Travel Time? Denver, Durango, North Rim and Vegas

[leshenits215]

I'm trailering an LT and K12S to Denver in mid-July. From there, its the top of Mt. Evans, the Million Dollar Highway through Durango, Monument Valley, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Vegas.
Can anyone estimate how long it would take? We' not speeding super fast, but we won't dally either. A good steady clip through there, with stops for photos, gas, meals, etc...
I'm trying to budget my time accordingly. We' be riding most of the day. Early morning to dinner time.
Thanks,
Les

[RonKMiller]

All depends... Having lived in Arizona and Colorado for 35 years I would suggest an alternate route:

Blow off Mt. Evans and check out Aspen, then over McClure Pass to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Then to Lake City where you can work your way toward Telluride, then head west into Utah around Blanding. For my money this is some of the most spectacular mountain riding in the world. The million dollar highway is OK but will be clogged with RV's and mini vans, (same with Mt. Evans). Durango is nothing special.

Figure 3 to 5 days to get to Blanding.

You may also want to consider checking out the Mokee Dugway (bring your Depends) in Utah on your way to Monument Valley. The North Rim is excellent, deer every 100 yards. Check out Zion and Bryce National Parks instead of Hoover Dam and Vegas which will be EXTREMELY windy and HOT, and I ain't talkin' bout the action on the strip. After Bryce go to Lake Powel and rent a speedboat for at least 3 days and camp on the beach - there's several thousand miles of "coastline" to explore. It will be hot during the day (but the water will still be cold) and very pleasant at night.

Figure another 7 -10 days for this section.

If you're hell bent to go to Vegas stay at Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort and ask for the $199.00 per night rate - about half off. Tell Sean the concierge Ron and Amy from Tucson said "Hey". It's only a 30 minute drive to the strip and you'll appreciate the peace and quiet after a night out. ;)

[pickerbiker]

Just did that entire ride about two weeks ago. I might also suggest you swing through Capital Reef National Park. Not a very well known park, but incredible scenery. Northern AZ will be miserably hot...like riding in a blast furnace. Of course, that's coming from a guy who makes the Pacific Northwest home.

[RonKMiller]

Just did that entire ride about two weeks ago. I might also suggest you swing through Capital Reef National Park. Not a very well known park, but incredible scenery. Northern AZ will be miserably hot...like riding in a blast furnace. Of course, that's coming from a guy who makes the Pacific Northwest home.

That whole area is kind of wierd - it can be miserable around Page - but two hours later you're at the North Rim at 9500 feet freezing your *** off in a rain storm. Then there's Zion which is ALWAYS hot in July, then Bryce at 7500 feet only two hours a way.

The ride to Captial Reef IS beautiful - and on the way to Powell! (The picture in my Avatar is at the west entrance to Capital Reef)

The last time I did that route in May I swear I was changing "outfits" every half hour! :D

[bwingate]

I'm trailering an LT and K12S to Denver in mid-July. From there, its the top of Mt. Evans, the Million Dollar Highway through Durango, Monument Valley, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Vegas.
Can anyone estimate how long it would take? We' not speeding super fast, but we won't dally either. A good steady clip through there, with stops for photos, gas, meals, etc...
I'm trying to budget my time accordingly. We' be riding most of the day. Early morning to dinner time.
Thanks,
Les

The North Rim is probably my second favorite national park. If you're going to be in that area, I second doing Bryce and Zion. Durango is nothing special, but if you've never been there the ride from Durango to Silverton is really neat (that might be the Million Dollar Highway, I don't know.)

If you're going to be mostly riding with just some quick stops for snapshots, food and gas, you could probably SQUEEZE the whole thing in in a week or 10 days. Two weeks would be better.

Is this your first big trip? One thing that surprised me on my first long trip was how my stamina waned from start to finish. Even though you're trailering out there, after a week's "forced march" on the bikes, you might want a break or shorter stints.

Enjoy - it'll be a hoot.
Bruce.

[jfredriksson]

Get a "CamelPack" and stay hydrated. We just did a 2,500 mile trip, which included Furnace Creek (Aptly named) in Death Valley, Bryce, Zion, the South Rim, Las Vegas and Reno. The only person that stayed fresh and alert was the rider using a "CamelPack".

[pickerbiker]

That whole area is kind of wierd - it can be miserable around Page - but two hours later you're at the North Rim at 9500 feet freezing your *** off in a rain storm. Then there's Zion which is ALWAYS hot in July, then Bryce at 7500 feet only two hours a way.

The ride to Captial Reef IS beautiful - and on the way to Powell! (The picture in my Avatar is at the west entrance to Capital Reef)

The last time I did that route in May I swear I was changing "outfits" every half hour! :D

It was 90 degrees in Page...the next day we rode in snow through Bryce Canyon!