Texas to Utah Road Trip

 

Our last major road trip was in 2017 when our family moved to Texas. Since then, we have taken many road trips but either they were local or within sane driving distance. This was another major trip in our travel journal.

It all started with a photograph of the towering sandstone buttes of Monument Valley Navajo Nation Tribal Park. Since both me and my husband have more travel fluid than blood in our veins, we started exploring this area in detail. We enjoyed Monument Valley a lot on our road trip to Texas and we both knew that we will visit this place again someday.

 

Little did we know at that time that the tribal parks were closed due to Covid. We had mapped and pinned all the points only to find out a few days later, that none of it will be possible. But that did not stop us from making our road trip happen and finally after a week of online research…..scratching and making of new route options…..multiple phone calls, we finalized our Texas to Utah trip itinerary.

 

OUR TX-NM-UT ROAD TRIP ITENARARY

 

10 DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Left McKinney at 6:30pm………. 5.5 hour drive to Amarillo…… Night stay in Amarillo
Day 2: Left Amarillo at noon…………….. 5.5 hour drive to Taos…… Night stay in Taos
Day 3: Taos sight seeing, extra hour added due to time zone change……7 hour drive to Moab…..Night stay in Moab
Day 4: Moab till 6pm……. 3 hour drive to Monument Valley…… Night stay Monument Valley
Day 5-8: Monument Valley and nearby attractions…..Multiple night stay in Monument Valley
Day 9: Left Monument Valley at noon……6 hour drive to Santa Fe…..Night stay in Santa Fe
Day 10: Debated whether to stop in Amarillo or drive home. Ended up driving home…….10 hours. 

 

COVID ROAD TRIP TIPS

-Road trips during Covid have their own unique challenges. The best tip is to make sure that you are well aware of the State regulations you plan to visit. 

-It does not matter what the people around you are doing, always practice social distancing, wear masks and have hand sanitizer handy.

-When doing long trips, you cannot not stop to use the restroom. Due to Covid many public restrooms might be closed, so when one presents itself, use it.

-We stopped at multiple gas stations along the way and I must say almost of all of them were clean and hand sanitizer stations readily available. But just to be extra careful, we always had wipes with us.

 

DAY-1: DALLAS,TX TO AMARILLO,TX

 

Initially we had planned to drive directly to Taos (10.5 hours) but last minute decided to divide the drive and after winding up work left for Amarillo around 6:30pm. 

Stopped at Marcos Pizza in Wichita Falls, Texas and was surprised to see the drive through pickup option. Enjoyed dinner on the go. It was after midnight when we checked into our hotel. Worn out from the whole day and the drive, we went to sleep right away.

 

DAY-2: AMARILLO, TX to TAOS, NM

Started the day with a big breakfast to IHOP as it was closest to our hotel. The breakfast was delish but unfortunately we had to wait almost an hour for our turn as they were being really careful and practicing social distancing.

Stopped at Cadillac Ranch, the iconic Texas stop. After enjoying the array of Cadillac’s, spray painting and taking the much needed pics we made our way to US 385-N towards Taos.

 

Almost 2 hours into our drive we crossed the Stateline and entered New Mexico. The first major city upon entering New Mexico via US-87 is Clayton.

Initially the drive was flat and kind of barren but soon as we crossed Cimarron, NM we started gaining height and also the drive got scenic with forest green trees and snow. 

Passing through many villages in the Colfax County, New Mexico, it was almost 6pm when we finally entered the snow covered city of Taos. 

New Mexico had tight Covid travel restrictions so we wanted to make sure to stay at a place which had good reviews and was following good cleaning protocols. We called a couple of places to make sure they were taking reservations and ended up booking and staying the night at a historic hotel. 

Where we stayed: THE HISTORIC TOAS INN

The location was perfect with gorgeous adobe architecture and ample parking space. It had snowed earlier in the day so everything looked angelic in white.

 

The guest rooms were quaint, sweet and comfortable. The fireplace felt like a warm hug. There was no microwave or fridge which might have been a con had we been staying longer but for an overnight trip, we did not need it. Restaurant on the premises “Doc Martin” was closed as was indoor dining so we ended up ordering food from “El Conejos Concina” a Mexican restaurant. After dinner we drove around to enjoy the city but most of the places were closed and thanks to the snow visibility was not good either so came back to the hotel earlier than we had anticipated.

Decided to start the fire in the fireplace and little did I know there is a way to set up the logs. A few moments in, the room was engulfed in the smoke blanket and the fire alarm started beeping strong. Luckily the manager had not left for the day and everything was sorted out. Out of sheer embarrassment I asked him that this must have been his first time handling something like that to which he replied “Oh No…seen worse”. 

Unfortunately we had to open the windows and door to let the smoke out which made the room cold. Finally after about twenty minutes we closed the windows/door cranked up the heat, and enjoyed the fireplace in peace while watching Wonder Woman. 

What a night! Adding to our list of travel memories

 

DAY-3: TAOS, NM to MOAB, UT

Since restaurants are closed for dine- in in New Mexico, by the time I woke up, my husband had already gotten breakfast from a local place.  After breakfast we enjoyed the snow outside our room and then headed out.

SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS MISSION CHURCH

After breakfast we drove around to see the famous San Francisco De Asis Mission Church, a National historic landmark.  It was named for Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, merchants and ecology. You actually see the back side of the church from the road and to see the front you have to take the side road. Famous artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams and Paul Strand, and many others made the sanctuary famous. It also houses Henri Ault’s famous mystery painting which attracts a lot of tourists. 

TAOS PUEBLO

After appreciating the architecture and the holy feel of the mission we headed towards the Taos Pueblo which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America. was designated a World Heritage Site and a National Historic Site in 1992. The adobe, multi-storied homes of Taos Pueblo helped inspire the Pueblo Revival style of architecture in contemporary New Mexico. 

Unfortunately it is closed under further notice so if you plan to visit it anytime soon, do check their website.

RIO GRANDE GORGE BRIDGE

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the tenth highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System. The bridge is a three-span steel continuous-deck-truss structure with a concrete-filled steel-grid deck. 

The gorge spans 10 miles and is 240 m deep and begins near the Colorado border.

The gorge and almost 242.5K acres of the surrounding land was designated a National Monument on March 25, 2013 by President Barack Obama under the provisions of the Antiquities Act. 

Fun Fact: It was called the “bridge to nowhere” while it was being built because the funding did not exist to continue the road on the other side.

It has appeared in various movies like Terminator Salvation, Wild Hogs and The Signal to name a few.

Made a quick pit stop in Chama, NM for gas and snacks and within half an hour we entered Colorado. 

Almost 2 hours into the drive, we made a pit stop again in Durango, Colorado to get some snacks and stretch our legs. 

Another one and half hour into our drive we entered Utah via US 491. We knew by the time we would reach Moab it will be late so we decide to pick up food on our way. After some research on Yelp we ended up doing a Thai carryout from Singha in Moab.

Where we stayed: RED CLIFFS LODGE

A friend of ours had earlier sent us pictures of this hidden gem which is set on the banks of the Colorado River and backed by high cliffs. The lodge is almost 17 miles North-West from from the main entrance of Arches National Park. 

Our cabin had a warm-homey feel and the view…I cannot express in words. It was if the stars had come down to make a conversation with the peaceful sound of the Colorado river snaking it’s way around the cliffs.

 

Although it was really cold but the view was so stunning that we spent a long time gazing at the open skies with a melody of stars. I think it was past midnight when we finally called it a day.

DAY-4: MOAB, UT to MONUMENT VALLEY, UT

 

Woke up around 4:30am to catch the sunrise at the Mesa Arch, Utah. 

MESA ARCH:

Mesa Arch is a part of the Canyon Lands National Park.  It is the best place to catch the sunrise with a breathtaking view.

We parked the car at the base and a short hike (0.5m) from the main road led to the arch itself. I was thinking that we will be the only ones there but to my surprise, photographers had already set up their tripods to get a good click of the sunrise. 

Me and the kids perched ourselves on the mountain all covered to beat the cold while my husband joined the photographers lot to take pictures of the glorious sunrise.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK:

Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah. It is said that you could spend a lifetime exploring this place and and still not reach all the way into the park’s depths.

The park is easily accessible to everyone. You can enjoy it in the convenience of your car or with a short hike. and there are soo many vista points that you will be hitting the brakes more frequent than you thought.

The park in divided into 4 main sections/districts:

• Island in the Sky

• The Needles

• The Maze

• The Rivers

Island in the Sky is the most visited district while the Maze being the remotest and requires a 4×4. 

How long to spend in the Park?

Any where from a couple of hours to a few days. You can drive around in your own car but if you really want to soak in the experience than I highly suggest renting a 4X4 or get hold of a tour company and explore the canyon up-close.

Can you do Arches National Park and Canyon Lands in one day?

Yes, you most certainly can though it will be a rushed trip.

 

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK:

 

This was our second time visiting the Arches National Park. Last time we did it summer on our road trip from California to Texas. You can read all about it HERE.

Arches Park are known for….the Arches. They even grace the license plates of Utah and have been featured in loads of movies, shows and magazines. With 2000 natural red-hued sandstone arches it is one park you will be mesmerized and will probably be the best part of your Utah trip.

 

Arches Scenic Drive

Arches Scenic drive is the only road that travels through the park and is almost 19 miles long. You can do the entire loop in less than an hour but with all the vista points, grand arches and so many gorgeous formations plan to spend close to two hours.

 

How much is the entrance fee?

Park entrance is $30 per vehicle and is good for 7 days.  You can also buy the annual pass for $80 which covers entrance fees at national parks and wildlife refuges as well as day-use fees at national forests and grasslands and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

How long to spend in the park?

Anywhere from 2 hours to a a whole day. The park is open 24 hours so you have ample time to enjoy the morning as well as evening view of the arches. The park gets really crowded so plan to go earlier in the day.

 

How to access the Arches?

Most of the arches are within short hikes and easy to do with kids. Delicate Arch is the only one we found to be a bit challenging with kids but we were still able to do it with them, we just went slowly and carefully.

