Southwest Road Trip in April

we are going on a road trip (15 days) making the following stops. It is 4 of us. Me, my husband and 2 boys (ages 8 & 6)

Arrive Albuquerque at 8pm on Friday 4/3 , Canyon de Chelle, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, Volcano Crater, Flagstaff, Williams, Sedona, Grand Canyon South Rim, Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, Navajo National Monument, Four Corners, Mesa Verde, Durango, Taos, Santa Fe, back to Albuquerque to flyout on Sunday 4/19 at 7am

1. What on this route should we consider dropping?

2. What places are worth staying overnight?

3. What excursions/tours are must sees in each spot.

3. Which are just pass thru areas

4. I am trying to figure out which night we will be in each spot so I can book hotels. I feel overwhelmed...any help is great.

Hello and welcome back.

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1. What on this route should we consider dropping?

2. What places are worth staying overnight?

3. Which are just pass thru areas

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I know it can be over whelming when trip planning, especially as it's a surprise for your husband, but there are no right or wrong answers. All I can say is the area you are passing through is wonderful and what appeals to you and your interests [and hubby's] the most are the things that count. You have to consider how long you want to spend on the road each day to find places to stop. In the West it's hard to think of "just a pass through place", enjoy every moment.

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What excursions/tours are must sees in each spot.

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I prefer to find my own way around in my own time and all the parks have booklets and info on what to see and do and you will be able to see what others see. [unless you opt for a helicopter flight over the Grand canyon] If you want to you can go on Ranger led tours that are informative. You might fancy the train ride out of Durango which I have heard is fantastic.

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I am trying to figure out which night we will be in each spot so I can book hotels

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We don't do trip planning as everyones tastes are different but we do try and help so you can get the best from yours. This is just to help you to work from and it will be "busy" if you want to see everything listed but it's possible.

Abluquerque [1 night] Canyon De Chelley/I-40 [1 night] If you fancy a night in a Wig Wam you could stop in Holbrook. Flagstaff/Sedona [1 night] Drive around Red rock country [89]and then to Williams or direct to G/C. [2 nights] Through Page to Zion and Bryce [2 nights] to Arches/Canyonlands [2 nights poss stopping on the way.] Mesa Verde/ Four corners/ Durango [2 nights] Taos/ Santa fe [2-3 nights] Back to Albu.
Do some more researching and let us know when you have more questions. Try not to worry and enjoy the planning, you will have a great time!

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

You might fancy the train ride out of Durango which I have heard is fantastic.

...........Williams or direct to G/C. [2 nights] Through Page to Zion and Bryce [2 nights] ..................

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If either of you are train buffs, and especially steam train buffs, then you will find the Durango Silverton Railway a joy. It is a full day to go up and down. I recommend you take the train both ways. The bus ride back, not only is an extra charge, it also does not give any opportunity for photos or sightseeing. The train is slow enough to take photos all the way.

And if you are considering driving from the Grand Canyon to Zion / Bryce, via Page, why not take make a stop in Kanab, and spend a day at the North Rim. You will find it so different from the south, not anywhere near as commercialised and nowhere near as busy.

Lifey who did both in May 2007

The North Rim will probably not be open yet in April. Even if the road is open, there are no visitor services till mid-May.

My husband/I and two boys (ages 8 & 6) and doing a loop using Albuquerque as our start and end. We arrive late on a Friday in early April...and travel for over two weeks (14 days)....leaving to go home early Sunday morning.

I am struggling with a couple of things. Any advice would be great

My route is
Albuquerque, Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, Volcano Crater, Sedona, Grand Canyon South Rim, Bryce, Zion, Canyonlands, Arches, Navajo National Monument/Canyon de Chelle; Mesa Verde, Durango, Taos, Santa Fe, back to Albuquerque

1. Can I do all of this in the 14 days of travel? If not, what is just not worth the visit

2. I am trying to tentatively book hotels? Do I need to have hotels booked in early April because of Spring Break travelers, or can we just find hotels as we need them?

3. If I need hotels, I am stuggling with where I will be each day to book a hotel, any advice

4. Do I need to book excursions ahead of time? Like, jeep tour thru Sedona or Chuckwagon dinner or Jetboat thru Canyonlands? If so what excursions are must do's. I limited to only picking a few since they seem to be very pricey when you are buying tickets for 4 people.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thx

Moderators note] I have merged your threads together. It is not unusual for plans to change along the way and we like to keep posts about the same trip together to avoid confusion, thank you

Thx for advice on days in each area. I put an new post out there with my more detailed route and more specific questions.

Any more help is great.

I would like to go by the seat of my pants and book stuff along the way, but when you have kids in tow I was worried we might have hard time booking rooms. Is Springbreak season very busy?

Is it less expensive to book early...or book rooms at last minute in that area?