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Posted: 2/14/2017 10:16:02 PM EST
I am taking my 12 year old son on a road trip this June. Starting in Ohio. The western leg is north through Chicago (first stop), on to the Black Hills for a couple three days. On into Wyoming to Devils Tower. Down into Colorado through the Rockies into Utah via Grand Junction. Through Arches and Moab down to Monument Valley, into Arizona. Over to The Grand Canyon. East leg on I40/Rt66. Petrified forest, painted desert, through New Mexico, and Texas to Oklahoma City, and on to St. Louis, then the home stretch. Giving 2 to 3 weeks.
We will be tent camping and motels. Seeing the well known sights and stopping for anything interesting we have time for. My son has it in his head to see the attractions on Rt66. I have explained that most or gone or abandoned, but some are still around. Looking for suggestions of things to see or places to stay, or avoid along the route from those who know. This will be the trip of a lifetime for a father and son. I can't tell which of us is most excited. |
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In Colorado, I am fond of the San Juan Mountains around Silverton, Lake City, and Ouray. I've camped in the San Juans a lot. The jeep trails are amazing. Two favorite places not far off of Route 66 and I-40: Fort Union, NM--old abode fort along the Santa Fe Trail, and Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle. If you're a western history fan, those two places are tough to beat. Santa Fe and Taos, NM, are well worth spending time in exploring.
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When you get into MO, I'd recommend kayaking/canoeing the Big Piney and/or Gasconade River as they are both close to I-44. Boiling Spring Campground is decent and it's within wading distance of Boiling Spring. It's fun on a hot day to try and see how close you can get before freezing your nuts off.
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I'll note those suggestions. I'll be driving a Chevy Silverado 4x4 Ext Cab with a 2 inch lift, up sized tires, and locking rear Diff. It can handle some mild to moderate off road but may be too long for Jeep trails. Regardless, I'm looking forward to showing him the Rockies, and the desert south west. We've been up and down the east coast and Appalachia.
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Gotta stop at Wall Drug in South Dakota.
No trip out west is complete without it. |
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Meteor Crater between Winslow and Flagstaff Az is pretty cool. Not too far west of the Petrified Forest.
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I've always done these trips on two wheels, so the ride was the attraction. But there are a lot of cool things to see.
Buffalo Bill museum complex in Cody, WY Museum of the Mountain Man, Pinedale, WY Dead Horse Point near Moab, UT Jeep trails around Moab (get a guide book, not all are extreme and the best stuff to see is off the blacktop) Glacier Natl Park in Montana has the best scenery Rocky Mountain NP in Colorado, loads of elk Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs Silverton, CO (ride the train if you can) Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, Colorado Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson, WY (elk burgers) Holbrook, AZ still has quite a bit of Route 66 stuff including the Wigwam Motel North Rim of the Grand Canyon is much less crowded, also higher elevation and cooler temps. The South Rim has a lot more "stuff", including more viewpoints. |
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I've been most of the places you mentioned....and camped or went solo through most of it....your boy is a lucky kid, and will remember this trip for the rest of his life.
You sir.....are a good dad and doing things right |
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As far as Route 66 tourist stuff, check into Williams, AZ. It's close to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's like Radiator Springs in real life.
Williams, Arizona - Our Small Town with a Big Heart |
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The San Juans should not be missed. June is pretty early in the season and you won't be able to take any of the high passes, but Hwy550, Ouray, Silverton, etc are accessible.
Instead of garbage valley (Monument Valley), I would go to Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges, then North to Hanksville, west through Capitol Reef, south on 12 through Escalante and Bryce, 89 south to 9 West through Zion, then maybe back track to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. |
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The San Juans should not be missed. June is pretty early in the season and you won't be able to take any of the high passes, but Hwy550, Ouray, Silverton, etc are accessible. Instead of garbage valley (Monument Valley), I would go to Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges, then North to Hanksville, west through Capitol Reef, south on 12 through Escalante and Bryce, 89 south to 9 West through Zion, then maybe back track to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. View Quote Good stuff. Definitely will check a route. |
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As far as Route 66 tourist stuff, check into Williams, AZ. It's close to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's like Radiator Springs in real life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBlYdffAxaM View Quote On it. Thanks! Edit; Appreciate all suggestions. Keep it coming, night crew. I've got to get some sleep. |
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Find a nice lake to camp at here in the hills if you are car tent camping, like Sheridan or Pactola. They are centrally located and are great places to camp. Unless you are thinking of camping out in the woods, then literally pick any trail and find a nice spot. You could spend a whole week out here in the hills, so get a good plan together so you can hit up all the big name spots in just a few days.
