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Getting there, Days 1 & 2
All good trips begin with a good breakfast. Or at least we hoped so. As my chosen route took us through the East Valley, we decided to try Butterfield’s in Scottsdale. Great ratings, popular spot all day long. Couldn’t have been more wrong. Scrambled eggs were more of an omelet/souffle, still raw in the middle. Over medium still had uncooked whites. Bacon was half-cooked, the hash browns were scalloped, not hashed, and the grits were a near solid lump of corn meal.
On the other hand, I discovered that JL Pattiserie was located in the same plaza, so we made a brief stop there to get some absolutely wonderful pastries for the road. If you’ve never heard of them, there was a fair bit of internet drama recently between JL and an “influencer”, which was hilarious, and ended up driving JL’s business through the roof. I can’t recommend them enough if you’re lucky enough to live nearby. Butterfield’s, not so much.
Anyway, back on the road. We picked up the Beeline Highway (AZ-87) out of Fountain Hills and headed to our next stop in Winslow. Some healthy mountain climbs and twisties, better suited for a Miata than the Bronco, but still pretty enjoyable. Topping out just past Strawberry, I turned the Bronco over to SWSBO and finally got her to use cruise control for the first time. Pretty much a straight shot in the high desert, so a great opportunity for her to get some miles on.
After reaching Winslow and topping off the tank, we finally arrived at our destination for the first night at the iconic La Posada, the last of the Fred Harvey hotels, and still a stop for Amtrak.
We’ve all heard the expression, “exit through the gift shop,” and this was no exception. The registration desk and only access to the property from the parking lots is literally a gift shop.
The hotel itself is charming, full of history, and definitely worth a visit, if not a one- or two-night stay. The hotel’s onsite restaurant, The Turquoise Room, has some amazing dishes, and we opted for sharing an app and main, choosing the Churro Lamb Meatballs (really croquettes, but most folks wouldn’t know what that is), and the AZ Wild Platter (Boar Chili on a sweet maize tamale, Elk Medallion, and Roast Quail), and finished with the bread pudding.
Leaving Winslow, we stayed on 87 north into the Navajo Nation and passed through the Hopi Reservation as well on route to Monument Valley. A fun fact about driving through both during Daylight Saving Time: Arizona doesn’t recognize it, remaining on Standard Time throughout the year. The Navajo nation follows it, but the Hopis follow Arizona. Watching the Bronco’s time, as well as our phones flip back and forth several times was hilarious and pretty damned impressive. The Bronco (if you have Connected Nav) switched instantaneously, but our phones took several minutes to recognize the change.
So, the Navajo Nation is a recognized sovereign nation, and as such is totally self-governing and has their own set of laws, standards, practices, and views on where to budget for things like infrastructure. There are also different designated roads and highways. There are IR and BIA (Indian Route and Bureau of Indian Affairs) designations alongside state or federal ones. AZ-87 becomes IR-4, then IR-8029. And that’s where the pavement ends. The next 25 miles or so are dirt, graded from time to time, and actually a fun drive. Perfect for Rally mode, but probably best not to be that Bilagáana hastiin (white man) caught tearing up their roads.
A brief stop to stretch our legs (and snap a quick beauty shot) about halfway through, and we were soon on our way back on pavement with some nasty-looking clouds forming in the distance. Not wanting to go mudding today, we picked up the pace to get to Monument Valley
As luck would have it, the storm caught up to us just as we were arriving at Monument Valley. Cold, windy, and wet, we ended up limiting ourselves to the Visitor Center for some crappy through-the-window photos and, you guessed it, another gift shop.
One last thing about the Navajos, and a personal story. As you likely know, during World War II Navajos were enlisted in the US Marine Corps to become Code Talkers in the Pacific Theater, and were incredibly effective using their own language and adapting several thousand words in the native tongue to thwart attempts to determine movements, troop strength, battle orders, etc. This was done by only 400 men that came from Navajo communities throughout the Southwest. Sadly, these heroes have all now passed, the last being John Kinsel Sr. in October 2024. Years ago, when we had our Miata and were active in the Arizona club, for a local parade in Tempe we had the honor of escorting the President of the Code Talkers Association in our car, seated on the folded top of the Miata. As we were making our way down the parade route, I asked if he minded too much being driven by a Sailor. He just smiled and said, “Not at all, you got me to Iwo Jima in one piece.”
