Zion to Escalante - UPDATE

[riltri]

We will be leaving Zion and heading over to Escalante in a few days. We are pulling a 34' 5th wheel. I know that we can not use Hwy 9 via the tunnel. Is backtracking on 9 to I-15N to 20W to 89S to 12E into Escalante the easiest route? Hwys 14 & 17 are shorter, but uncertain about taking a 5th on those roads?

[4runnerguy]

dedmiston wrote:
Thanks for the update.

Part of me wishes we wouldn't get such good news out of Utah, because I don't want anyone else to go to our favorite spots. We sure love that state.

I mean I hate it. It stinks there. Avoid UT at all costs. The place is ugly and the people are monsters.

And the campgrounds are all run down, the roads all rutted and potholed, and it's too tough to get a beer!

[lane_hog]

For an easier drive the next time, you might want to consider doing Springdale to Hurricane and then dipping south into AZ and over to Fredonia and then back up 89A. That was a fairly flat drive if I recall.

It's about 15 miles longer than going up to 20. Just be sure not to stop anywhere between Hurricane and Kanab...

[SteveAE]

dedmiston wrote:
Thanks for the update.

Part of me wishes we wouldn't get such good news out of Utah, because I don't want anyone else to go to our favorite spots. We sure love that state.

I mean I hate it. It stinks there. Avoid UT at all costs. The place is ugly and the people are monsters.

X2

[ArcticFox_Cats]

dedmiston wrote:
....I mean I hate it. It stinks there. Avoid UT at all costs. The place is ugly and the people are monsters.

ROFLOL!!! That's a good one!!!!!!! Carry on!!!!

[dedmiston]

Thanks for the update.

Part of me wishes we wouldn't get such good news out of Utah, because I don't want anyone else to go to our favorite spots. We sure love that state.

I mean I hate it. It stinks there. Avoid UT at all costs. The place is ugly and the people are monsters.

[riltri]

UPDATE: For anyone else who may be going from Zion to Escalante.

We took Hwy 17 from Virgin over to I-15N....then Hwy 20E to Hwy 89S.

Hwy 20 is by far one of the best roads that we have been on since leaving NC, Both the ascent and decent had a passing lane the entire time, the pavement is in VG condition and it's an easy drive. Not as scenic as Hwy 9 but 10x easier driving!!

[SteveAE]

riltri,
I would go through the tunnel, but your route certainly works. If I remember correctly, 14 is steeper and higher than 20. But also doable IMO (I have pulled our 22' trailer over all these roads with my poor, under powered, Toyota Tundra). How do you plan to leave the Escalante area? The prettiest way by far (well, "reasonable way" anyway) is to head NE on hwy 12 to Torrey. But, if you don't like Hwy 9 east of Zion, then you really wouldn't like that route. Awesome country. Go slow, take your time, and enjoy the journey.

[profdant139]

riltri, there are a lot of roads just like that highway throughout Utah and the West -- they are not bad for towing if you take it easy and use the pullouts to let the faster folks go by. Yes, I agree -- at first, twisty roads can be intimidating. But like they say, practice makes perfect. Hang in there!!

[riltri]

accsys wrote:
Why can't you use the tunnel?? I believe the max length is 50 feet which you should be under while hooked up. You would have to pay the $15 fee for large vehicles but that would be better than going around plus if you don't go through the tunnel you miss some pretty unusual landscape east of the tunnel.

We drove it yesterday. True that it is a beautiful drive but no way I'm pulling on that drive.

[accsys]

Why can't you use the tunnel?? I believe the max length is 50 feet which you should be under while hooked up. You would have to pay the $15 fee for large vehicles but that would be better than going around plus if you don't go through the tunnel you miss some pretty unusual landscape east of the tunnel.