southern utah family trip planning advise/guidance

[socalmtbiker]

Background:
Trip planning for around mid to late Sept with about a 10 days
family of 5- 5,7,10 year old (my daughter is prone to migraines so long rides can be difficult)
100 series rig, AT tires and sliders other wise stock
Will be pulling an adventure trailer.
I'm not looking to rock crawl with kids in tow.

I prefer disperse camping and being away from crowds but my wife was hoping for more popular areas like Zion.

There is so much I want to see but so little time. It seems I have to rule some stuff out to make it family friendly without making the trip all in the rig driving.

Places want to go to:
Zion
Bryce Canyon
Grand stair case/Escalante- (seems it would take a lot of time and probably the least favorite of the kids I just don't know where to go)
Lone Rock Lake Powell camping playing in the lake.
Valley of the Gods- Moki Dugway
Arches
Horse shoe bend

We are coming from San Diego and I'm thinking about just going up the 15 and make my way to Zion, then Bryce then Lone Rock and some how going across to the Valley of the Gods. I've researched some spots to camp, mostly primative or dispersed but I'm also looking for recommendations to keep the kids entertained. How would you divide your time in the areas? Hiking recommendations or just where to explore. What are some must sees that would appeal to kids as well? What routes do you recommend? Thanks

 

[SoTexTacoma]

Hmmmm, interesting. We are about to do a family trip very similar to this in a couple of weeks with a Tundra buddy we met at Jambo this year. Our route also includes Zion, Bryce, and then we will spend one night at Alstrom point looking at Gunsight Butte. Check out photos online, views are amazing. From there, we will be headed to Canyonlands NP (Needles District) for another couple of nights in Devils Kitchen campsites. We may, or may not stop in MOAB for a min on the way to Canyonlands. Then, head out of Utah and into CO to visit Pagosa Springs. This will be the spa my wife deserves for coming along this trip, LoL.

I own a slightly modified Taco with a RTT sitting on bedracks. Mild lift and tires.

 

[MOAK]

We just had my two grandsons out on the WRT for three nights / 4 days, then down into the Needles for two nights. The boys are 10 and 12. Their handheld devices were forgotten, they played, free of the suburban children's rules of the rat race, they played. Hide and seek, tag, cowboys and indians. They played. You shouldn't have to worry about keeping them entertained.
Secondly, you only have ten days. With your pre-trip destinations laid out as they are, one would think it is your one and only time to travel to that area. I would pick 2 areas and explore each in detail. Zion and Bryce this time with a side trip north into the Dixie National Forest, camp at Pine Lake, then trek up to Powell Point for incredible views. We spent 5 nights in that area and didn't get to Zion. Or, for more dispersed camping wander over into the Staircase. All of Southern Utah is a treasure to be taken in a little at a time. We have been to the region five times since 2010 and still have much more exploring to do.

 

[Anchor Mtn]

@socalmtbiker Thats a LOT to take in with a 10 day trip. You will have to make every day a drive day. Here are some places that dont get as much attention and shorten the drive times up.
Valley of Fire, NV. Simply beautiful and ~20mins off I-15.
Gunlock State Park, UT. Waterfalls and a lake.
Sand Hollow State Park, UT. Lake, sand dunes, off-road opportunities for your rig.
Cedar Breaks National Monument. Also beautiful.
Bryce and Capitol Reef are at a much higher elevation than Zion and will be 10-15 degrees cooler that time of year.

What I would do:
Day 1: San Diego to Valley of Fire State Park, NV (5.5hrs drive time)
Day 2: Valley of Fire, NV to Gunlock State Park, UT (2hrs drive time)
Day 3: Gunlock to Zion (1.5 hrs drive time)
Day 4: Zion
Day 5: Zion
Day 6: Zion to Bryce (2 hrs drive time)
Day 7: Bryce
Day 8: Bryce
Day 9: Bryce to St George/Sand Hollow State Park (1hr drive time)
Day 10: St george to San Diego (7hrs drive time)

or if you want to get to Capitol Reef...

Day 1: San Diego to Valley of Fire State Park, NV (5.5hrs drive time)
Day 2: Valley of Fire, NV to Gunlock State Park, UT (2hrs drive time)
Day 3: Gunlock to Zion (1.5 hrs drive time)
Day 4: Zion
Day 5: Zion to Bryce (2hrs drive time)
Day 6: Bryce
Day 7: Bryce to Capitol Reef (2.5hrs drive time)
Day 8: Captiol Reef
Day 9: Capitol Reef to St George/Sand Hollow State Park (3.5hr drive time) You can make a stop at Cedar Breaks National Monument on the way back too
Day 10: St George to San Diego (7hrs drive time)

 

[theMightyGoose]

@socalmtbiker Thats a LOT to take in with a 10 day trip. You will have to make every day a drive day. Here are some places that dont get as much attention and shorten the drive times up.
Valley of Fire, NV. Simply beautiful and ~20mins off I-15.
Gunlock State Park, UT. Waterfalls and a lake.
Sand Hollow State Park, UT. Lake, sand dunes, off-road opportunities for your rig.
Cedar Breaks National Monument. Also beautiful.
Bryce and Capitol Reef are at a much higher elevation than Zion and will be 10-15 degrees cooler that time of year.

