ohio to grand canyon

Old Nov 8th, 2021, 06:36 PM
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ohio to grand canyon

We are planning on driving from NW Ohio to the Grand Canyon next summer and we were looking for some advice on places to stop at on the way there and back, places near Grand Canyon to see, and suggestions for how many days to take to get there. We will have about 3 weeks for this trip. Thanks for any help!
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Old Nov 8th, 2021, 06:55 PM
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Welcome to Fodors. Dashing out but just quick . . . do you have three weeks for OH to the Grand Canyon, or is it three weeks for a round trip out to the GC and back to OH??
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Old Nov 8th, 2021, 11:58 PM
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Canyon de Chelly
-Chaco Cultural National Park in NW N.M.
-Petrified Forest in Az.
Meteor Crater in Az
-Stay at very Historic La Posada in Winslow, Az and enjoy their Route 66 display in honor of the Eagles Song "Taking It easy". Or at least have lunch there.
-Twin Arrows Indian Casino Resort is excellent modern casino/hotel west of Winslow 855 946-8946
-Visit ancient Indian ruins at Wapatki National Monument north of Flagstaff
- Sedona is way to expensive for me, especially all their state, county, bed and city taxes
Taxing Jurisdiction Rate Arizona state sales tax 5.60% Yavapai County sales tax 0.75%
Sedona tax 3.50%
Combined Sales Tax: 9.85%
Then add 15-25% tip on meals and tours.
> Suggest reading the tour book Canyon de Chelly to Grand Canyon available on Amazon.

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Old Nov 9th, 2021, 01:38 AM
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Get a paper map and stick pins in it where you might like to see "something" on the way. Then connect the pins and see what kind of tri[ you have--going out and returning.
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Old Nov 9th, 2021, 04:11 AM
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There are so any places to see along the way and you need to give some more information about what interests you most.

Be aware that some places will be too hot to do much in the way of hiking, biking, etc. along the way.

That said, plan a loop so that you get to see different things on the way out than on the way back. Gretchens idea about using a paper map to highlight the things you want to see/ do, will help you decide which way to take your loop to see the most in the time you have.

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Old Nov 9th, 2021, 06:27 AM
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as of now it is 3 weeks for the round trip, OH to GC and back to OH.
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Old Nov 9th, 2021, 06:36 AM
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Our main objective with this trip is to see a few national parks. But since most of my family has never been to the western part of the US, other places like the meteor crater in AZ or historic sites would be great to see. We wouldn't necessarily want to do huge amounts of hiking due to the hot weather and the age of one of the people going, but we have 2 teachers and 2 college students in our group, so we need to go sometime between the 2nd week of June and the middle of August.
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Old Nov 9th, 2021, 06:39 AM
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You could go through Colorado and Utah. Colorado has many sights such as Pikes Peak. Utah has some fabulous national parks such as Zion, Arches and Canyonlands. I recommend you get a large Rand McNally Road Atlas to plan your route. On the return trip you could go through New Mexico which has the Santa Fe Plaza.
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Old Nov 9th, 2021, 09:26 AM
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If you haven't already visited the Gateway Arch in St Louis, it might be an appropriate beginning. You're likely to go through Amarillo, TX in one direction or the other and just a little bit south is Palo Duro State Park. It is the second biggest Canyon in the US and worth a visit.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon
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Old Nov 9th, 2021, 12:39 PM
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I'd stop in Santa Fe, NM for sure. It is at a higher elevation, America's second oldest city and full of history. Known for unique food and lots of art galleries. Been there 3 times at different times of year. I really enjoy visiting a few of the nearby Pueblo Indian villages (each one has unique styles of pottery) and driving up to Taos. The indian pueblos are closed right now due to Covid but should be open next year.
I'd skip Phoenix, we enjoyed Tucson for a night or two.
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Old Nov 10th, 2021, 05:09 PM
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In September we did a 4 week trip from New England to the Grand Canyon. We included Yellowstone and the Badlands so maybe in only 3 weeks you wouldn't want to be that ambitious. But we did three of the Utah parks (Canyonland, Capitol Reef and Arch's), Monument Valley, Lake Powel, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Petrified Forest, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Carlsbad Canyons, Guadalupe Mountain National Park, up through Colorado and then back. We went through Ohio in both directions - took 2 days in each direction from Ohio to the "good stuff" (no offense to Kansas, etc. but we just went through those states on the Interstate.) We did stop at the Gateway Arch (took about an hour to see). So not including the day in each direction from New England to Ohio, and not including South Dakota and Wyoming, the trip was about 3 weeks.

