An Unforgettable Adventure Through Utah, Arizona and Nevada

I wanted to offer you all an example of how I roll as a traveling wife and momma of 9 and 6-year-old boys. I'm a "Type A" momma all the way, and I'm proud of it because it keeps us all in order and in action. I always plan for WAY MORE than we'll have time to do, which always gives us many options on the fly or if there is any type of weather issue. I also try to research the best places to eat for kids, as we have a home of picky eaters over here! Please enjoy and sign up to receive all of these blog posts FIRST :)

For some background, over the last couple of years, we decided as a family that we love the experiences that the world has to offer vs toys and material goods. So, we've let our boys (and budget of course) guide our planning. They've decided they want to start crossing off all of the National Parks and I'll soon be posting on our trip to The Great Smoky Mountains as well. I wanted to start with this one, as it's the first day of 2025 and this was my very favorite memory and it was full of glimmers from 2024 that will last a lifetime. This trip wasn't cheap, but the cost of the RV was much less expensive than hotels and we were able to eat simple meals and packed lunches most days which saved us a ton of money on food!

Utah RV Trip 2024 (we went over a 9 day window at the end of March into the beginning of April)

Day 1 

• Fly into Salt Lake City and get an Uber to pick up the RV @ Cruise America (highly recommend)

  • Cruise America: 4125 S. State St. Millcreek, UT 84107

  • Walmart: 350 HOPE AVE SLC, UT 84115

• 3 hours 46 mins drive to Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky visitor center

• Short Hikes:

  • Mesa Arch (walk here takes about 30 mins .5 miles)

  • Drive 10-15 mins to parking lot, hike for 1 mile to the end for Sunset @ Grand View Point Overlook 7:30pm Sunset

    • Possible Other Hikes and Sights if time:

      • Dead Horse Point (can view this on the way out?)

      • Upheaval Dome (short and easy hike to 2 overlooks ¼ mile and ½ mile both hikes are worth it only took about 45 to an hour for both)

      • Drive 10 mins more to Green River Overlook is beautiful at sunset

      • The Needles

• Arrive @ Moab Rim Campark, easy meal over the fire and relax

Day 2

• Wake up EARLY and head to Arches National Park (we can either start like this or at devil’s garden and make the way back, either works!) 50’s/60’s high 40’s low

  • Head to the visitor center by the entrance to Arches National Park. As we start we’ll see the formation of the Three Penguins and the Moab Fault. 

  • Park Avenue is next, continue on the scenic drive 15 mins drive. Formations, colors, layers…  Very short walk to this view, 2 mi round trip hike, otherwise just stop for pics :)

  • Next up are snow-capped La Sal Mountains and the iconic Three Gossips and the towering series of formations from the Courthouse Towers to Sheep Rock. 

  • Balanced Rock from The Windows Rd. turn left onto scenic drive. .3 mi trail

  • Continue your drive to The Garden of Eden for scenic views of the whole park.

    • From parking area, head towards the gap btw Adam & Eve and The Devil’s Golf Ball (climb through the gap and you can explore the central garden)

    • Serpentine Arch & Balanced Rocks & Owl Rock

  • Continue along the Windows Road to the end. Easy .7 mi walk connects 3 windows arches (north, south, and turret arch) 30-45 mins to do this trail

  • Visit Double Arch tallest arch in the park and then takes 20-30 mins to visit

  • Make your way through Cache Valley to Delicate Arch (upper and lower viewpoints), historic Wolfe Ranch and tribal pyroglyphics. 

  • From the Devil’s Garden parking lot: 

    • Arches Forest, Skyline Arch (5 min walk) and then walk to Tapestry Arch

    • Sand Dune Arch drive to this parking area and short hike to the spot MUST DO with the kids easy and fun

    • Salt Valley of Arches w/ Fiery Furnace drive there to the overlook

  • Finally, start back at The Devil’s Garden parking lot where you can then visit Landscape Arch: MUST DO!!! Landscape Arch (1.6 mi/1 hour round trip). 

  • Evening Sunset trip to Delicate Arch: you have to backtrack on the scenic drive, turn right onto Delicate Arch Rd. and turn left to park. 3 mi hike round trip. 2-3 hours for the whole trip but worth it for sunset 7:40 pm sunset so depart at 6pm for the hike; 50 mins there, 40 mins back)

  • DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THIS ARCHES IF YOU HIKE INSTEAD OF DRIVE:

    • Devil’s Garden Trail (EARLY) the scenic trails end at the trailhead for the DG trail (7.8 mile loop with 8 arches hike back out same way you came in) as you approach double 0 arch it gets more difficult

• Grill Out or eat in Moab

• Sleep at Moab Rim Camp Park night 2

Day 3

• Drive towards Monument Valley 2 ½ hours

• Vehicle Stop and Go Tour: guided tour through the Navajo Tribal Park (2.5-3 hours)

  • Navajo Spirit Trails Monument Valley Tour starts @ 1pm PURCHASED

    • $75 x4 adults; $37.50 9 year old; youngest Free = $337.50

    • Takes you through views from old westerns, focus is in the back-country areas where there are natural arches, theaters and petroglyphs. 

  • Valley of the Gods drive (close by can do after tour!)

