Family_5

Hello, we are a family of 5 with 3 adult kids 18-23 looking to plan a trip to Grand Canyon about mid-May 2018. I read old threads & saw lots of posting about the route:

LV - Grand Canyon North Rim - Lake Powell - Monument Valley - Moab (arches and Canyonlands)- Bryce - Zion - LV

And that is about what we would like to do! Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Zion, & Bryce are our top priorities.

Please advise should we do North Rim or South Rim of Grand Canyons? If we want to do Lake Powell, does that mean Sedonna will be out of the question?
And also please give suggestions to lodging & how long we should stay at each park.

Thank you!

RVvagabond

Just be aware that North Rim concessionaire don't open until 15 May. I prefer NR to SR because it is not polluted with tourists.

Your route selection is valid, but I would not-not go to Sedona since the scenery around Monument Valley exceeds that of Sedona.
Sedona is very expensive with very high bed/city taxes.

SALES TAX --
Arizona sales tax is 9.35% , consisting of 5.60% Arizona state sales tax and >>> 3.75% Sedona local sales taxes.The local sales tax consists of a 0.75% county sales tax and a 3.00% city sales tax.

BED TAX
The city council of Sedona, Arizona, has voted to increase the transient lodging (bed) tax by 0.5%, from 3% to 3.5%. The rate increase will take effect on January 1, 2014

9.5 + 3.75 + 3.5 + tips (they expect 20%) == ouch for your touring budget

Vaga

Vaga

Family_5

Thank you, Vaga: so we will try to plan the last week of May like 5/23- 30 then. 2 college kids so not sure of their internship/ schedules next year yet...but I want to tentatively plan first & start finalize in January, February 2018.

North Rim Grand Canyon
Will skip Sedona
Monument Valley

RVvagabond

That period of time is Memorial weekend that is superb for cool weather. However, make hotel reservations soon as possible.

Since you have planning time, below is my standard list of touring books tailored for your tour. Did not include books on serious backcountry hiking by Kelsey.


1. Hiking (family): Wow Utah Canyon Country - a valuable guide.
2. Series of books: a) Zion to Escalante, Utah b) Escalante to Moab c) North Rim and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. In Kindle and paper back format. This book gives a time-saving mile-by-mile driving guide plus history.
3. As above, but less detailed: Fodor's Utah: with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef & Canyonlands National Parks (Travel Guide)
4 Fodor's The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West (Full-color Travel Guide) Very good summary of all parks. Paperback – May 10, 2016

There are many other books by doing a Amazon book search.
After creating a schedule, post it here for commentary.

Vaga

Family_5

Hi Vaga, do I need both book #3 & #4 above for this trip?

Thank you for taking the time for all the suggestions. Yes, we are family hiking- not serious backcountry hiking.

RVvagabond

The entire set of books is less than one night motel in Moab.

Which is the better value?
The books as they directly aid in your tour planning.
Book 2 has more details

Vaga

RVvagabond

The entire set of books is less than one night motel in Moab.

Which is the better value?
The books as they directly aid in your tour planning.
Book 2 has more details

Vaga

Family_5

Hello, we start to look at lodging inside Grand Canyon & lots are already sold out for late May 2018.

Any advice here? Do we need to stay inside the park?

We found a very nice log cabin in Williams, 45 mins to South Rim. What is your thought if we stay there & visit at least South Rim of Grand Canyon?

Thanks,

StantonHyde

Can you find anything in Tusyan? If not, book the closest thing you can find and then call the Parks lodging weekly. People do cancel--but you have to call, don't depend on the internet.

WhereAreWe

You should stay inside the park if you're visiting for more than a couple hours.

Are you going to North or South Rim? It looked like you were going to North Rim initially but now you're talking about south....

For South Rim, Tusayan is best/closest, then I would stay in Flagstaff instead of Williams. Whatever you do, don't get talked into taking the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. You have fewer options at the North Rim and they don't have as many cancellations either.

I'd check online every day but call every couple of days. People are always cancelling, even up to the last minute. As it gets closer, call every day if you haven't found any openings.

