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I'm visiting the US in September, as I won a travel award of £800 pounds from my University (I'm studying Fine Art at Kingston Uni, UK). I proposed to go to Utah and Arizona and see some of the National Parks, especially the Dark Sky at Arches National Park.
But I really kind of have no idea what I'm getting into, since I've never traveled on my own before. So I wanted to ask some advice from people who have traveled in the US before or people who live there!
So here are the most immediate questions I have:
1. What kind of clothing would be appropriate for Utah/Arizona in mid-September?
2. How much time would it reasonably take in order to properly see a place like Bryce Canyon or Zion National Park?
3. Is public transport good enough for me to get around or should I hire a car?
Also, I want to ask whether you guys have any US travel experiences you'd like to share, or any pearls of wisdom you might have to offer!
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You Should definitively rent a car... Public transport suck in america xD
well it did when i visited
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1: It's going to be roughly 37-40 C during the entire time you're there. Dress how you like for that. Bring a Hat & sunscreen as well.
2) The area you want to go is larger than France and there is areas where you could be 100 miles from any city with more than 1k people. You need a car.
3) You need a car. There's just no way around it. I've driven most of that area a few times. Bring a MP3 player. There is a LOT of time between getting to places.
When traveling the USA, outside of the NYC, Washtington DC axis, think of it like traveling the entire length of England & Scotland as a "day's travel". There's a reason public transport doesn't work well in the USA, it's just a massive expanse in most of country. There's a lot to see, but it's REALLY spread out.
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1. What kind of clothing would be appropriate for Utah/Arizona in mid-September?
2. How much time would it reasonably take in order to properly see a place like Bryce Canyon or Zion National Park?
3. Is public transport good enough for me to get around or should I hire a car?
1. Shorts, T-Shirt would probably be fine. I think they have some cold nights though.
2. Uhm, most of those places are either a full day or half a day (can do 2 that are close to each other a day).
3. You would need a car(or a motorcycle, possibly), especially way out there in the country.
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I live in Palm Springs in California, so the weather here is about the same as Arizona in general. Mid September is nice weather, shorts/t shirt for the most part, maybe jeans and slightly heavier clothing at night, but its guaranteed to be pretty hot the vast majority of the time. Drink a ton of water too, every year we get deaths and hospitalizations from people who visit from colder climates and can't handle themselves in the heat.
Come to think of it, I love warm weather though. I keep my house at 86 farenheit, sometimes warmer, and its going to be about 115-120 this weekend
I've no idea about how long it would take...
If you're visiting big tourist places, there should be bus transportation out of tour agencies and what-not; regardless, renting a car is definitely the way to go for big expanses of country where public transportation is spotty
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1: Don't bring a bomb
2: Don't say you part of a terrorist organizations even for a laugh
3: They have guns don't piss them hicks of
4: ......
5: profit
User was warned for this post
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Well, glad I found this since I actually live in Utah, down in Moab.
First off, GOOD FUCKING CHOICE. Utah is prolly the most beautiful state in the lower 48 (Alaska wins no matter what) but you will NEED a car of some kind if you wish to really see the good shit.
Canyonlands, Arches, and the San Rafael swell are the places you MUST go in Utah and the proper way to have a good time is to bring a tent and such, and just drive around, park somewhere really cool, and go walk down some crazy canyon, and set up camp somewhere.
The Swell is most likely the craziest, weirdest, most alien landscape you will ever see in your life. It used to be a massive coral reef system back when this part of the world was underwater. Now it all crazy as fuck slot canyons you need to be kinda skinny at times to get through. It's hard to find though, so look at some maps and get a good idea of where it is and such.
Moab and all the surrounding area is fucking amazing. Come here and just explore......seriously, you just drive 15 minutes out of town, drive down some dirt road, park the car, and you're in the fucking wild ass desert.
We got rocks like you wouldn't fucking believe son.
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1. Arizona will certainly be warm in September, but cool at night. It'll depend where you are in Utah. Bring a variety of cloths and at least a medium-weight jacket.
2. I haven't been to either of those parks, but it's probably reasonable to dedicate between 3 hours and a full day for a park (unless you're camping). You can see a lot in a short time, or you can spend several days. Depending on the park, there may be tours of specific park features (which are generally affordable). Check the websites for the parks you want to see.
3. Public transit/walking is totally fine in most cities, but getting from town to town is more difficult. You'll have to buy a ticket for a bus or train, which will generally mean planning ahead (there aren't many intercity routes). You can rent a car, but it may get expensive and you'll need an American or International license (research specifics). With £800 (probably like $1300, but I don't know the exact rate), you will likely not want to rent a vehicle unless it's only for a day or so at a time. Taking a taxi anywhere is pretty expensive, especially if you're going long distances.
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1.You really need some shorts, and t-shirts for the blazing hot days. Carry a light jacket for the cooler nights. In that area of the world the temp can go across the entire spectrum of hot to cold so be prepared.
2. You should plan on at least a day per park that you want to visit. Any less than that and you'll be spending more time travelling than anything else. Even if that means you only get to see 3-4 parks, that would be better than only spending an hour or two at all of them.