We arrived in Moab mid-afternoon, and boy, what a tourist trap. If it weren’t for the activities surrounding it, it wouldn’t exist. We booked two nights at the Wingate by Wyndham (meh). Not my preferred choice, but the Marriott properties (including the resort where the Off-Roadeo was based) were all egregiously overpriced. Thanks a lot, Jeep Jamboree. Yeah, turned out I picked the wrong weekend. Dinner at the Broken Oar, which was fine, but like everything up there, a tad spendy.
Off-Roadeo (Day 3)
Arriving at the Off-Roadeo headquarters, it’s a small group by design with only six Bronco Sports for attendees. All of them are 2025 Badlands Sasquatches, no Tech Package. There’s a seventh for the instructor/leader, but as one of the drivers was solo, the instructor went with her and took lead (A decision that would bite us later in the story). I ended up in the last car and was promptly informed that I had some duties to fulfill (but no discount for working!). I was the designated tailgunner, and was responsible for ensuring everyone kept on track, reporting anyone coming up from behind, and so on. Oh, and being the lunch mule. If you’ve been in group drives before, you know the drill, but if you haven’t and don’t want to deal with it, don’t grab the last car.
The route was changed because of the storm that passed through the day before (same one that hit Monument Valley), and there were some blockages and washouts on the usual route, so an alternative was selected. From the HQ to the actual starting point off-road was 27 miles at the junction of US-191 and Mill Canyon Road.
The first few miles were dirt track with some rock and a few small ledges, and none of the GOAT modes were needed. We came to a stop to discuss trail etiquette, safety, and basic hand signals for spotting. Then it was Rock Crawl mode and starting the climb with only white paint stripes marking the trail path, most of which was stone with patches of dirt, a lot of off-camber steps, ramps, and ledges, and lots of dog peeing stances for the Broncos. After a couple miles of this it was time for Rally Mode, and a sandy dirt track with lots of woop-di-doos. That didn’t last too long, and we climbed onto a rock plateau between the Monitor and Merrimack formations for lunch.
Lunch was cold cuts, green salad, chip, cookies, and water in a box. It was OK, I guess, but the less said about it the better. Just my .02.
After lunch, we continued the tracks & trails, getting some more challenging obstacles, shooting some very narrow paths and lots of pinstripe opportunities. Tire placement is paramount, and as handy as the front camera is, it’s not the be-all end-all. Sometimes you just gotta look for yourself. A few crucial points:
We ultimately got back to the starting point of the trail and looked at fossilized dinosaur prints for a bit, then the 27-mile run back to base camp. They had dinner ready, which consisted of salad, sliced roast beef, and other generic buffet stuff I wasn’t interested in. You might get the impression I wasn’t overly impressed with the dining provided, and you’d be right. I scarfed a little rabbit food; we made our goodbyes and headed back to the hotel for the last night in Moab.
Headed Home (Days 4 & 5)
Fairly straightforward and to the point. After breakfast at the Jailhouse Café (simple and fast, very good), we went north on US-191 to I-70 and headed west through Salina, hooking south and turned off to US-89. Absolutely gorgeous drive, lots of little things to stop & see, including the Big Rock Candy Mountain area. This being the long drive day (395 miles), we pretty much just stopped to fill the car and empty bladders before moving on. We spent that evening in Page, had a nice (if somewhat odd) dining experience at the Courtyard Page. Breakfasted at the Rustic Thistle in Page the following morning. Highly recommended as long as you’re not in a hurry. They operate on Navajo Time, so things happen at their own pace, but it was well worth the wait.
From Page, we continued on US-89 to I-40, then west to AZ-89, and south to Prescott with a stay at the Springhill Suites just off Whiskey Row. We had planned our last dinner on the road to be at The Palace, but that Monday they were closed for “plumbing problems.” So, we ended up at Limoncello, an absolutely terrific Italian place with everything freshly made, most of it in-house, from all their pastas to, well, limoncello. Great meal, and if you’re ever there, you have to try the Velutata di Funghi (mushroom soup). I guarantee you’ve never had another quite like this. Neapolitan pizzas are on point, as long as you remember not to load it up with a bunch of unnecessary crap. Stick with a Margherita and you’ll be fine.
