Colorado/Utah National Parks vacation plan...

I'm planning a vacation to Colorado and Utah and looking for input on things to see. We have a pretty packed plan so far but might be able to squeeze something in.

Day 1 - Fly to Denver, drive south toward Great Sand Dunes NP.
Day 2 - Great Sand Dunes NP, then drive toward Mesa Verde NP
Day 3 - Mesa Verde NP - going to try to get tours of Cliff Palace and Balcony House - Drive to Moab/Green River
Day 4 - Canyonlands NP
Day 5 - Arches NP
Day 6 - open - thinking SxS tour Hells Revenge and Fins & Things then drive toward Capitol Reef NP
Day 7 - Capitol Reef then drive toward Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Day 8 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Day 9 - Drive toward Rocky Mountain NP
Day 10 - Rocky Mountain NP
Day 11 - Drive to Denver / drop car off by 4pm
Day 12 - Fly home

Possible modification to add Zion NP in if I can hit the day before lottery and get a pass to hike Angel's Landing. If we do that, the SxS tour gets cut. And if need be, RMNP gets bumped off the end and we will go there in the next 2 years when we go to Yellowstone.

Any input on where to stay near the national parks? Planning on staying in Green River instead of Moab for Canyonlands and Arches.

 

We went through Black Canyon in July and was not impressed. There is a LOT of road construction and congestion right now on the access roads

 

Way too many places.. you will be driving as much as exploring those parks…

that being said the drive out here in the MTN west and southwest is great.. so if that’s intentional, then have at it

for great sand dunes.. there is only one lodging option, at the entrance to the park… if you can book that, it will be highly convenient .. otherwise you are looking at quite a bit away…

 

Enjoy the trip but try to be a bit flexible. It is still summer out here.

 

Thanks for the input, we will look into that. We know it is a lot of driving, in some cases 4+ hours after visiting a park for most of the day. Luckily I like driving and the scenery is so different from around here it isn't too bad. We also adjust on the fly and if we need to lop RMNP off the end that frees up 2 days.

Last year we flew to PHX on 10/28 and went to Saguaro NP, Tombstone, Gila Cliff Dwellings, White Sands NP, Guadalupe Mtns NP, Carlsbad Caverns NP, Petrified Forest NP and the Grand Canyon NP

 

Make sure you are aware of which NPS parks require timed entry pass. This pass is required in addition to your annual NPS pass.

 

Around capitol reef NP, Chrck out Goblin Valley State Park… very unique landscape!

green river ut makes for a bad home base, if you intend to explore the Moab area.. you barely have time to waste with unnecessary commute

also check our valley of the gods, south of moab.. great drive, not too far out of the way

 

Already have passes for Arches and RMNP, will be online to try to get tours at Mesa Verde when they are released (2 weeks out). Will pick up our national park pass at the first park.

Will keep that info in mind. Thanks!