3. The only real public transportation you could use for going to those parks is like a Coach bus tour. You could purchase a tour of all the parks and the Coach would take you around to them and give you time to see them.
If those types of tours aren't your style you'll have to rent a car, almost no public transportation in that part of the country.
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Are you planning to stay in a hotel? Because those are pretty expensive, your 800 pounds not gonna last.
As was said before car is a must. You should not rent cheapest, as premium cars should be less then 10-15% more, but would be much more comfortable.
If not you should look into camping in those parks (may require additional cheap permit + 20-30 minute class). Get inverter to charge your electrical equipment in the car.
Not sure if you want to take pictures. If yes, do not bring camera that discharges quickly. Maybe learn some about photography, as it is going to be bright.
I would recommend at least 2 nights per park. So you get full day of exploring park see sunrise/sunset. This should give you plenty of time to see everything. That is of course if you are camping, not sure how hotels will work out.
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On July 03 2011 02:40 Elbonbunny wrote:
1: Don't bring a bomb
2: Don't say you part of a terrorist organizations even for a laugh
3: They have guns don't piss them hicks of
4: ......
5: profit
so helpful
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Look up the places you want to visit before leaving and try to put together a plan and have your expenses mapped out ahead of time. You WILL need to rent a car. (Drive on the right side of the road, too... )
Contact the parks you want to visit, they may have organized tours and particular hours they are open. Make sure to budget your money because between rental cars, gas, and lodging, it will be spent quickly, and that's before food.
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United States24674 Posts
My parents were just on a trip to the Southwest recently so I'll forward their advice to you.
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You're definitely gonna need a car. America doesn't have public transportation, because that's for communists.
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Arches national park is amazing... you are going to love it.
You don't necessarily need to rent a car... the arches website actually recommends taking a shuttle or taxi. Renting a car will probably be a lot more convenient, and possibly cheaper. On the downside, driving and finding your own way adds a level of stress that you may not want to deal with. It really depends on what you are comfortable with.
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Try not to freak out while driving.
When I drove on your roads it was the scariest fucking thing for me sitting in the right side of the car driving on the left side of the road.
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1. Like everyone else has said, bring warm weather clothing for the day and sweatshirts/light weight jackets for at night. If you plan on camping, make sure you have enough blankets, as nothing sucks more that waking up chilled through and stiff.
2. The amount of time you should spend at a park depends on what you plan to do there. Just want to see the major attraction sites and take some pictures? Plan for a whole day (which will include travel there and back to whether you are staying, or enough time to set up camp). Things are very spread out here, so it may take 3-6 hours between each park, and you don't want to try to cram more than one into a day, or you won't get to enjoy it.
3. Public transport is certainly NOT good enough for you to get anywhere, unless you go to one of the coastal cities. In Utah/Arizona you 100% should rent a car. Make sure you stock water in the car, and a good map. Pay attention to signs that say things like "No gas station for 100 miles", etc. In fact, I would probably bring some extra gas just in case. It would really, really suck to break down or run out of gas in the middle of the desert, of a place you've never been to, with no cell phone service, and have to walk a majillion miles to civilization. (Try to stick to the main roads rather than take little back roads, it's safer for someone who doesn't know the area.) Of course, this is September, not July, so the probability of you dying out in the middle of nowhere is incredibly low. BUT STILL take some precautions. Also, learn enough about cars so you don't do stupid things, like open your radiator cap until your car has had sufficient time to cool down if something does happen. (I know several extremely dumb people from that part of the country who got severe steam burns from doing this when their car broke down middle of the summer.)
4. While you're wandering around up there, if you have time, I suggest you visit Mesa Verde. Technically it's over the border into Colorado, but only about an hour or two there, and it's an incredible place. The land looks completely uninhabited, and then you make your way down into the little canyons, and there are entire cities standing under the rock in beautiful condition. Very eerily beautiful.
I would say visit Great Sand Dunes National Park as well, but I think that's a bit too far east for you. I suggest looking through the National and State Park websites, and if anything grabs your attention, see if you can fit it in.
5. People are generally quite friendly, so don't be afraid to ask questions if you get lost or don't understand something. Try to get your head around just how enormously spread out everything is here (you may drive 3 hours and see no cars, no homes, no people), and the time it's going to take you to travel places. Also try to plan your stops, because of how long it may be before you hit another place to stop again. If you have to use the side of the road, no one is going to begrudge you watering the grass out there. Be careful not to hit deer or cattle, especially if driving at night. If you don't know how to read a map well, I REALLY SUGGEST YOU LEARN. Satellite GPS is extremely unreliable, as are cell phones once you get out of the major cities.
6. Have fun, and try some real Mexican food if you can get your hands on it. 
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On July 03 2011 02:36 Taf the Ghost wrote:
1: It's going to be roughly 37-40 C during the entire time you're there. Dress how you like for that. Bring a Hat & sunscreen as well.
2) The area you want to go is larger than France and there is areas where you could be 100 miles from any city with more than 1k people. You need a car.
