Road Tripping Through The Southwest Of The US

Flying and vacationing during a pandemic is one example of why America is incapable of getting this thing under control while people in other countries followed proper guidelines without getting hung up on some freedom fetish and are now reaping the rewards.

While I liked the article and Lucky, Katie is correct. CNN has an article where the title sums it up,

Americans who stayed home before they were told to saved lives, study finds

By Lauren Mascarenhas and Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Updated 9:35 PM EDT, Wed July 01, 2020

Cool pictures but had it been me, I wouldn't have categorized the trip as absolutely necessary.
But I fully understand it was just for additional page clicks on your site.

@ Katie -- I think that's an oversimplification. I essentially self quarantined for the two weeks prior to the trip, so I'm confident I didn't have coronavirus when I left. All of our activities were based around the outdoors, and aside from sleeping in our hotel rooms, we weren't ever inside (and it's increasingly clear that a vast majority of transmission happens indoors). We also took precautions in terms of wearing masks, wiping everything down, etc. We also got tested upon our return home.

Sure, ideally we'd all stay home and never leave, but I'm also not sure how long that is supposed to last. Will we ever have a vaccine? Will this ever end? Should we just completely shut down the world forever?

Obviously America is in a disastrous situation, but if you ask me that has little to do with taking one flight to go on a road trip where you're outdoors. It's because we have people who value freedom over doing what's for the greater good (not wearing masks on principle), because so many people have been irresponsible while staying home (indoor parties with dozens of people), and because we have very bad leadership (how the hell have bars, indoor restaurants, gyms, and indoor places of worship reopened?).

I take this pandemic *very* seriously, and I feel comfortable with our decision to take this trip. But I also respect your perspective.

I would not have rewarded the stupidity of the "no masks allowed" company with my business.

@ derek -- And I totally agree with that article. I did stay home before government mandates -- I did so since early March.

@CP - not just that, they don't offer insurance, while whining that someone wrecked a new ATV.
Rushed trips lead to rushed decisions.

Next time continue from Grand Jct to Denver; the drive on I-70 is gorgeous! Especially Glenwood Canyon, which felt like driving through the middle of a miniature Grand Canyon

I disagree with Katie and Derek - travel can be done safely. Wear masks, carry hand sanitizer, avoid big groups like crowded bars, follow local protocols. Travel businesses remain open during this time period and need patronage, and people need to do whatever they need for mental health (including vacations) as long as it is safe. These absolute viewpoints don’t do any good. Honestly Lucky’s trip here looks pretty safe. I just booked my first trip for two weeks from now, I’d like to see more trip reports during this time.

Thanks for sharing Ben! I have saved your article as a guide for my family's trip to the parks.

I did almost the same trip, but shorter, 3 days 2 nights. We did not get up early to go into Zion, instead drove through the Zion tunnels highway, and took a jeep tour outside the park. From zion we went to arches and then drove to Vail CO! We still got some snow.

Was a 3 day adventure like never before!

Wow this is one super rushed trip which obviously missed out a lot.

For two rich people who don't have an office job, it should've been absolutely possible for you to bring Winston and done a proper long trip for a few weeks. Tons of hotels allow pets.

@ Greg -- We intentionally didn't make this trip weeks-long, because the goal was partly to see if we would actually feel comfortable traveling. I'm happy it wasn't much longer, because we were surprised by the lack of mask usage. This trip was truly intended to be the equivalent of dipping our toes back into travel.

It seems you are in the damned if you do and damned if you don't middle ground. All sides will be taking their shots at your decision.

I am glad you supported the travel industry and felt you did it within the boundaries that allowed you to feel comfortable.

Virtually all bloggers are advocating for leisure travel since April and some are boasting about doing so. Many readers are also demanding more trip reports during the pandemic and shunning the efforts to learn more about the issues impacting leisure travel because they prefer short term self indulgences to long term sustainable safe travel, not just responsible travel. It surely does not help when government officials and federal agencies leaders are failing from the beginning and making no effort to change course. Those who display a cavalier attitude toward the deadly infectious disease have no right to spread the contagion to others, especially the medical professionals, and inflict financial calamities in the society and the world. The pandemic truly reveals the decline of the superpower due to the incompetent leadership, the attacks on science, the exponential threats of lies, and the defiant populace.

It's the most beautiful part of the country, and definitely worth taking the time to spend a few weeks to explore with a less ambitious schedule. You could even start in California do a review of the domestic 777 AA flies from MIA to LAX.

