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Bryce Canyon / Capitol Reef
Can anyone recommend a campground around Bryce Canyon NP or Capitol Reef NP. The only thing on the PC map is down near Zion. We will have a few days to spend in the area on our way home from Sante Fe in mid Sept. We are planning at least a day in Moab to see Arches NP and then on to Bryce. Is there a bus passable route from Moab to Bryce without too much interstate? We are 45 feet with a toad. Also, should we visit Canyonlands NP instead of Arches, and is there is some place to stay around there? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.
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9 Replies
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We stayed at the Archview campground when we were there three years ago in our previous coach. Should not have any problems with a 45-footer. We just used the car to go to Arches and Canyonlands.
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Please make map additions anywhere you stay boys, your dues could be reduced at random….
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Here he is offering breaks on the dues again. Will it ever stop?
As I mentioned previously I have to grow my own food and he is building a new house. What is going on here. This sounds more and more like voodoo economics and nothing is trickling down to me.
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We stayed at Ruby’s Inn a couple of years ago. Very close to Bryce park enterance. Nothing special, in fact, we were basically in the middle of a gravel lot with utilities. Easy in and out.
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Thanks John and Per. Are Utah highways 12 and 24 ok for bus travel with a toad?
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We stayed in Archview earlier this year in a backin site with no problems. Cell (Verizon) and wifi are hit and miss. Some folks stayed next to us in a Newell and had come over highway 12 without problems howver I would not do it. We have traveled highway 24 serveral time getting to Capitol Reef without any problems. Beautiful area.
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We’ve stayed at Ruby’s near Zion and Portal (new section) at Moab. Both just fine. Portal is usually full so book well ahead. Just up the road from Arches. Canyonlands is awesome. Don’t miss it if you’re in the area. Hwy. 12 is breathtaking.
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Just got back from a great trip to New Mexico and Southern Utah. Thanks to those who posted suggestions. I wanted to report on a local highway around Bryce Canyon NP and Capitol Reef NP that was mentioned in previous posts.
Utah Highway 12 is a pretty easy drive from U.S. 89 to the entrance of Bryce Canyon NP, although there are two short tunnels marked 13’6″. I dumped the air (4-5 inches) and my 13’6″ bus seemed to have plenty of clearance, so I think the signage is intentionally scary. Best to take it slow through there and straddle the middle of the road though. The sides of the tunnels slope down and are shorter than the center.
Beyond Bryce, Hwy 12 is much narrower, has no shoulders, and has very steep grades. We stayed in Escalante, which is between the two parks. From Bryce to Escalante (about 50 miles), Hwy 12 has a couple of 8% grades and one 12%. It was slow in places, but we did not have trouble driving it, even with our Jeep in tow.
From Escalante to Capitol Reef there are numerous 8 and 10% grades and two 14% grades. Yes, FOURTEEN PERCENT! We were staying in Escalante so made that part of the trip in the toad, but I guess if we were ok on 12% in the bus we could handle the 14%. There were numerous Prevost and MCI charter buses on that road, so it plainly is doable. I do not recommend doing this route in the dark, regardless of experience. In addition to the curves and grades, there is a lot of wildlife, especially deer, elk and cattle, that think they own the road.
As others have noted, this is a gorgeous highway through an amazing part of the country. However, those not experienced with mountain driving, or who prefer to drive roads with a nice shoulder should think long and hard about taking it in their bus.
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HWY 12 is a great ride on a motorcycle.
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