Our 2021 Colorado/Utah Adventure

Day 1- Maryland- West Virginia

Our first day of driving, we drove from home to Flatwoods KOA in West Virginia (Drive time- 5 hours) On the way we stopped at Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia to visit the overlook. There was amazing views of Cheat River canyon!

Coopers Rock Overlook

Day 2/3- West Virginia- Kentucky- Illinois-Indiana- Missouri

On day 2, we drove to St Louis West/Historic Route 66 Holiday in Missouri (Drive time- 9 hours with 1 hour time change) On the way we stopped at Carter Caves State Park in Kentucky. We did a quick walk (.2 miles) on the Three Bridges Trail from the lodge to Smoky Bridge.

Smoky Bridge- Carter Caves State Park

On day 3 we visited Gateway National Park and Laumeier Sculpture Park

Click for blog post on St Louis!

Day 4- Missouri- Kansas

Day 4 we drove to the Wakeeney KOA Journey in Kansas (Drive time- 8 hours) No fun stops on this route.

Campsite in Kansas- loved this campground. Great pool area too

Day 5/6 Great Sand Dunes National Park

Day 5 we drove to Base Camp Family campground, near Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado (Drive time 6 hours- 1 hour time change). We stayed at this campground for 2 nights and visited Great Sand Dunes National Park as well as Zappata Falls.

Click for blog post on Sand Dunes!

Day 7-9 Mesa Verde

Next we drove to Mesa Verde KOA (drive time 4 hours). On the way we stopped at Chimney Rock National Monument. We stayed 2 nights at the Cortez/ Mesa Verde KOA, exploring Mesa Verde, Durango, and Lake Nighthorse.

Click to read about Chimney Rocks
Click to read about Mesa Verde/Durango

Day 10 Page, Arizona

Our next stop was Page Lake Powell campground in Arizona (Drive time 3.5 hours, 1 hour time change). We only stayed here one night. We visited Horseshoe Bend and the Glen Canyon Dam.

Click here to learn more about Page, AZ

Day 11-15 Zion National Park

Our next stop was Zion Campground (3.5 hour drive time, 1 hour time change). On the way we stopped at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Due to the flash floods, we had to switch campgrounds in the middle to St George/Hurricane KOA. We stayed 2 nights at Zion Campground (Part 1) to do Angels Landing and Watchman Trail, and 3 nights at St George/Hurricane KOA where we did Red Cliffs, Kannara Falls, and the Kolob Canyons part of Zion (Part 2)

Quick stop at Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Click for Zion Part 1
Click for Zion part 2

Day 16-18 Bryce Canyon National Park

We continued on the Cannonville/Bryce Valley KOA (4 hours drive time). On the way, we stopped at Cedar Breaks National Monument. We stayed at Cannonville/Bryce Valley KOA for 3 nights to explore the Bryce area, and also visited Red Rocks and Kodachrome Basin State Park.

Viewpoint at Cedar Breaks National Monument
Click to read about our time near Bryce Canyon

Day 19-21

Our next stop was Escalante Cabins and RV Park (2 hour drive time) We stayed there for 3 nights to do Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons, and Lower Calf Creek Falls

Click to learn more about Escalante

Day 22- Capitol Reef National Park

We drove from Escalante to Moab, driving through Capitol Reef National Park where we did the Hickman Bridge hike.

Read about Capitol Reef

Day 22-25 Moab (Arches and Canyonlands)

We then continued on to Moab KOA Holiday (total drive time 4.5 hours). We stayed at this campground 4 nights, exploring Arches, Canyonlands, and Sky diving!

Read more about Moab here

Day 26-28 Colorado Springs

Our last major stop on the trip was Lone Duck Campground to visit Colorado Springs. On the way we stopped at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Drive time- 7.5 hours (unfortunately due to 2 separate road closures, one due to weather it took us more like 15). We stayed in Colorado Springs for 3 nights visiting Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak.

Viewpoint at Black Canyon of Gunnison
Read more about Colorado Springs

Day 29/30 Colorado- Nebraska-Iowa- Illinois- Indiana- Ohio- Pennsylvania- Maryland

On the way back we drove 2, 14 hour days only stopping for gas/bathroom breaks. We stayed at Rock Island/Quad City KOA Holiday for the one overnight on the way back.

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