Before I die I want to see all of the U.S. National Parks, and I'm looking for an inexpensive way to knock a few off my list. [Cue the classroom pull-down map from your youth] The Four Corner states house many of these parks, along with a series of other natural beauties.
Utah: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Salt Lake, and Zion
Arizona: Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Monument Valley, Sedona, and Saguaro
Colorado: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Rocky Mountain
New Mexico: Carlsbad Caverns
Flights to Phoenix are dirt cheap, especially when flying on Southwest Airlines. PHX is a popular stop for most westbound flights to Las Vegas, San Diego, L. A., and San Francisco. Southwest Airlines also services Albuquerque, Denver, and Salt Lake City. Flights are often one of the first, and most expensive, expenditures to consider when trip planning. Anytime I can get Southwest Airlines' round-trip airfare for $250-$300, I'm in!
In the scenario above, I'm plotting a 8-10 day road trip with stops in Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Moab, Arches, Western Colorado, and finally Denver. To drop a day, I may consider cutting Colorado in favor of departing from Salt Lake City following Arches. Below is a suggested itinerary.
A rental car is a must for this trip, unless you live in the Four Corner states. Your car will make-or-break this trip. Road trips require creature comforts, and this one is no exception. Consider splurging to get a 4x4 with decent suspension, comfortable seats, storage, etc. You'll spend several hours each day in the car, so cutting corners on the vehicle type may be the lasting memory you're left with. When selecting your vehicle online, consider the size of the trunk, as you'll likely be storing luggage and food/water on this trip. National Parks are notorious for car break-ins, as many campers and hikers leave all of their belonging locked away in their car for hours unattended. Be smart, and plan to have a trunk large enough to secure most/all personal belongings out of sight.
Where I expect money can be saved is by driving to a local grocery store in Phoenix where you can pick up a flat of water bottles and a cheap cooler to store some perishable food items. A roadside P.B.J. with this in the backdrop doesn't sound too shabby.
Source: gatewaytosedona.com
Suggested (but not tested) Itinerary:
Phoenix: Arrive early; pick up rental car; grocery shopping; drive ~2 hours (115.9 mi) via I-17 N to Sedona; Dinner/Sleep in Sedona.
Sedona: Sunrise hot air balloon ride over "red rock country"; spend the afternoon shopping local artisans and enjoying Sedona's food scene; Dinner/Sleep in Sedona.
Flagstaff: Rise early in Sedona to drive the ~1 hour (29.7 mi) via AZ-89A N/N State Rte 89A to Flagstaff. You can refuel and head straight to the Grand Canyon (another 1.5 hours away), or enjoy the unique sights of the meteor crater, the Wupatki National Monument (preserved pre-historic pueblos), or the Coconino National Forest. Dinner/Sleep in Flagstaff allows for less time on the road; however, a night spent at the Grand Canyon will allow for a picturesque Grand Canyon sunrise.
Grand Canyon: Another early morning. If in Flagstaff, load up the car and hit the road. It's about 1.5 hours via US-180 W and AZ-64 N to the Grand Canyon. Instead, if you opted to get to the Grand Canyon the night before, you have the full day to explore South Rim by foot or mule! Dinner/Sleep in Grand Canyon Village.
Antelope Canyon: The Grand Canyon is beautiful and vast, but for some...it's just a Kodak moment followed by the desire to see what's next. Time permitting, a trip to Antelope Canyon will have your Instagram followers drooling. Plan for 2.5 hours of driving (137.3 mi) via AZ-64 E/Desert View Dr. to the canyon (near Page). From what I've read and heard, you must book an official Navajo tour to be allowed in the famous slot canyon, as it has religious significance to the Navajo people. Dinner/Sleep in Page.
Monument Valley: After a sluggish morning in Page, it's time to hit the road again. Plan for 2 hours (116.5 mi) via AZ-98 E and US-160 E before you arrive at famed Monument Valley. Drive through the iconic vista and recreate some of your favorite scenes from movies like Forest Gump and National Lampoon's Vacation. Welcome to Utah, BTW! At the border, switch drivers. Your day on the road will be a long (albeit beautiful) one. By lunch you should be well on your way to Moab (near Canyonlands and Arches National Park). Reunite with the Colorado River (you last saw it at The Grand Canyon) before hitting the hay. Dinner/Sleep in Moab.
Arches: Sleep in. You deserve it! After a restful morning, head over to Arches National Park. Spend the day hiking - camera in hand! When you're done, try white-water rafting, or visiting some of the other iconic vistas in the Moab area, including Canyonlands National Park. Dinner/Sleep in Moab.
Western Colorado or Salt Lake City: Now you have a decision to make. Do you drive 6 hours from Moab to Denver International Airport (~380 miles east with stopovers in Vail, Breckenridge, and Rocky Mountain National Park), or do you opt to drive 4 hours northwest to Salt Lake City International Airport (~240 miles with stops in Provo and Twin Peaks)? You've made it this far, so what will it be? In the map above I've opted for the former. What's another day at this point? Roll the windows down and breath the cool summer/fall air as you make the winding drive through beautiful Western Colorado. There are plenty of towns to stop at along the way, but Grand Junction or Glenwood Springs (~3 hours (193.6 mi) via I-70 E) will break up the otherwise long drive to Denver. Dinner/Sleep in Glenwood Springs.
Western Colorado: From Glenwood Springs, plan for a day of stops as you pass through quaint ski villages. If you've got your blinders on, expect it to take ~3 hours (179.5 mi) via I-70 E to get from Glenwood Springs to Denver International Airport. Try to enjoy the ride and change of scenery, stopping regularly to stretch your legs and appreciate Colorado. Dinner/Sleep in Denver.
Denver: Rise and shine, before heading to the airport for your flight back home. Be glad you didn't purchase a mileage plan for that rental car - you've put ~1,000 miles on the car and spent ~16 hours in her!
You're probably thinking that that's a lot of hotels to stay in, and I wouldn't disagree. Everyone has different hotel preferences. Depending on yours, this trip could cost $1.5K-3K in hotels alone. Spending the night at the national parks is not a way to save money; however, residing on property does allow for the convenience of waking up to a sunrise kissed Grand Canyon, or a hot orange sunset framed by Arches' main attraction without driving in pitch darkness. I don't know enough about RV rentals to know if there's any savings to be had, but that may be an interesting option if sleeping in a different bed every night doesn't appeal to you.
Source: NationalParks.org
Keep in mind that traveling at night in many of these places may be tedious due to the wildlife and dark roads. Plan to rise early to make the most of the sunlight for excursions and driving. Many restaurants will close by/before 8:00, so plan to have dinner early, too.
If you're wanting to make the full drive plan your trip according to the seasons. Late spring or fall will be best, as the deserts might be temperate and the snow in the northern parts of Utah and Colorado will be limited. Plan to book your accommodations early, as many of the national park accommodations will book up nearly a year in advance.
Happy traveling,
AB
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