Albuquerque Travel Forum

Weather/Road conditions last week of November
Posted: Sat August 30, 2008 06:24 PM CEST
Hi,
We (4 adults) have planned a round trip (in a rented car) according to a route that you can check out the Google Map Link below. Unfortunately this trip has been delayed to the last week of November. Could anyone please give us some advice on what we have to expect of weather-/driving conditions in some of these areas, and if we ought to skip some of the destinations - or maybe find a completely different destination altogether. This is going to be our first trip to (and in) USA, and we would of course like to bring home to Norway the best of "memories" from your country :) THANK YOU!

<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=34.474864,-112.027588&daddr=US-180+%4035.704050,+-112.132390+to:US-89-ALT+%4036.844980,+-112.278410+to:UT-12+%4038.025530,+-111.349860+to:UT-20+%4038.005790,+-112.509030+to:Northshore+Rd%2FNV-167+%4036.227050,+-114.617180+to:E+Lake+Mead+Blvd%2FNV-147+%4036.196230,+-115.052770+to:S+Boulder+Hwy%2FUS-93+S%2FUS-95+S+%4035.986040,+-114.922070+to:Bruce+Woodbury+Belt%2FI-215+W%2FNV-146+W+%4036.032910,+-115.022170+to:Bruce+Woodbury+Belt%2FI-215+W%2FNV-146+W+%4036.029160,+-115.049524+to:N+Arroyo+Grande+Blvd+%4036.040930,+-115.058640+to:American+Pacific+Dr+%4036.041770,+-115.042005+to:AZ-89-ALT+%4034.643430,+-112.300370+to:AZ-169+%4034.531510,+-112.220290&hl=no&geocode=1502309829375917957,34.572260,-111.889170%3B5007396719974047897,35.704050,-112.132390%3B9368270244151715045,36.844980,-112.278410%3B3837465231007606717,38.025530,-111.349860%3B12853561234432031599,38.005790,-112.509030%3B6162278040132216410,36.227050,-114.617180%3B5679874374163058110,36.196230,-115.052770%3B9426513472649735822,35.986040,-114.922070%3B5105854616309205266,36.032910,-115.022170%3B7412219035534009283,36.029160,-115.049524%3B206817911367752185,36.040930,-115.058640%3B15783586437568787907,36.041770,-115.042005%3B5085494519216173137,34.643430,-112.300370%3B4002696598362020776,34.531510,-112.220290&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12&doflg=ptk&sll=34.782228,-112.181396&sspn=2.309899,3.537598&ie=UTF8&ll=36.606709,-112.851562&spn=4.514931,7.075195&t=h&z=7>

Weather can be unpredictable. I have not scrutinized every part of your trip but I did notice you have 89A, assuming you're going from the north end of the Grand Canyon into the back of Zion national park. My husband and I drove this road in 1970, and I have no reason to think it has been improved much. 89A is a very dangerous mountain road, and if you drive north, you will be on the outside "edge" of the road. There were so many tight curves, and such a vacuum to my right when I was driving, I did not *dare* take my eyes off the road. I have heard friends say they knew someone whose mom had been killed in an accident. Not to put a damper in your trip, but just beware, this road is not to be taken lightly, and if you were to drive south on the road instead of north, you'd at least be on the "inside" of the road. Why do I think it has not changed? - it's really very remote. I guess it would need normal maintenance, but the hills it traverses are quite high and it must be difficult to work on that road.

I am guessing that coming from beautiful green Norway you look forward to seeing the desert and its colors. I was going to suggest driving from Reno, Nevada, to Sacramento, Calif. The road is breathtaking and driveable, with or without snow (you need chains if snow) - but it's a beautiful drive. Since you're in Nevada, you also have some gambling action (I noticed you have Las Vegas).

I most appreciate your concerns. Having zoomed in on satellite mode Google Maps I quite understand what you are saying. We do indeed have scary roads like this in Norway too, and we have the utmost respect for the consequences when driving on slippery roads in the winter season. Wether are able to enjoy the view or not is however more of a personal thing, but I know for a fact that at least the three out of four of us would not enjoy it at all... So thank you very much for your warning. We will probably now direct our flight to Phoenix, and plan two alternate tours, one for "a warm winter" and one for colder weather and make sure to be able to follow the weather forecasts from day to day from the hotel. Thanks again! - Maybe you will spot other questions from me on the VT site in a few days from now ;)

Flying into Las Vegas would work ok if you drove North on I-15 and went to Zion. This is quite enjoyable, and I-15 is a major highway. Zion is a much easier park to handle, there are hairpin turns but it seems the shoulders are wider and I was not as concerned. Looking at the links below looks like they've even implemented a shuttle. I enjoyed the hikes in this park.
http://www.nps.gov/zion/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm ... you can work up to the nps.gov level and check other parks - not sure if you don't already have this link, just in case.

And if you do drive from Vegas, there are plenty of supermarkets (such as Safeway) and drug stores (ie. Walgreen's) for picking up snacks and supplies at non-touristy prices - you can locate stores via the following links:
http://shop.safeway.com/superstore/default.asp?brandid=1&page=corphome
http://www.walgreens.com/

One last note about flying into Vegas ... it's a good idea to allow three hours before your *departing* flight. Vegas has numerous conventions causing thousands of people to leave simultaneously, making for notorious security lines.

I know you mentioned Phoenix ... I'm just not sure what is closer, it would be a quieter airport though ... plain "89" coming north into Vegas is OK - it's 89A which is challenging.

Which areas are you actually going to?
You're definitely going to encounter snow at some point on your route, most likely near Bryce in Southern Utah. But how much snow and whether or not it will adversely affect your travels is unpredictable at this point. Storms come randomly, but there is usually one near Thanksgiving that will bring the first snow to the Grand Canyon's South Rim and the rest of the Mogollon Rim region.
Personally, if I were coming to the US from a cold place in the winter, I would choose to spend my time in warmer, snowless areas. Do the Grand Canyon South Rim and Sedona, definitely, but maybe head south to Phoenix and Tucson instead of going north into Utah. And you don't have to spend your time in the cities as there's quite a bit to do in the outdoors just outside of them.
How long do you have and what are you looking to see? Remember also that the best sites are often in national park, but there's also quite a bit to see in the smaller national monuments, state parks and forest service facilities that are more off-the-beaten path. It just depends on what you're looking for.

This is a almost a whole new itinerary. I can only echo what other people have said about southern Utah and the North Rim. The North Rim lodging and camping sites close in mid-October. The Grand Canyon National Park Service website will tell you what roads are open. Although I have only been to Lake Powell and Monument Valley in southern Utah, I would guess that parks in southern Utah will have some of the same issues during winter as the North Rim. Las Vegas and the South Rim will be fine and I would stay south of them. I like Jerome better than Sedona. Cottonwood is between them and probably a less expensive place to spend the night, yet close to both. I have already mentioned some things to do in northeast Arizona in a previous note.

Thank you Ray,
I have been too busy to work on this project in September, but it is not forgotten, and I really appreciate that someone out there prove that they care :) Thanks again for your tips.
Take care,
Egil