Up early the next morning, free brekkies in the hotel, and down AZ-89 to Wickenburg. And by down, I mean DOWN. If you have issues with narrow, very twisty, brake fade-inducing, sheer drop roads, find another route. Are you prone to motion sickness, vertigo, or both? Don’t bother. Basically, my kind of road.
With our only planned stop in Wickenburg (Capital Meats) closed for some construction work apparently, we just stayed on US-60/Grand Avenue the rest of the way home.
Costs and Stats
A couple disclaimers: First, as this was our first Off-Roadeo, so the cost for attendance was reduced by Ford comping the first driver. Second, meals & lodging are probably higher for us than a lot of folks simply because I want to try and enjoy every aspect. I don’t believe in completely cheaping out on everything else just for one event.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think I got more or less what I expected from a “How to Use Your Bronco Sport” perspective. Maybe I felt there should’ve been something more, or more attention to our experience, but that’s likely because (a) I’ve probably watched too many Off-Roadeo videos on YouTube, and (b) the focus for them seems to be mostly on the full-size Bronco. Without having attended another venue, or done this one in a full-size, I may never know whether this is an accurate assessment or not. Maybe I just have unnaturally high expectations of things.
Between the weather and another driver screwing up, I think it could’ve been a lot more enjoyable, but again, I have nothing to base it against. The food was forgettable, but that’s no surprise. The swag? An overpriced Yeti mug, but beyond that, just (all together now) “exit through the gift shop.”
So, am I glad I went? Hell, yes. Would I recommend it to BS owners, regardless of trim? Again, yes, but only if this is the kind of thing that interests you in the first place. Would I go again? I’d like to do Tennessee in a BS, but I’d also like to return to Moab for a full-size experience. Time and budget will tell.
One more thing…
Can’t finish this without the obligatory,
All good trips begin with a good breakfast. Or at least we hoped so. As my chosen route took us through the East Valley, we decided to try Butterfield’s in Scottsdale. Great ratings, popular spot all day long. Couldn’t have been more wrong. Scrambled eggs were more of an omelet/souffle, still raw in the middle. Over medium still had uncooked whites. Bacon was half-cooked, the hash browns were scalloped, not hashed, and the grits were a near solid lump of corn meal.
On the other hand, I discovered that JL Pattiserie was located in the same plaza, so we made a brief stop there to get some absolutely wonderful pastries for the road. If you’ve never heard of them, there was a fair bit of internet drama recently between JL and an “influencer”, which was hilarious, and ended up driving JL’s business through the roof. I can’t recommend them enough if you’re lucky enough to live nearby. Butterfield’s, not so much.
Anyway, back on the road. We picked up the Beeline Highway (AZ-87) out of Fountain Hills and headed to our next stop in Winslow. Some healthy mountain climbs and twisties, better suited for a Miata than the Bronco, but still pretty enjoyable. Topping out just past Strawberry, I turned the Bronco over to SWSBO and finally got her to use cruise control for the first time. Pretty much a straight shot in the high desert, so a great opportunity for her to get some miles on.
After reaching Winslow and topping off the tank, we finally arrived at our destination for the first night at the iconic La Posada, the last of the Fred Harvey hotels, and still a stop for Amtrak.
We’ve all heard the expression, “exit through the gift shop,” and this was no exception. The registration desk and only access to the property from the parking lots is literally a gift shop.
The hotel itself is charming, full of history, and definitely worth a visit, if not a one- or two-night stay. The hotel’s onsite restaurant, The Turquoise Room, has some amazing dishes, and we opted for sharing an app and main, choosing the Churro Lamb Meatballs (really croquettes, but most folks wouldn’t know what that is), and the AZ Wild Platter (Boar Chili on a sweet maize tamale, Elk Medallion, and Roast Quail), and finished with the bread pudding.
Leaving Winslow, we stayed on 87 north into the Navajo Nation and passed through the Hopi Reservation as well on route to Monument Valley. A fun fact about driving through both during Daylight Saving Time: Arizona doesn’t recognize it, remaining on Standard Time throughout the year. The Navajo nation follows it, but the Hopis follow Arizona. Watching the Bronco’s time, as well as our phones flip back and forth several times was hilarious and pretty damned impressive. The Bronco (if you have Connected Nav) switched instantaneously, but our phones took several minutes to recognize the change.
