Denver -> Aspen -> Moab -> Vegas -> LA -> San Fran / Tips PLZ!

Hello!


First of all, let me thank you all for this amazing site and forum!
What a help after I 've read tons of topics about roadtrips in US!


Me and my wife are 28 and we are a couple from Portugal that love to make roadtrips on car or motorbike.
Our flight will arrive to Denver on 12th of March and will flight out from SFO on 29th of the same month.

We rent a Ford Escape on Avis and we will pick up the car at Denver's airport on our arrive.
We want to have a general idea of America's West, drive in beautiful landscapes, ski 1 day in Aspen, cross some deserts in Utah, see cities like Vegas, LA, San Francisco, drive highway 1,...

We would appreciate some tips to this itinerary that we have in our minds:

https://maps.google.pt/maps?saddr=De...&via=9&t=m&z=7

day 1 – Arrive in DEN at 4:30pm
day 2 – Denver to Aspen
day 3 – Ski in Aspen
day 4 – Aspen – Grand Junction – Moab
day 5 – Arches NP and Canyonlands NP
day 6 – Moab – Monumment Valey – Page
day 7 – Page to Flagstaff
day 8 – Grand Canyon
day 9 – Flagstaff to Vegas
day 10 – Vegas
day 11 – Vegas – Death Valley – LA
day 12 – LA
day 13 – LA – Santa Mónica – Malibu – Santa Barbara – Pismo Beach – San Simeon
day 14 – San Simeon – Carmel – Monterey – Silicon Valley – San Fancisco
day 15 to 18 – San Francisco with some trips to Sacramento to make professional visits

Our questions:
- Day 5 - 1 full day in Moab is enough or too much to see Arches and Canyonlands NP?
- Day 6 – How much time do we need to see Monumment Valley? A couple of hours? What to see in Page? Is a good place to stay the night?
- Day 8 – 1 full day to see Grand Canyon is enough or too much? Sleep 2 nights in Flagstaff is the best option?
- Day 13 and 14 – Where is the best place to stay to share the trip of highway 1 in 2 days between LA and San Fran? What we should not miss?


Be free to give ideas or notes in this roadtrip!


Regards!
Luís

Welcome to RTA!

Why go to Flagstaff, then backtrack to the Grand Canyon? I would spend the first night at the Cameron Trading Post, then the next night in Williams.

There are several choices for a night on CA-1 - I would probably stay in Cambria or San Simeon.

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

One day for Arches and Canyonlands is barely enough but you could make do. A full day in Arches and half a day for Canyonlands which you might be able to do with one of your travel days combined with heading to Canyonlands.

Monument Valley can be seen from the top in under an hour if you wanted to or you can take a jeep tour on the unmade road where you'd probably have to add a couple of hours. Near Page is Lake Powell, Antelope canyon, Horseshoe bend and more.

You will need at least a full day at the Grand canyon, so yes 2 nights would be advisable, especially if you sight see around Page. You have a good option when travelling down from Page at the Cameron Trading post near the east entry kiosk that follows the direction of the Colorado into the main area and is my preferred choice of entry.

Cambria/San Simeon is a good area to break the journey along the coast.

You are goona have a great trip !

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

It looks to me like you've done a great job of planning.

1 day should be nice for an overview of Arches/Canyonlands. Of course, you could always spend more time there, but that should be fine for the time you have available.

I found a few hours was plenty of time to tour Monument Valley. You might want to go with one of the guided tours (available on site) since the driving tour could violate your rental car contract. Moab to Page via MV should be a pleasantly full day. I would consider adding Natural Bridges to the list on your way.

1 day is enough to see GC, but Flagstaff is a bit out of the way. If you can afford to stay right within the park or in Tusayan, that would be the easiest. Otherwise, you might consider skipping Page and spend 1 night at the Cameron Trading Post, then spend the next night in Williams - which still gives you a full day at GC, and frees up a full day for elsewhere on your trip.

Day 5 - There is never enough time to see all of it. But one day in Arches and Canyonlands will give you a good overview.

Day 6 - You can choose just to drive through and enjoy the amazing views along the road. There are jeep tours over roads which are not maintained. On which you would not be able to take your rental car.