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I live just west of Grand Junction. The Colorado National Monument is worth the detour for sure if you are on I70. The mesa is cool too, but June is pretty much the worst time, mud season as the snow melts.
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Quoted:
In Colorado, I am fond of the San Juan Mountains around Silverton, Lake City, and Ouray. I've camped in the San Juans a lot. The jeep trails are amazing. Two favorite places not far off of Route 66 and I-40: Fort Union, NM--old abode fort along the Santa Fe Trail, and Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle. If you're a western history fan, those two places are tough to beat. Santa Fe and Taos, NM, are well worth spending time in exploring. View Quote Best part of the state. |
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As far as Route 66 tourist stuff, check into Williams, AZ. It's close to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's like Radiator Springs in real life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBlYdffAxaM View Quote Yep, came in to post exactly this. Absolutely PERFECT time of year to come to Arizona. Still some snow in the High Country, and the lower deserts are in the 70*F range. Sounds like an awesome trip. You're a good dad for doing it (Root beer for the young'en) |
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I'll note those suggestions. I'll be driving a Chevy Silverado 4x4 Ext Cab with a 2 inch lift, up sized tires, and locking rear Diff. It can handle some mild to moderate off road but may be too long for Jeep trails. Regardless, I'm looking forward to showing him the Rockies, and the desert south west. We've been up and down the east coast and Appalachia. View Quote You can easily handle Ophir Pass near Ouray or Tin Cup Pass near Buena Vista Colorado; Tin Cup is cooler. A river raft ride on the Arkansas River just south of Buena Vista would be a great time. The passes might not be open in early June, and it's possible the river will be too high in early June, so plan ahead. Go to Great Sand Dunes National Park. |
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OP,,,We`ve done most of the things on the list. Moab and specifically Monument Valley are on our "do again" list. Monument Valley is where John Wayne did his first three films. There is a campground and a small hotel there. They have a for FREE very small movie building which shows one of the movies each night. There`s also JWs` personal accommodation which was used in the films. A couple of miles away is the actual Monument Valley site which allows you to take a 10 mile jaunt into the valley. AWESOME. You can ( and should) do it in your truck. Don`t take the "tour jeep" ,,,expensive and uncomfortable. We did it in our Can Am Commander and would do it again in a heart beat.
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Really grateful for the responses. The suggestions will be seriously considered. I'm still in the routing stage and we're pretty flexible as long as we don't stray too far. The boy has an adventurous imagination and a love of natural beauty. The west is going to blow his mind.
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Don't waste your time at the petrified forest. Bunch of rocks your not allowed to touch, but they will sell them too you in the gift shop for insane prices.
Williams az is Route 66, I spend a lot of time up there in the summers, and it's where I go up hunting. Lots of cool little gift shops, you can take the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. They have a zip line it town now, also bearizona the drive through wildlife park. |
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Make sure you spend a lot of time in Utah. Moab, arches, Zion.
I would also get a full pass for the parks system. We paid each time and after 4 parks, we should have just bought a full parks pass. We would have saved money had we bought a year pass. We camped roadside in Utah and Arizona. And at some parks. Reservations helped, especially when we camped in a road side spot in Utah along the green river. Awesome next to a canyon and 2 feet from the car. Be safe hiking, you can get fucked up easy. Also heed warnings about leaving food and trash out. A crow flew away with my whole Meal at Grand Canyon NP Oh almost forgot. My favorite was Bryce Canyon. The rock formations are amazing. If I could do one stop in Utah it would be Bryce We were in college and then went to vegas for 2 nights at the bellagio and a real shower and dinner. Then back to camping We pulled up to the valet after living out of the car for 7 days. It was funny |
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If you are going to the badlands, stay at the Circle view ranch bed and breakfast. Best homemade breakfasts and very reasonable rates. We have stayed there on 3 occasions.
