Be careful going from Zion to Bryce there is a tunnel..... We spent a full week at Bryce, because it's more accessible for us older folks than say Grand Canyon is. Horse back riding etc. Next to Glacier Park Bryce is our favorite.
Have been to Yellowstone twice and still will go back for more...
Have fun and stay safe.
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comp-time wrote: We are planning a trip in June and July and need advice on the amount of time allowed for each stop. We will be starting at Zion National Park and are allowing 3 full days at the park. Then we are moving on to Bryce Canyon National Park allowing 4 full days at that park. Then on to Moab to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Park allowing 4 full days to visit both parks. From there we are driving up to Yellowstone and will spend 7 full days in the park. Have we allowed enough time for a decent visit at each park? Or, maybe too much time? We are retired so we are not on a strict time table. I am not counting arrival and departure days in the amount of time in each park above. We get around fairly well but will not be doing any long hikes. We are mostly interested in seeing the sights by driving and doing short hikes to see things. We will be driving a 36’ motorhome pulling a CRV. Thanks for your help.
No one mentioned the fact that you might just want to think about the weather in June and July in Utah.
The weather might dictate the level of activity but many of the other sights in Utah that you will miss – if I were you and not doing a lot of hiking (when it is 100-115 not my sort of hiking weather) I would look at seeing a lot more of the sights. You have left out Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, North Rim, Rt 12, Capital Reef, Goblin Valley SP right of Rt 24 after Capital Reef, and Rt128 out of Moab. Now that’s just in Utah. And with your timeframe and style of sight seeing you might be able to add a few more destinations along the way and not need to extend the trip that much especially if you do not stay in the original destinations that long.
Dinosaur, Flaming Gorge, Tetons, Jackson, Cody Wind River, Beartooth, and Red Lodge just to mention a few on the way to/from Yellowstone.
I did not even mention my favorite area, Colorado, which with the elevation is much cooler in the summer.
Take a look at this web site by Stan Parker for some great pic’s of many of these areas – he might just influence the direction and time of your trip.
Now to answer the original question – for me most of Utah in the Summer is limited to Sunrise and Sunset as the temps during the heat of the day are not that pleasant. JMHO
So it might require a longer time if your travel and sightseeing time is limited to a few hours but if you get out and see every thing from the bus you will be done with each in a day again JMHO. Yellowstone will be crowded as you are going during the peak of the season and if you are driving it will take forever. (so many Bear/Elk jams)
Last thing is even with all my negative posting (sorry) you will love the trip this is some of the most beautiful parts of America and it should be seen at all cost. Take your time enjoy the trip just be prepared to take it easy in the Temp’s in Utah and enjoy the people you will meet in Yellowstone. I think part of my negativity is frustration from that I might not be out there this Summer and I am missing it already.
Because you ask for advice and the fact that you are retired I will give you my ultimate time table for this trip – Starting in Yellowstone in September and October and heading down to Utah in October November will change your trip for the better (less crowds and much less Heat) you may catch a couple of Mountain snows, hope you are so lucky, but you can see everything in it’s best light and it will be a memorable event.
Just a couple of shots Yellowstone/Tetons in October and Zion in November,
Tetons in October
Yellowstone sunset in November
Zion for a quick December snow storm
BOL,
* This post was
edited 03/03/08 02:19pm by Busskipper *
Busskipper
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It's nice to see people planning a decent amount of time in each park. It's amazing how many people visit southern Utah using the "Five parks in Six Days" routine! I would agree with others here, that if there's anyplace with an excess of time, it would be Bryce. As others have mentioned, spend some time in Capitol Reef or along Highway 12. Or, spend a little more time in Moab. The distances there can be a little deceiving. Besides Arches and Island in the Sky, there's the drives up and down the river, and your CRV can easily negotiate Shafer Trail off the Island. If possible, take a full day and visit the Needles District of Canyonlands, seeing Newspaper Rock on the way. It's a bit of a trip, but worth the drive. And the LaSal loop road into the mountains SE of Moab will give you a great eagles eye view of the whole canyonlands area (and get you out of the heat).
Ditto to the others' remarks about highway 12... a really great scenic road.
there is one place on the road that narrows down to no shoulders and dropoffs on both sides of the road, but it isn't very long... just scary for the passenger looking out her side window. ha ha
Capitol Reef park has a nice campground among lots of shade trees and there are several old fruit orchards and you can pick whatever fruit is ready.. for free.
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Thank you everybody for your input and especially busskipper for those beautiful pictures. I agree the weather is going to be a little on the warm side but we were thinking that Bryce and Moab might be a little cooler since they are at a higher elevation. We were going to start at Zion since that is the southern most point and work our way north. Since we are from the Seattle area, we are not accustomed to heat much above 80. We have commitments with our RV club in late May and we want to avoid snow in the passes and at Yellowstone at all costs. Grandma says we have to be in Salt Lake City a week to visit the grandkids over 4th of July so the time frame is kind of set.
It appears that we should maybe revise our itinerary to take in some more sites. Would it be advisable to stay at Ruby’s Campground at Bryce Canyon and then drive down to Zion and drive up to Escalante and Capital Reef? Would that be too much driving and not enough time to enjoy the parks? What other alternatives would be suggested.
Thank you all for your input, it is most helpful. We have never been to the area before, but with our daughter and family now living in Salt Lake City, we will have more opportunities to visit in the future.
On our 2002 trip we stayed at Bauer's Canyon Ranch RV Park. It was OK with Gravel sites it was also almost midway between Bryce and Zion. if the same people own it, they were really nice people. We met a couple from CT there that we still keep in touch with.
On our 2002 trip we stayed at Bauer's Canyon Ranch RV Park. The sites are gravel and can accommodate big rigs. If the same people own it, they are really nice and try to help in anyway they can.It is almost halfway between Bryce and Zion NP's. Met a couple from CT there that we still keep in touch with.
You are doing just right not to rush, but I agree that even though Bryce is stunning, two/three days would probably suffice. I would use some of that time maybe at Capital Reef as suggested and personally would alot a day in Grand Teton NP on my way up to Yellowstone. The views there will take your breath away. What ever you do, enjoy.
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Unless you're into hiking or other area activities I would cut Zion, Bryce down to 2 days. After Zion go up through Cedar City enroute to Bryce, take the side route up into Cedar Breaks, you'll love the scenery. Arches and Canyonlands should be nice for 2 or 3 days, if you're big into off roading then adjust to allow a few extra days around Arches. Then enjoy the sights and side visits and then the rest of your time at Yellowstone and surrounding areas. At all these areas make sure everyone has lots of water and fuel food snacks for each hike and emergency shelter blankets. Besides being hot you just never know what Utah will through at you! It's going to be a great trip!!!!
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