Day 8 - One full day will give you a good chance to see most of the Grand Canyon. I agree that the Trading Post and Williams would be better choices for accommodation.

Looks like a great trip.

Lifey

Thank you for all of your answers!


When we planned to go to Flagstaff, it was because we want to do a 1 full day trip to GC in a helicopter tour or boat tour, and we thought the nearest start of that tours was from Flagstaff.
We will try to find out if they start, for example, from Williams.

Do you have any idea how it will be the weather in 18th of march in GC?


Do you recommend spend 2 days from Moab to Cameron Post with sleep in Page, or do the same day trip in just one day and forget Page? Page deserves the visit?
We booked a Ford Escape and I hope that will be a 4x4, but Avis can't guarantee that. We love offroading and Utah would be a great place for that, but we don't know our agreement limitations...


I am a motorsport fan and I have seen already the race of Pikes Peak Mountain. So, an itinerary that I would like, is in the 2nd day, do Denver - Colorado Springs - Pikes Peak Mountain - Buena Vista - Twin Lakes - Aspen.
My problem is if in March the road that cross the mountain from Twin Lakes to Aspen will be open because of the snow.


Is March a good month to do a trip like this one?!


In San Simeon, does Hearst Castle deserves a visit?


Thank you again!

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Originally Posted by luis caetano

We booked a Ford Escape and I hope that will be a 4x4, but Avis can't guarantee that. We love offroading and Utah would be a great place for that, but we don't know our agreement limitations...

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Avis probably can't gaurantee, because even if you got one, you would not be allowed to take it off road. When in UT, there are local rental organisations which rent out vehicles for local use and which can be taken off road.

Lifey

Quote:

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Originally Posted by luis caetano

We booked a Ford Escape and I hope that will be a 4x4, but Avis can't guarantee that. We love offroading and Utah would be a great place for that, but we don't know our agreement limitations...

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While Avis can't guarantee that your SUV will have 4 wheel drive, I can give you a 100% guarantee that taking an Avis vehicle off road will be a violation of your rental agreement, even if it a 4x4. A Ford Escape also isn't really designed for off-road driving, even with 4 wheel drive. Utah does have lots of opportunities to go off-road, but you need to contact a Jeep Outfitter where you can rent a truck actually designed for off-roading for the day.

Renting a sedan will likely be a much better value than an SUV, which usually carry a pretty significant premium in cost.

Quote:

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When we planned to go to Flagstaff, it was because we want to do a 1 full day trip to GC in a helicopter tour or boat tour, and we thought the nearest start of that tours was from Flagstaff. We will try to find out if they start, for example, from Williams.

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I would be a little surprised if you find air or water tours out of either Flagstaff or Williams. Any boat tours are going to start around Page. Air based tours are likely to start at Grand Canyon airport, which is near Tusayan/south rim. Also be aware there are air space restrictions within the national park, which don't allow helicopters to go down into the Canyon. That often means that helicopter tours do not actually visit the National Park, but rather Indian lands where the canyon is not as deep or spectacular - although that is a bigger issue with tours based out of Las Vegas.

My last visit to the Grand Canyon was in mid-March and it was very comfortable - with temperatures in the 60's, I believe, although it gets quite cool overnight, and there were still some patches of snow on the ground. Of course, that doesn't mean that's what you'll see during your specific travel time.

The road from Twin Lakes to Aspen is Independence Pass, and won't open till around the end of May. The Pikes Peak road may or may not be open.

I personally think the basic Hearst Castle tour is worth the time, it will need to be booked in advance.

Quote:

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When we planned to go to Flagstaff, it was because we want to do a 1 full day trip to GC in a helicopter tour or boat tour, and we thought the nearest start of that tours was from Flagstaff. We will try to find out if they start, for example, from Williams.

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You can get helicopter flights from Tusayan that fly over the canyon that typically last 45 mins to fly across to the North rim, but it will not land. As mentioned, helicopter tours do not go to the National park area to land and a one day boat trip would not get you there either I doubt very much. Tours can be fun as an added extra to a few days in one place but for a day at the Grand canyon, nothing is going to compare to just being there and simply strolling along the rim and 'breathing in' this natural wonder of the world and to hopefully witness a sunset.