In Custer, have breakfast at Bakers bakery, awesome cinnamon rolls and other items. Evans plunge in the south black hills is a pretty cool place as well. Do some hikes and enjoy the quiet. If you want to go where no one is, hike around the south unit for a while. Almost forgot, if you or he likes snakes, you need to go to Reptile Gardens in Rapid City. I thought it would be another tourist trap, but they have species I had never heard of before going. The live shows are good as well. |
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Looks like you'll be going though gallup NM, make sure to take him to el rancho hotel http://route66hotels.org/ and a stop to cool off in Santa Rosa at the blue hole is a must
Also Black Canyon in CO near Gunnison is amazing and the dirt switchback road to the top of bridal veil falls in telluride was great |
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It may be slightly off your route but....GLACIER National Park in Montana. Yellowstone is cool but Glacier is mind blowing and soul calling. I can't get it out of my mind. Neither can my wife. If you and your son like natural beauty go. There is a reason it's called the Crown of the Continent.
See avatar. |
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Oh and if you're near Rapid City, SD
Custer state park has some awesome sites as well. |
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If you make it to Ouray, go ten miles north to Ridgway, then another mile or two north and go east to Owl Creek Pass. Kate's Meadow is near the top on the west side--it's where Rooster Cogburn charged Ned Pepper and his gang in the movie True Grit (the original with John Wayne). Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain make for a dramatic backdrop to the meadow:
Attached File If you continue on over the top of the pass you'll find Silver Jack Reservoir and the Forks of the Cimarron. Eyepopping scenery! Also, just west of Ridgway, the view to the south shows Mt. Sneffels and the Sneffels range, perhaps the most photogenic mountains in Colorado. |
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It may be slightly off your route but....GLACIER National Park in Montana. Yellowstone is cool but Glacier is mind blowing and soul calling. I can't get it out of my mind. Neither can my wife. If you and your son like natural beauty go. There is a reason it's called the Crown of the Continent. See avatar. View Quote Pretty much this......it's a bit further west than your initial route but Glacier national park in Montana is breathtaking |
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Great thread gentlemen. I'm planning a similar road trip, but going on a southern route (VA-OK-NM-CO-UT) and coming back north through MN-WI and Chicago. I might start a thread in either the CO and UT Hometown Forums later this year.
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Make sure you spend a lot of time in Utah. Moab, arches, Zion. I would also get a full pass for the parks system. We paid each time and after 4 parks, we should have just bought a full parks pass. We would have saved money had we bought a year pass. We camped roadside in Utah and Arizona. And at some parks. Reservations helped, especially when we camped in a road side spot in Utah along the green river. Awesome next to a canyon and 2 feet from the car. Be safe hiking, you can get fucked up easy. Also heed warnings about leaving food and trash out. A crow flew away with my whole Meal at Grand Canyon NP Oh almost forgot. My favorite was Bryce Canyon. The rock formations are amazing. If I could do one stop in Utah it would be Bryce We were in college and then went to vegas for 2 nights at the bellagio and a real shower and dinner. Then back to camping We pulled up to the valet after living out of the car for 7 days. It was funny View Quote All good info above |
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I would stop in Zion National Park in southwest Utah. Totally worth it.
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I can't believe Yellowstone and Glacier aren't on your itinerary.
ETA Going to the Sun Road probably won't be open. You'd have to probably go in July at the earliest. You want to drive Going to Sun at some point. |
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Rocky mountain National park is amazing in summer. Take trail Ridge Road up (if open....it should be).
Camp at Dillion Reservoir if you head west from there. LOVE summit county. |
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OP, if you need a "home base" for a few days in the Black Hills, send me a PM.