3) You need a car. There's just no way around it. I've driven most of that area a few times. Bring a MP3 player. There is a LOT of time between getting to places.
When traveling the USA, outside of the NYC, Washtington DC axis, think of it like traveling the entire length of England & Scotland as a "day's travel". There's a reason public transport doesn't work well in the USA, it's just a massive expanse in most of country. There's a lot to see, but it's REALLY spread out.
Pretty much answered all the questions.
Car is an absolute need. It's going to be very hot and sunny. Depending how much you want to see I'd give a day per National park imo.
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They actually won't try to convert you in Utah. Anywhere outside of Utah, yeah, you get used to the Mormons at the door. But, they're also extremely nice, so don't worry about that.
Also, as your posting from the UK, I'm going to assume you have a British accent. You can use that to your advantage. American women generally love it, for whatever reason.
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lol i am from vancouver bc and when I went to the states down the border, I find it very hard to believe that people can travel by commute. There are so many free ways in America that it is absurd! so much land and driving is a PITA sometimes :/ I heard its the same for Los Angeles as well
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On July 03 2011 02:29 PyroCat wrote:
1. What kind of clothing would be appropriate for Utah/Arizona in mid-September?
2. How much time would it reasonably take in order to properly see a place like Bryce Canyon or Zion National Park?
3. Is public transport good enough for me to get around or should I hire a car?
1. Depends on your tolerance for sun/heat. As a "northerner" who's spent significant time in Arizona, I'd recommend long pants (jeans or cargo) and short sleeves. (If it's really hot, long sleeves are actually better, weird as that sounds, but it doesn't get insufferable in September. Usually.) Don't forget a hat. Also make sure you have a sweater (jumper) or sweatshirt for nights, especially if you're camping at all. Last, you need good shoes - tough walking shoes or well-fitting hiking boots (get use to these first).
2. Depends if you want to see the highlights or "everything". You can see the best features of most parks in a day (sometimes an afternoon), but to really get a good idea you want 2-3 days.
3. Outside of NYC and DC, public transport basically doesn't exist, so get a car. Last time I rented a car, I needed license + another ID, but that may vary from state to state or by age. If you're not 25 yet, there may be extra fees beyond advertised cost. Assuming you're driving, get maps of the areas you're driving through (any rental agency will usually have these).
(Ooooon the other hand, if you were feeling ambitious/crazy, you could try hitchhiking. Works best between big rest stops/travel plaza areas. Make signs with your destination, someone will probably be heading that way. I've got a friend doing that right now - going all the way across the country.)
If you can manage to stay away from hotels (especially chains), do so. In some cities you can find "cheap" motels ($30-$60 a night - yeah, it sucks) but they're almost never well-advertised so you'll be lucky to find them.
If you're going near Phoenix and need a place for the night, PM me - I have relatives near there who do a lot of work with international students and I can put you in touch with them. I can't guarantee anything, but you never know.
If nothing else, see the Grand Canyon. It will blow your mind.
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Please try and go off the beaten trail and take a hike or two in Arches and Canyonlands...if you just hit the roadside attractions you will have a pretty good trip but just take the 30 min to look up or ask about some of the amazing areas you can hike into.
I spent spring break backpacking in Canyonlands, and while the major sights are fine and all, spend a day out hiking and you will literally have your mind fucking blown. Definitely visit some of the slot canyons....the terrain is just unbelievable and amazing to be in. Especially when you are the only one out there.
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Watch the Top Gear US specials :D
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Utah and Arizona? You're picking super boring states  . Go to Yosemite in California.
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Ff you have any choice over the National Parks you visit I would suggest trying to get out to Cayonland if your not already going there. It's relativing close to the Arches/Moab area.
But Moab is one of the most beautiful places on this Earth in my opinion. If it interests you or is within your budget I'd try to rent a Jeep or some other 4 wheel drive vehicle and ride on some of the Moab trails. Best way to see the area I think.
Hope you have a good time while your in the States!
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On July 03 2011 02:40 N3rV[Green] wrote:
Well, glad I found this since I actually live in Utah, down in Moab.
First off, GOOD FUCKING CHOICE. Utah is prolly the most beautiful state in the lower 48 (Alaska wins no matter what) but you will NEED a car of some kind if you wish to really see the good shit.
Canyonlands, Arches, and the San Rafael swell are the places you MUST go in Utah and the proper way to have a good time is to bring a tent and such, and just drive around, park somewhere really cool, and go walk down some crazy canyon, and set up camp somewhere.
The Swell is most likely the craziest, weirdest, most alien landscape you will ever see in your life. It used to be a massive coral reef system back when this part of the world was underwater. Now it all crazy as fuck slot canyons you need to be kinda skinny at times to get through. It's hard to find though, so look at some maps and get a good idea of where it is and such.
Moab and all the surrounding area is fucking amazing. Come here and just explore......seriously, you just drive 15 minutes out of town, drive down some dirt road, park the car, and you're in the fucking wild ass desert.
We got rocks like you wouldn't fucking believe son.
