Best Way to Road Trip the Four Corners States & Grand Circle

I've done more than 20 cross-country road trips and this specific road trip route numerous times. In this video is information on the best way to do a road trip through the Four Corners states and the Grand Circle. This is the best outdoors-oriented road trip in the U.S. and there are a lot of ways to do it. I've picked up some good ideas and recommendations on how to best use the limited time you may have on a road trip. In this video are highlights of this route, best spots to camp and hike and places that are okay to miss.

[tysonplett]

We went to Moab via Colorado last winter, and I highly recommend traveling here in the winter! Arches was not busy at all, and we basically had Canyonlands to ourselves. Plus we got to do some skiing on the way there. I would love to go deeper into the four corners region in the future!

[johnchedsey]

If it's summer, I'd suggest Canyon De Chelly (which is just utterly stunning) -> Monument Valley -> Horseshoe Bend -> North Rim of Grand Canyon (which lacks the crowds) -> Zion. This is more interesting than freeways and Vegas. Another spot to work in for those who have time is Natural Bridges National Monument and do a six mile hike that goes into the canyon and under the massive rock arches. One of the best park/monument visits I've ever done.

[robfreedman]

Antelope Canyon is a gem here in Arizona!

[rghill]

Tip: visit Grand Canyon when it's cold. It really cuts down on the crowds. I agree about skipping Painted Desert. Meteor Crater near Winslow can be interesting. Hit the parks around Flagstaff during the free entry days for National Parks.

[edsteadham]

Mesa Verde in Colorado is really interesting and beautiful. Out of the way so it doesn't get as much attention as some other parts, but well worth it. Spooky, knowing that people lived on those cliffs for hundreds of years. We don't know where they come from, who they were, or where they went.

[Texas]

Went on a road trip this previous summer with a few of my friends (were all teenagers) and a very underrated spot is shiprock New Mexico. One of the craziest geographical sites I’ve ever seen and we were the only people there! Only downside is there’s almost nothing around it.

[lunarstain]

Oh man! Do NOT skip the Petrified Forest! I utterly loved it! Please don’t skip!

[garry]

Kyle, thanks for this video and the others that you have published on You Tube. My family and I just returned, (7/19/2019) from a 2 1/2 week cross country trip to the Southwest. We saw everything that was on our list plus more. I had watched and taken notes from your videos to help make our trip a success. It was so pleasurable keep up the videos. We did; Slugbug, Cadillac Ranch, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Monument Valley, Arches, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon North Rim, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon South Rim, Meteor Crater and Winslow . Hiking in all of the NP except Death Valley.

[scottb.]

I never realized how the time spent doing Four Corners was time away from more time in Monument Valley ...I was young, my friends and I were novice road trippers ...like you, hate the crowds ...Keep up the great work Kyle (hope I spelled your name right) ..thanks Buddy ...new subscriber Scott

[smileystevie]

Thanks for sharing an insightful video on Grand Circle road trip.

[garyrobbins]

I was disappointed that you didn't talk about the San Juan Mountains with Silverton, Durango, Lake City and Creede.

[EnglishFlorals]

Really enjoyed your video! Great tips. We plan on doing the Mighty Five in 2024 so this video was very helpful. Thank you for sharing.

[christophernewhart]

You skipped antelope canyon and page arizona as well as SEDONA!! Everyone must take the drive from flagstaff to sedona once in their lives. Beautiful

[brianthompson]

You my friend are hilarious! Great entertaining and informative video

[mitchellwintercat]

most informative vid ive seen in 2 mths research on youtube! ty

[Ryan-dclj]

Great info, great video! I've had the pleasure of doing most of these things, albeit on separate trips. I'd like to recommend that if you're driving across Colorado and can spare a day or two, take the more remote southern route and hit Sand Dunes and Black Canyon. This route is much easier if you're coming from Texas because you'll enter CO on I-25 and can more easily divert westward in Trinidad. Not to deviate too much from the route you are discussing, but the middle of the C is accessible, desolate, and beautiful.

[anthonykoeslag]

Could you talk about universal access, like wheelchair access, when you do your videos. A lot of people have relatives with mobility issues and it would be nice to know where is good to go.
I'm an independent active person in a wheelchair, I like traveling on my own and sketching, but it can be a massive waist of time and money to arrive and find what was advertised as 'accessible' turns out to be 'impossible with out assistance' or just simply limited to the guest shop, restaurant and a single car park with no view of interest.

[e]

I've lived in Grand Junction, CO, and Farmington, NM, among other places in these four states. You speak truth.

[margusparts]

Thumbs up for the Swamp Dogg album cover. Cool video as well. Take care.

[johannadelbusto]

This is one of my dreams...thank you for the insights and info 🙏