Quote:

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Is March a good month to do a trip like this one?!

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If skiing is a priority then you can't leave it much later. Aspen ski season is typically until mid-April but will depend on snow pack.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lifemagician

Avis probably can't gaurantee, because even if you got one, you would not be allowed to take it off road. When in UT, there are local rental organisations which rent out vehicles for local use and which can be taken off road.

Lifey

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In 2009, we had lucky and Dollar rent a car gave us a Escape 4x4 in NYC. And I say lucky, because it was december and we catch some snow and icy roads in PA.

For the same reason, I would prefer a 4x4 because of Aspen.

Also in Utah, we don´t attend to do hard off road, but some gravel roads, something more and enjoy freedom. Have to know at the Avis agency.
Me and my friends are used to go to Morocco and Sahara Desert.
Attachment 3705

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

While Avis can't guarantee that your SUV will have 4 wheel drive, I can give you a 100% guarantee that taking an Avis vehicle off road will be a violation of your rental agreement, even if it a 4x4. A Ford Escape also isn't really designed for off-road driving, even with 4 wheel drive. Utah does have lots of opportunities to go off-road, but you need to contact a Jeep Outfitter where you can rent a truck actually designed for off-roading for the day.

Renting a sedan will likely be a much better value than an SUV, which usually carry a pretty significant premium in cost.


I would be a little surprised if you find air or water tours out of either Flagstaff or Williams. Any boat tours are going to start around Page. Air based tours are likely to start at Grand Canyon airport, which is near Tusayan/south rim. Also be aware there are air space restrictions within the national park, which don't allow helicopters to go down into the Canyon. That often means that helicopter tours do not actually visit the National Park, but rather Indian lands where the canyon is not as deep or spectacular - although that is a bigger issue with tours based out of Las Vegas.

My last visit to the Grand Canyon was in mid-March and it was very comfortable - with temperatures in the 60's, I believe, although it gets quite cool overnight, and there were still some patches of snow on the ground. Of course, that doesn't mean that's what you'll see during your specific travel time.

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Thank you.

The 2 reasons to choose a Escape was:
- try a 4x4 car because of Snow in Aspen and other roads.
- taller car shows normally better views.
Take the opportunity to ask if we will get more snow than Aspen?
By the way, the car cost us 950$ for 2 weeks, including the 300$ drop of fee.

About GC, you recommend to entry at NP and make the normal one day tour?
Don´t need to reserve in advance?
Isn´t a plane or helicopter flight worth?
To make rafting or something, maybe Page or Moab would be a better option?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by glc

The road from Twin Lakes to Aspen is Independence Pass, and won't open till around the end of May. The Pikes Peak road may or may not be open.

I personally think the basic Hearst Castle tour is worth the time, it will need to be booked in advance.

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Thanks!
I think we have to avoid Pikes Peak mountain and go directly to Aspen by Interstate 70.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

You can get helicopter flights from Tusayan that fly over the canyon that typically last 45 mins to fly across to the North rim, but it will not land. As mentioned, helicopter tours do not go to the National park area to land and a one day boat trip would not get you there either I doubt very much. Tours can be fun as an added extra to a few days in one place but for a day at the Grand canyon, nothing is going to compare to just being there and simply strolling along the rim and 'breathing in' this natural wonder of the world and to hopefully witness a sunset.



If skiing is a priority then you can't leave it much later. Aspen ski season is typically until mid-April but will depend on snow pack.

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Thanks!
So, we should make the normal tour at GC.
What do you recommend to make rafting or something else? Moab or Page?

Quote:

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but some gravel roads

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Avis may not allow that.

Enter the Grand Canyon via the east entrance and stop at each viewpoint till you get to the village. Then park the car and take the shuttle bus towards Hermit's Rest, get off at each viewpoint and catch the next bus (about every 10 to 15 minutes). When you get to the end, ride the bus back to the village.

No reservations needed or required for visiting the park.

Quote:

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About GC, you recommend to entry at NP and make the normal one day tour? Don´t need to reserve in advance? Isn´t a plane or helicopter flight worth it

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There is no 'normal tour', you drive into the park and stop at the various viewpoints as and when you please. The shuttle bus service is free and needs no booking, it's not even possible. You can not take a car to Hermits rest after March 1st.