Also, consider reversing the order of your trip if it makes sense. That might change the room availability at the Grand Canyon. Biggest thing is to try to avoid Memorial day weekend at Zion or the Grand Canyon.

Family_5

Thanks, will call park lodging & look at Tusayan.

The lodge that I looked was north of Williams & close to Route 64.

From what I read so far, I think we would like to go to both South Rim & North Rim, if possible. Who knows when will be our next return to Grand Canyon?

Any recommendations of lodging inside park? For our family of 5 adults: our 3 kids age 19-24.

Thanks for the tip of no train & avoiding Memorial weekend.

Reversing the order of the trip? We are open to all suggestions.

We are from Washington DC so where should we fly in? We are not sure of the itinerary yet, but for sure we would like to visit South Rim, maybe North Rim, Lake Powell, Zion ...Would like to do the trip no more than 9 days & should end by end of May.

StantonHyde

Just remember that the North Rim will have barely opened by mid May--check to see the exact date. And, you know what, your kids have plenty of time to get back to the North Rim. I honestly find the Grand Canyon overwhelming in many ways--e.g. it is not as accessible as Zion, Bryce etc. I have backpacked in the canyon (north and south rim) 6 times now--each time on a different set of trails for whole week each time. It is HUGE. There is still more to do. So seeing the GC from one side and walking the rim, if that's all you can do in short time, is fine. I would ditch the North Rim and add time to the others.

Family_5

Thanks for your advice, StantonHyde. As I start the planning stage, I kind of figure that for a week or 9-days for our trip to National Park: we have to pick only a few. Since this is our first visit at Grand Canyon: we may have to go to South Rim to get the experience of the classic view - even with the crowd!

Since you have been to GC so many times, what is your advice of a few trails/ spots that we should hit as first timers? We plan to spend the most at GC for 2 days.

Thanks

StantonHyde

You know, I honestly have not done any trails near the visitors center or walked on the Rim. The trails I have done have been hard and long into the canyon floor. I can say that Shoshone Point is very pretty and less crowded. Bright Angel Trail is beyond crowded, especially for the first half mile or so. I would check out the grand canyon nps.gov site and look at the spring or summer newsletter online. It will list easy hikes to take.

Family_5

Hello all, this is our preliminary itinerary:

1. Friday 5/18/18: fly into Las Vegas, drive 2.5 hrs to Zion
2. Stay in Zion Friday/ Sat: visit Zion
3. Sunday 5/20: drive to Bryce,visit Bryce, stay overnight
4. Monday 5/21: drive to Page. Stay at Lake Powell 5/21-23. Plan to visit Lower Antelope Canyon & Lake Powell. Had been able to book hotel at Lake Powell.
5. Wed 5/23 drive to Grand Canyon. Stay there 5/23- 5/25 or 26? We plan to stay 3 nights, 3 days or 2 nights,2 days.. Had been able to book lodging at Maeswik Lodge inside GC.
6. Sat. 5/26: drive back to Las Vegas. Stop by Hoover Dam
7. Stay at hotel at Las Vegas Sat. night - fly home on Sunday 5/27.

Please advise. Any advice for lodging at Zion & Bryce? Where to stay if cannot find inside park.

Thank you!

bailey123

Desert pearl in Springdale for Zion, either stay in the park at Bryce or at Ruby's outside the park at Bryce. Think about detour to escallante staircase on way to Page. Are you planning on kayaking, river float or boat tour? Don't miss Horseshoe Bend while at Page

Family_5

Thank you, just booked Ruby's outside Bryce. No lodging inside Zyon or Bryce. Would love to do river float on Lake Powell. Will check into it.

bailey123

River float is on the Colorado not technically on lake Powell but all in same general vicinity

Family_5

Also booked Desert Pearl Inn at Zion. There is a new SpringHill Suites Marriott at Springdale Zion. Has anyone stayed here?

We got all the lodgings. Very excited! Now, I can go back & read more on tours & trails.

WhereAreWe

You only need two nights at the Grand Canyon. Take that extra night and add it to Zion.