We're driving from Austin to Moab, Grand Teton and ultimately to Glacier National Park at the end of this month. We'll be gone 2 and a half weeks and it's going to be epic. I can't wait.

I'm wondering if it's worth it to add an extra 1.5 hrs of driving on the Albuquerque to Moab leg of our trip to drive through Monument Valley. We've been to Sedona, AZ several times so I'm wondering if Monument Valley is different enough from what we've already seen in Sedona in terms of the red rocks, etc.

Here's our current itinerary:

Day 1 drive from Austin to Albuquerque
Day 2 do the Sandia Park Tramway in Albuquerque and then drive the 6 hours to Moab (would be 7.5 hours if we detour through Monument Valley)
Day 3, 4 and 5 in Moab/Canyonlands NP and Arches NP
Day 6 drive the 8 hrs from Moab to Jackson, WY
Day 7,8 and 9 in Grand Teton NP
Day 10 drive the 7 hrs from Jackson, WY to Flathead Lake, MT where my sister in law and her husband have a lake house rented for the week
Day 11-14 spend at Flathead Lake and Glacier NP
Day 15 drop off wife and kids at airport in Kalispell, MT for them to fly home while I drive the 3 days back to Austin

Yes! I thought it was incredible!

I hope so!

Going in August, got a room at the View. Spending the night there heading from Cimarron, NM to San Diego so adding 3.5 hours on our trip.

Yes! Do it!
If you are that close, no reason not to.

I like the approach from the north better, up around Mexican Hat then down into Monument Valley proper, it seems more dramatic as you approach the features and it won't add too much time.

At monument park the attraction is good views of the "mitten features". I think you could pass on the loop road and not miss much. I preferred the loop drive in valley of gods, north of park.

There is also a cool look out near valley of gods "Muley point" if you have time it's fun, provides a wide view of valley, but views you can get near Moab are likely better.

Wow, Austin to ABQ in one jump. God bless you, I'm too old for that stuff

The Sandia Tramway is pretty cool. But you can get the same view for free by driving back to Tijeras and driving up

Leave NOTHING in your car at the motel. Good chance of getting broken into, regardless of hotel

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Wow, Austin to ABQ in one jump. God bless you, I'm too old for that stuff

---

No big deal. Just your basic 700-mile day!

Right there with you. Too old for that.

Yeah, I'm serious when I say bless those who can handle it. My bladder only has about 150 mile max range these days.

Hey OP, sounds like you won't stay long in ABQ, but Ive been there a lot in the last few years. Holler if you want any recs

Looking at food at Monument Valley, I'll be cooking our meals. The restaurant at The View gets atrocious reviews.

Will probably swing through Four Corners on the way. Looks like the Navajo Taco truck may be our afternoon meal.

We've been Austin to ABQ several times on our way out to Sedona, AZ and it's definitely a long day but our kids are good road trippers and it's necessary just to get out of Texas.

We learned the no valuables left in the car at a hotel lesson the hard way in ABQ in 2020…

Is that route faster than getting on I-10?

Faster to Arizona to go I10? I'm not sure. We've been both ways and they both suck.

Pro Sandy said:

---

Looking at food at Monument Valley, I'll be cooking our meals. The restaurant at The View gets atrocious reviews.

Will probably swing through Four Corners on the way. Looks like the Navajo Taco truck may be our afternoon meal.

---

I can confirm, food at the view is not great. Services are limited in that area. Gouldings is near and food is slightly better. There is also a decent store near Gouldings, well stocked decent prices.

If you have a view room you will have a nice patio, I'd plan on getting food to go (there is a well reviewed delivery we did not try) bring cocktails and enjoy the view.

I've never been through Albuquerque but I'm from Fort Stockton so I-10 doesn't bother me. I live in Phoenix now after 28 years in Houston so I travel 10 occasionally. Going west I stay in Las Cruces at the Fairfield Inn which is next door to a nice family friendly brewery.

The views of "the mittens" are most impressive at sunset and sunrise.

Very limited food options around there.

We had dinner at The View (minimal menu, but it was fine) and stayed in one of the little cabins there. Our cabin had a small porch and we were able to get nice sunset/sunrise views from the porch.

Was there a few weeks ago and definitely recommend taking the time. Take the loop road as well. Other worldly.

But I really like rocks….

Forest Gump's Hill.

You beat me to it - Forrest Gump Hill was a great stop on the map to get this iconic photo

ReloadAg said:

---

Day 2 do the Sandia Park Tramway in Albuquerque and then drive the 6 hours to Moab (would be 7.5 hours if we detour through Monument Valley)
Day 3, 4 and 5 in Moab/Canyonlands NP and Arches NP
Day 6 drive the 8 hrs from Moab to Jackson, WY

---

ok - here's what you should consider

Day 2 - drive the extra time to hit Monument Valley - it's about as iconic as Sedona - and it's not a hike, it's a drive. Check out Goulding's Campground and then stop at Forrest Gump Hill 14.5 miles away and take the photo. Then Drive 2.5 miles to Moab for the night.

DAY 3 - ARCHES NP
Consider Desert Highlights 9:30-2:30 Medieval Chamber Canyoneering Adventure. it was awesome
Hike the 3 miles round trip to Delicate Arch don't miss this!
Hike to Landscape Arch 1.56 mi RT.
If you have time consider The Windows 1 mi RT hike and extend to see Double Arch - .5 mi RT.