BRYCE CANYON! so beautiful to hike and you can camp right by it. I lived almost whole life in AZ, and I will give you my advice for there, but i have to say, September it is still crazy hot down there and you might enjoy Utah more. The most common place to visit in Az is the Grand Canyon, but if you can not make it, it really is not that big of a deal. Most of the pictures on the internet are way better. If you can get a hold of a boat, there are many great lakes that you can spend some time at, if you enjoy that sort of thing (lake Powell is amazing). Also, right outside the Mesa/Phoenix area are some pretty nice places to ride Dirt bikes and ATV if you like that thing either. There is also some nice forest in northern Az if you like hiking. Let me know what you plan to do, and i am sure there will be something that you can find.
EDIT becuase of post above me.
If you are in Arizona in September, expect that the temperature to be from 90-110 degrees, and this is not an exaggeration, it can easily stay that hot almost into October. It also might have a few Monsoons, but they usually don't last past August. I would recommend mostly short sleeve and shorts, but 1-2 long things if you spend most the time in the valley of Az.
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well, since everyone's basically covered your three points, i'm just going to add that Zion national park is absolutely gorgeous. My family and I went down there one time when we were in vegas, and it's absolutely incredible.
If you have the time while you're there, go to the Angels Landing in the park. it's breathtaking.
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While I have no idea about the climate in this particular part of the U.S. (Utah to me means desert, but there are like mountains and stuff, so it depends on where in Utah you are, I guess.) or anything about the parks, I can offer some advice about transport.\
Public transport in the states is really only well developed in the heart of cities,; since there is so much landspace you'll be hard pressed to find anything that is gonna run everywhere you want to go; the best you can do is get close. There are cross country bus routes (Greyhound, MegaBus) that run between major cities in the U.S. If you don't mind the long ride, they aren't badly priced at all and generally pretty comfortable, at least on the line I rode...
Beyond that, actually getting out where you want to go (i.e. away from any city limits) is going to *REQUIRE* a car, so you need to look into what you need to do as far as licensing and insurance to rent one, or otherwise acquire some wheels. If you HAVE to, a taxi service can get you pretty much anywhere but it will cost a bit depending on the company and distance. Somebody a little more familiar with the area might help you out with that.
A suggestion I read in one the earlier posts that I think is pretty swell is the coach/bus tour idea; they'll get you where you want to go and you wont have to worry about transport.
also, listen to this dude:
. Public transport is certainly NOT good enough for you to get anywhere, unless you go to one of the coastal cities. In Utah/Arizona you 100% should rent a car. Make sure you stock water in the car, and a good map. Pay attention to signs that say things like "No gas station for 100 miles", etc. In fact, I would probably bring some extra gas just in case. It would really, really suck to break down or run out of gas in the middle of the desert, of a place you've never been to, with no cell phone service, and have to walk a majillion miles to civilization. (Try to stick to the main roads rather than take little back roads, it's safer for someone who doesn't know the area.) Of course, this is September, not July, so the probability of you dying out in the middle of nowhere is incredibly low. BUT STILL take some precautions. Also, learn enough about cars so you don't do stupid things, like open your radiator cap until your car has had sufficient time to cool down if something does happen. (I know several extremely dumb people from that part of the country who got severe steam burns from doing this when their car broke down middle of the summer.)
...because you DO NOT want to be running into trouble in the middle of nowhere (plenty of that in the US countryside) least of all in a damn desert.
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Take a tour bus, tours for stateparks like the grand canyon are fairly cheap I would say 75-95 usd. You could also rent a car for like $20 a day. Some car rental places offer $20 for a weekend. Always get the car insurance always always always. Its cheap and if you wreck the car your covered.
Stateparks up north in arizona are cooler than down in the valley of phoenix. Grandcanyon and monument valley are roughly 10-20 degrees cooler. But that doesnt mean you don't need sunscreen. If your going to be traveling by yourself through the dessert Bring tons and tons of water. Trust me it happens every year in arizona 10-20 people from europe rent a car, the car breaks down and they only have like a bottle of water. Get a pack of 48 bottles, and bring some food as well. Other than that you should be set.
I suggest you see the grandcanyon and take a walk on the sky deck ( a bridge like thing that hovers 40ft or something like that over the edge of the grand canyon. Its really cool. Another thing is you have to see monument valley its gorgeous.
Utah I know nothing about.
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I second Bryce Canyon being awesome. Me and Everyone I know likes it better than the grand canyon. It's a little cooler there, too. Zion is also awesome, as well as arches. Don't bother with capital reef.
As others have said, it is usually hot in southern Utah/Arizona in september. And be prepared for a lot of driving. A LOT.
On July 03 2011 12:29 Barrin wrote:
Utah? Oh boy.
Beware of Mormons.
There is a pretty good chance that one or two (or ten) might try to convert you. Do not be afraid, they won't bite. If you're not interested in what they have to say, I recommend being ready to do one of these two things if you are unable to prevent yourself from being detected as a foreigner:
(1) Lie, and tell them that you are already a member. Research one or two particular wards (churches) to claim that you belong to. The second one is just in case you're near the first one and nobody recognizes you.