 

What not to miss in Arches National Park?

• Arches Scenic Drive

• La Sal Mountain View Point

• Balanced Rock

• Windows Arches

• Turret Arch

• Double Arch

• Delicate Arch

• Garden of Eden

• Devil’s Garden

It was almost dark when we made our way back to Moab. Stopped for dinner at Thai Bella before making our way towards Monument Valley.

DAY 5- 8: MONUMENT VALLEY, UT

Our main stop for this trip was Monument Valley. A place where you will get lost in nature and forget everything.

Initially we thought that the closet place to stay near Monument Valley would be in Kayenta, AZ but later we found an amazing place.

Where we stayed: GOULDING’S LODGE

 

Nestled in the foothills of the gorgeous mountains, Goulding’s Lodge is located next to US-163 directly across the road which leads to the entrance of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. There are a number of lodging options from villas, to rooms to camp spots. In addition to that Goulding’s also has a fully stocked grocery store, gas station & convenience store with a food court, car wash, and laundromat, and…..an airstrip.

 

The lodge had it’s humble beginnings in 1920 but rose to fame when film director John Ford shot classics with John Wayne like  Stagecoach, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, How the West Was Won and more.

Since we were in the Monument Valley for a few days, I will be writing a separate blog post just to cover things in and around the valley which are must see. Stay tuned for that.

 

DAY-8: MONUMENT VALLEY, UT to SANTA FE, NM

 

Started the day early and enjoyed a yummy breakfast in the villa. After breakfast went to Goulding’s gift shop and bought some local souvenirs like dream catchers and tapestry. 

Left the lodge around 11 and stopped in Kayenta, AZ for gas before making our way to Four Corners, NM.

The Four Corners is a region of the Southwestern United States, where 4 states meet consisting of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and  New Mexico. We were bummed to find out that is closed to public during the Covid season 🙁

 

We decided to stop at Shiprock, NM on the Navajo Reservation to get some snacks and also see the monadnock but the whole city was closed, even the gas stations. We ended up stopping at Farmington to get snacks and it was around 6pm that we reached Santa Fe. 

 

Since we knew that restaurant are not open for dine-in in NM we decided to see the city at night, order take out and in the end check in to our hotel.

NEW MEXICO STATE CAPITOL

Our first stop was the State Capitol building located on the Old Santa Fe Trail. Did you know it is the only round state capitol in the whole US and is also called THE ROUNDHOUSE.

 

PALACE OF GOVERNERS & NEW MEXICO HISTORY MUSEUM

This adobe structure was the original site of the Capitol and is now a history museum which was declared a national historic landmark in 1960.

 

THE CATHERDRAL BASILICA OF St. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

 

Commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, it is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in downtown, Santa Fe. Construction started in 1869 and it took almost 18 years to be completed. It has a unique architecture with round arches and Corinthian columns.

 

SANTA FE PLAZA

The plaza is is a national historic landmark in downtown Santa Fe which hosts annual events as well as Indian and Spanish markets. At any given time of the day you can see people enjoying restaurants, chilling on the benches, checking out galleries/souvenir shops. You can find vendors selling authentic Native American crafts and jewelry.

 

LORETTO CHAPEL

 

Once a Roman Catholic Church, Loretto Chapel is now a museum and also serves as wedding chapel. The architecture is gorgeous.

This chapel hosts a mysterious staircase without any visible support.

 

CANYON ROAD

Canyon Road is home to over eighty art galleries, restaurants, and historic adobe homes. It is also known as the cultural hub of Santa FE., it is the cultural center of Santa Fe.

The best way to enjoy this road is to take a stroll down the street. Since we did not have much time on hand, we drove around the gorgeous art district.

After seeing all the attractions we did carryout from Pyramid Café, a Mediterranean restaurant on Cordova Road.

Where we stayed: HAMPTON INN, SANTA FE

By the time we finally checked into our hotel it was past 10. Our room was Lysol cleaned and the door was even sealed shut when we got there.

We enjoyed our fresh and flavorful Mediterranean dinner while watching Spiderman for nth time.

 

DAY-9: SANTA FE, NM to DALLAS, TX

 

Since the hot breakfast option was closed at the hotel, we got the Grab and Go breakfast instead which included an apple, a mini muffin, granola bar and you could grab a flavored yogurt and hot coffee/juice.

Earlier we had decided to spend the night at Amarillo, TX but by this time, we all wanted to go home so we decided to check out early and drive all the way to Dallas.

Had we decided to stop for the night at Amarillo, we had planned to go to Bandelier National Monument, Meow Wolf, Tsankawi.

We did stop in Amarillo for lunch and also got carry out for dinner as we knew that by the time we would get home everything will be closed. Since the drive was long we decided not want to stop for dinner. Our last pit stop was in Wichita Falls to top us gas and get snacks.

By the time we got home it was close to mid night but it felt soo good to sleep in our own beds and dream of our amazing road trip.

 

Enjoying a local trip and planning for a new adventure while there.

Until next time…. Safe Travels!