Sounds like a great trip! Since you've got a tight schedule, I'd take I-80 or I-70 to the Rockies to save time. Maybe even go south and take I-40 for a little Route 66 flavor. If you take I-70, I'd cut south at Limon, Colorado on US-24 to avoid Denver traffic. I-70 west of Denver is a beautiful drive but the traffic has become horrible. US-24 takes you to Colorado Springs and from there you have several great routes to the Grand Canyon.
It's hard to go wrong in southern Utah and northern Arizona. With so many great roads I'd take a different route home to make the trip even better.
As for hotels, if you decide to stay in Moab, Utah be prepared to spend a fortune. I stayed there in late October and paid well over $300 for a night in a Hampton Inn! The national parks in the area are spectacular but I've rarely seen such expensive hotels.
Have travelled route 50 last year, you will find out west most of the two lane roads are 60 to 65 mph
because there ain't much out there. Hit a route 10 in Kansas to Colorado for 85 miles.
There was absolutely nothing for those 85 miles. I was so glad that gas was not a problem
because I had gases up just before hitting it. The speed limit on this two lane road was 65.
Reply With Quote