(2) Smile and politely tell them that you are not interested in the religion before the conversation goes on too long. The longer you let them talk to you, the more uncomfortable it will be to tell them you have other things to do.
I've never actually been to Utah to be honest, but from what little I do know, I would personally be prepared to do one of these things if I went there.
LOL. I hope this is a troll
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I don't know if this was mentioned, but in many states, you have to be 25 to rent a car. I don't know how old you are, but if you're thinking about renting, just make sure that you'll actually be able to do so.
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Oh god it will be hot in Arizona.
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On July 03 2011 12:29 Barrin wrote:
Utah? Oh boy.
Beware of Mormons.
There is a pretty good chance that one or two (or ten) might try to convert you. Do not be afraid, they won't bite. If you're not interested in what they have to say, I recommend being ready to do one of these two things if you are unable to prevent yourself from being detected as a foreigner:
(1) Lie, and tell them that you are already a member. Research one or two particular wards (churches) to claim that you belong to. The second one is just in case you're near the first one and nobody recognizes you.
(2) Smile and politely tell them that you are not interested in the religion before the conversation goes on too long. The longer you let them talk to you, the more uncomfortable it will be to tell them you have other things to do.
I've never actually been to Utah to be honest, but from what little I do know, I would personally be prepared to do one of these things if I went there.
Alright i am sorry, but this is really one of the least educated things i have read, and of course that comes with a lot of bias on my part, but you do not know what you are talking about. I do not want this to turn into a discussion about Religion, but do not give advice when you do not know what you are saying.
To op, do not listen to this post.
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Defintely a car or some transportation of your own. Its difficult to commute especially in Utah. Also prepare some think clothes, it gets cold that time of the year.
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1. pack light. Short sleeves, tank top, shorts, jeans, workout shorts etc will be great in Utah and Arizona.
2. at the larger national parks be prepared to spend anywhere from an entire day and up to three if you intend to hike on the larger trails. I spent a day at Arches National Park and still didn't see everything I wanted. Zion is a beautiful place. Make sure you spend a decent amount of time hiking and sightseeing there.
I assume you're going to see Grand Canyon (and I guess Petrified Forest) while in Arizona, so for those two, you can spend less than a day at Petrified Forest, it's really not too big of a deal (imo at least). As for Grand Canyon, the most I would spend there is 2 days. A hike down and up the grand canyon will take pretty much a whole day, and you can use a bit of the other day to hit up some of the trails and be on your way to Petrified Forest.
3. A car is a requirement for any National Park.
Driving in Arizona and Utah during the summer can be tough. Make sure you bring plenty of water for you (and your car!) and make sure you have a cell phone capable of calling for help because often times while you're on one of those desolate highways down there, people don't pass by too often. Somebody said something about bringing extra gas on the way, and that's a great idea too.
It's going to be blistering hot.
After giving this advice though, as a Californian, I have to say I'm disappointed you chose Arizona and Utah over Yosemite, Sequoia (King's Canyon?), Joshua Tree, and Redwood National Parks !
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Just thought i would add in that I think you made a great choice for visiting Az and Utah. I think, depending on where in the states you are going, you can visit almost like every type of National park type place you want. The sand dunes (most of witch is actually in Cali) down in Yuma, Az, beautiful mountains every where. Sweet lakes, and nice desert trails/mountains, forests (petrified), And amazing views in Moab and Bryce Canyon. I would try to plan it out as much as you can before you go to make sure you get all that you want in. Oh and as stated all through the thread, you will DEF need your own car but be careful becuase there are many places that make you be 25+ to rent
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It's actually a pretty cool year in Moab. I was down about 2 weeks ago, and it didn't get over 35C. I would recommend spending one or two days in larger parks (I.E. Arches, Canyonlands, Zion), but smaller ones, such as Capitol Reef, can easily be done in 5-6 hours. There are some pretty crazy slot canyons in the San Rafel Swell. I would do at least one.
P.S. Don't worry about Mormons attempting to convert you. The tourism industry pretty much drives southern Utah. If somebody tries to, politely tell them that you are not interested. We take the hint pretty easily.
Edit: Little Wild Horse, in the Goblin Valley area, is probably the best slot canyon ever. For the record.
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On July 03 2011 02:36 Taf the Ghost wrote:
1: It's going to be roughly 37-40 C during the entire time you're there. Dress how you like for that. Bring a Hat & sunscreen as well.
2) The area you want to go is larger than France and there is areas where you could be 100 miles from any city with more than 1k people. You need a car.
3) You need a car. There's just no way around it. I've driven most of that area a few times. Bring a MP3 player. There is a LOT of time between getting to places.
When traveling the USA, outside of the NYC, Washtington DC axis, think of it like traveling the entire length of England & Scotland as a "day's travel". There's a reason public transport doesn't work well in the USA, it's just a massive expanse in most of country. There's a lot to see, but it's REALLY spread out.
This is a good guide.