We've hosted a few Arfcommers traveling out this way already. The highlights around here are Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Iron Mountain Road and many more smaller attractions. Lots to see and do. I hope you realize, it will be difficult to catch everything that's available out here. Hell, I could spend months in Glacier alone. I |
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They have great pancakes there. And also a nice gun collection View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Gotta stop at Wall Drug in South Dakota. No trip out west is complete without it. They have great pancakes there. And also a nice gun collection Wall Drug is awesome. The wife likes to go to Al's Oasis in Oacoma, SD. |
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Very grateful for all the replies. I understand that there is so much to see. I know I'll have to pare it down and make some tough choices as I plan for time , route and mileage. Hopefully, it will open my son's eyes to a larger world, and inspire him to adventure.
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Very grateful for all the replies. I understand that there is so much to see. I know I'll have to pare it down and make some tough choices as I plan for time , route and mileage. Hopefully, it will open my son's eyes to a larger world, and inspire him to adventure. View Quote He will never forget, my parents loaded us up in an RV summer of 99 and took a 6 week trip around the country. I still remember that trip almost 20 years ago now. And IMO the Grand Canyon is a waste unless you hike down in it. It's just a big hole in the ground. That's the way my whole family remembers it. Pull up to a look out get out and look - yeah seen enough lets go. |
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I believe there is some restored hotels and diners on rt 66 in
tucumcari NM |
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I was already beat to it, but Mesa verde nation park is a must. It is near the 4 corners.
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I lived in SD for 6 years, right near the Black Hills.
Recommend the following: Hit Badlands NP on the way to Rapid City/Black Hills Mt Rushmore Black Hills institute in Hill City, SD (near Mt Rushmore)...Full, actual T-Rex skeletons, tons of dino and other fossils Eat at Alpine Inn in Hill City. Dinner menu is Large or Small Filet...that's your only choice...great deserts and it's not expensive Drive through Custer State Park wildlife loop...huge herd of bison, wild donkeys Drive Needles Highway through Black Hills...amazing views and impressive terrain Wind Cave NP...bison, elk and the world's 4th longest cave Homestake Mine in Lead, SD (near Deadwood)...impressive open pit and tour of the mining area and shaft lifts (can't go into the mine, but you get a great feel of how freaking huge it is) Let me know if you'd run out of stuff to do and I'll add more |
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My Mom and Step Father took a similar trip. It all started in Ohio, went to several of the places you have mentioned plus Commiefornia to see the Queen Mary and then over to Texas for a stop at The Alamo
They spent 47 days on the road, in Hotels and seeing America. They looked good when they came home, not road weary because they took their time. This was all pre 9/11 |
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On any trip approaching Moab from the east on I-70, take UT128 instead of US191. Plan your fuel accordingly. The first part off the interstate is very boring, but after you hit the canyon the scenery is great.
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Lots of great suggestions. If you have any interest in old west railroads and mining, I recommend riding either the Durango-Silverton railroad out of Durango, and/or the Cumbres-Toltec RR out of Chama, NM. Both are outstanding and worth the time and money. I did both back in October. There is an old thread with some of my pictures on arfcom.
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Depends on when in June, but I'm in the Chicago area and can show you around if you like.
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Quoted:
Make sure you spend a lot of time in Utah. Moab, arches, Zion. I would also get a full pass for the parks system. We paid each time and after 4 parks, we should have just bought a full parks pass. We would have saved money had we bought a year pass. We camped roadside in Utah and Arizona. And at some parks. Reservations helped, especially when we camped in a road side spot in Utah along the green river. Awesome next to a canyon and 2 feet from the car. Be safe hiking, you can get fucked up easy. Also heed warnings about leaving food and trash out. A crow flew away with my whole Meal at Grand Canyon NP Oh almost forgot. My favorite was Bryce Canyon. The rock formations are amazing. If I could do one stop in Utah it would be Bryce We were in college and then went to vegas for 2 nights at the bellagio and a real shower and dinner. Then back to camping We pulled up to the valet after living out of the car for 7 days. It was funny View Quote I'd try to work in the Utah 5 Parks and then drop into the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I'd also go from Devils Tower over to Yellowstone via Chief Joseph Highway, hit the bear tooth highway up to Red Lodge and then back down through the Yellowstone and the Tetons. |
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