OMG, you are telling me, that you've never been there? I can't believe it. I know every mile on these roads and I don't even live in the US, never did. I recommend Discover America Forum for your next roadtrip plans. 😉 Check the Highlight Map out and you know what I mean. You speak German, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Great report Ben! I live in Salt Lake City and just went down to Bryce Canyon last week and thought it was great! You can definitely do it in a day or two, and would definitely recommend stopping by next time you're out here!

@Ben out of curiosity, which car rental company did you rent with and what car did you rent?

I have to agree with Katie, derek and globetrotter. This trip was irresponsible.

I've been thinking about a road trip (long drive, no flying) to this area in September, but because of the virus explosion across the US, have decided not to go. That's the responsible choice. It's not going to kill me to stay at home or close to home. But it might kill you (and thousands of others) if I decide I'm special and can "get away with" some travel for fun.

What an incredibly bad decision you made to support those idiots at the ATV shop with your money.

The only travel that people should be doing are truly essential trips, period.

I'd agree with an earlier poster on how beautiful Bryce Canyon is. Its too bad you didn't get to check it out, given how close you were in Zion. I really enjoyed Zion and Arches, but have to say Bryce Canyon took the cake. You'll have to do another trip out there sometime to check it out.

This tri-state area is probably one of the most beautiful spots in the US, all within 5 hours of each other. Thanks for highlighting this visit Ben.

@Katie

I think it's not helpful to shame everyone for simply going out. I think this article in The Atlantic has got it right: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/07/it-okay-go-beach/613849/

Being outdoors and socially distanced from others is pretty damn safe, and as far as I can tell, this trip has brought little risk to Ben or those around him (minus the ATV activity, because the employees there are idiots. If they actively ban the use of mask, I bet they don't take cleaning the vehicles after each use seriously too, and would refuse to do business with them on that basis alone).

America's in this situation because of all the other things, like people not wearing masks (e.g. in the Vegas airport, based on Ben's observations), not social distancing, crowding/opening up too soon and a generally lack of leadership from their leader.

Being outdoors is not one of those issues.

Your life, your choice, I'd do much the same. (Except would drive from SAN)
Like road trips, more so when no real time limit to it.
Great way to spend a few days.

"Your life, your choice"

People just do not understand what a pandemic is. We are doomed.

Look: https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/photos-crowded-beaches-emerge-bournemouth-uk-042446136.html

About twenty years ago I did a road trip in this area, starting in Denver then driving around Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. I avoided hotel chains and stayed in B&Bs or similar. The whole trip was a homage to “Thelma and Louise” (alas, I didn’t meet Brad Pitt).

Monument Valley was my favourite part: you can stay in a Native American hotel inside the park, or Goulding’s Lodge is a cheaper alternative — just outside the Park but with decent views into the valley.

Experiencing the park at sunrise is extraordinary. Utterly lovely.

I’d agree this is one of the most spectacular parts of the US to explore. Though personally I wouldn’t be having a holiday right now.

I can’t believe you missed Antelope Canyon while you were in Page!! You’ll have to do that next time when you stay at Amangiri. 🙂

My wife and I have done the entire PCH drive both ways and I have to say it was awesome in a convertible! Lots of amazing views along the way but can get busy and slow. Big Sur and Carmel/Monterey were very enjoyable and then the forests of northern CA and of course Point Reyes. OR was a new experience for us on our first trip and loved it. WA was somewhere I knew very well as was in Redmond for work regularly .

Terrific trip report - thanks for sharing! While I really enjoy your hotel and airplane reviews, it was interesting to see a more detailed exploration of the places you visited and the activities that you did while you were on this trip. This is a great example of how to travel responsibly while this pandemic goes on and on.

I hope you'll cover in the final report whether this trip has inspired you to take additional trips or to postpone travel (until when?) based on the conditions you observed such as limited mask usage / hostility towards mask wearers, uneven hotel adherence to COVID policies, etc.

Lucky, I'm glad you took this trip in the end. I think it's important for you to be able to provide some real world experience to your readers and I trust that you are doing so in the most respectful and responsible manner. It was clear throughout your trip you we're not advocating for everyone to get back out there and you shared your many concerns throughout the experience. I would like to think mask compliance in Vegas and other areas has gone up, especially since the governor of Nevada issued a mandate requiring them in public. I live in CA about 45 minutes from Reno, and while folks in my town embraced the masks early on, it wasn't until the past week or two that I noticed more people in Reno wearing them as well.

