 3 nights, primarily hiking Arches during the days. Considering Hyatt Place as lodging.
Day 6 Moab to Grand Canyon - 2-3 nights, probably south rim because of lodging options. Considering Maswik Lodge (only one in the park that’s available).
Day 8 Grand Canyon to Albuquerque - primarily just a stop on the way home, but suggestions are welcome.
Day 9 Albuquerque to home.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[ivinsfan]

It's personal preference but I'd go Moab, Capitol Reef on Hiway 12, drop down to BCNP and consider Zion. If not Zion ..the Kanab , through Big Water, Lake Powell and Page route is a great choice

 

[PaunchyPirate]

On the way to Albuquerque, consider driving through Petrified Forest National Park. I found it interesting.

 

[Ian S]

I'd suggest cutting a night in Grand Canyon and do a night instead in Sedona.

 

[Mark1]

Way too much traveling for a 8 night trip. I would make it a little longer and then kill the Grand Canyon on this trip, but maybe add Capital Reef, Bryce, Zion (assuming you haven't been to them yet). The North Rim of Grand Canyon is likely closed by late Oct. Not sure the lodge is even open in Bryce in later Oct., but the park will be quiet which isn't all bad.

Not sure of your hiking ability (or time), but my favorite hike that time of year (on this circuit) would be Chelser Park in Canyonlands (Needles District). It's also crazy not to go to "Island in the Sky District" if you're already in Moab. All this stuff takes time,

 

[Ronstar]

I don’t know how much time you have, but if you have enough time, do:

DFW - Albuquerque
Albuquerque- monument valley (stay at the view hotel)
Monument valley - Moab (arches/ canyonlands)
Moab - along i70, 24 and 12 to Bryce Canyon( hikes at capital reef and Bryce)
Bryce - Zion ( hike narrows or angels landing if courageous)
Zion - Page az through Kanab ( antelope canyon tour in page)
Page - south rim Grand Canyon ( maybe stop at horseshoe bend) via 89 and 64
Hike rim trail and bright angel trail in GC
GC - Sedona (hike devils bridge, cathedral rock, soldiers pass, etc, take a pink Jeep tour)
Then head home to dfw.

This may be a little much, but if you like to hike, I would switch your Santa Fe time to more Utah and arizona hike areas

 

[ivinsfan]

Mark1 BC has a couple great chain options literally outside the park gate.

 

[REWahoo]

Way too much traveling for a 8 night trip.

^ This.

What's your rush? One of the luxuries of retirement is the ability to take the time to enjoy a destination rather than having to squeeze a trip into your allotted two weeks of vacation.

 

[rodi]

If you go as you stated - Moab to Grand Canyon south rim, you might want to check out Monument Valley. Especially if you are a fan of John Ford's 1940's westerns. It's on tribal land so you have to pay a fee - but it is a stunning stop on the way to Grand Canyon. We did that drive several years ago.
https://navajonationparks.org/tribal-parks/monument-valley/

Maswik Lodge is back from the rim - but still close. (Vs Yavapai - which is more of a hike to the rim.)

 

[ivinsfan]

Actually we did a North Rim/SGU round trip in one day, a long day but we were with family from England who had the GC on their bucket list. I'd stay in Springdale if possible. Weather permitting the park is always open. Concessions could be closed. North Rim was a much better experience for us

This was in December we got lucky

 

[SecondAttempt]

I lived most of my life in Arizona and have spent a lot of time in that area. There is so much to see and do. OP, your itinerary is good, all the other suggestions are also good.

I would definitely suggest going through Monument Valley on your drive to Moab as a must do.

Other suggestions you might look into:

El Malpais NM
El Morro NM
Navajo NM
Aztec NM
Bandelier NM
Canyon de Chelly
Chaco Canyon
Wupatki NM
Walnut Canyon NM
Mesa Verde NP
Hovenweep NM
Sunset Crater NM
Ice cave outside Flagstaff
Meteor crater

And there is much more. I would not consider any of those "must see" but most would be easy to work into your route. Maybe research and pick a few of personal interest to you.

 

[TripleLindy]

All great suggestions - please them coming! In regards to time, yes, we can always add days. We felt like extending to Zion/Bryce Canyon was stretching things, but who knows when we’ll get back to that region. The suggestion to skip Santa Fe was also on our minds, as we weren’t sure what to do there. If others are pro Santa Fe, we’d love to hear about it. If anything, maybe we just use it as a layover stop and experience the restaurant scene for 1 night instead of 2-3.

Thank you!!

 

[Ronstar]

All great suggestions - please them coming! In regards to time, yes, we can always add days. We felt like extending to Zion/Bryce Canyon was stretching things, but who knows when we’ll get back to that region. The suggestion to skip Santa Fe was also on our minds, as we weren’t sure what to do there. If others are pro Santa Fe, we’d love to hear about it. If anything, maybe we just use it as a layover stop and experience the restaurant scene for 1 night instead of 2-3.