I had been to the Grand Canyon before but my husband had not so I wanted him to see it but we didn't spend much time this trip. If you have never been, and you are going in the summer I STRONGLY suggest you do the North Rim. The south rim is crazy crowded in summer. But the north rim if quite a ways from any town so you really need to spend the night(s) in the Lodge. When I went we stayed in the cabins and loved it. Two nights was enough to drive the rim roads and do some short hikes. I have also been to the south rim (three times) and would never go in summer.

A trip to the north rim can easily be combined with the Utah parks. All five of them are wonderful. Zion deserves at least a couple of days, Bryce can be seen in one full day (the Queens Garden hike is one of the best anywhere). Capitol Reef is between Bryce and Moab and some people see it en route between the two. RT 12 is an ultra scenic national scenic byway. We spent the night near Capitol Reef and had most of a day but it's not that large, can be seen in half a day. We did one hike about 2 hours. We stopped at Goblin Valley state park en route from there to Moab. Only takes a couple hours and lots of fun. We spent 3 nights in Moab and did Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point one day and Arch's the other full day. Also drove the Scenic Byway along the Colorado River in both directions from Moab (an hour or so in each direction). If you want to do river rafting or other adventure experiences you need more time but 3 nights in Moab was enough for several short hikes and driving the scenic drives in the parks.

From Moab we drove through Valley of the Gods (BLM land), Goosenecks State Park, and Monument Valley en route to Page, AZ. I'd been there twice before so only spent one night but I would advise at least 2 (or 3). The absolute best thing is Antelope Canyon (you need advance reservations but hey are easy to make on line). Also Horseshore Bend. We wanted to do a boat ride on the lake but the schedule was way cut back due to covid and being the shoulder season. By next summer hopefully they will resume (as long as Lake Powell doesn't completely dry up by then).

Heading back east we stopped in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Also spent the night in El Rancho Hotel in Gallup which was great - very retro, full of movie star memorabilia (and no more expensive than regular chain hotels). We did a side trip down to Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountain National Park (just over the border in Texas). My husband said Carlsbad was a highlight of the trip for him but I'm not sure it was worth the almost 5 hours in each direction detour (and the Motel 6 in Carlsbad was the pits). Then we went up through Colorado. I wanted to see Great Sand Dunes National Park and as it was on the way I'm glad we stopped but I was disappointed.

Near Santa Fe is Bandelier National Monument - worthwhile half day. A previous trip I did Mesa Verde which is wonderful but I heard this year a lot was 'off limits' due to Covid. As I had already been it was a non issue for me but I'd look into it.

My photos of all these places are here: https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f764149109
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Old Nov 11th, 2021, 06:55 AM
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If you go on I-70 through Missouri and Kansas there are some sights along the way. Hermann MO. Historic has two brick downtowns, featuring boutiques and restaurants, dating from the 1830s when it was settled by Germans. The Katy Trail can be accessed from the town and there is a winery on top of a hill overlooking the Missouri River.

Rocheport, MO. The famous Katy Trail at Rocheport, MO features a tunnel on the west and high bluffs along the Missouri River on the east. Bike rentals available.

Kansas City. If you are into barbeque, Kansas City has some of the best (esp. Joes and Gates).

Lawrence, KS. A quirky university city with a lively downtown featuring boutique shops, good restaurants and bars. Art and natural history museums on the Uni. Of Kansas campus.


Manhattan, KS. Nearby is the 9,900-acre Konza Prairie trails which features trails through the through tallgrass prairie. One may see wild turkeys, prairie chickens or bison.


Lindsborg, KansasValkommen! (welcome). Lindsborg, Little Sweden, USA, is considered one of the premiere arts communities in Kansas, if not the Midwest. Its logo, the Dala Horse, may be seen throughout the town. There are Swedish souvenir shops such as Hemslojd and one can eat tasty Swedish food at the Swedish Crown which has Swedish meatballs, Swedish Pancakes and Ostkaka with Lingonberries. Sites include the Birger Sandzen Gallery with its large colorful landscapes, 1874 Bethany Lutheran Church, Red Barn Studio, Coronado Heights, Valkommen Trail, and the Old Mill Museum.


Hays, Amerika. Check out the outstanding Sternberg Museum which features the fossil fish within a fish. Roam around the old historic Fort Hays State Historic Site where Custer was stationed. Eat at Al’s Chickenette. Settled by Volga Germans.












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