You'll also want to check and make sure your drivers license will work there. I don't remember the specifics but either an American liscence is not valid in England or a British liscence is not valid in the US. It's either one or the other and I forget which.
I might also suggest if you aren't against the uncomfortableness renting a reasonably sized car or taking a good sleeping bag with you, and just camping out in the car. Cheap hostels are rare in the US, and in this part of it basically nonexistant. If 800 pounds is your travel stipend for the entire trip, you can expect even the cheapest hotel rooms to run you 50 pounds a night, so the money might dry up pretty quick.
I wouldn't suggest sleeping in your car in big cities (I'm assuming you'll spend at least a day in Salt Lake City on this trip), but in SLC there should be a reasonably inexpensive hostel. In the more rural areas you're very safe camping outside though. Utah breeds nice people.
I've been to the places you want to go to, they're really pretty amazing, I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip.
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saved all you money for VEGAS
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United States1865 Posts
Public transport definitely not going to work, youll have to find a car
its going to be hot as HELL during the day, and can actually get cold at night so you need clothing you can layer
I dont really understand your choice of areas to visit
i've lived all over the USA and germany (and I actually live in Arizona now), and there are definitely some more exciting parks to visit in this country.
That being said ive been to Bryce Canyon and its pretty cool. Hope you have a fun time!
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Don't miss monument valley at the border of utah and arizona.
It is probably comparable to grand canyon for its awe level.
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On July 03 2011 14:48 Atrioc wrote:
I dont really understand your choice of areas to visit
i've lived all over the USA and germany (and I actually live in Arizona now), and there are definitely some more exciting parks to visit in this country.
umm, like where? i been to a lot of national parks and the ones in utah are pretty much the most impressive (maybe excepting yosemite)
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I just moved to Utah...bring good sunglasses, or your eyes will get fried. On most days there are zero clouds, especially in the desert in southern Utah, and even when there are clouds, your eyes will melt.
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On July 03 2011 14:50 phosphorylation wrote:Show nested quote +On July 03 2011 14:48 Atrioc wrote:
I dont really understand your choice of areas to visit
i've lived all over the USA and germany (and I actually live in Arizona now), and there are definitely some more exciting parks to visit in this country.
umm, like where? i been to a lot of national parks and the ones in utah are pretty much the most impressive (maybe excepting yosemite)
Grand Canyon?
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I have lived in Utah all of my life and have visited both Bryce Canyon and Zions Park several times.
1.
It actually gets fairly chilly at Bryce Canyon during that time(utah.com), so you will probably need at least a decent jacket. Zions is generally warmer(utah.com), but does dip down especially at night.
Basically layers are the best way to go to handle the colder nights and the mild -> hot days. Fall is the best time to go though because of the improved scenery and the generally mild weather versus say spring.
2.
This really depends on how thorough you want to be in your exploration of the national parks.
Both of these pages decently outline the different trails and single out the most well known ones.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Zion_National_Park
http://wikitravel.org/en/Bryce_Canyon
3.
Definitely rent a car as the public transportation will most likely not be enough to really get around the parks.
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Shoulda gone to Banff, Alberta, Canada, eh, way nicer than those smoggy/gross American parks 
In general:
Avoid North Dakota at all costs.
Do not talk to the religious/racist/ignorant crazy people.
Try to find restaurants that appeared on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and go to all of the ones that are nearby!
Pace yourself on the food, everything tastes amazing because they cover it with salt and sugar.
All tips based off of my own experiences in the U.S. XD, North Dakota was horrific.
Also go to Niagara falls sometime.
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You should be prepared to have your junk handled by TSA agents.
Whatever you do, don't make a fuss about it as they could potentially block you from entering the country, or worse arrest you. Just accept it for what it is and feel fortunate they aren't doing anal cavity searches.
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Yep, renting a car is important imo. You can't enjoy your time in US otherwise.
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On July 03 2011 02:33 Coutcha wrote:
You Should definitively rent a car... Public transport suck in america xD
well it did when i visited
Eh, it depends on where you live. It's fine here (chicago) and I can get anywhere.
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On July 03 2011 15:47 Axiom0 wrote:
You should be prepared to have your junk handled by TSA agents.
Whatever you do, don't make a fuss about it as they could potentially block you from entering the country, or worse arrest you. Just accept it for what it is and feel fortunate they aren't doing anal cavity searches.
If they start touching my junk, and then leave me hanging and NOT perform an anal search, do I have the right to complain?
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I lived in the southwest for ~20 years so hopefully I can help. You're going to want light clothing (shorts and t-shirts) and water bottles during the day. It can get pretty hot. Sunglasses and a nice big hat are useful too. Comfortable shoes are also quite important. You will be doing a lot of walking at those parks. For the evening, pack something a little warmer. A light jacket and long pants are probably good enough, maybe a sweatshirt you can put over your t-shirt if it gets especially cold. Public transportation is basically nonexistent in that part of the US, so you're going to need to rent a car.
