armendzh

I need to be in Las Vegas from August 3rd till August 6th for a conference. At the same time, I would like to use this time to travel for the first time in those parts and to try to visit several national parks.

The days that I am looking to buy tickets for are from July 22nd till August 6th. Last 3-4 days I will be in Las Vegas and so will depart from there. During the rest of time (22nd/23rd - 2nd ~11 days), I would like to rent a car and visit Grand Canyon, and some of the other parks such as Bryce, Zion, Canyonlands, Arches. Maybe, if route will make sense, try go visit Monument Valley.

I am however not sure what would be the best arriving city. I guess my options, besides Las Vegas, can also be Denver or Phoenix. Would those two make sense of choosing over Las Vegas?

tomfuller

Make the loop starting and ending in Las Vegas. Cheaper rental car and no drop fee. There have been many discussions on this forum as to which direction to do the loop and whether to include Monument Valley or Page.
For sure see Rt. 12 on the way to Capitol Reef and Goblin Valley.

MikePinTucson

What tomfuller said about starting .

I would drive first to Sedona for 2 days, then to GC south rim 2 days, Canyon de Chelly 1 day, Monument Valley 1 day, Page (Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend), 1 day, then to Zion and Bryce for 3 days and back to Vegas.

lindagj

One of my favorite trips. All of the Utah parks are worth visiting, as is Mesa Verde. Of course time is a factor.

Remember this is the Southwest. Very warm/ hot in summer. Just be prepared.

armendzh

Well. I decided and went ahead and bought tickets to and from Las Vegas. At the moment I am leaving on July 22nd and coming back on August 6th.

Where are the major stopovers along that loop? Where should we stay overnight?

Virginia1990

Here's a sample itinerary of a loop that many people have asked about on these forums. Some people don't include Mesa Verde, just depends on how much time you have and how much you want to drive from day to day. This one includes Mesa Verde because it's a wonderful place and worth seeing if you are out here. The loop could be done either way, and I would choose based on what time you fly into Vegas. Earlier arrival, head to to Grand Canyon (longer drive time); later arrival, head to Zion (shorter drive time). In parentheses I'll add hotels I've stayed at that I would recommend.

July 22 - Flight arrival, head to Zion. Overnight in Springdale, may have time for short hike in evening. (Quality Inn Montclair Suites)

July 23, 24 - Spend hiking/exploring in Zion. Evening of 24th drive to Bryce, hike Canyon Overlook on your way out. Overnight at Bryce. (Best Western Bryce Canyon)

July 25 - Bryce. Don't miss sunrise. Hike Navajo Loop/Queen's Garden in the morning, drive to overlooks during the day. Maybe horseback ride in afternoon. Overnight at Bryce.

July 26 - Drive Scenic Byway 12 to Capitol Reef. Multiple places to stop along here. You could make a day out of the driving. Check out Capitol Reef. Overnight in Torrey, UT.

July 27 - Drive to Moab. Check out some hikes in the late afternoon/evening once it begins to cool down a bit. Or maybe get here in time for a river float in the afternoon. Overnight in Moab. (River Canyon Lodge)

July 28, 29 - Spend in Moab checking out Arches and Canyonlands. Evening of 29th drive to Cortez, CO. Overnight in Cortez.

July 30 - Spend your entire day at Mesa Verde. 45 minutes to drive from entrance of park to top of mesa. You could spend more time here, but in the interest of time and seeing more things I only allowed one day. Overnight again in Cortez.

July 31 - Drive to Monument Valley and drive through it. After you have had your fill, continue on to Page, AZ. Go see Horseshoe Bend in the evening when you arrive. Overnight in Page.

Aug 1 - See Antelope Canyon mid-morning (10am or 11am), then drive on to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Check out some of the overlooks along the way. Overnight in Grand Canyon or Tusayan if you cannot get lodging in the park. (GC - Maswik Lodge)

Aug 2 - Check out more of Grand Canyon in morning, then leave after lunch to head on to Vegas for your conference the next day.

Obviously, this loop can be trimmed if you wish to have a more relaxing vacation and not see as much. But, these are all suggestions of things to see along the loop and you can research them and decide if you wish to include them all or if not, which ones to cut out. I'll echo what lindagj said, it will be very hot when you are here, so make sure you have PLENTY of water (more than you think you will need), and plan your hikes accordingly (i.e. don't plan your toughest, longest hike in the middle of the day - get up and do it early!). A lot of places are not shaded, and many of the hiking trails will be exposed to sun, so bring lots of sunscreen and wear a hat. Also, get a national park pass to save you some money on entrance fees.