4-Day Road Trip · 2026

Beardstown Henderson

Illinois plains, the Colorado Rockies, a Glenwood hot-springs soak, Moab red rock — and home to Cadence.

The two of us
4
Days
~1,670
Miles
5
States
1
Soak
The RouteTap any marker · pinch to zoom
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
? Tap the red ? next to any button for a quick note on what it does — “Open in Apple Maps” vs. “Get directions for this leg.”

The Route

Beardstown
IL
Hays
KS
Glenwood Spr.
CO
Moab
UT
Henderson
NV
575 mi480 mi185 mi430 mi

⛽ The one fuel stop that matters

Day 4 — fill up in Green River, UT before I-70 west. Green River to Salina is 106 miles with zero services — the longest gap on the entire U.S. Interstate system. No gas, no food, no exits. Top off before you leave town.

Day 1Beardstown → Hays, KS
Distance
~575 mi
Drive time
~8.5 hrs
Terrain
Flat plains
Route: local roads to I-72 WI-70 W across Missouri into Kansas. Big mileage day — get rolling early.
🍴Lunch Stop
Joe's KC Bar-B-Que
3002 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS · rated 4.8
The legendary BBQ joint inside a working gas station. Burnt ends or the Z-Man brisket sandwich. Roughly the halfway point of the day.
~$15–25 / plateBurnt ends11a–9p
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🛏Overnight
Hampton Inn Hays — North of I-70
4002 General Hays Rd, Hays, KS · rated 4.1
Clean, easy interstate-side stop with free breakfast. A 24-hour IHOP is right next door if you roll in late and hungry.
~$120–150 / nightFree breakfast24h IHOP next door
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Fuel Notes
Gas is plentiful all day along I-70 — no critical gaps. Stay above a quarter tank and you're fine across the plains.
Day 2Hays, KS → Glenwood Springs, CO
Distance
~480 mi
Drive time
~7 hrs
Terrain
Plains → Rockies
Route: I-70 W across eastern Colorado, climb into the Rockies, finish through the stunning Glenwood Canyon. Arrive in time for an evening soak.
🛏Overnight + Hot Springs
Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge ♨️
415 E 6th St, Glenwood Springs, CO · rated 4.4
Stay here and access to the world's largest hot springs pool is included — robes provided for the walk across, plus free breakfast at the hot springs café. End the long mountain day neck-deep in mineral water.
~$250–300 / nightPool includedRobes + breakfast
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Not staying at the lodge? Day passes to the pool run roughly $24–$50 per adult depending on season and time (cheaper after 6pm / 9pm). Kids under 2 free.
Fuel Notes
Eastern Colorado has services, but spacing widens. Top off near Limon or before Denver ahead of the climb — mountain grades burn fuel faster, so don't start the ascent low.
Day 3Glenwood Springs → Moab, UT
Distance
~185 mi
Drive time
~3 hrs
Terrain
Red-rock canyon
Route: I-70 W to Crescent Junction (exit 182), then US-191 S into Moab. Your easiest driving day — and the biggest payoff. Arrive by early afternoon with time for Arches.
📍Attraction
Arches National Park
Visitor Center off US-191, ~5 min N of Moab · rated 4.8
Delicate Arch, the Windows, Balanced Rock — over 2,000 sandstone arches. The scenic drive alone is worth it if you're short on time.
$30 / vehicle (7 days)No reservation in 2026
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2026 update — good news: Arches dropped its timed-entry reservation system for 2026. No advance booking needed; just buy the $30 vehicle pass at the gate or on recreation.gov. To dodge midday parking-lot closures (May–Oct), arrive before 8am or after 4pm.
🛏Overnight
Hoodoo Moab — Curio Collection by Hilton
111 N 100 W, Moab, UT · rated 4.6
Beautifully designed, a block off Main Street and walkable to downtown. Heated outdoor pool with red-rock views and the on-site Josie Wyatt's restaurant & bar. Rave reviews for the staff.
~$300–480 / night (peak)From ~$140 off-seasonHeated pool
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🍴Dinner — Two Options
Rooted Vine
137 N Main St, Moab, UT · rated 4.9
Family-run wine bar with handmade charcuterie and shareable small plates. The classier, slower-paced option — try the garlic butter steak bites.
Wine + small plates21+ · opens 5pm
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The Broken Oar
53 W 400 N, Moab, UT · rated 4.6
Log-cabin steakhouse with a big menu — ribeye, honey-sriracha-lime salmon, big burgers. Heartier sit-down dinner. Closed Sundays.
Steaks ~$25–35Salmon · burgersClosed Sun
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Fuel Notes
No fuel concerns this short leg — but top off in Moab tonight or first thing tomorrow. You'll want a full tank for Day 4's big empty stretch.
Day 4Moab, UT → Henderson, NV
Distance
~430 mi
Drive time
~6 hrs
Terrain
Desert + gorge
Route: US-191 N back to I-70 W, then I-15 S through St. George and the Virgin River Gorge all the way home to Cadence. Grab breakfast in Moab first.

⛽ Critical fuel stop — do not skip

Fill up completely in Green River, UT before getting on I-70 west. The next 106 miles to Salina have no gas, no food, and no exits — the longest no-service stretch on any U.S. interstate. Two easy 24-hour options sit right off I-70 in Green River:

Green River Fuel — Last Chance
Love's Travel Stop
1810 W Main St, Green River, UT · open 24h
Big travel stop with clean restrooms, Arby's inside, and plenty of pumps. Great final pit stop before the empty stretch.
Last services 106 mi24 hours
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Maverik
1475 W Main St, Green River, UT · open 24h
Often the better fuel price in town, with fresh hot food at the Bonfire Grill. Same exit area as Love's.
Last services 106 miGood fuel price
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📍Scenic Stretch
After St. George you'll drop through the Virgin River Gorge — a dramatic canyon cut on I-15. Services are good in St. George before and Mesquite after, so no fuel worry here. From Mesquite it's a straight shot home; you'll roll into Cadence by mid-afternoon. 🐾
Gas Prices Along the Route
StateLegAvg / gal
KansasDay 1~$3.47
ColoradoDay 2~$3.44
UtahDay 3–4~$4.05
NevadaDay 4 (home)~$4.21+

State averages as of June 11, 2026 (national avg ~$4.11). Prices are unusually high this year and change daily — treat these as ballpark. Remote stations along the route (Green River, canyon stops) typically run a noticeable premium over the state average, so fill in towns when you can.

Using the map buttons

Open in Apple Maps drops a pin on that one place so you can see where it is. In Apple Maps, tap Directions to navigate there — or add it as a stop along the way.

Get directions for this leg routes the whole day's drive (start city to end city) and starts turn-by-turn navigation. It won't auto-include lunch or fuel stops — open a pin and add it as a waypoint to route through one.