blu_c6

Hey All,

I am planning a road trip from Toronto to Las Vegas and want to do one way via New Mexico and Arizona and the other via Utah and Colorado. I have a total of 18 - 21 days to do this and want to spend 5-7 nights in Vegas.

The plan is to boot it to New Mexico and do stops in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Grand Canyon. I would also like to drive through Monument Valley and do a bit of old Route 66.

The other route would be stops in Bryce Canyon, Zion, Denver, maybe Aspen and then boot it home. Since I have never driven this before am I missing something I should see or maybe pass what I have on the list. Is Mount Rushmore to much out of the way?

I have spent time in Santa Fe 20 years ago and would like to go back in the Vette, Spent a winter in Aspen in the early 80's and would love to drive through there in the summer. Doing this trip in August as I love both the desert and the Mountains and a trip I have always pictured doing in a Corvette Convertible, would never dream of doing this in my C3 but with the mileage and comfort of the C6 this will be a enjoyable and comfortable one.

Based on my timing I am looking at 5-6 days driving each way but want it to be pretty leisurely once I get to the scenic areas.

Any help or knowledge is greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to any and all replies and suggestions.

Let the planning begin.

El Paso Vette

On the way to the Grand Canyon you may want to stop and see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. Also, if you are staying in Flagstaff, drive to Williams and take the train to the Canyon. Well worth it. On the way back through Colorado be sure and plan the mountain drives and try to stay off I 70. It is much prettier on the two lanes. Stop in Colorado Springs and stay or at least eat at the Broadmoor and tour the Air Force Academy.

airmed2

Drive from Durango to Ouray

C6ToGo

I highly recommend the Utah route. But we are outdoorsy folks. Get the $80 National Park Annual Pass...you will save after the third park you visit.

We flew into Denver from Houston, then rented a car for road trip to LV and back to Denver:

Denver
Boulder, CO (Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour) and Rocky Mountain NP/Estes Park is a worthy side trip hour N of Denver.
Watch your speed as you blast across the top of the Rockies...Breckenridge cops use laser...no match with the Escort.

Drive west to:
Arches NP
Capitol Reef NP
Bryce Canyon NP
North Rim, Grand Canyon NP (3 hours from Bryce) is beautiful and less crowed than South Rim
Zion NP
Vegas (if you gamble, do the strip for a fancy hotel and a show...but do downtown for a cheap but nice room and better odds)

Mad*Max

one more vote to add Arches National Park:

blu_c6

Been to vegas maybe 100 times but never drove. Have done Death Valley, valley of Fire, Red Rock, and all the other drives around Vegas. Have the time to a road trip so a new experience. Park pass will be purchased at first park we hit. Thanks for the tip.

buckmeister2

IMO, the following MUST be on your intinerary....Bryce Canyon; Zion; Flagstaff/Sedona/Williams (to Grand Canyon on the train), Durango/Ouray (amazing drive). I just came back from Flag, where we visit at least twice each year.

You did not say when you are traveling, and that is critical if you are going through New Mexico and Arizona. July 4 usually kicks off the monsoon season, and rainfall is nearly a daily affair, lasting into late August. It can be VERY dangerous in a vette. With an inch of standing water all over the highway, wipers can't clear the windshield, the light weight of the car, and the wide tires, it is a recipe for disaster. Two close friends of mine bought new C6 Vettes about a year apart, and both took them on that route in late Summer of the year they bought them. Both cars hit heavy rain on the highway between Seligman and Flagstaff, and both lost control. One was totaled, one was expensively repaired. Both guys said they were not doing more than about 50mph. Just a word of caution to you. If you just pull over and wait it out, it is usually over in 20 minutes.

Also, this is a hard time of year to spend 7 days in LV. I live there, but if I was visiting, I would limit it to 3 days. Visit Hoover Dam, Red Rock, and Mt. Charleston, the first two early in the morning. It is HOT now. Casino/resort pool in the afternoon and evening.

Just my opinion on all this...nobody needs to be offended if I said something you don't agree with.

joec

Like the hat..

cclive

I may be biased....

Not So Fast

Be prepared for "HEAT" and possible thunder storms at this time of year. And take that to heart, thunder cells here can get serious very FAST, and very VIOLENT. Not trying to scare you but it is that time.
Have a ball, some incredible scenery in this vast desert of ours.
NSF

blu_c6

Thanks, we usually fly in the first week of August so well aware of the temps. Thanks for the info on monsoon season and now know to expect heavy rains and not push through them. In no rush so 30 or so minutes off the road is not a bad thing. Will loom up some of the drives you mentioned and let you know when we are there.

EVRose

We had a serious storm here today as a matter of fact. It lasted over half an hour which is unusually long. Roads get flooded very fast.

Wildmanht

If you are kind of thinking to hit Mount Rushmore, I would then swing over to Yellowstone if you haven't been there before. You can then go down through Utah to Vegas via I15.

Don-Vette

Mt . Rushmore through Wyoming into Denver then drive up Pikes Peak,then Grand Canyon, into Las Vegas and Death Valley then head up to Yellowstone and Glacier National park.

blu_c6

I have been in Vegas for those flash storms and remember the water running through Caesars Palace parking lot and down the side of the Imperial Palace and flooding that out. Also drives around Lake Mead (when the water levels were high) and the roads washing out.

I look forward to hooking up with some of you if there is cruise night there.

blu_c6

Thinking of doing NM and AR on the trip there and the northern route on the return. No sure it will really make a difference but that's what I have in my head.

Rky Mtn C6

How about giving us the routes you're planning to take, and we can advise from there. If you're planning on staying over in Colorado, places to see are: Mt. Evans (highest paved road in North America); Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs, better drive than Mt. Evans); and a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. Here are some photos.

jashmore1234

Go Colorado, Utah, down to the Canyon, over to Vegas. I would spend more time in those areas than Vegas. Vegas is fun, but natural wonders in those states are limitless.

BTW, I bet you can have more legal fun in Colorado than Vegas. LOL.

blu_c6

Great Photos and thanks for sharing. Never thought of Pikes Peak and that would be fun drive. This is why I started the thread, to get ideas of what to see.

So here is what I was thinking. Leave around August 2 or 3 and really don't care which route to take but want the other for the drive home. I have been to Santa Fe before but would love to go back, same with the Grand Canyon. Have always wanted to do Monument Valley, Sedona, Zion and Bryce. Never thought of Pikes Peak or many of the other areas mentioned by others. Just want to drive and see the sites, we love the mountains and desert. Wife is a little concerned of the heat but the top can always go up and a/c on mid day if needed or in the case of the rockies the heater. Las Vegas is just the destination and a place we enjoy (poker is relaxing for me). We have 3 - 4 weeks so no rush to get anywhere.

Thanks for the input.

jashmore1234

Or you can take the northern route and come down through Yellowstone.