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On July 03 2011 15:37 Zirith wrote:Shoulda gone to Banff, Alberta, Canada, eh, way nicer than those smoggy/gross American parks In general: Avoid North Dakota at all costs. Do not talk to the religious/racist/ignorant crazy people. Try to find restaurants that appeared on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and go to all of the ones that are nearby! Pace yourself on the food, everything tastes amazing because they cover it with salt and sugar. All tips based off of my own experiences in the U.S. XD, North Dakota was horrific. Also go to Niagara falls sometime.
Wow, you just sound like a U.S hater... I've bet you've only been to one state...North Dakota..
Anyways, like everyone is saying, rent a car because especially out in the west, a lot of the major cities are very far from each other. Also bring a map :O because you might get lost on the roads.
Bring mainly summer clothes like t-shirts, shorts, and just in case maybe a jacket or two(depending on how long you stay.)
If you're bringing extra money just go for the whole shebang, visit the grandcanyon(imo the best national park in the U.S), then the hoover dam, and finally Las Vegas
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On July 03 2011 15:37 Zirith wrote:Shoulda gone to Banff, Alberta, Canada, eh, way nicer than those smoggy/gross American parks In general: Avoid North Dakota at all costs. Do not talk to the religious/racist/ignorant crazy people. Try to find restaurants that appeared on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and go to all of the ones that are nearby! Pace yourself on the food, everything tastes amazing because they cover it with salt and sugar. All tips based off of my own experiences in the U.S. XD, North Dakota was horrific. Also go to Niagara falls sometime.
Tip: don't come to the U.S. with an attitude like this. If you're friendly and you have a British accent, people will appreciate you taking a road less traveled and the girls will love you. If you act like this^^, you will have a horrible experience.
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I know this isn't in your plan, but if you are already in the area and driving all over the place, you might want to think about visiting some of the mining towns. They are honestly some of the coolest places you'll ever see, and they show a certain Americana, like what our country was 100 years ago(but with cell-phones, internet, etc.) Most are generally close to a mountain, and its very obvious how the miners used to get from their homes to the mines. Pretty much the biggest street in the town is along that line or the way to get back on the highway. There's always a library, and it'll say on the front something like "paid for by the Rockefeller Family" except with more old-fashioned and formal wording. The best part however, is the residential areas. These towns are dying pretty quickly, because young people don't like spending their whole life in these places. So the town governments and the Home-Owners Associations have basically no restrictions on what you can do with your property. Because of this, you get pink houses, houses that have second-rate artists' sculptures in the front-yard, houses that have random graffiti-esque pictures of horses on the front. Everyone is like 50 or older, and there is exactly one motel with 3 or so rooms. Staying there is probably not the best idea, as the rooms are used very infrequently. Basically, mining towns in the southwest are a fascinating place to visit, and if there happens to be one on your way, I'd strongly advise you to visit, or at least drive around.
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On July 03 2011 16:09 Husnan wrote:Show nested quote +On July 03 2011 15:47 Axiom0 wrote:
You should be prepared to have your junk handled by TSA agents.
Whatever you do, don't make a fuss about it as they could potentially block you from entering the country, or worse arrest you. Just accept it for what it is and feel fortunate they aren't doing anal cavity searches. If they start touching my junk, and then leave me hanging and NOT perform an anal search, do I have the right to complain?
Of course you can complain, I always request the naked body scanner and the riot stick up-the-ass maneuver. Anything less wouldn't be the full airport experience.
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Get on google maps and look at the distances and time between locations that you wish to stay/visit.
Buy a GPS unit with a lot of Points of Interest preloaded. This helps when trying to locate a restaurant, gas station, hotel, etc.
OP, you made an excellent choice on the region of the country to visit. The National Parks in the southwest USA are spectacular.
Public transport, I lolled. You can get by as a tourist on public transport in a few major cities, but not in general, and especially not if you want to visit national parks. Taf the Ghost said it: You need a car.
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Pack a tent in your car and a good sleeping bag. the desert nights get REALLY cold I'm not kidding you'll find a Lot of really good camp grounds in america so it shouldn't be to hard to find a good spot fo the night.
WATER BOTTLE! Get a nalgene about 32 oz. They're the super Hard plastic kind and they will save your life. Unlike in other counties out water supply is always clean so you don't have to go too far to fill up if you watch for rest stops and have some sort of water storage.
The guy trolled you when he talked about not pissing off the hics. But he wasn't fully kidding. We have a lot of guns I have a small arsenal in my basement for "hunding" I don't really need an SR-17 I think (civilian M-16) But I can. I got a 12 gauge for xmas one year. The UK top gear people went to america and pissed off the hics and where chased out of the gas station they where in and had rocks thrown at them and where followed down he highway for a few miles) just look foreign and be polite and be stay away from people that look mean. Your going to be in Utah which I'm pretty sure doesn't have many hics but still we're everywhere fear us. Your accent will only hurt you.
Save up some money and buy cloths in america with your own money from wall mart. Some of my foreign exchange friends have said they don't have anything near a wal-mart and it'll be amazing what you can get at one. We have more pop choices as well which you should try. I would stay away from energy drinks (monster,Nos,rockstar) you'll be in hot weather and you won't want to get dizzy or feel bad if you have a bad reaction. If you want to stay up all night or longer your a lot better off going for a fourth meal at like taco bell or some place like that.
