Las vegas to Grand Canyon on to Sante Fe

[thankdog]

We are in Las Vegas for an event for 5 days and want to stop to see Grand Canyon on our way back east - we would hit GC end of first week of April. Suggestions on CG and routes? Considering seeing Flagstaff, Window Rock, Hyde Memorial, etc....along route afterwards.....ideas, CG and suggestions welcome!

Travel in 40' A class towing Jeep with dogs.

TIA

Lynn

[nevadanick]

There is an rv park just outside the Park, not very nice but it works. Also i dont know why they have a 28ft limit on some sights and they wont bend from it but my 40 would fit in every site there.

[timandsusan]

April in the west can be winter,spring, and summer almost in the same day. So, check the weather and have a great time. X2 on Santa Fe Skies! Also, consider Los Alamos, NM, for a nice day trip--great museum on atomic bomb development. We have been going to the 4 Corners area for 40 years and still go back. Great recommendations from other RVers.

[mileshuff]

If you cannot stay at the canyon then you might look into Grand Canyon Railway RV park in Williams. We make day trips to the canyon and other areas from there. Williams is a very fun route 66 town just off I-40, 60 miles south of the canyon. Lots to do there, Bearizona drive thru animal park, Deer petting zoo, zip line, lakes, etc. RV park is one of the nicest.

[thankdog]

I was able to get one night at Trailer Village - we wanted 3 so they told me to just keep checking every day and if a spot becomes available to call and they will add it onto the one night. If we do not get more we would need to find someplace for the 1st and 3rd nights. Fingers Xd they get cancellations!

[trailertraveler]

thankdog wrote:
... want to stop to see Grand Canyon on our way back east - we would hit GC end of first week of April...

TyroneandGladys wrote:
...I would leave Las Vegas and go to Zion National Park then to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon...

The North Rim is not scheduled to open until May 15.

[eDUBz]

Try and get a spot at trailer village. Closest you will get to the canyon, bring a bike ride to the rim and the store.

[Lauren]

Yes, CALL Trailer Village!

[TyroneandGladys]

I would leave Las Vegas and go to Zion National Park then to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon(less crowded and IMHO more scenic)to Monument Valley (Many John Wayne movies filmed there) to Mesa Verde National Park to Durango (ride the Durango Silverton Train) off to Chama and then Santa Fe.

[2gypsies1]

For Santa Fe I wouldn't try to get to Hyde Memorial with your 40' motorhome. Instead, stay at Santa Fe Skies RV in Santa Fe.

Try calling Trailer Village RV in the Grand Canyon Nat'l Park instead of reserving online. It's hard to believe they wouldn't have a site for you the first part of April.

[trailertraveler]

thankdog wrote:
Wow! Lots of great help - thank you for the links!

Happy to do it, hope it helps!

[thankdog]

Wow! Lots of great help - thank you for the links!

[trailertraveler]

thankdog wrote:
Las vegas to Grand Canyon on to Sante Fe

As mentioned a route through Page, Monument Valley and Chinle could add some great destinations including Monument Valley, UT-261 the Moki Dugway, Goosenecks State Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, Bluff Fort, South Fork of Mule Canyon and House on Fire, The Valley of The Gods, Sand Island Petroglyphs, and Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

I-40 follows much of Old Route 66. On the way to Flagstaff from the Grand Canyon along I-40 are Petrified Forest National Park, Meteor Crater and Homolovi Ruins State Park. You can stand on the corner in Winslow Arizona.

In the Flagstaff area are Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument. Sedona/Camp Verde/Cottonwood are about an hour South of Flagstaff with Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monuments, Tuzigoot National Monument, Palatki and Honaki Ruins, V-Bar-V Heritage Site, Verde Canyon Railroad, Fort Verde State Park, Cathedral Rock, Gold King Mine, Jerome State Historic Park in the area.

In and near Grants are the Mining Museum, El Malpais National Monument, El Malpais National Conservation Area, El Moro National Monument and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. Acoma Sky City is between Grants and Gallup. It is said to be the longest occupied location in the U.S. They give tours of the pueblo and there is an RV park next to the casino.

In Albuquerque there is Petroglyph National Monument, the Pueblo Cultural Center, the Turquoise Trail and the Sandia Crest Highway.

In the Sante Fe area check out the Galleries on Canyon Road. Take a drive up Hyde Park Road (NM-475) to the Ski Basin. We enjoyed Pecos National Historic Park not far Northwest of Santa Fe on I-25.
Drive the Turquoise Trail(NM-14) and visit the shops in Madrid where the movie "Wild Hogs" was made. Not far South of Santa Fe is Tent Rocks National Monument. Take the drive up to the veterans memorial for a view down on the tents.

Likely a lot more to see and do in the area than you will have time for and you may have to watch the weather for some of the higher elevation locations.

[thankdog]

Lauren wrote:
You will want to go to the South Rim - Grand Canyon Village. Make reservations at Trailer Village asap.
.

Looks like they can only accommodate up to 28' length on the dates we will arrive - the only hard dates on the entire round trip are the 5 days prior to grand canyon visit so not sure if this will be doable. Sure hate to miss out being so close. Looks like a terrific spot too.

[thankdog]

Thank you to all! Terrific suggestions - taking notes and making changes to route accordingly!