Hi all,
We are a group of 7 people (from UK & Canada) driving to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. Our group includes 2 people with knee problems & are unable to hike much. We read some other posts on Grand Canyon and are hoping we can get some advice/feedback on our itinerary.
Our current plan is:
Aug 2nd - Leave Vegas after 10 AM (a couple of us have a business meeting that ends at 10 AM) for Grand Canyon. Arrive before sunset and stay overnight at Tusayan.
Aug 3rd - Tour the Grand Canyon South Rim area for a helicopter tour (if any openings available) and visit Cameron Trading Post. Overnight at Tusayan.
Aug 4th - Tour Grand Canyon South Rim one last time and leave for Vegas to catch our 9 pm flight home.
We are wondering:
- Can we add in Sedona when we only have 1 full day in Grand Canyon?
- We don't want to get bored if one day at Grand Canyon is good enough? We may split into groups to do horseback riding, spa, helicopter rides - other than that we are not going to hike in the summer.
- Is it worth it to overnight in Grand Canyon then overnight in Sedona the next day and then return to Las Vegas?
We all want to see & experience as much as possible - but we don't want to be rushing to different places or sitting in traffic/car most of the time either.
Thanks!
Frank
Advice on Grand Canyon trip (from Las Vegas)
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I would not add Sedona or Cameron trading post to your trip.I would visit Zion nat. park on my way back to Las Vegas.Paul
From GC South Rim to Las Vegas is about a 5 hour drive.
From the South Rim to Zion is also about 5 hours. Then from Zion to LV is about 3 hours.
So going to Zion only adds about 3 hours of driving. I think it's worth it.
I think the beauty of Sedona isn't the town but the surrounding red rocks. So I wouldn't add Sedona for a few hours and increase the driving.
If you leave LV around 10AM, you should be at GC by 3-4PM unless you stop at Hoover Dam on the way.
The things I would do:
a) while some people hike down for an hour or so to get the perspective of GC, those with knee issues can walk along the rim and enjoy the views.
b) stop at some of the viewpoints along the south rim.
You should be able to do the above on the afternoon of Aug 2 and morning of Aug 3.
Then drive to Springdale and take the shuttle bus thru the park and get off a various stops.
I think everybody should be able to make the easy walk along Riverside Walk. Although not very long and very easy (it's actually paves with a sprinkling of sand on top for effect) the scenery is spectacular with the river flowing deep in the canyon.
It's then a 3 hour drive from Zion to LV.
That sounds do-able. Have heard about Zion but have to check to make sure our rental van is allowed in Utah (currently only seeing California, Neveda, and Arizon on the list).
So following the suggestions we will have this revised itinerary:
Aug 2nd - Grand Canyon sunset and stay in Tusayan
Aug 3rd - Grand Canyon sunrise and walk along the rim until about noon
Aug 3rd - Drive to Zion and arrive by sunset
Aug 4th - Drive along Zion and leave for Vegas after 4pm
Thanks all!
I think you will love both the GC and Zion. Have a blast.
BTW - no idea what your rental contract says but saw tons of rental campers/vans in Utah during our trip last month.
You won't be able to drive in Zion. You'll have to leave the car in the parking lot and take the excellent shuttle.
So be prepared to take any supplies with. Water, snack, sun tan lotion, CAMERA.
You can make a few stops.
Go to th end and do Riverside Walk. Tnen on the way back you can get off at Weeping Rock (I think it's called) and then at the Lodge. Great view from all of these places.
Tnen it's only a 3 hour drive to LV.