A helicopter flight over the canyon is a wonderful and memorable experience. If you spent a day at the canyon and stayed in Tusayan that night you could book a flight for the next morning before driving to Vegas. [Tusayan has more expensive lodgings than Williams, but you might find a good deal this time of year.] Check out Papillon helicopters and their flights from Grand canyon airport.

What part of Grand Canyon is the best?
Because I see in google maps that Grand Canyon Village is 241mi by away by road from Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Should we go to the both?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

A helicopter flight over the canyon is a wonderful and memorable experience. If you spent a day at the canyon and stayed in Tusayan that night you could book a flight for the next morning before driving to Vegas. [Tusayan has more expensive lodgings than Williams, but you might find a good deal this time of year.] Check out Papillon helicopters and their flights from Grand canyon airport.

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Can´t we book the flight for the same day that we want to see GC?
There is not enough time?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by luis caetano

What part of Grand Canyon is the best?
Because I see in google maps that Grand Canyon Village is 241mi by away by road from Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Should we go to the both?

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The Skywalk is not at the Grand Canyon, or at least not really. It is on Indian lands, and the far west end of the canyon, where the canyon is only about half as deep as it is within the National Park. The skywalk is also much more expensive. It will cost you $25 for everyone in your car to visit Grand Canyon National Park, to do the skywalk, you're looking at about $80 per person, and you can't take pictures when you are on the skywalk. If you want to do both, there's nothing wrong with that, but if you are going to do one or the other, I'd strongly recommend the National Park.

I'd recommend giving yourself a full day for the National Park and do the flight on a second day, but if you wanted to squeeze both a flight and your exploration of the park into a single day, you could make it work.

Going back to your previous question about the 4x4, I will echo GLC, if you want 4 wheel drive for increased visibility or the chance you'll see snow (mind you the need for 4 wheel drive in the snow is vastly overstated), that's fine, but it's your statements about taking it onto dirt/gravel that could get you into trouble. Put very simply, if you are taking a rental vehicle anyplace you couldn't go in a normal sedan, you are probably violating the rental contract.

Thank you!

Sorry for the late answer.


Our flight is next 12th of march! We are very excited!!


We will use the suggestion of Midwest Michael and will skip the night in Page as we want to spend a day in Fontana, LA, to see Nascar, the Auto Club 400.


Here is our itinerary in March:

day 12th – Arrive in DEN at 4:30pm
day 13th – Denver to Aspen
day 14th – Ski in Aspen
day 15th – Aspen – Grand Junction – Moab
day 16th – Arches NP and Canyonlands NP
day 17th – Moab – Monumment Valey – Cameron Trading Post
day 18th – Grand Canyon NP
day 19th – Williams to Vegas
day 20th – Vegas
day 21st – Vegas – Death Valley – LA
day 22nd - LA
day 23rd – LA - Fontana - Nascar day
day 24th – LA – Santa Mónica – Malibu – Santa Barbara – Pismo Beach – San Simeon
day 25th – San Simeon – Carmel – Monterey – Fresno
day 26th – Fresno (kiwifruit visit) - Sacramento (kiwifruit visit)
day 27th - Fresno (kiwifruit visit) - Sacramento (kiwifruit visit)
day 28th - San Francisco
day 29th - San Francisco - Fly home


Thank you all for your great help!

Wish us luck :)

Only 2 fast questions:

- We want to do some fast shopping in some outlet.
Do you recommend any? LA, Las Vegas...

- Do you know where are the best place to see Nascar in the Auto Club Speedway?

I do recall visiting large outlet malls in Barstow. It was some years ago, and just off the interstate.

Lifey

Outlet Center is still in Barstow area -- Tanger Outlets at Lenwood Road exit.


Donna

Thanks, but if I will drive through Death Valley, I am not going to cross Barstow.


Do you recommend any outlet from Vegas?
Or from LA?

Shopping is not my thing, but you will find Las Vegas premium outlets to the south of McCarren airport off S. Las Vegas Boulevard and there is the Fashion show Mall towards the north end of the Strip near Treasure Island that is smaller with 'select' stores.