|   Phoenix to Moab - how's the drive??? | PmbH
Jul 12, 2002 12:40 PM | | This fall I'm going to be driving from Phoenix to Moab. The online directions sites show this as 480 miles and 14 HOURS. Are the highways twisty and narrow, and that's why it takes so long?
Anyway, if anyone has done this drive before, please let me know what to expect.
Thanks,
Pete |
| about 8 hours | DurtGurl
Jul 12, 2002 12:52 PM | | Roads are direct and easy and fast! Scenic also...
Kathleen |
| You can't trust on-line time estimates | pedalAZ
Jul 12, 2002 12:55 PM | | The roads are pretty straight most of the way. What route was suggested? I would assume I-17 to Flag, Hwy 89 to Tuba City, Hwy 160 to Kayenta, Hwy 163 to Bluff, UT, and Hwy 191 to Moab. You get to drive through Monument Valley, which is cool. Check out the dinosaur tracks near Tuba City (15-30 minute stop is all you need), and if you have time, the cliff dwellings in Navajo National Monument are worth the day hike. |
| yeah, if it's only ~8hrs, I'll have time for stops | PmbH
Jul 12, 2002 1:14 PM | | Thanks for the tips! This year I'm going to take some extra time to check out the surrounding areas. |
| Nah, it's more like 8... | Fat-tire
Jul 12, 2002 12:57 PM | | Basically, you take 1-17 to Flagstaff. Head to Kayenta, go through the Monument Valley (awesome scenery), and up to Moab. Not sure distance wise, but it only take like 8 hours drivig (don't forget thoough, you lose an hour going now).
From Flag on, it is mostly two and four lane country highways, but for the most part a nice, scenic drive.
Last time we did it, we left after work and camped above the San Juan River near Mexican Hat, UT at a park called Gooseneck State Park. Nothing too exciting campsite wise, the view of the San Juan is awesome. Then, if you want, you can go up to to Bridges National Park. |
| only takes 14 hours El Paso to SLC so... | cm
Jul 12, 2002 12:58 PM | | probably less that that estimate. However, I know the road from Monticello to Moab (and probably all the way down into AZ) is mostly just a two lane highway with passing zones here and there - if you get stuck behind some RV's it can be slow going - it's not the road as much as the traffic. |
| Excellent! Thanks to all who replied | PmbH
Jul 12, 2002 1:09 PM | | Now it's just the drive from Moab back to N. Cal that's gonna stink. |
| If you're going from Phoenix proper | AK Ken
Jul 12, 2002 4:05 PM | | the Interstate to Flag route as described above is your best bet, and 8-9 hours is reasonable.
My dad lives in the east valley, though, and it's easily an hour to get across Phoenix (depending on traffic), so I just go east on Hwy 60 to Globe/Miami, through the Salt River Canyon (very scenic), Show Low (where the big fire threatened) and end up on 191 going into Bluff, Monticello, and Moab.
We did this in 10 hours with lots of scenery stops, including one at Petrified Forest N.P.
Ken |
| Shiitty and hot but not too long | Paul B
Jul 12, 2002 8:08 PM | | I've done it at night a few times. Give yourself 8 hours. Expect to haul ass across the rez -- I've seen maybe, oh, 3 cop cars out there in 15 years. Dunno; I blew across the Navajo Nation in an old RX-7 at about 115mph.
p. |
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