Also, I appreciate a trip like this and your west coast (Big Sur) trip last year because it's so easy for bloggers and other travel media to get caught up in ticking another country off the list that people forget just how incredibly beautiful our country is. Some of the best uses of mile and points can be domestic redemption's to areas like this, especially in the off season.

Last point, it's a shame the UTV business in Moab was so stupid regarding the masks. They have one 25-bed hospital in town... it wouldn't take much to overrun them. In addition to off-roading, Moab is also a world-class mountain biking destination and I would be curious to see how the bike shops and bike shuttle services have been handling the Covid-crowds. Given the more earthy-crunchy left leaning clientele, I'm sure they are far more accepting of masks.

Any chance you could share the itinerary from your friend? I am beginning a similar road trip today and would love to have a few more recommendations!

You missed out on a ton of good stuff in Moab - Canyonlands National Park is excellent. The Devil's Garden hike in Arches is easily one of the best in the region, and has arches that in my opinion are more impressive than Delicate Arch.

And Moab has an airport with United Express service to Denver. Not sure if the flight is operating now or not given COVID reductions.

Thanks for taking this trip Ben! You totally have the right attitude about it. I just moved to Denver for work (I’m a doctor at a hospital there) and can’t wait to make a southern Utah camping trip with your suggestions. Wearing masks, social distancing, and being in a sunny, highly ventilated area is relatively low risk. Glad you had a great time!

The southwest might be the most underrated area of the US. There's so much beautiful scenery in a realtively small area and, like you discovered, it's generally pretty easy to access. Next time check out Bryce Canyon. A few years ago friends and I did a Zion and Bryce trip and everyone agreed that Bryce was far more impressive and enjoyable. It's also worth checking out Lake Mead in Las Vegas and Valley of Fire on the way to Utah.

Do yourself a favor and read Desert Solitaire by Ed Abby. He is a great writer, and was a ranger at Arches for a number of years. The book chronicle some of his adventures while there. Another book by him, The Monkey Wrench Gang is also a great read about the area. While fictional, it has a strong base in actual events surrounding the early environmental movement in the area.

I understand the reasoning behind this trip and appreciate the precautions you took. However, it was still irresponsible of you to travel. Some people may have good reasons to do it, yours were not. You should stay home.

Thanks for the pics! I wanted to add that much of what you drove through on day 3 (in southeastern Utah, including the Valley of the Gods) is Bears Ears National Monument, which was set aside in 2016 to protect indigenous sacred lands from oil & gas drilling. However, the government is working to largely remove this protection, and we need to stand up to this to protect the landscape and maintain its use for indigenous people as they have been doing for hundreds of years.

It's a key step towards addressing the wrongdoings this country has committed towards indigenous peoples.

Around the same time you were on this trip, I took off to the Black Hills and Badlands in SD for a few days. I also took every precaution before and during my "return to travel." Masks seemed better enforced on my American flights, but masks were definitely not a thing once I got to SD. I also got to check out the Admirals Clubs in PHL and ORD, which re-opened the day before I traveled. I was never shamed for wearing one, but I was definitely the only masked person on many occasions. The Black Hills were stunning, I highly recommend if you enjoy hiking. I planned long (10+ mile) day hikes and the logistics were interesting with the phased re-opening of the parks (I had to scrap my Badlands hike plans due to closures). I didn't encounter a ton of people in the Black Hills area, aside from Mt. Rushmore. But when I stayed in Rapid City at the tail end of the trip, the utter lack of masks at the front desk and in the restaurant at the Hotel Alex Johnson Curio by Hilton was a bit alarming.

You did this entire trip without going to Amangiri???

Thought you would do a review on Amangiri. Maybe next time.

I really do not think you should have rewarded the "no masks allowed" company with your business. At the very least can you write a review on yelp and tripadvisor for the business highlighting this disgusting attitude i.e. name and shame them. This kind of nonsense is - at least in part - why we such a bad situation right. now.

Utah is absolutely one of my most favorite states to drive through. It seems to me as if every 15 minutes the scenery changes to something even more fantastic than what I had just seen previously. California is also another wonderful to drive through. Our country's national parks are absolute gems waiting to be explored.

It's hard to believe the amount of people saying they wouldn't travel right now. Are you all waiting until there is a vaccine? What is your plan exactly?

~ The Honorable Reginald

Excited for this trip report. Btw you should bring to the attention how spirit airlines just flew an empty plane to Turks and Caicos to pick up a stranded family. I believe reporter David Begnaud has the footage on his Instagram

Pink Sand Dunes State Park is absolutely gorgeous. It is not visited by too many people. If you go to Zion, it is well worth a visit.

