USA 2024 Day 13 – Vernal to Glenwood Springs

Another basic motel means another simple, but free and convenient breakfast.

The basics are laid out, but anything else, such as waffles, eggs etc, are ordered via a smiley, very pleasant lady just before we enter the main breakfast area.

Today we started in – Vernal, Utah
We finished in – Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Miles travelled today – 180
Miles so far this trip – 2063
Tonight we are staying at – Glenwood Springs Inn, Glenwood Springs

This is certainly not your normal serve-yourself breakfast but the lady getting you what you need was a refreshing change! 

While seated, we got speaking to another couple at breakfast who were heading back to Teton and Yellowstone. We, the foreigners, gave them tips on what to see and where to go. I am likely convinced they knew all this anyway and were just being polite listening to us know-it-all English people!

Our first stop today is the Dinosaur National Monument. It is still relatively early, just after 9:45 and there are a few people around, but not enough to cause us to wait or queue for anything.

We jump in the shuttle, and take it up to the main exhibition area, where we view all sorts of bones, fossils and information on display. We also listened to a Ranger talk, but this was held outside, with minimal shade so when the return shuttle bus arrived, we all jump on, and trundle back down the hill to our car.

We start the almost 200 mile journey to Glenwood Springs, and stop for fuel at a little place called The Corner Market, just outside of a place called Meeker.

The roads are great. Easy to drive, as we soak up the vast landscape around us.

Occasionally, the road winds off into the distance. So much so feel we will never reach the end of them.

We arrive in Glenwood Springs, and head straight to the Mountain Coster for another go on the single-seater roller coaster. Such great fun and it is something i would certainly recommend if you come accross one on your trip. However, this particular one is very expensive if you just want to do the rollercoaster.

You have to get a cable car to the amusement park where it is situated, and then buy tickets for the coaster. For the three of us on the cable car, and two of us on the coaster, it comes to well over $100. You will hear over the next few days that there is a better one in Estes Park, where for just $35 you get three goes on the coaster.

Once we had our fix of speed, we decided to relax, and headed to the Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Amazing place with pools made from natural springs. It’s toasty warm, plus a slightly cooler family pool.

Hopped from pool to pool, some views better than others but all are very relaxing.

A quick word on the available hot springs. Glenwood Hot springs was our first choice, but children were only allowed until 6pm, so this excluded it for us.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs, however, allowed children to at least 8:30pm. Our motel, the Glenwood Springs Inn, tell us they get a 10% discount to Iron Mountain. Great we think, until we find out the discount only applies until 3pm. It is now gone 5pm, so we do have to pay full price.

However, I would still highlighy recommend it, as it was a great way to spend a few hours, and very relaxing with amazing views over the Colorado River.

Dinner tonight is at a local Mexican restaurant. Food was average, the service ok, and perhaps not somewhere we would revisit if we went back.

Day 13 comes to an end, and tomorrow, we are taking a trip in Aspen, do not foget to stay tuned for that!

All the Days from our 2024 Rockies Road Trip

Day 1 – London to Denver
Day 2 – Lovedale to Custer
Day 3 – Custer to Lead
Day 4 – Lead to Sheridan
Day 5 – Sheridan to Cody
Day 6 – Cody to Gardiner
Day 7 – Gardiner to Yellowstone’s Canyon Village
Day 8 – Explore Yellowstone
Day 9 – Yellowstone to Grand Teton
Day 10 – Explore Grand Teton
Day 11 – Jackson to Pinedale
Day 12 – Pinedale to Vernal
Day 13 – Vernal to Glenwood Springs
Day 14 – Day Trip to Aspen
Day 15 – Glenwood Springs to Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 16 – Explore Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 17 – Rocky Mountain National Park to Denver
Day 18 and 19 – 48 hours in Denver
Day 20 – Homeward Bound