Route between So. rim GC and Zion

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jbriner

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Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Posts
6
Oh, brother am I getting excited! Just looked at satellite images of Zion - might have to exend our stay there. My question is this:  the drive from GC Trailer Village is, I think, Route 9.  Is it a drive we can make comfortably in a day pulling a 25' TT?  Or should we plan on an over-night in between? According to my calculations, it is only about 250 miles but that doesn't translate into "normal highway miles" or does it? Any input would be appreciated.
 
Keep in mind that Hwy 89 south of Page is closed indefinitely due to road damage so you'll have to take 89alt. And if you take 9 into Zion, you'll be going thru the tunnel which for most RVs requires a $15 fee and an 'escort' (they close the tunnel to 2-way traffic and send the RVs thru down the middle).

I'd probably schedule an overnight between GC and Zion just because the scenery is so spectacular you'll be dawdling along and gawking.

Enjoy the trip.
Wendy
 
There are three ways to get from the south rim to Zion. The shortest is heading east on 64, turn north on 89 and then west on 89a and then head west on 9 at Kanab. 250 miles. Taking this route means you pay the $15 fee to drive through the tunnel at Zion.

The second route starts the same but at the Navajo Bridge you turn left on 89A and follow it to Hurricane then take 9 east to Zion. 280 miles. This is the route I always take so I don't have to pay the stupid tunnel fee.

If you wish to do the trip in two days there are some awesome campgrounds in Kaibab National Forest that you will pass on either of the first two routes. They are also the most mountainous, going up to 8000 feet.

The third route goes south from the south rim to Williams on 64 then west on I-40 to Kingman. Then north on 93 to Las Vegas. At Vegas go north on I-15 and turn east on 9 just north of St George. This is the least mountainous route. 430 miles and you get a chance to leave some of your money at the casinos to help pay my taxes.  ;D >:  (I am a Nevada resident and we don't have state taxes)

All three routes have their pluses and minuses. None of them are there any real problem towing a trailer.
 
anniemae said:
How will this apply to a 44 ft MH towing a 07 GMC PKUP?
Since it is a diesel I can see no problem. It is steeper going from Zion to the south rim than it is going from the south rim to Zion, but both should be doable.
 
Wendy said:
Eliminates the route thru the tunnel. There's a 40' length limit.

Wendy, is that something new? I just to take 45' tour buses through the tunnel all the time. Of course that was many years ago!
 
Jerry, not that new.  Don't know exactly when they started the 'escort' thru the tunnel but it's been a lot of years. And do 't know if it applies to commercial vehicles like buses.
 
Wendy,
Yes, even in the horse & buggy days when I was still working they had started the escort thing. We had to pay just like all the RV's, but we had 45' buses. It may have been because it was a commercial vehicle that they allowed us through. That was in the late 9o's.
 
In '94 we went through with no escort and 2 way traffic and it was after that the escort started but still no limit on length although we did have to disconnect the toweds.  Not sure when the limit was imposed.
 
I think Terry B posted a picture of the tunnel restrictions sign one other time when we had this discussion. I can't imagine most Class As going thru the tunnel without using the middle.

Wendy
 
Here is the pic of the sign...50' total length so most folks have to unhook their toad.  Newer rigs might have height & length problems.
 

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After looking at the current restrictions, it doesn't seem to mention disconnecting a tow vehicle which we've had to do the last couple times we drove through the tunnel.  The curves near the tunnel are switchbacks which makes driving a long vehicle plus a toad impractical on the corners.  This is why most RVers who are a single driver take the route through Hurricane.

For those who have not driven through the tunnel, it was built a long time ago when vehicles were smaller.  It has a curved roof so that large vehicles cannot stay in their lane without hitting the top, hence the need for single lane traffic driving down the middle of the tunnel.  The last time I drove it Jerry was behind me in the tow car and he said it really was close.  You really do have to drive down the white line!

Personally, I have no issue at all with the $15 fee we pay to close the tunnel so we can drive down the middle.  There has to be a person at each end of the tunnel and they have to control traffic flowing in one direction at a time.  In my view it's an extra service that requires a user fee.  The alternative is to allow only cars through the tunnel which would eliminate many people who want to drive through it in their RVs.

ArdraF
 
Ardra,

When we've gone through the tunnel, the unhooking requirement was determined by our overall length exceeding 50 feet. Solo vehicles have a max length restriction of 40 feet.

For those who haven't been through the tunnel, they have lines painted on the pavement, so they know immediately if you're over the max length(s).
 
Thanks for posting the picture Terry. I'd meant to save a copy last time you posted, but failed to do so.
 
SeilerBird said:
There are three ways to get from the south rim to Zion. The shortest is heading east on 64, turn north on 89 and then west on 89a and then head west on 9 at Kanab. 250 miles. Taking this route means you pay the $15 fee to drive through the tunnel at Zion.

The second route starts the same but at the Navajo Bridge you turn left on 89A and follow it to Hurricane then take 9 east to Zion. 280 miles. This is the route I always take so I don't have to pay the stupid tunnel fee.

If you wish to do the trip in two days there are some awesome campgrounds in Kaibab National Forest that you will pass on either of the first two routes. They are also the most mountainous, going up to 8000 feet.

The third route goes south from the south rim to Williams on 64 then west on I-40 to Kingman. Then north on 93 to Las Vegas. At Vegas go north on I-15 and turn east on 9 just north of St George. This is the least mountainous route. 430 miles and you get a chance to leave some of your money at the casinos to help pay my taxes.  ;D >:  (I am a Nevada resident and we don't have state taxes)

All three routes have their pluses and minuses. None of them are there any real problem towing a trailer.
Hey Tom,  Your alternate route is 30 miles longer.  If you average about 8-9 miles a gallon, that comes out to approximately......... $15 more in gas no?
 
Coach_Frank said:
Hey Tom,  Your alternate route is 30 miles longer.  If you average about 8-9 miles a gallon, that comes out to approximately......... $15 more in gas no?
Yes, but I go into Hurricane so I can shop at Walmart and stock up on supplies.
 
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