Thank you!!

Santa Fe may be worthy of 1 day/ night if you want to visit a Nice/historic downtown, old churches, Georgia O'Keefe museum, quant shops, etc. Went to a great Mexican restaurant there several years ago - can't remember the name.

We spent about 24 hours there and left. Just enough for us.

 

[ivinsfan]

All great suggestions - please them coming! In regards to time, yes, we can always add days. We felt like extending to Zion/Bryce Canyon was stretching things, but who knows when we’ll get back to that region. The suggestion to skip Santa Fe was also on our minds, as we weren’t sure what to do there. If others are pro Santa Fe, we’d love to hear about it. If anything, maybe we just use it as a layover stop and experience the restaurant scene for 1 night instead of 2-3.

Thank you!!

Dig a little in the North Rim option...late Oct should be completely workable...


the park is open for day use until Dec 1 or later weather permitting. When we went in early December I bet there weren't more then 2 dozen people in the entire park. And the views at the North Rim don't seem to be a murky as the the South Rim, We found the South Rim full of buses, large groups of people and not very park like. This was in the early 2 thousands in late January....

 

[Ian S]

Dig a little in the North Rim option...late Oct should be completely workable...

Nope, North Rim closes October 15.

 

[ivinsfan]

Nope, North Rim closes October 15.

Wrong the lodge and other services close but it's open until Dec 1 or until the road closes with snow. We were there around Dec 10 and the park website said due to lack of the snow the park was still open for day use, Jacob Lake about 45 minutes from the Rim has services available including lodging and is a cute place to stop. Also the bathrooms at the park were open when we were there in early December.


Google is your friend.

 

[COcheesehead]

For Moab check to make sure things are open. It’s a very seasonal town. If you go through Monument Valley hire a Navajo guide they can take you further into the park than the regular admission price. Also consider its far lesser know neighbor, Mystery Valley.
Distances and services in the west are far greater than you expect. Keep the tank topped off, carry food and water.
Zion and Sedona can get really crowded. Santa Fe is also destination that is crowded and frankly for a hiker, not worth the time. There are so many monuments with little or no crowds in the SW that offer spectacular hiking and Native American history. I would cut down on the drives and do more micro touring in an area with lots to offer, like southeast/south central Utah.

 

[ivinsfan]

If you can arrange it don't stay in Moab over a weekend October is pretty popular. I've seen regular rooms in Moab go for 309
0 plus a night

 

[Bamaman]

We suggest Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks.

They're all incredible sights. We were there a year ago with the grandkids--after flying into Las Vegas.

 

[SecondAttempt]

Regarding Sante Fe. I have never spent any time there in my NM travels. I think we had lunch there once. I have nothing negative to say. It is a lot about arts and history. I think the main reason for never spending much time there is not having mush to see that interested us.

When you said 3 nights in Sante Fe I was surprised because I did not know what you would do. But said nothing because I assumed you had plans.

Not dissing Sante Fe at all. It is a nice town. I have just never found much to do there besides walk around in galleries.

Taos is another potential place to check out nearby

Los Alamos National Labs is also nearby and may give tours. I have never been there.

 

[38Chevy454]

I used to live south of Santa Fe in Albuquerque east mountain area. I think 1 day is plenty for Santa Fe. It's mostly the old town area and artsy stuff. Otherwise go to Utah and Arizona.

In Los Alamos is the Bradbury Nuclear Science Museum, that is a good idea. Or in Albuquerque is the national museum of nuclear science, or some name close to those. Both ate bery good museums to learn about nuclear.

 

[Car-Guy]

From my POV the Grand Canyon is the centerpiece for such a trip. All else is secondary. I second those who have suggested adding Zion to your list if you can. Also consider adding the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, either coming or going.

 

[Ian S]

Wrong the lodge and other services close but it's open until Dec 1 or until the road closes with snow. We were there around Dec 10 and the park website said due to lack of the snow the park was still open for day use, Jacob Lake about 45 minutes from the Rim has services available including lodging and is a cute place to stop. Also the bathrooms at the park were open when we were there in early December.


Google is your friend.

My bad, I assumed the OP wanted to stay there overnight.

 

[ivinsfan]

My bad, I assumed the OP wanted to stay there overnight.

I'm not sure about OP just wanted to point out to whoever is interested that there are options..

 

[ivinsfan]

From my POV the Grand Canyon is the centerpiece for such a trip. All else is secondary. I second those who have suggested adding Zion to your list if you can. Also consider adding the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, either coming or going.

Too much to pick from .I do feel the biggest hazard of road trips is overestimating how much ground you can comfortably cover. I'd be inclined to do a Moab area trip with hiway 12 and a separate GC Arizona trip or add a few more days.