US 160 in Arizona

[Jerry Emert]

We are leaving Grand Canyon tomorrow.  Trying to avoid heat so are thinking of going towards Durango Co then North instead of Southern Utah.  My Florida body is used to 2 feet above Sea level and 98% water in my air.  Having a little trouble with the dry air and altitude.  So is anyone familiar with that drive?  Suitable for my PT with a semi inexperienced big rig driver?  Can't seem to find any camp grounds on Good Sam, FMCA or PA map books/sites.  Anyone know of a CG with elec/water hook ups where I won't have to run genny all night somewhere in the middle.  I try to keep driving down to daylight and 4 or so hours.  Your guidance is appreciated.
Jerry

[Doug Allman]

From our numerous times travel of US160 there is very little in the way of normal. A very open country road in semi desert. The entire time you are on 160 in Arizona your are in the NavaJo Nation Indian Reservation from Hwy 64 east of the Grand Canyon until Four Corners Monument. There is very little commercial development.
You are either going to have to get to Maob Utah or into Colorado at Cortez or Durango to be back to having any choices. From our experiences anyhow.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Jerry,
Doug's right re 160. Assuming you are in the south rim area of the canyon, Cortez is about 4 hours away. Roads were pretty good (2 lane) when I drove them last winter. There was some construction at Cameron but it may be completed by now. There are a number of RV parks near Cortez that get good ratings/reviews on my RV park app (RV parky) ; Sundance, La Mesa RV, A&A Mesa Verde RV Park. Also a KOA. Have not stayed at any of them myself though.
Steve

[Jerry Emert]

Doug, Steve, thanks that was pretty much what I thought when I looked at the map.  Being the first time away from the areas I'm familiar with on the East Coast I hesitate to take such empty roads.  First time for everything I guess.  Cortez it is!
Jerry

[Lee Welbanks]

Jerry,

160 is not bad, a little rough, the seams are about every 40' so you get the bump, bump. Have to watch out for the idiots taking pictures, had one standing in the middle of the road and another one with a tripod in the road.
Safe travels.

[Jerry Emert]

Lee, sounds like my wife!  She loves to take pictures!
Jerry

[Jeff Watt]

Jerry,

I did a loop around that area a year ago, coming down from the north rim, but then catching 160 @ jcn of 98. Continued north but took a side detour on 163 to monument valley - stayed at Gouldings lodge. Big park. Dry and hot but interesting as that is where a lot of westerns + Back to the Future 3 were filmed. At Gouldings is a museum for John Wayne as he and John Ford stayed there. Go to the Navajos View hotel for a meal with a view.

We left and continued on 163 (serious hill but just watch speed going down at Mexican Hat), turned south on 191 to get back to 160. Stayed on 160 to 491 to Cortez (which is on 160 again). Stayed at Mesa Verde RV resort. They have huge pull throughs. Did the drive from gouldings easily in a day. Short distance from Mesa verde RV to the Mesa verde national park - drive up to the top in your toad.

Also a side trip is to silverton from Durango. Either take the train or drive toad -interesting place. After that we went to creede which is on 149 exiting off of 160. You do have to contend with wolf creek pass on 160 which is ok if you don't push it and just let the big motor do its thing.

Jeff