So, the Navajo Nation is a recognized sovereign nation, and as such is totally self-governing and has their own set of laws, standards, practices, and views on where to budget for things like infrastructure. There are also different designated roads and highways. There are IR and BIA (Indian Route and Bureau of Indian Affairs) designations alongside state or federal ones. AZ-87 becomes IR-4, then IR-8029. And that’s where the pavement ends. The next 25 miles or so are dirt, graded from time to time, and actually a fun drive. Perfect for Rally mode, but probably best not to be that Bilagáana hastiin (white man) caught tearing up their roads.
A brief stop to stretch our legs (and snap a quick beauty shot) about halfway through, and we were soon on our way back on pavement with some nasty-looking clouds forming in the distance. Not wanting to go mudding today, we picked up the pace to get to Monument Valley
As luck would have it, the storm caught up to us just as we were arriving at Monument Valley. Cold, windy, and wet, we ended up limiting ourselves to the Visitor Center for some crappy through-the-window photos and, you guessed it, another gift shop.
One last thing about the Navajos, and a personal story. As you likely know, during World War II Navajos were enlisted in the US Marine Corps to become Code Talkers in the Pacific Theater, and were incredibly effective using their own language and adapting several thousand words in the native tongue to thwart attempts to determine movements, troop strength, battle orders, etc. This was done by only 400 men that came from Navajo communities throughout the Southwest. Sadly, these heroes have all now passed, the last being John Kinsel Sr. in October 2024. Years ago, when we had our Miata and were active in the Arizona club, for a local parade in Tempe we had the honor of escorting the President of the Code Talkers Association in our car, seated on the folded top of the Miata. As we were making our way down the parade route, I asked if he minded too much being driven by a Sailor. He just smiled and said, “Not at all, you got me to Iwo Jima in one piece.”
We arrived in Moab mid-afternoon, and boy, what a tourist trap. If it weren’t for the activities surrounding it, it wouldn’t exist. We booked two nights at the Wingate by Wyndham (meh). Not my preferred choice, but the Marriott properties (including the resort where the Off-Roadeo was based) were all egregiously overpriced. Thanks a lot, Jeep Jamboree. Yeah, turned out I picked the wrong weekend. Dinner at the Broken Oar, which was fine, but like everything up there, a tad spendy.
Off-Roadeo (Day 3)
Arriving at the Off-Roadeo headquarters, it’s a small group by design with only six Bronco Sports for attendees. All of them are 2025 Badlands Sasquatches, no Tech Package. There’s a seventh for the instructor/leader, but as one of the drivers was solo, the instructor went with her and took lead (A decision that would bite us later in the story). I ended up in the last car and was promptly informed that I had some duties to fulfill (but no discount for working!). I was the designated tailgunner, and was responsible for ensuring everyone kept on track, reporting anyone coming up from behind, and so on. Oh, and being the lunch mule. If you’ve been in group drives before, you know the drill, but if you haven’t and don’t want to deal with it, don’t grab the last car.
The route was changed because of the storm that passed through the day before (same one that hit Monument Valley), and there were some blockages and washouts on the usual route, so an alternative was selected. From the HQ to the actual starting point off-road was 27 miles at the junction of US-191 and Mill Canyon Road.
The first few miles were dirt track with some rock and a few small ledges, and none of the GOAT modes were needed. We came to a stop to discuss trail etiquette, safety, and basic hand signals for spotting. Then it was Rock Crawl mode and starting the climb with only white paint stripes marking the trail path, most of which was stone with patches of dirt, a lot of off-camber steps, ramps, and ledges, and lots of dog peeing stances for the Broncos. After a couple miles of this it was time for Rally Mode, and a sandy dirt track with lots of woop-di-doos. That didn’t last too long, and we climbed onto a rock plateau between the Monitor and Merrimack formations for lunch.
After lunch, we continued the tracks & trails, getting some more challenging obstacles, shooting some very narrow paths and lots of pinstripe opportunities. Tire placement is paramount, and as handy as the front camera is, it’s not the be-all end-all. Sometimes you just gotta look for yourself. A few crucial points:
- Pick your own path! The person in front of you may not be right.
- Leave a fair gap between cars so you can see what’s coming up before you’re committed.
- Realize that the path you just chose may be completely wrong in another five feet.
- One tire high and the other low is usually best for clearance.
