vegas to boulder ...and back

We're flying into Las Vegas early on a Wednesday in August and flying out 10 days later, late on Saturday evening (red eye). We need to be in Boulder, CO three days after we arrive in Vegas, on Saturday, for a wedding.

We're thinking of booking it to CO on I-15/I-70, maybe spending a night in Zion and Arches along the way, and then meandering our way back to Vegas. On the way back, we'd like to see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, perhaps the sand dunes in southern CO, and any other amazing/interesting things that we have time for.

We're somewhat experienced (mostly eastcoast) backpackers, but this is our first roadtrip and any itinerary/sites suggestions for national parks or minor backpacking in the neighborhood would be really appreciated! ...of course it'd also be fun to spend a night or two in vegas at the end of the trip since we've never been there before.

Thanks,
S&L

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Originally Posted by cutty

We're flying into Las Vegas early on a Wednesday in August and flying out 10 days later

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Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

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We're thinking of booking it to CO on I-15/I-70, maybe spending a night in Zion and Arches along the way, and then meandering our way back to Vegas.

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You can cover that distance in two reasonably length days. If you don't stop at Zion on the way, I would stop at Green River, Utah -- here is a field report from the area. Here is also a field report about staying over-night in the cabins at Zion.

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On the way back, we'd like to see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, perhaps the sand dunes in southern CO,

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Here is a field report about North Rim and the Coral Pink Dunes State Park in Utah.

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Of course it'd also be fun to spend a night or two in vegas at the end of the trip since we've never been there before.

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Las Vegas is our home town and it is a fun place to check out. Here are some of our recent "finds"

Happy Planning!

Mark

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum.

I think you may want to minimize the number of things you have planned for the Las Vegas to Boulder section (By the way, have you read Stephen King's The Stand?) just because this may be a little farther than you might realize, and you really only have Thursday and Friday to make the trek. Arches National Park and Colorado National Monument will whet your appetite for the fun you'll have on the way back, as will the drive through the Rockies on I-70.

After the wedding, but before departing Boulder, take a day to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Then head south through Leadville to US-50 west through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison before heading south on the Million Dollar Highway and over to Mesa Verde National Park, down through Four Corners and Monument Valley before arching up to the north rim of the Grand Canyon by way of US-89 and AZ-64. Then on your way out and back to Vegas, you can see Bryce and Zion when you have a bit more time.

AZBuck