Thanks! Great reading and eye candy.

2 questions:

a) with the "no masks allowed" dude, did you both take them off? Or, leave them on?

b) could you please give us (who don't live in the US) some idea of what the temperatures were? Was it cool/cold in the evenings (sweaters, jackets needed?) and 4 a.m. hour? Boiling in the day?

Thanks!

I can understand Lucky's desire to travel; I would love to have the option but personally I have no desire to social distance and wear a face mask as that defeats my reason for traveling (interacting with local cultures and making new friends) so for now I'm just staying home (fortunately I rented a nice house in the country side in northern Mexico, unfortunately this area is rapidly becoming the new epicenter for corona in Mexico). Lucky seems to be taking the appropriate precautions and therefore I see no reason others to judge his travel.

However, what really disgusts me with the United States is the cavalier attitude towards the BLM protests. The mainstream media reports record numbers of new cases yet refuses to correlate them to the time of the first protests. It is obvious for even a casual observer to see that the correlation is nearly 100 percent. Let's be honest and not pretend that "certain" activities without any social distancing are acceptable while others are not. None of them should be permitted, period.

While Page, AZ may not be the most exciting location, it has one of the most beautiful
public golf courses you will ever play.

Good for you! Glad you enjoyed your trip. Some of the most beautiful parts of this great Country. WY has some 80 mph areas too...;-), and incredible scenery. The more populated parts of Utah aren't nearly as enjoyable to drive. Too much traffic! LOL!

Alan - many of the largest BLM protests were in cities like:
- Minneapolis (obviously)
- NYC
- DC
- Chicago
- New Orleans
- Boston
- San Francisco
None of these cities saw any kind of spike post BLM. The only city that I think where there was a real link was Los Angeles, where BLM protests coincided with a general explosion of all activity

I get the argument that the media and others were more lenient to BLM protests than other kinds of gatherings - in my opinion, the conclusion is to be more permitting of ALL outdoor gatherings (including protests), not to unfairly single out BLM. In the case of BLM, you had millions of young people with pent up energy that went out to demonstrate for a just and righteous cause - it should be applauded. At the same time we should encourage those that want to dine outdoors or go to the beach to do so as well.

I will restrict my comments only to the destination itself.

+1 to everyone already commenting about the beauty of the desert southwest.

Lucky, you definitely should make a return trip someday, especially to enjoy sunsets and sunrises as others have noted. The hotel and the cabins at Monument Valley make for a homey and relaxed experience perfect for both sunrise and sunset. Prices were reasonable given the remote location and I had good service every time. Food was reasonable. My out of state family and overseas family both loved it. Rooms were clean and comfy.

You missed Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, Natural Bridges NM, the north rim of Grand Canyon NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Cedar Breaks NM, and Colorado NM right off I-70 west of Grand Junction, CO. So much to see....maybe one day the conditions will be right and you can bring your parents, slow down the pace, and chances are they will be so appreciative if they would not have made such a trip on their own.

One more thing to plan for next time: Stargazing, and no need for a telescope. On a clear night when the moon is not too big or bright, Just find a safe place to park and sit outside in one of the national parks at night in the total darkness, turn off all the car lights, flashlights and mobile devices. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for 20 min or so and gaze up in wonderment at the stars. It's really special and unlikely that you get to enjoy that experience at home.

" Will we ever have a vaccine? Will this ever end? Should we just completely shut down the world forever?" - These are the comments that are frequently said by people who just don't want to do what is necessary. These same people are the reason why the pandemic is soo bad in this country. Who the hell is saying we need to shut down the world forever? I have NEVER heard anyone claim that other than people who are trying to justify opening now. A lot of the world is getting back to some semblance of normalcy because they actually took the virus seriously and got the situation under control. If people had some self control for a couple of weeks and took the proper precautions we too could get the situation under control. Simply look at China, Taiwain, Japan, Vietnam, many countries in europe, etc. Nobody ever claimed people have to wait for a vaccine or that this will go on forever. The problem is the people who refuse to do what we all now know works in controlling this virus. Its obnoxious and offensive will people push the false logic that we would have to take these steps forever. Pandemic is the worst its ever been in the US, because of this poor logic.

" If they actively ban the use of mask, I bet they don’t take cleaning the vehicles after each use seriously too, and would refuse to do business with them on that basis alone)." I would question how well they maintain the vehicles mechanically at that point as well. Doesn't seem like customer safety is a high concern for that business.

