“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
-Mark Twain
Traveler Authors: Chris and Caitlin
Inspired by the words of Mark Twain, in December 2017 Chris and I departed from Carlsbad, CA on a 9-Day national park road trip to 5 National Parks in Southern Utah in our 24’ Winnebago View from Adventure KT. We designed a route that maximized our mileage while offering adventure in the outdoors including hiking, mountain biking, and photography. Below are the details of our itinerary for our winter travel that allowed us to avoid the crowds.
DAY 1 (FIRST DAY)
From Carlsbad, CA to Primm, NV
Drove 300 Miles
Slept at BLM Land named “Ivanpah East Dispersed”
Cost to camp on BLM Land $0
catching a beautiful sunset on the first night of our national park road trip
DAY 2
From Primm, NV to Zion National Park, UT
Drove 200 Miles
Slept at “Watchmen” Camp Ground
Cost to camp $30 per night
relaxing in the comfort of the RV at “Watchmen” Camp Ground in Zion National Park.
DAY 3
No driving
Hiked “Angel’s Landing”
Cooked Large Dinner
Enjoyed comfort of the RV
resting at the summit of Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park.
taking in the sweeping views at Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park.
DAY 4
From Zion National Park to Bryce National Park
Drove 70 miles
Cooked large breakfast at scenic lookout
Hiked “Peek A Boo Loop”
Departed Bryce National Park for Boulder, UT
Drove 80 miles
Slept at BLM Land named “Deer Creek Lake”
Cost to camp on BLM Land $0
enjoying continental breakfast prepared outdoors at a scenic overlook in Bryce National Park.
Chris on the “Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail” in Bryce National Park.
Caitlin on the “Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail” in Bryce National Park.
happy trails on Christmas Day in Bryce National Park.
DAY 5
From Boulder, UT to Moab UT
Drove 200 miles
Refilled on groceries, pump and dump
Slept at “Goose Island” Camp Ground
Cost to camp $15 per night
Cooked large dinner
Enjoyed comforts of the RV
our beloved 24’ Winnebago View offering comfort, privacy, and total relaxation.
DAY 6
No driving
Hiked “Morning Glory Bridge Trail”
Cooked large dinner
Enjoyed comforts of the RV
Chris on “Morning Bridge Trail”. Warm socks and boots were helpful at higher altitudes where there was snow.
stunning sunset on snow-covered Arches National Park.
DAY 7
From Moab, UT to Flagstaff, AZ via Monument Valley
Drove 250 miles
Slept at BLM Land named “FR545 Dispersed Area”
Cost to camp on BLM Land $0
strolling down Forrest Gump Point in Monument Valley.
DAY 8
From Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ
Drove 30 miles
Mountain biked “Templeton” trail in the morning
Mountain biked “Broken Arrow” in the afternoon
Caught sweeping sunset views atop “Airport Road”
Ate dinner at Pizza Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen (this is the only meal we ate in a restaurant in 9 days! The RV had a beautiful kitchen with a wonderful gas stove where we had so much fun making all of our meals.)
From Sedona, AZ to Prescott, AZ
Drove 70 miles
Slept at “Quail Ridge” RV Park
Cost to camp $40 per night
DAY 9 (LAST DAY)
From Prescott, AZ to Carlsbad, CA
Drove 400 miles
Arrived home at 6pm
using a Go Pro Hero 6, Chris enjoyed shooting photography at night to capture unique image of the sky.
HOW WE PREPARED:
Our 24’ WINNEBAGO VIEW rig was a 100% home run. This quality RV offered unbeatable comfort, privacy and total relaxation. Our favorite features included:
*LARGE BED: we brought our own linens from home making the sleeping arrangement extra comfortable.
*HOT SHOWER: after a long day on the trail there is nothing better than washing off in a hot shower. Ample storage for shampoo, conditioner and soap in vanity above the bathroom sink.
*PRIVATE RESTROOM: allowed us to avoid germs and skip long lines at public bathrooms.
BEST TIME TO GO
Taking a national park road trip in December during the holidays offers extraordinary benefits including minimal tourists, limited traffic, and comfortable weather for hiking. Did I mention the parks offer free entry on Christmas and New Years Day? Bonus!
HELPFUL GEAR TO BRING FROM HOME
*Walkie Talkies
*Trekking Poles
*Slippers For Indoor Use
*Electric Rice Cooker
HELPFUL APPS TO DOWNLOAD
BEAUTIFUL HIKES TO CONSIDER TAKING
*Zion National Park- “Angel’s Landing”
*Bryce National Park- “Peek a Boo Loop”
*Arches National Park- “Delicate Arch”