Wyoming, Utah, Colarodo

4 more days

From Carlsbad, you may be making your way East through southern Nevada, into Arizona, then into southern Utah. You have Zion and Bryce, Capitol Reef, and Escalante on the way back to Colorado. Anywhere along the way you can head North toward I-80. We highly recommend driving through Flaming Gorge by way of Vernal, UT up into Wyoming. Stunning!!! You could also get there by driving North and a bit West from Telluride, CO through the La Sal Mountains -- a lovely drive through a great deal of uninhabited beauty. Both of these ideas will get you back on the road to Houston fairly easily, and can be done in four days.

Whatever you do, HAVE FUN!!!
MWVLR
2021 Thor Gemini 23TW
 
Durango only value is the Silverton train.
It's a large part of the day.
Pagosa Springs is the same if you don't stay to have a group bath. Buy gas, then leave.
There are great ruins in Aztec or Bloomfield (someone here will know more)

Man I can never put my body through a water like Pagosa Springs. If the water is not super clear and if it is not below my ankle I dont get in it :nonono: I have seen people getting in murky waters (most lakes and rivers in Houston area are super murky) and soak in them like seal pups. :LOL:

I feel like we need jetpacks to really enjoy Utah. Hopefully it will happen within our lifetime.
 
From Carlsbad, you may be making your way East through southern Nevada, into Arizona, then into southern Utah. You have Zion and Bryce, Capitol Reef, and Escalante on the way back to Colorado. Anywhere along the way you can head North toward I-80. We highly recommend driving through Flaming Gorge by way of Vernal, UT up into Wyoming. Stunning!!! You could also get there by driving North and a bit West from Telluride, CO through the La Sal Mountains -- a lovely drive through a great deal of uninhabited beauty. Both of these ideas will get you back on the road to Houston fairly easily, and can be done in four days.

Whatever you do, HAVE FUN!!!
MWVLR
2021 Thor Gemini 23TW

Thanks @MWVLR. I will be returning from Yellowstone (most likely via Grant Teton) and instead of entering Moab through SLC I am planning to take the road south of Rock Springs, WY. Your suggestion about Flaming George is right on time. I think you most likely meant the scenic by way. I will see if I can find a govt owned campground in that area. I was going to spend the night at Loves RV Stop at Logan UT, staying around Flaming George would be a great choice.
 
I agree with Lt Keefer! Not near enough time for all that

You're talking more than 4,000 miles in 12 to 16 days. Are you planning on driving 12 hours a day? I don't think you are scheduling enough days to do any of the stops justice. I guess it's possible if you are just gonna drive by the gate and head out to the next spot but there doesn't seem to be any time for stopping.

There is no way you can do all this in 12 days.
 
From Hanksville

If someone is already at Hanksville I would suggest that they might also visit Goblin Valley State Park. My personal opinion is that Bryce Canyon and Goblin Valley are the two most interesting parks in Utah and, of course, the drive along the Escalante Staircase, including the Hogback, is well worth seeing.
 
If someone is already at Hanksville I would suggest that they might also visit Goblin Valley State Park. My personal opinion is that Bryce Canyon and Goblin Valley are the two most interesting parks in Utah and, of course, the drive along the Escalante Staircase, including the Hogback, is well worth seeing.

Yes, I am going to visit Goblin, even think I might book a night there, there was availability in the state park when I last checked. I already have a night booked at Dead Horse State Park.

Is it possible to witness the "grand staircase" of Escalante while standing there? (might be possible from several thousand feet from air).

How is the cell reception at these roads? I read from various posts there is no cell or gas stations along that road.
 
Yes, I am going to visit Goblin, even think I might book a night there, there was availability in the state park when I last checked. I already have a night booked at Dead Horse State Park.

Is it possible to witness the "grand staircase" of Escalante while standing there? (might be possible from several thousand feet from air).

How is the cell reception at these roads? I read from various posts there is no cell or gas stations along that road.

I have always thought of the "grand staircase" as the scenery along the rise and fall of the road, so I am not sure how much you could get from a drone or something else in the air. The drive is something to be seen and experienced, at least in my view.

It is through a largely empty section of Utah, which is a largely empty State, so I would not expect much cell service outside of the small towns. While I don't remember much about cell coverage from our trip it does seem to me that we had decent reception at some places like Torey when we were visiting Capitol Reef NP and, perhaps, at Hanksville. I do seem to remember that there was no reception at Goblin Valley, but then this was many years ago and I have no idea if there has been any increase in cell towers in the area.

If you like boondocking (as we do) you could stop at Hite and camp right next to the water at no cost (if I remember correctly. This was probably 10 years ago) and I used to gas up outside of Hanksville. Be warned though that the area is very hot during the summer and Goblin Valley was too hot for me to camp when I was there. Still it is something to see.

Part of the movie "Galaxy Quest" was shot at Goblin Valley but the area is much more impressive when seen in person than when seen in the movie theater or on a TV.
 

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