About this event
LVR SOUTHERN UTAH TOUR
MAY 13-15, 2024
By Gary Lea
We have planned a drive for May that is a three-day, two-night event starting May 13th and ending on May 15th.
DAY 1
Our meetup will be in the parking area before the south entrance of Lake Mead NPS, 4910-4952 East Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson, NV, 89005. Our driver’s meeting will start at 9:30am with a planned departure at 10:00am.This is a National Park, so fees apply but if you have a park pass (especially the nifty Senior Pass) you are already good to go. Otherwise, you will pay a fee of $25.00 for a seven-day pass.
Once through the gate we take the first left which is State Route 167north all the way to Logandale and the junction of Interstate15. We will travel north on I15 north to Exit 112 Riverdale/Bunkerville just outside of Mesquite. This will take us right into the heart of Mesquite.
Right on Mesquite Blvd. Drive to Sandhills Blvd and take a left. Just prior to the I15 is a Smiths Shopping Center and Gas station. We will take a short break for necessities and then leave the shopping center and take a right onto Hillside.
Continue on Hillside around the town and run next to I15. At the Beaver Dam area we will pass under I15 and the road becomes State Hwy 91. We will follow this twisty and scenic drive all the way to Gunlock Road. This is an easy junction to miss so the lead car will stop ahead of the turn to guide everyone around a hard left turn onto Gunlock Rd. The road was re-sealed a couple of years ago and is now wonderful, with the exception of occasional cattle crossings that can give you a jolt and the ever-present Sheriff in Gunlock, with his full-time KA Band radar. 25mph though this Hamlet means just that. From there we continue north on Gunlock Rd. to Vejo and the junction of SH18. We will stop there as that is the parking lot at Vejo pies. Not to be missed. After a short but delicious stop we will proceed north on SH18 to Enterprise, NV. At the junction in Enterprise, we will take a right to continue SH18 to Bench Road which will be on the right and follow that to Hwy56. Right on 56 and straight into Cedar City.
Our drive for the day will end in Cedar City which has a bevy of newer Hotels:
Hampton Inn LaQuinta
Courtyard by Marriott Comfort Inn and Suites
Spring Hill Suites Wingate by Windham
Holiday Inn Express (the go-to place for wanna be experts in any field according to their adds)
You can choose your flavor and make arrangements for two nights.
We will have a dinner for the group (no I am not picking up the tab, sorry. Each on their own)
Retire and get ready for the second day’s drive.
DAY 2
We will leave our hotels and meet at a TBD spot to start the second day. We will travel north on I15 for approximately 18 miles to exit 78/Parowan. This exit turns us right on the Main Street and we will go east to Center Street and take a left. Center turns into Hwy 143. We will take this road up the mountains to Brianhead and on through the ski area with a stop at Cedar Breaks (provided it is open by then) for scenic pictures. From there we continue on 143 to 17 where we will take a right turn and then we will turn right on 14 to Duck Creek. We continue on the 14 back to Cedar City where everyone is on their own to explore the area. This is a fun, quaint town to just hang out in. This marks the official end of our driving tour.
DAY 3
This is our final day and we will not have organized activities. Time to head home. But Wait!!! There is more. You may wish to head down I15 to the Kolob Canyon Exit and go under the freeway to the visitors station. This is a short drive up the canyon. It is an out and back with some of the most stunning scenery around. Total time up and back less than 30 minutes but there are a number of trailheads for hiking and turnouts for photo ops.
No matter what route you take back home you will leave with some great memories, pictures and exquisite views to remember.
Sign up quickly and come along with us. Cost is $25 per person and will be well worth it. Can’t wait to see you on the drive.