Great trip report and photos, Ben. I loved Monument Valley, but Horseshoe Bend looks stunning too.

My only quibble is with you giving money to that ATV company. The masks thing is one bit (seems stupid but I appreciate the whole thing seems to be a bit politicised in the USA) however them not offering insurance is just bonkers especially if one was recently damaged. I don't think they deserve the business if they're going to be that irresponsible.

Next time go and stay at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and hike down to the canyon floor. I can't wait to go back.

I lived in Salt Lake City for a few years and my wife and I took several trips in the area. One of the most incredible drives I have taken was from Grand Junction down to Durango to ride the Durango and Silverton Railroad (another incredible experience). A portion of the trip can be down right scarry as you drive south along US Highway 550 with step drop offs and no guard rails especially when you get passed by a TNM&O (Greyhound subsidiary) bus in no passing zone along the highway.

I also agree that I probably would have walked out not the tour company first for saying no masks (but it is probably common knowing the area) and then the whole part about no insurance and the way he talked. Maybe if enough people would walk out he get the picture, or maybe not.

First of all, I think this was a great trip report and was a great live to live vicariously through others.

Second, it's easy to say this trip was irresponsible, but we can't stay shut down forever. There are people whose business is hurting or people who have lost their job (potentially even mine). As long as you are wearing masks, socially distancing and using common sense, the danger is minimal. Certainly, every day you get out of bed is a risk, there is no guarantee you will survive until that evening. Life is for enjoying, or you're not living.

Sorel River Ranch in Moab is stunning lodging, nestled in a canyon. Units are socially distanced.

Rent a houseboat on Lake Powell, close to Page. The scenery & experience are memorable.

Then go on to Sedona, my favorite Great Southwest destination. There is only one...so very special. You guys would love a private creekside cottage on Oak Creek at L’Auberge de Sedona. No rushing allowed here, take your time & soak up the energy!

@David

Can you name a single person who has advocated "shutting down forever"?

Ben, thanks for the great trip report about my favorite part of the US. I agree with everyone recommending Bryce Canyon. The views from the rim and hiking among the hoodoos are just out of this world. Sunrise views are particularly great, and based on your other posts getting up early is not a problem for you 🙂

If you go there again, you may want to take a dirt road shortcut between Page and Bryce. I think it's called Cottonwood Canyon Road. And while the Horseshoe Bend is probably the greatest attraction of Page area, there are also slot canyons, such as Antelope, that are worth a visit. Just make sure you are there during the dry season - flash floods can be deadly in slot canyons.

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip! Thanks for the great updates throughout.

@Anthony
There were plenty of protests in nearly all of the states that have had spikes. My point is the media has given the BLM a pass but singles out Trump rallies, beach goers etc. No matter how just one thinks these are they do not justify the increase in hospitalizations in all of these states. Asian countries never permitted this nonsense and their results speak for themselves.

Good times!
It certainly is surreal out there. In some ways it's the best time to be out on the road, in some ways it's the worst.
Just returned from 14 days... traversed the length of HWY 50 from Sacramento to Ocean City, then up to Bangor, ME, then meandered my way back. All told: 30 states, 20+ cities, 8800+ miles.

One of the most interesting moments to me was being in the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. That place is massive... practically feels like an airport terminal. And I was one of only a handful of people there. That was the great part. The disappointing part was to see all the awesome looking restaurants shut down. (Definately returning post-pandemic)

You learn on the road that the internet doesn't reflect reality. We're all still mostly getting along, and our faux internet rage is staying confined to the internet. We can argue the intimate details of what we should be doing ad nauseum online. But stepping outside we're all generally respectful of each others take on masks. Funnily enough it seems to be old ladies most defiant of masks... and I'm far more concerned how they'll weather the virus than myself.

Of everywhere I went, just 3 businesses weren't enforcing masks: a country fried chicken joint off the hwy in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, the Dave Ramsey headquarters in Nashville (the only place I too didn't wear a mask), and a gas station in Texas near the New Mexico border. I am optimistic that we're in for a drastic slowdown in spread soon... minus the inflation we'll see from continued increased testing.

@David

There are lots of people who want to shut down indefinitely. We already had our shutdown between April and May. The initial shutdown was to flatten the curve so as not to overwhelm hospitals and we did that. Now people want to move the goalposts and shut down again. No thanks!

~ The Honorable Reginald

Thanks for the great review, Ben. The pictures were stunningly beautiful.