• Stay overnight @ Gouldings RV and Campground

• FOOD: Goulding’s Stagecoach Dining Room and Shop 

• High 50’s low 30’s

Day 4

• Drive towards Horseshoe Bend 2 hours.

• Hike: 

  • When we get there, go to Horseshoe Bend Start @ the Visitor’s Center drive the south rim and stop at the scenic overlooks/overview watchtower, see Glen Canyon Overlook/Dam

  • Quick Lunch

  • 2:00 pm Antelope Canyon PURCHASED 2 hours)! 22 S. Lake Powell Blvd. 86040

  • Hanging Gardens Trail if time

  • Dinner @ Big John’s BBQ 5:00 pm

  • SUNSET views 7:35 pm @ Wahweap Overlook

• Stay overnight @ The Canyons RV Resort & Cabins 

  • 1099 Coppermine Rd. Page, AZ

60’s high 40’s low

Day 5

• Drive towards Bryce Canyon 2 hours 36 mins.

• Hike the Rim Trail 5.5 miles all the best overlooks:

  • Start at the North Park Entrance to Fairyland Point overlook for sunrise if early enough

  • Drive to Sunrise Point trailhead in the morning and end @ Sunset Point 

  • Must do Hike (***special note, due to snow melt we had to do this in reverse and it was tough but amazing!)

    • Hike down into the canyon

      • Queens Garden to Navajo Loop trail you can start at either sunrise or sunset point

      • The most recommended route descends from Sunrise Point on the Queen's Garden trail and ascends either side of Navajo Loop (Two Bridges or Wall Street) to Sunset Point. we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction. Complete the loop by walking the easy 0.5 mile (0.8 km) portion of the Rim Trail back to where you started the hike.

  • Head towards Inspiration Point vista

  • Next is Swamp Canyon Overlook

  • Keep driving through the earth’s oldest trees and visit a natural arch bridge

  • Next is a couple of canyons (Agua, Ponderosa, Black Birch) and then to Rainbow Point

Possible Other Hikes w/kids:

• Mom can do this one, river walk to mossy cave and waterfall (Mossy Cave is a must do with everyone about 4 miles east on highway 12. Less than a mile round trip)

• Stay overnight @ Ruby’s Inn RV Park (Dinner/Shopping @ Ruby’s Inn Cowboy Buffet & Shops)

• International Dark Sky Park (some of the darkest skies in the US) NIGHT SKY VIEWS HERE ARE SUPPOSEDLY BREATHTAKING (Drive somewhere without lights (sunset or sunrise points, inspiration point, paria view) and dress super warm)

• Mid 50’s high 30’s low

Day 6

• Drive EARLY to beat the crowds to Zion 56 mins. Try to be there by 7am… 

• Hiking Trails via East side:

  • By Shuttle Zion Canyon Scenic Drive/Trails  (Park & Ride):

    • Start/Park at the Visitor Center then head on the shuttle to the vista at stop 2 (altar of sacrifice, the Sundial, West Temple)

    • Stop 4 head past the Towering Sentinel then head to the following viewpoint where you’ll see the Patriarchs mountains

    • Stop 5 to relax for mom and dad at the lodge, hike to The Lower Emerald Pools (easy hike.)

    • Stop 6 is the grotto and to view Angel’s Landing 

    • Stop 7 is then to Weeping Rock, a cliff face that weeps. 

    • Stop 8 is Big Bend

    • Stop 9 is the Riverside Walk (said super easy 2 miles/1.5 hours round trip and could do in flip flops it’s so easy) petroglyphs MUST DO!!! 7:15pm last shuttle

  • MUST do when we leave out of the shuttle zone!!! For everyone!!! The Zion Canyon Overlook Trail (very easy and excellent views try for sunrise access through the tunnel. 7:14am Sunrise or 7:30pm Sunset

    • You will find the entrance of the Canyon Overlook Trail right before entering the Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel (coming from the east entrance) or right after you exit the tunnel (coming from Zion National Park/Springdale)

  • Drive through Zion/Mt Carmel Tunnel

  • Head to the East Entrance Ranger Station to look at Checkerboard Mesa and watch for sheep!

• Stay @ Bauers Canyon Ranch RV Park (Thunderbird Restaurant has cool old cars)

• High 60’s/70’s 40’s low

Day 7

• Drive towards Boulder Beach outside of Vegas 4 hours.

• Explore Hoover Dam PURCHASED 9am-3:45pm is latest arrival time. (Power Tours are 1st come)

• Explore Lake Mead Visitor’s Center:

  • Hemenway Park has great views

  • Historic Railroad Hiking Trail 

  • Crossing the Memorial Bridge

• Possible meal sometime @ Boulder Dam Brewing Co.

• Stay overnight @ Lake Mead RV Village @ Boulder Beach 

• High 60’s/70’s low 50’s low

Day 8

• Drop off RV early by 11am (25 mins from campsite) @ 551 N. Gibson Rd. Henderson, NV 89011

• Ask driver to drive us all down the strip :) 

• Uber to airport

• 60’s/70’s high

I can't recommend this concept of life experiences over material goods enough and

I'll continue to share as we plan more adventures to come! Happy Planning!

xoxo Carrie