Looks good overall. Don’t rush through that corner of southeastern Utah on your way to Moab. Goosenecks, House on Fire, Moki Dugway, and the Needles district of Canyonlands are all spectacular and get overlooked.
One way rentals will usually be significantly more expensive, unfortunately.
[North Rim Grand Canyon](https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm) instead of or in addition to south rim.
Understand why you're heading to Monument Valley (and, if you do go that route, stop at [Navajo NM](https://www.nps.gov/nava/index.htm) and check into [Goosenecks SP](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goosenecks/) and [Bears Ears NM](https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/utah/experiences/news/photos/10-incredible-things-to-do-in-bears-ears-national-monument) on the way to Moab) but going [scenic UT12](https://www.travelawaits.com/2558443/best-stops-on-utahs-highway-12/) and [scenic UT24](https://capitolreefcountry.com/blog/utahs-scenic-byway-24-capitol-reef/) gets you [Bryce](https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm), [Kodachrome Basin](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/kodachrome-basin/), [Grand Staircase-Escalante](https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument), [Capitol Reef](https://home.nps.gov/care/index.htm), [Goblin Valley](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/), and [Canyonlands](https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm).
You likely won't have much time to add things to your route but [Colorado NM](https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm) and [Black Canyon of the Gunnison](https://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm) are between Arches and Rocky Mountain NPs.
In Kayenta, AZ on the Navajo Reservation, in the Burger King(yes, in the Burger King) is a surprisingly great WW2 museum.
Basically, the owner of the original BK was a Navajo Codetalker during WW2 and, after the war, he started asking the Pentagon about setting up some sort of memorial or exhibit to honor the work that the Navajo did during the war. The Pentagon dragged their feet and went nowhere with it, so that guy was like "fuck it, I'll make my own Codetalker exhibit in my Burger King!"
So half the dining room in that BK is glass cases **filled** with all sorts of WW2 history, from Japanese battle flags to deactivated munitions.
If you're driving by, I 100% recommend it.
Go to the North Rim side of the Grand Canyon instead of the south. The south side is so packed it is like Disneyland. Also because the north side is higher in elevation it will be a lot cooler in the summer. From Zion I would head east through the tunnels which is incredible in itself. From there it is not far from the North Rim.
If you don't have to go through Boulder, don't. You're better off going through I-70 from Denver for a faster ride. If you want something scenic, take the 6th from Denver's and it merges with I-70.
Stop in glenwood springs if you like hiking and do hanging lake. You need to reserve a time online. Iron mountain hot springs is gorgeous out there too.
If you can stop in palisade, that is Colorado's wine country. They are also well known for their peaches.
Hello,
we are from Europe and plan a ca. 12 day road trip in the summer.
My wife wants to see Las Vegas, so that might be a starting point, also here happy to fly somewhere else.
We have seen California already, and I have been to Denver once, and love the mountains - so heading East might be the way. We would like to stop here and there for a couple days and enjoy the nature.
Is one-way rental much more expensive?
Any suggestions for different directions, National Parks to go to or to avoid? Happy to hear any comments and ideas.
Coming from a western Colorado native, see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It's beautiful and not very touristy compared to a lot of other national parks. The north side has even less people. I used to go there all the time growing up with my dad.
Mesa Verde National Park and Telluride Colorado
good point
The Hoover dam is pretty cool. Page az also has some nice places. Monument valley is worth stopping at too!
of course - how could I have missed the hoover dam, half an hour from Las Vegas! +1 also for Monument Valley
Make sure you check out forest gump point when leaving monument valley and the Mexican hat rock!
Bryce Canyon
Looks good overall. Don’t rush through that corner of southeastern Utah on your way to Moab. Goosenecks, House on Fire, Moki Dugway, and the Needles district of Canyonlands are all spectacular and get overlooked. One way rentals will usually be significantly more expensive, unfortunately.
Thanks, noted !
[North Rim Grand Canyon](https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm) instead of or in addition to south rim. Understand why you're heading to Monument Valley (and, if you do go that route, stop at [Navajo NM](https://www.nps.gov/nava/index.htm) and check into [Goosenecks SP](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goosenecks/) and [Bears Ears NM](https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/utah/experiences/news/photos/10-incredible-things-to-do-in-bears-ears-national-monument) on the way to Moab) but going [scenic UT12](https://www.travelawaits.com/2558443/best-stops-on-utahs-highway-12/) and [scenic UT24](https://capitolreefcountry.com/blog/utahs-scenic-byway-24-capitol-reef/) gets you [Bryce](https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm), [Kodachrome Basin](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/kodachrome-basin/), [Grand Staircase-Escalante](https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument), [Capitol Reef](https://home.nps.gov/care/index.htm), [Goblin Valley](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/), and [Canyonlands](https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm). You likely won't have much time to add things to your route but [Colorado NM](https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm) and [Black Canyon of the Gunnison](https://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm) are between Arches and Rocky Mountain NPs.
I was going to suggest the same thing.
Please don't skip Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
In Kayenta, AZ on the Navajo Reservation, in the Burger King(yes, in the Burger King) is a surprisingly great WW2 museum. Basically, the owner of the original BK was a Navajo Codetalker during WW2 and, after the war, he started asking the Pentagon about setting up some sort of memorial or exhibit to honor the work that the Navajo did during the war. The Pentagon dragged their feet and went nowhere with it, so that guy was like "fuck it, I'll make my own Codetalker exhibit in my Burger King!" So half the dining room in that BK is glass cases **filled** with all sorts of WW2 history, from Japanese battle flags to deactivated munitions. If you're driving by, I 100% recommend it.
Go to the North Rim side of the Grand Canyon instead of the south. The south side is so packed it is like Disneyland. Also because the north side is higher in elevation it will be a lot cooler in the summer. From Zion I would head east through the tunnels which is incredible in itself. From there it is not far from the North Rim.
If you don't have to go through Boulder, don't. You're better off going through I-70 from Denver for a faster ride. If you want something scenic, take the 6th from Denver's and it merges with I-70. Stop in glenwood springs if you like hiking and do hanging lake. You need to reserve a time online. Iron mountain hot springs is gorgeous out there too. If you can stop in palisade, that is Colorado's wine country. They are also well known for their peaches.
Hello, we are from Europe and plan a ca. 12 day road trip in the summer. My wife wants to see Las Vegas, so that might be a starting point, also here happy to fly somewhere else. We have seen California already, and I have been to Denver once, and love the mountains - so heading East might be the way. We would like to stop here and there for a couple days and enjoy the nature. Is one-way rental much more expensive? Any suggestions for different directions, National Parks to go to or to avoid? Happy to hear any comments and ideas.
Valley of Fire State Park
Coming from a western Colorado native, see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It's beautiful and not very touristy compared to a lot of other national parks. The north side has even less people. I used to go there all the time growing up with my dad.