4k Mile Road Trip in a 2005 w/ 72k miles - Suggestions?

I suggest that you check tire condition and buy new tires if the existing tire tread is marginal (4/32" or less depth.) You'll most likely enjoy a better selection of models and lower price at your local tire stores vs. the Toyota dealer.

You can save some money by replacing the windshield wiper blades, and engine and cabin air filters yourself.

I also recommend that you have the transaxle ATF fluid and 12V battery replaced if they are original.

Regarding AC performance, a non-technical evaluation would be to set the temp to MAX COLD and turn the fan speed to the highest position. Evaluate the volume and temperature of the cold air that is produced. If you find that the air is not uncomfortably cold or the fan is not blowing at full blast, then you should have the system checked out.

Utah and Colorado both have a great collection of wonderful national parks and monuments, so you may want to allow more time to visit others which currently are not on your list.

 

I have never done this, but may be you want to have the spare tire inflated properly. Visit Antelope island near Salt Lake (on the way to Teton) for a couple of hours.

 

Skip Mt. Rushmore and go to the Crazy Horse monument instead. Larger and more majestic, in my view, and it's nowhere near complete. Plus - no John Philip Sousa music over the loudspeakers (This was almost 30 years ago. Don't know if it's still true.)

 

Actually, with 72K miles and considering your southern CA location, I would not have expected that the brake pads would need to have been replaced once. I have 124K miles on the 2004 and the original brake pads still have a reasonable amount of remaining life.

Regarding the rotors, if you do not feel pulsation when you apply the brakes, then do not worry about them.

Yes, 60 psi is the correct pressure for the spare tire and this should be checked at least at six-month intervals if you want the tire to be ready for use when you need it.

 

Jackson Wyoming: The Cowboy Bar and daily shootout on the main square are fun. Take the ski lift to the top of Snow King (take your camera). Anthony's Italian food is good. There's a little playhouse which, last time we were there, did a really fun version of Oklahoma.
Grand Teton Nat'l Park: Jenny Lake is super scenic as is the little chapel. Be sure to drive to the top of Signal Mountain on your way to Yellowstone.
Yellowstone: Take an ice chest with sandwich fixings, drinks and fruit. The cafeterias there are terrible and very crowded. There's lots of obsidian on the ground at the picnic area near Obsidian Cliffs.
Mt. Rushmore: I would skip it and just go South from Jackson through Rock Springs, WYO and down through Steamboat Springs, CO. Mt. Rushmore is pretty underwhelming IMO. If you do go, in Custer, don't miss Jewell Cave (take light jackets for a 2 hour tour - you're 350 feet underground).
Denver: If you go through Steamboat Springs, CO then there's no need to go to Denver - just head West to Dinosaur. Or go South to Silverthorne and take I-70 to Moab. If you do go to Denver, Mt. Evans (highest auto road in the US) is only 50 miles west of downtown and really scenic.
Moab/Arches: Just 6 hours or so from Denver. Take the turnoff from I-70 that goes past the Sorrel River Ranch. Take an ice chest and have a picnic at Arches (at the far end of the loop road). It is VERY hot in the summer so take lots of water and ice. Moab Brewery is pretty good and fun.
Grand Canyon: Just 6 or so hours from Moab, even stopping for breakfast. Go due South out of Moab (leave early - 6 or 7 am - to really enjoy the sunrise in a scenic place). Have breakfast in Twin Rocks (good food and modern place), then hit Monument Valley (you drive right through MV and the ranger station is just just 4 miles off the highway). I wouldn't take a Prius on the dirt road (separate fee) through the valley, though. Keep going South and, after Kyenta and Tuba City, you'll hit Cameron, which is the East entrance to Grand Canyon Nat'l Park. Have a picnic on the rim. Try to get a 2d floor, canyon view room at the Kachina Lodge (just keep checking at the desk in the Bright Angle Lodge for cancellations). The Arizona Steak House (on the rim) has pretty good food at fair prices.
Las Vegas: Feh.

As for the Prius, it'll do fine. Be sure to check the spare tire pressure before you leave.

 

Dia, if you have not had the inverter cooling pump replaced within the past three years, please visit your dealer and have this done. It is a free fix, the result of a special service campaign. More details here:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...call-alert-2004-2007-inverter-water-pump.html

 

My dad and his wife were out that way late May/early June. Check the end of his blog entry.