@Reginald

Shutting down indefinitely and shutting down forever are not the same thing. The shutdown was to flatten the curve, which has NOT been flatten due to individuals such as yourself making these poor arguments and trying to sway the public into being reckless.

The irony is the shutdown would've ended much earlier, as every civilized country seems to be doing, had half the US cooperated with everyone else, instead of being whinny anti-science kids like yourself.

@David
So true! And China proves that even in a densely populated country the virus can be controlled. The US needs to quit pretending that "freedom" is somehow more important.

I took a similar trip across the southwest over a week with my dad on my (purposefully inefficient) way from TX to AZ for an internship at the Grand Canyon when I was a undergrad. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Lol, you totally missed the best part of Monument Valley. The person that missed that part of your itinerary, especially as close as you came to being there, needs to have their head checked/slapped.

When going to Aspen, we regularly fly to Vegas rather then Denver for the drive. Zion is amazing but you missed Angles Landing!

Easily the most spectacular hike I've ever done. (and not nearly as harrowing as this video makes it look...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6K0KoMrco&t=87s

We've done the same trip in 96 hours except we went to the north to Bryce, Cedar Breaks and Capital Butte via Utah Scenic Highway 12 ( https://www.visitutah.com/articles/the-all-american-road-scenic-byway-12/) going to Moab. That highway is stunning considering all the views. If you go the route that you went to the south it is also easy to go the the North Grand Canyon which is far more laid back than the South Rim.

Beautiful pics and nice commentary, but dirt roads are not the same as gravel roads. If you've every driven on a dirt road, you'll know the difference, especially when the rain washes out the road. From the pics it looks like gravel.

My 10 year old daughter and I did almost the same trip at the end of May. We explored Zion via hike and horse ride, but stayed in nearby Kanab for two nights. Considered Page but felt the driving was too much for just a few sites. Decided to do a night up in Tropic to explore Bryce Canyon and Red Canyon instead. Both we’re stunningly beautiful. If you go back, I highly recommend those two parks. Zion was also packed during our visit. People parked everywhere which seemed WAY more dangerous than running the busses considering the sheer drop off the side of the road.

We live in Orlando now, but my in-laws live in Pleasant Grove, UT.

We do this "5 Big National Parks" trip every other year - Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches. One time we also did the Antelope Canyon in Page (AZ).

We also love the Goblin Valley State Park - so unique and beautiful.

The drive is so relaxing and the natural beauty is amazing and breathtakingly beautiful.
There's also a nice European Bakery (Kanab Creek) on Hwy 89.

Nest year we plan to bike 200 miles on some parts of this scenic routes.

Great review! Im flabbergasted that you never visited this part of your country. Its such an amazing area. Im not from the US, but the Netherlands and have driven thousands and thousands of miles on the US roads.
There is so much to discover. Just check on the website US byways and you will find the most beautifull roads of the US.
Some of my favourite:
* Las Vegas to San Diego via Mojave, Joshua Tree, Salton sea and Anza Borrego (Nr 1)
* canyon de chelly national monument
*UT12 and UT24 Grand staircase escalante and Capitol reef. (eat fresh pie in fruita!)
* salt lake city to yellowstone (must see!)
*pines to palms highway (in the mountains near palm springs)

I can go on for hours ;-). Let me know if you need advise.
I must say you travelled responsibly! Wearing masks and good hand hygiene is key. I defenitely would have walked out the UTV rental office as soon as they said "no masks allowed". Defenitely not worth your money.

Glad you took the trip! Was there precheck at MIA?

I'm torn about showing off my beautiful state...we're so overcrowded now. Zion used to be incredibly accessible and now we avoid. Arches had been empty and now is an off season visit for us. Capitol Reef is now our go to, much less improved so much less busy. Great Basin NP is also a must hike location and not busy at all, get ready to camp.

I will say, however, do more homework next time. Covid is ravaging the Navajo Nation and if you're going to do anything at all down in the Four Corners region please aim it Navajo aid. I'd recommend staying away from the area and contributing to any aid projects.

I think it's also good to see other parts of the country. I get that globetrotting helps pay the bills and brings you joy, but it's also great to see more of your own country. In the future I would suggest going to Jackson, Wyoming and visiting the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. It's truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I've made several trips with my parents starting back in 2004 and they started going on their own every summer. Their last trip was September 2018, 4 months prior to my father's passing. Both parents want their ashes spread along the Snake River in the valley. Truly picturesque.