A lot of people will be really entertained by your accent and your probably going to have a lot of fun good luck on your trip.
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I'm actually amazed by how many great replies are here! Thanks everyone, this thread is a gold mine!
I'll be 22 when I go (my birthday is in august) so I'll have to find out whether I can rent a car.
Camping is a great idea, never considered that. I have no aversion to sleeping in a car either. Also really useful tips about the volume of water I'll need and to bring spare gas. Since I've got two months I'll be doing some hardcore planning and try to get as many details taken care of as I can.
Thanks again, and for those of you in the US have a great 4th of July :D
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First off, hope you enjoy your trip! The American Southwest is a beautiful place -- I live in southern Arizona, and it's incredible. Of course, our highs are 46C these days, so it would be nicer if I had air conditioning.
The only place in the area you describe where public transportation is an issue is the city of Salt Lake City itself, and perhaps Phoenix (I don't know). Elsewhere you need a car. Some places in the US are different, but the area you're coming to is *huge*, and many of the things you're going to see are out on the roads.
Speaking of roads: You should get a good map. You can buy road atlases at gas stations; even if you have a smartphone, you won't have phone service in many of the places you're going. It'll help you plan. My road atlas of the US is some of the best $25 I ever spent. You may want to familiarize yourself with the Interstate Highway System's conventions before you come -- for instance, exits from the highway are numbered according to mile markers, so you can figure out how far away something is from the exit number. Our interstates really are a great system (we ripped the idea off from the German Autobahn -- Eisenhower saw the Autobahn and said "We need one of these too!") Side roads, though ("US highways" and state highways), are the scenic routes that go interesting places. They're usually two-lane roads, and are usually well-maintained. As others have said, the distances involved are huge out West.
Be prepared for the weather. It may be very hot at low elevation during the day and cold at high elevation at night. Either way, it'll be dry. Bring sunscreen and plenty of water; if you're driving overland it's a good idea to bring a bunch of water with you in case the car breaks down. It'll also be very bright and sunny; a hat and/or sunglasses may be a good idea. Elevation is a huge factor in climate out here; the south rim of the Grand Canyon is 3000 meters, and much of southern Utah is over 2000 meters. At high elevation you will use a lot of water because you're breathing harder
The American wildlife is pretty safe, with a few exceptions. Rattlesnakes aren't aggressive, and you're only likely to get bit if you step on them. At dusk, carry a flashlight: it may be bright enough that you can see the trail, but you can't see the snakes.
Anywhere marked "National Forest" on your map is somewhere you can camp, usually anywhere you like. The National Forests have very few rules -- one Forest Service volunteer explained them as "clean up after yourself and don't burn the woods down". You should sleep outdoors when on the road, just for the experience, if you like such things -- I did last summer for a couple of weeks and heard great horned owls almost every night. (They're our version of the European eagle owls.)
Enjoy yourself! For all the stupid stuff that our government does, the US is really a beautiful country.
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Unfortunately, America is way more spread out than the european countries. If you try to travel by train or bus, you still might have to walk 20+ blocks to get anywhere close to where you want to go. Get a car.
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Maybe you should try one of those charter bus tours. Might be easier since they drive you around, no way to get lost and they don't miss any of the main attractions. Some run from around Salt Lake City through Yellowstone into South Dakota, though they are pretty expensive.
Most everything else had been covered already so maybe it's something to consider.
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I've done the USA thing and the advice here is pretty good.
I'd also advocate car hire. Cars are cheap and plentiful there and fuel is cheap. Google the big places and get quotes - alamo / avis / hertz etc. Familiarise yourself with the car rental lingo. You dont want to get quoted $10 a day for a car and then get boned for all kinds of hidden extras. Educate yourself before hand so you don't end up with top of the range overkill insurance etc.
I'm not a fan of tour busses etc. They kill spontaneity.
The camping idea is good but only if you can make the mental adjustment to being without a soft bed and electricity. I camped on a 3 month tour across the US and it adds an indescribably beautiful dimension to the countryside. I dont advocate sleeping in cars though, maybe I'm just too tall! I'm a huge fan of the national park places (I forget their names) Really cheapo, picturesque and generally offer ok ameneties like hot showers!
All the other advice is sensible, dress for hot weather but layer when it cools. Sunglasses are essential, not a fashion item. In places like Arizona you will seriously fuckup your eyes without them.
Finally, an old anecdote I always find appropriate. Take half the luggage you think you will need and twice the money!
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One last thing I'd like to say is that, In this corner of the world, it is pretty essential to have a four wheel drive especially if you really want to see the natural wonders. Yes, there are beautiful places that you can get to in a sedan, but they are almost all filled with tourists, and you can often just go off the highway on a trail and find absolutely fantastic landscapes, brooks, etc. Also, these trails are too small to have two cars pass easily, so you can just drive in the middle, which should be nice after driving on the wrong(right) side of the road.
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EPT
