Flagstaff > Moab > Salt Lake City

[John&Vicki]

We're turning toward home pretty soon - a little earlier than planned due to family circumstances. We had originally planned to spend an extended amount of time in the Moab area and various NPs but need to get back. I'm thinking it might be a nice consolation prize to go home through that area.

I'm wondering about the following route that I suspect many here are familiar with. We will be leaving Williams, AZ and I'm thinking it might be pretty spectacular to go East on 40 and pick up 191 North through Moab and on to Salt Lake City. But I'm wondering if it's an extreme mountainous route. My TV is capable and I usually only go about 200-250 miles a day. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Poppy

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

We're turning toward home pretty soon - a little earlier than planned due to family circumstances. We had originally planned to spend an extended amount of time in the Moab area and various NPs but need to get back. I'm thinking it might be a nice consolation prize to go home through that area.

I'm wondering about the following route that I suspect many here are familiar with. We will be leaving Williams, AZ and I'm thinking it might be pretty spectacular to go East on 40 and pick up 191 North through Moab and on to Salt Lake City. But I'm wondering if it's an extreme mountainous route. My TV is capable and I usually only go about 200-250 miles a day. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Poppy

My only recommendation, since it has been a long time since I've driven that route, would be to pay very close attention to the weather forecast. Unless I'm mistaken, it will be snowing and/or raining off and on throughout that whole area for the next few days at least.

Ken

[John&Vicki]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

My only recommendation, since it has been a long time since I've driven that route, would be to pay very close attention to the weather forecast. Unless I'm mistaken, it will be snowing and/or raining off and on throughout that whole area for the next few days at least.

Ken

Thanks Ken. We won't be heading that way for a couple of weeks but I will keep a close eye on the weather.

Poppy

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

Thanks Ken. We won't be heading that way for a couple of weeks but I will keep a close eye on the weather.

Poppy

Here's Google's ideas of what there is to see on US 191.

https://www.google.com/search?q=us+h...w=1366&bih=586

Ken

[HiHoAgRV]

191 north of Vernal UT gets pretty steep and twisty all the way north of the flaming gorge. Big rigs traverse it so its not a problem, just something to look into.

We towed southbound dragging our 34' and the drop into Vernal was, um, interesting. Long grade, lots of switchbacks.

[youngpeck]

Are you picking 191 up at Chambers, just west of the New Mexico state line? From there north through Moab there are no real mountain grades--only a few hills, but short ones at that. Fifty miles north of Chambers is Ganado, and Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. You should stop in for a quick look. It's still a working trading post, in the nineteenth-century building. There are again a few hills between Bluff, UT and Moab, as the highway skirts the canyon country, but nothing major, with good passing lanes. From Moab to Price (assuming you will take U.S. 6 up to Salt Lake) it's pretty flat, too. Just west of Price you will climb up to Soldier Summit, on top of the Wasatch Plateau. This will be your most significant climb, but it's not long, not too steep, and two-lane most of the way. (The railroad runs along side the road through here--the old Denver and Rio Grande, now UP, and the modern Amtrak route.) Watch yourself on the west, downhill side of Soldier Summit--people drive carelessly down this stretch, and while the road has been improved in recent years, it is probably the most dangerous ten-mile stretch in Utah. That will be your last hill before you get to Salt Lake.

Happy and safe travels!

[John&Vicki]

Thank you youngpeck and HiHo. I'm really excited about this drive! Managed to squeeze in three nights in Moab.

Youngpeck: How is the Walmart in SLC for an overnight?

Poppy

[Len n Jeanne]

We are heading south to the Moab area next week. We will do an awful lot to avoid the Wasatch Front (Ogden-SLC-Provo) on I-15. It's urban pretty much from North Ogden to Santaquin, and rush hour-- notably if there's any construction-- is pretty un-wonderful towing a trailer. If you can avoid rush hour, or take one of the belt routes, it is slightly less aggravating, but is still city freeway driving for a long ways.

Southbound, we have taken I-84 east from Ogden to HY 40 and then on to Price this time of year, but you can hit some winter weather southeast of Park City and through Indian Canyon & Soldier Summit, also, so it's a toss-up as to which is the best route in late March or early April.

Sometimes we just bite I-15 along the Wasatch Front corridor, put NPR on the radio, and just assume we're in heavy traffic for a while. The advantage, I suppose, is that if you do hit a spring snowstorm, the Wasatch Front offers many opportunities to pull off the road in civilization, vs. in the middle of nowhere.

After you leave HY 191 out of Moab, if you decide to take I-70 eastbound to HY 89 or I-15 rather than HY 6 through Price: when you see signs on I-70 around Green River, UT, saying that it is 105 miles between services (Green River to Salina, Utah on I-70) this is no fooling. If you take this route, I-70 goes through some spectacular scenery in the heart of the San Rafael Swell, but you might want to gas up in Green River. There is also a nice little state park in Green River with a quiet campground. These routes are less direct, but lower in elevation except for one stretch just east of Salina.

Arches NP just north of Moab is well worth a visit if you are going so close to it, but you would have to drop your AS in the visitor center parking lot, and then tour the park with just your TV.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

Thank you youngpeck and HiHo. I'm really excited about this drive! Managed to squeeze in three nights in Moab.

Youngpeck: How is the Walmart in SLC for an overnight?

