Gallup NM to Bryce Canyon UT

[cgaskins]

Hello. In a couple of weeks we will be traveling with our 40 foot 5th wheel RV from Gallup, NM to Bryce Canyon, UT.

Google Maps suggests this route:
https://goo.gl/maps/zYzSXvMUwVK2

Any thoughts or suggestions on this route?

Thanks,
Chris

[paulj]

If you can't do the tunnels, the only other way to Bryce is 12 from the east. That's a memorable drive in any vehicle.

[cgaskins]

2gypsies wrote:
All the roads on your map are just fine for any size RV, including the tunnels on Hwy 12. Tour buses use the tunnels. It's an extremely popular RV route.

Thank you.

[2gypsies1]

All the roads on your map are just fine for any size RV, including the tunnels on Hwy 12. Tour buses use the tunnels. It's an extremely popular RV route.

[cgaskins]

dedmiston wrote:


Measure your height. We barely squeaked through the last leg of your map on hwy 12 on the way to Bryce. I drove down the center of the road in two spots, just in case.

My wife shot a classic photo of my son and I measuring the height of our fiver just after we turned onto the highway.

Finding the official height of these arches is a total pain. I am not impressed with Utah DOT. Anway, I just spoke to a ranger at the Red Canyon Visitor Center on Highway 12 (close the arches) and he told me the inside edges of the arches are 13 feet 6 inches tall. The center of the arches are higher. So getting through the arch should not be a heigh issue for almost all motorhomes and 5th wheels. I am at 13-6 with at my tallest point which is my front A/C.

He also told me that there is a arch construction project underway. During the week the have the tunnels blocked off and you have to drive around the tunnels on a one lane by-pass road.

Utah DOT - Tunnel Construction Project Page

Thanks for the info.

[dedmiston]

cgaskins wrote:
Hello. In a couple of weeks we will be traveling with our 40 foot 5th wheel RV from Gallup, NM to Bryce Canyon, UT.

Google Maps suggests this route:
https://goo.gl/maps/zYzSXvMUwVK2

Any thoughts or suggestions on this route?

Thanks,
Chris

Measure your height. We barely squeaked through the last leg of your map on hwy 12 on the way to Bryce. I drove down the center of the road in two spots, just in case.

My wife shot a classic photo of my son and I measuring the height of our fiver just after we turned onto the highway.

[CloudDriver]

We have experience on some of the roads that Google Maps chose. Specifically, we have used routes 98 and 160 between Kayenta and Page and Routes 89 and 12 between Kanab and Bryce Canyon. These roads are fine with some rolling hills - no mountain driving. We have never used the roads between Gallup and Kayenta but Google Maps in terrain view does not show them crossing mountainous areas. Road surface condition is another matter. You could use Google Street View to get an idea what the road condition and actual terrain looks like. Most folks seem to use route 89 between Page and Kanab, but we like route 89A for the scenery and for access to the Grand Canyon North Rim. 89A does have an ascent with 6-7% grade going up toward Jacob Lake and a descent further on going down to Kanab.

Bryce Canyon is beautiful. Make sure you get all the way out to the furthest overlook to see Byrce Amphitheater. Just WOW!

[Lauren]

Google is not pulling a 40 foot 5er! 🙂

Been a while since we have been on the roads south of Page but from there on up is the way you want to go. And I think the other will be fine as well - leave that for sure to someone else.

Bryce is one of our favorite places - been there a few times and, God willing, next year again.

Email or PM me if you want info.

Lauren