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DirtyBlueVan
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2013
Posts: 122
Location: Oregon
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 Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:32 pm Post subject: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Hi all, in the midst of planning a trip to AZ for my 4th-grade son who was born in AZ and has always wanted to check it out(The grand canyon specifically). I was curious if anyone had any suggestions for stops or spots to check out enroute.
So far the plan was to head to SE Oregon down through Nevada, into SW Utah and then AZ. Planning on boondocking/camping if at all possible. After Oregon, I'm out of ideas for spots. Taking the Syncro Westy.
The trip is at the end of March for spring break
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1989 Syncro Westfalia 2.5 smallcar subie
Last edited by DirtyBlueVan on Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6243
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Personally, I'd skip Nevada all together. Route 395 down past the eastern sierras is got a lot of scenery. Tons of places to pull off and camp.
I would make a loop out of it from Klamath Falls, down 395 to Barstow. Over HWY 40 to the Canyon. Back through Salt Lake City and 84 back to Oregon.
It's a lot of ground to cover. How much time are you taking?
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erste
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013
Posts: 1110
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| Personally, I'd skip Nevada all together. |
I'm not going to argue with that, but one place I'd suggest is Massacre Rim Wilderness Area in NW Nevada. Designated last year as the 7th dark sky sanctuary. It's all BLM land so camping would be easy. I haven't been but hope to check it out sometime this year.
The 395 route south is a great suggestion. On the way down you're not far from Lassen NP, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Inyo National Forest (Ancient bristlecone pines), Kings Canyon, Death Valley, etc etc.
Definitely loop back up and into Southern Idaho. It's really beautiful up there.
One thing I'd avoid is 80 East out of Salt Lake City into Nevada. Into a headwind or crosswind is a killer and it's a pretty boring drive regardless. |
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DirtyBlueVan
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2013
Posts: 122
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:02 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
Personally, I'd skip Nevada all together. Route 395 down past the eastern sierras is got a lot of scenery. Tons of places to pull off and camp.
I would make a loop out of it from Klamath Falls, down 395 to Barstow. Over HWY 40 to the Canyon. Back through Salt Lake City and 84 back to Oregon.
It's a lot of ground to cover. How much time are you taking? |
up to 8 days. I'll have to check out that route, thanks! I forgot to add that the trip is at the end of March for spring break. I was thinking I would avoid snow a little better going through Nevada. What do you think?
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fxr
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2321
Location: Bay area CA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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If you're doing 395, Alabama Hills a couple of miles west of Lone Pine is a great BLM spot. Amazing rock formations - but don't hit it at the weekend, there'll be no spaces left after lunchtime Saturday. Loads of Westerns were shot there back in the day. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Hills
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1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
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Jeffrey Lee
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Joined: February 04, 2014
Posts: 1488
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Toured some of that region last fall:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9218404
We especially enjoyed SW Utah: Goblin Valley SP, Capitol Reef, Escalante, Bryce Canyon, Glen Canyon, Zion, Vermilion Cliffs to the North Rim. We only had a week there, but would happily go back for a month or more.
So much dramatic scenery and so many back roads to explore ...
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tristessa
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2004
Posts: 3992
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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| Having driven 95 north out of Las Vegas to Fallon, then west through Fernley to get to Reno .. I'd skip it and stick to 395 unless you really, REALLY want to see the Clown Motel in Tonopah. |
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Ride-Fly
Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2015
Posts: 621
Location: PDX
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:29 am Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Sounds like an awesome trip! Post a trip report along the way!
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coqcitywesty
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Joined: February 20, 2018
Posts: 401
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:57 am Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Sedona is an amazing place to explore and a couple of hours from Grand Canyon. If you take 89A north from Sedona, Slide Rock State Park is absolutely worth a stop and yes, you need to do the natural waterslide and yes, you and your kid will bond for life over the memory. At Flagstaff, take 89 north and take in Sunset Crater Volcano NP and then Wupatki National Monument before heading west on 64 towards the GC South Rim and if you have never been to GC, prepare to have your mind blown - pictures, videos, nothing else gives you the perspective of standing on the various ledges looking a mile down to the Colorado River. I have done this trip a couple times in a rental car and its currently on my Westy trip-list for 2021...... Enjoy!
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dhaavers
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Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7754
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Beautiful & memorable spot in NW AZ, but spendy, run a bit like a cattle drive and often
fully booked unless you're there first thing in the morning &/or reserved ahead of time:
https://www.visitarizona.com/uniquely-az/parks-and-monuments/antelope-canyon
Link
Another (...some say better?) option:
Link
You'll also be right on top of Zion &/or Bryce Canyon NP's - also worth a stop! 
- Dave
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7915
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Oregon > Southern Idaho > down Utah to Bryce/Zion/Pink Sand Dunes/Kanab > Lake Powell/Page > Cameron > East Rim Drive to South Rim of Grand Canyon > Williams/Bearizona tour > Ash Fork to Kingman via Route 66 > Las Vegas to Death Valley (watch out for idiot tourists who don't know what "stop" means crossing 93 at the Skywalk intersection) > 395 East Sierras > home
That's the route I'd take.😊
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1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Tonopah, Mining Museum and Graveyard
Austin, old mountainside town
Eli, mining town and steam railroad
Belmont, ghost town that was once county seat
Middlegate Tavern, cool spot with interesting history.
Fallon nuclear test site, not much to see really but one of a kind
Goldfield, near ghost town that still shows its riches
Valley of Fire, look it up
Indian Pass, drive back to 1900
Rhyolite, large ghost town
Sheldon Wildlife Refuge
Dixie Earthquake Fault, if you like geology
Great Basin National Park
Red Rock Park
I always find plenty to do in Nevada |
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DirtyBlueVan
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2013
Posts: 122
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Oregon to Arizona Trip ideas |
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Thanks, everyone these are awesome suggestions. Seriously swapping up the trip.
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