Poppy

If you want a little more upscale lodging, this park north of Salt Lake City is a nice stop. (if you are going via I-84)

Willard Bay State Park | Utah State Parks

Ken

[youngpeck]

Poppy:
I’ll check on the Walmarts here and get back to you. Len/Jeanne’s post is a very good summary of the urban traffic situation around SLC. Especially during rush hour it can get interesting—not so much congestion (typical for a metropolitan area), but people seem to drive more aggressively during r.h. Currently there is no major construction anywhere along the Wasatch Front from Santaquin (20 miles south of Provo) to Ogden. If you check the FHA’s “Traffic and Road Closure” web site regularly, Utah’s traffic site (UDOT TRAFFIC) is always up to date for traffic and weather, especially over the passes.
If you are spending three nights in Moab, definitely go to Arches, and, if time, the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands N.P. This is a nice time of year—not so crowded, and lots of green and wildflowers. (Although the first weekend in April in Moab is really crazy with the annual Jeep Festival, and to be avoided unless you are into that sort of thing.) The Moab Visitor Center, at 125 East Center Street (in the center of town), is a must-stop as well. It’s the interagency information center for the National Park Service, Forest Service, and Utah State Parks. They will have everything you need including lots of maps and books, and are happy to help you plan your stay in Moab.
The stretch of I-70 west from Green River to Salina is an amazing highway. Bear in mind, if you take it, that there really are no services for over one hundred miles. The pass over the Wasatch Plateau and Fish Lake Mountains is a little more daunting than the one over Soldier Summit on US 6, but not too bad. Of course, this makes a longer hike up to Salt Lake. At Salina you have essentially three choices for routes north: the fastest is US 50 over to I-15 at Scipio; or US 89 up through Manti, with options again of 89 north to US 6 at Thistle, or Utah 132 over to I-15 at Nephi (either of these will be the most scenic); or 89 north to Gunnison and then Utah 28 north to I-15. All of these are good roads.
In addition to the Willard Bay (which you will pass north of Ogden by any route you take—W.B. is a diked, fresh-water arm of the Great Salt Lake, with beautiful views) State Park campground, there is Utah Lake State Park at Provo (elec. hookups only) and Antelope Island State Park, between SLC and Ogden (no hookups but spectacular views of GSL and Wasatch Mountains). The KOA in SLC just west of downtown is a nice spot, too.
Lots to consider. I’d be happy to provide more detailed info if needed. And I’ll check on the Walmarts today.

[pappy19]

We like Pioneer RV Park in North Salt Lake, it's off the north loop and easy on/off and a very nice park.

[Len n Jeanne]

Have you been to Moab already or is it coming up?

If the latter, another great place is Dead Horse Point State Park, with one of the most amazing views of the canyons you'll see anywhere. Our go-to campground near Moab (when we're not parked in a friend's driveway there) is called Horsethief CG, close by Dead Horse Point. It is run by the BLM, you can't beat the price (esp. w/ a seniors pass) and it is close enough to a lot of interesting stuff. It is a dry CG, however-- no hook-ups and no water on-site, so we try to plan ahead. Unless it's a weekend in the high season, they generally have space available, which is not the case for the more popular sites. I don't know how far in advance one has to book to camp in Arches NP but it is a long ways in advance. There are some nice RV parks in the area, but this time of year I would phone ahead for revs.

Youngpeck-- we appreciate the report on I-15, as we will probably drive through SLC heading south, and for sure on our way back home from southeastern Utah.

[BusDriver]

Lots of great information here. We will be going through the area (from Pendelton OR) in mid Sept and have about three weeks to make it down to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM. Dead Horse Point and Horsethief CG all sound great. We like both boondock and state campgrounds.

I' keep checking the thread, for pointers, we have lots of time to think about it. Right we are planning to spend 3 months touring AK, so many places, so little time.

[John&Vicki]

Dead Horse Point SP really stood out in my research and I was excited about camping there. However, I missed the reservation window - it appears the word is out as this park books up quickly. I had a reservation at Arches but canceled it with our itinerary change.

So it looks like this year we will be staying in a commercial park in Moab and driving to the sights. Still really looking forward to it.

Poppy

P.S. Horsethief CG is first come, first served.

[Bk Yd Safari]

check out Guldings Lodge and Campground at Monument Valley. You can't beat the vistas and sunrises. Also the Navajo Tacos at Guilding Lodge are great...be sure to get a window seat!

[John&Vicki]

Originally Posted by Bk Yd Safari

check out Guldings Lodge and Campground at Monument Valley. You can't beat the vistas and sunrises. Also the Navajo Tacos at Guilding Lodge are great...be sure to get a window seat!

A friend of mine highly recommended Monument Valley and Gouldings and we are staying there on the way to Moab. Fortunately we tow Nellie with a 4-wheel drive SUV so we can drop the trailer and tour the valley on our own.

Didn't know about the Navajo tacos though. Yum! Couple there with my name on them.

Poppy

[pappy19]

Coming from the north, the first RV park coming into Moab is the better one of the bunch. The brew-pub in town has the best food and gelato. Bring your own alcohol in Utah or be disappointed. Moab and surrounding country is fantastic, like no where else.

[John&Vicki]

Pappy...

Checking with Allstays it looks like the Northern most one is Riverside Oasis RV Park - is that the one you're referring to? OK RV Park & Canyonland Stables and Spanish Trail RV Park both look pretty good also.

Thanks,
Poppy

[Bk Yd Safari]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

Pappy...

Checking with Allstays it looks like the Northern most one is Riverside Oasis RV Park - is that the one you're referring to? OK RV Park & Canyonland Stables and Spanish Trail RV Park both look pretty good also.

Thanks,
Poppy

Riverside Oasis is a nice park even thought the sites are a little tight. I would stay there again when in the area.

[Bk Yd Safari]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

A friend of mine highly recommended Monument Valley and Gouldings and we are staying there on the way to Moab. Fortunately we tow Nellie with a 4-wheel drive SUV so we can drop the trailer and tour the valley on our own.

Didn't know about the Navajo tacos though. Yum! Couple there with my name on them.

Poppy

the tacos are flat bread and the size of a dinner plate!!!!