Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 648
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From: North Texas
Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
Planning my trip. On my maps it looks like the shortest route is Hwy 160. About 300miles. Doesn't look like much between Cortez and Canyon City. Fuel? If any of you have been that way I would appreciate the help. My trip will originate in North Texas - Santa Fe - Durango etc.
Thanks
FD
Thanks
FD
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
I'm totally confused. Canon City is east of Durango and the Grand Canyon is west of Durango. The title of your thread is in a completely different direction than your questions.
But...if you want to go west from Durango send a PM to Bill Nourse here on the forum. He lives just south of Durango and rides the heck out of that country.
On the other hand theres a LOT to see between Durango and Canon City.
But...if you want to go west from Durango send a PM to Bill Nourse here on the forum. He lives just south of Durango and rides the heck out of that country.
On the other hand theres a LOT to see between Durango and Canon City.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
Sorry Whiskers, I said Canyon City, not Canon City. I should have said Grand Canyon to avoid the confusion. It just looks kinda barren on 160 West of the 4 corners region. Was wondering if fuel would be available.
FD
FD
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
There is a whole lotta nothin out there, but it IS the most direct route from Durango to Flagstaff. I went across there about two years ago and I believe that Kayenta had full services (if that helps). Went from Durango to Flag without fuel being a problem... but I was in a car! Harley dealers in Durango, Farmington, and Flag (Bellemont, Az) might be able to help. Should be a nice ride!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 317
Likes: 11
From: Arizona
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
Try this...you'll have to look up the highway numbers yourself:
Durango to Cortez...then head off SW towards 4 Corners but before you get there turn off north towards Bluff, Utah. Between Bluff and Mexican Hat, Utah stop at Goosenecks National Monument. Then from Mexican Hat head to Monument Valley and then Kayenta, Arizona.
From Kayenta to Tuba City, continue west to US 89, then south to turn off for Grand Canyon near Cameron AZ.
Done this a zillion times. Never paid attention to the numbers!
This is not the most direct route - adds about 2 hours or so between 4 Corners and Kayenta, but you'll see a lot more.
If direct is what you want, head to Tec Nos Pos instead of turning off for Bluff.
Check the map and you'll see what I mean.
It is a bit empty...longest stretch without gas is probably between Cortez and Tec Nos Pos - maybe 65 miles? Then onto Kayenta another 65 or 70 milesif you go direct.
If in Durango DO NOT MISS Durango-Silverton-Ouray-Telluride-Dolores-Mancos-Durango loop.
Durango to Cortez...then head off SW towards 4 Corners but before you get there turn off north towards Bluff, Utah. Between Bluff and Mexican Hat, Utah stop at Goosenecks National Monument. Then from Mexican Hat head to Monument Valley and then Kayenta, Arizona.
From Kayenta to Tuba City, continue west to US 89, then south to turn off for Grand Canyon near Cameron AZ.
Done this a zillion times. Never paid attention to the numbers!
This is not the most direct route - adds about 2 hours or so between 4 Corners and Kayenta, but you'll see a lot more.
If direct is what you want, head to Tec Nos Pos instead of turning off for Bluff.
Check the map and you'll see what I mean.
It is a bit empty...longest stretch without gas is probably between Cortez and Tec Nos Pos - maybe 65 miles? Then onto Kayenta another 65 or 70 milesif you go direct.
If in Durango DO NOT MISS Durango-Silverton-Ouray-Telluride-Dolores-Mancos-Durango loop.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Windsor, CO
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
ORIGINAL: rnothog
Try this...you'll have to look up the highway numbers yourself:
Durango to Cortez...then head off SW towards 4 Corners but before you get there turn off north towards Bluff, Utah. Between Bluff and Mexican Hat, Utah stop at Goosenecks National Monument.
Try this...you'll have to look up the highway numbers yourself:
Durango to Cortez...then head off SW towards 4 Corners but before you get there turn off north towards Bluff, Utah. Between Bluff and Mexican Hat, Utah stop at Goosenecks National Monument.
Then from Mexican Hat head to Monument Valley and then Kayenta, Arizona.
From Kayenta to Tuba City, continue west to US 89, then south to turn off for Grand Canyon near Cameron AZ.
From Kayenta to Tuba City, continue west to US 89, then south to turn off for Grand Canyon near Cameron AZ.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
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From: Bloomfield, NM
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
Stop in Camron for the Navajo Taco. This is some great eating. Visit Goulding's Trading Post in Monument Valley. Lot of movie history here. See the Navajo Code Talkers display at the McDonalds in Kayenta.
Bill
Bill
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
Been that route a lot of times, gas is available along the way as long as you don't try and push it to another "close" station. Like mentioned above, not much out there as far as habitation, I always made Tuba City a stop for fuel. Beautiful country, watch out for the reservation police though. The wide open country makes it easy to move right along, but have seen a number of their cruisers out and about. One other thing to watch out for... dust devils! Had one "chase" me for a number of miles, seemed more like a tornado, but knew what ever it was I didn't want to be in the middle of it.
Sounds like you're gonna have a nice trip, that Durango area is hard to beat for scenery. Hell, if you have the time and are that close, swing down and hit the Sedona loop, very nice.
Sounds like you're gonna have a nice trip, that Durango area is hard to beat for scenery. Hell, if you have the time and are that close, swing down and hit the Sedona loop, very nice.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
RE: Best Route Durango to Grand Canyon?
Last year I did the 160 from Durango to Flagstaff on my way back to Los Angeles. No problems finding fuel, but like others have said not to scenic. This year I will take the 163-262 like doj_cj suggested.
Bill Nourse, I'll be in and around Durango with a buddy of mine around the first week of August. We'll be using it as our home base for day trips. Any chance you might be able to join us?
Mark
Bill Nourse, I'll be in and around Durango with a buddy of mine around the first week of August. We'll be using it as our home base for day trips. Any chance you might be able to join us?
Mark