Drive 15 minutes out of the park, then 15 minutes to Dinner at Antica Forma Wood Fired Pizza great!

Day 4 Canyonlands National Park
o Leave at 4:00am - Drive 1 hour to Canyonlands NP - Arrive at Mesa Arch at 5:00. Hike 15 minutes to get set up before sunrise which is at 5:59. You can be later but the sunrise is iconic!
o Drive 20 minutes north and hike 1.5 mi RT Upheaval Dome, (Skipped) then drive south 40 minutes to hike 2 mile RT Grand View Overlook (Skipped) did stop at Buck Canyon Overlook on the way there.
Since Canyonlands is more for views, we left after lunch and went back to Arches - OR

Day 5 (or end of Day 4)
o Drive 50 Minutes to Melon Vine Grocery Store - load up food for the rest of the trip! Opens at 8:00 am.
o Drive 1 hour to Goblin Valley State Park. Start at the Visitor Center then drive a mile to the Goblins.
o Drive 15 minutes to Little Wild Horse Canyon https://www.utah.com/destinations/regions/the-holey-land/little-wild-horse-canyon/
Park and hike 15 mins take loop to the right for 15 mins to the Narrows, then 15 minutes inside over boulders and wiggles to the Opening, then turn back. Great!

We really loved Little Wild Horse Canyon - see if you can squeeze these in, before headed up north.

Thanks for the suggestions!

waryman said:

---

Was there a few weeks ago and definitely recommend taking the time. Take the loop road as well. Other worldly.

But I really like rocks….

Forest Gump's Hill.

---

Awesome pics. Thanks for posting.

Cobra39

Here's another question within the same line of thinking. My wife doesn't want to detour 1.5 hrs to go through Monument Valley so I was looking at the map and it's only 30 minutes out of our way to go to the 4 Corners monument. Has anyone done that? Is it worth it? My 8 year old and 11 year old might think it would be cool to see.

There isn't anything there one would term scenic, though it is cool for the kids (and many adults!) to stand on the physical point. Navajo manage the site and you have to pay a bit to enter. And you may have to wait in line to get a family pic at the site.

I'm in the Cortez area often and can give you some restaurant recommendations if you like.

That'd be great thanks.

The food is very good for a town the size of Cortez. I believe this is due their proximity to Mesa Verde National Park, which contains great examples of Native American cliff dwellings. And now it dawns on me this should have been a stronger suggestion than Monument Valley. Entrance to the park is 10 miles east of Cortez, but you would need to commit at least half a day to the park because the sites are not close to the park entrance (45 minutes from entrance). Cortez and the park see many international visitors, which speaks to the unique nature of the park. Give it a look!

For restaurants:
Loungin' Lizard - this is the first place I would try. Some unique offerings and consistent quality.
Thai Cortez - some of the best Thai I've had, and I dine out a lot!
The Farm Bistro - has a few locally themed offerings.
Destination Grill
Burger Boy Drive-In - old school drive in/eat in car with a great green chile cheeseburger
La Casita de Cortez - fairly decent Mexican. One of like a dozen Mexican restaurants in town.

wildcat08 said:

---

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Wow, Austin to ABQ in one jump. God bless you, I'm too old for that stuff

---

No big deal. Just your basic 700-mile day!

Right there with you. Too old for that.

---

Class of 08 and you're too old for 700 miles?

My class of 02 ass with wife, 2 kids and 2 dogs have done denver to houston in one shot more times than I can remember! 1k day. That is our max though.

But after doing 1k days all those times, 600-700 seems like a sweet spot! We've easily done 8-10 trips that are in the 700-800 range.

Doing only ~400 miles seems like we're wasting a day. Like st. georgem utah to mammoth ca on a recent trip (overall was denver to sacramento), it is only 400 miles and bypasses vegas, so instead we drove through Las vegas strip for the kids, drove across hoover dam, then drove through badwater basin in DVNP on the way to Mammoth make it a useful day and closer to 600m. Also had beautiful views of Mt Whitney and the sierras towards the end of the day.



Op, yes do monument valley. It's iconic. You can add in 4 corners before that, then drive from north to south through mon. valley, then turn around.. still 7.5 hours.
Or do 4 corners, then south to north mon. val in 8.

ReloadAg said:

---

Here's another question within the same line of thinking. My wife doesn't want to detour 1.5 hrs to go through Monument Valley so I was looking at the map and it's only 30 minutes out of our way to go to the 4 Corners monument. Has anyone done that? Is it worth it? My 8 year old and 11 year old might think it would be cool to see.

---

The photo op for the kids is the only reason to go. We found it a bit underwhelming, definitely a one and done no need to go back type deal. Not sure what exactly we were expecting but when we left and said to each other - that was a dump.

Haha yea that's all I'm expecting. For a 30 minute drive out of our way we might as well do it.

62strat said:

---

wildcat08 said:

---

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Wow, Austin to ABQ in one jump. God bless you, I'm too old for that stuff

---

No big deal. Just your basic 700-mile day!

Right there with you. Too old for that.

---

Class of 08 and you're too old for 700 miles?

---

The '08 reference was to my son, not me. I'm '72.