We ultimately got back to the starting point of the trail and looked at fossilized dinosaur prints for a bit, then the 27-mile run back to base camp. They had dinner ready, which consisted of salad, sliced roast beef, and other generic buffet stuff I wasn’t interested in. You might get the impression I wasn’t overly impressed with the dining provided, and you’d be right. I scarfed a little rabbit food; we made our goodbyes and headed back to the hotel for the last night in Moab.
Headed Home (Days 4 & 5)
Fairly straightforward and to the point. After breakfast at the Jailhouse Café (simple and fast, very good), we went north on US-191 to I-70 and headed west through Salina, hooking south and turned off to US-89. Absolutely gorgeous drive, lots of little things to stop & see, including the Big Rock Candy Mountain area. This being the long drive day (395 miles), we pretty much just stopped to fill the car and empty bladders before moving on. We spent that evening in Page, had a nice (if somewhat odd) dining experience at the Courtyard Page. Breakfasted at the Rustic Thistle in Page the following morning. Highly recommended as long as you’re not in a hurry. They operate on Navajo Time, so things happen at their own pace, but it was well worth the wait.
From Page, we continued on US-89 to I-40, then west to AZ-89, and south to Prescott with a stay at the Springhill Suites just off Whiskey Row. We had planned our last dinner on the road to be at The Palace, but that Monday they were closed for “plumbing problems.” So, we ended up at Limoncello, an absolutely terrific Italian place with everything freshly made, most of it in-house, from all their pastas to, well, limoncello. Great meal, and if you’re ever there, you have to try the Velutata di Funghi (mushroom soup). I guarantee you’ve never had another quite like this. Neapolitan pizzas are on point, as long as you remember not to load it up with a bunch of unnecessary crap. Stick with a Margherita and you’ll be fine.
Up early the next morning, free brekkies in the hotel, and down AZ-89 to Wickenburg. And by down, I mean DOWN. If you have issues with narrow, very twisty, brake fade-inducing, sheer drop roads, find another route. Are you prone to motion sickness, vertigo, or both? Don’t bother. Basically, my kind of road.
With our only planned stop in Wickenburg (Capital Meats) closed for some construction work apparently, we just stayed on US-60/Grand Avenue the rest of the way home.
Costs and Stats
A couple disclaimers: First, as this was our first Off-Roadeo, so the cost for attendance was reduced by Ford comping the first driver. Second, meals & lodging are probably higher for us than a lot of folks simply because I want to try and enjoy every aspect. I don’t believe in completely cheaping out on everything else just for one event.
- Net Off-Roadeo Attendance Fee (includes a second driver and the insurance waiver): $336
- Fuel, end-to-end: $97 (87 Octane for all fillups)
- Lodging: $844 (doesn’t include $210 for the La Posada, my Chase Sapphire picked that up as part of my annual bennies)
- Meals: $628
- Other purchases: $200
- Total for the trip: $2105
- End-to-end mileage: 1273.7 miles (2049.8 km)
- Fuel economy: 25.8 mpg (9.12 l/100km)
- Trip time: 23:54
- Trip average speed: 53 mph (85.3 km/h)
- Fuel cost per mile: USD $0.076
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think I got more or less what I expected from a “How to Use Your Bronco Sport” perspective. Maybe I felt there should’ve been something more, or more attention to our experience, but that’s likely because (a) I’ve probably watched too many Off-Roadeo videos on YouTube, and (b) the focus for them seems to be mostly on the full-size Bronco. Without having attended another venue, or done this one in a full-size, I may never know whether this is an accurate assessment or not. Maybe I just have unnaturally high expectations of things.
Between the weather and another driver screwing up, I think it could’ve been a lot more enjoyable, but again, I have nothing to base it against. The food was forgettable, but that’s no surprise. The swag? An overpriced Yeti mug, but beyond that, just (all together now) “exit through the gift shop.”
So, am I glad I went? Hell, yes. Would I recommend it to BS owners, regardless of trim? Again, yes, but only if this is the kind of thing that interests you in the first place. Would I go again? I’d like to do Tennessee in a BS, but I’d also like to return to Moab for a full-size experience. Time and budget will tell.
One more thing…
Can’t finish this without the obligatory,
“I WENT TO BRONCO OFF-ROADEO, AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS STUPID STICKER”
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