USA driving 2016

California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada.

Our three week trip was planned around hiking destinations but fortunately was connected by some of the best driving roads we have ever done. We avoided freeways and kept to low traffic back roads and highways wherever possible. Near perfect weather made it one of the most enjoyable holidays we have had.

We rented a Chev Impala, it turned out to be a good choice. Quiet, spacious and economical, a little heavy in the nose for twisty bits but good in most other areas.

 Touristy but fun.

 Route 66 in all it's tacky glory.

 UT 95. near Hite.

 UT 95.

UT 21. near Milford.

Just off UT 21.

 NV 488. Great Basin National Park.

NV 6. The loneliest road. 

CA 190 Death Valley.

CA 190. In the US they can build them straight, just need to figure out how to get the undulations out.

The Moki Dugway

Utah Highway 261

The drive from Bluff Utah to Torrey Utah passes through some of the best red rock scenery in the USA, The roads are in good condition and traffic is light. There is one gravel section which makes the drive even more spectacular.

The Moki Dugway, 3 miles long, 11% grade and unpaved. It was constructed by a mining company to transport uranium ore to the processing plant at Mexican Hat, fortunately it has been left unpaved. It's quite wide in most places and has plenty of passing points. Unfortunately the drivers of RV's of all sizes ignore the signs advising against it's use by those vehicles and can cause hold ups for cars and motorcycles.

We were fortunate to do the drive at the same time that entrants in the Pan America Friendship Rally were heading down the mountain. Details here  pan-american rally

A group of well heeled Brits who had shipped their cars to the US for the drive.

 Lucky to escape a head on, still thinks he is in the UK.