What I would do:
Day 1: San Diego to Valley of Fire State Park, NV (5.5hrs drive time)
Day 2: Valley of Fire, NV to Gunlock State Park, UT (2hrs drive time)
Day 3: Gunlock to Zion (1.5 hrs drive time)
Day 4: Zion
Day 5: Zion
Day 6: Zion to Bryce (2 hrs drive time)
Day 7: Bryce
Day 8: Bryce
Day 9: Bryce to St George/Sand Hollow State Park (1hr drive time)
Day 10: St george to San Diego (7hrs drive time)

or if you want to get to Capitol Reef...

Day 1: San Diego to Valley of Fire State Park, NV (5.5hrs drive time)
Day 2: Valley of Fire, NV to Gunlock State Park, UT (2hrs drive time)
Day 3: Gunlock to Zion (1.5 hrs drive time)
Day 4: Zion
Day 5: Zion to Bryce (2hrs drive time)
Day 6: Bryce
Day 7: Bryce to Capitol Reef (2.5hrs drive time)
Day 8: Captiol Reef
Day 9: Capitol Reef to St George/Sand Hollow State Park (3.5hr drive time) You can make a stop at Cedar Breaks National Monument on the way back too
Day 10: St George to San Diego (7hrs drive time)
View attachment 33356

These are some great trip plans. We planned to do Capitol Reef at the end of September, and then Zion. But after looking at everything in between, we decided to limit our trip to Zion and Bryce. Plus, we only have a few days. Thanks to all the help on this site, I've come to realize we didn't give the trip enough time to really enjoy it. I will definitely come back to this plan another day and give it a full 10-days at least.

Do you have any suggestions for dispersed camping near Bryce? We want to check out that Thunder Mountain MTB trail. Or at least something similar.

 

[theMightyGoose]

Background:
Trip planning for around mid to late Sept with about a 10 days
family of 5- 5,7,10 year old (my daughter is prone to migraines so long rides can be difficult)
100 series rig, AT tires and sliders other wise stock
Will be pulling an adventure trailer.
I'm not looking to rock crawl with kids in tow.

I prefer disperse camping and being away from crowds but my wife was hoping for more popular areas like Zion.

There is so much I want to see but so little time. It seems I have to rule some stuff out to make it family friendly without making the trip all in the rig driving.

Places want to go to:
Zion
Bryce Canyon
Grand stair case/Escalante- (seems it would take a lot of time and probably the least favorite of the kids I just don't know where to go)
Lone Rock Lake Powell camping playing in the lake.
Valley of the Gods- Moki Dugway
Arches
Horse shoe bend

We are coming from San Diego and I'm thinking about just going up the 15 and make my way to Zion, then Bryce then Lone Rock and some how going across to the Valley of the Gods. I've researched some spots to camp, mostly primative or dispersed but I'm also looking for recommendations to keep the kids entertained. How would you divide your time in the areas? Hiking recommendations or just where to explore. What are some must sees that would appeal to kids as well? What routes do you recommend? Thanks

We are also planning a Southern Utah trip at the end of September. Will also be coming from San Diego, and disperse camping near Zion and Bryce. I will look for your rig.

 

[Anchor Mtn]

These are some great trip plans. We planned to do Capitol Reef at the end of September, and then Zion. But after looking at everything in between, we decided to limit our trip to Zion and Bryce. Plus, we only have a few days. Thanks to all the help on this site, I've come to realize we didn't give the trip enough time to really enjoy it. I will definitely come back to this plan another day and give it a full 10-days at least.

Do you have any suggestions for dispersed camping near Bryce? We want to check out that Thunder Mountain MTB trail. Or at least something similar.

Theres some sites between Red Canyon and the turnoff for Bryce on hwy 12 on a dirt road going north labeled 121. "Disclaimer" I have never stayed there, just drove past them.

 

[UncleJoeSD]

Im doing a similar trip from San Diego leaving in September. I was hoping to Drive from San Diego straight to Zion and Stay in one walk in Camp Sites. I do like the idea of peace and quiet but my Kids 7 and 8 will likely like the other kids around. Did you do your trip yet or are you heading out? we travel 9/21-9/26

 

[theMightyGoose]

Im doing a similar trip from San Diego leaving in September. I was hoping to Drive from San Diego straight to Zion and Stay in one walk in Camp Sites. I do like the idea of peace and quiet but my Kids 7 and 8 will likely like the other kids around. Did you do your trip yet or are you heading out? we travel 9/21-9/26

We leave Sunday. Will be on Gooseberry Mesa for a couple days, then on to Bryce, then back to Zion. 1-week trip.

 

[theMightyGoose]

Theres some sites between Red Canyon and the turnoff for Bryce on hwy 12 on a dirt road going north labeled 121. "Disclaimer" I have never stayed there, just drove past them.

I think I found a great spot in that area. I found a good looking spot on the map off FR174. But we'll see how it looks when we get out there.