cgards

It's more than a year away, but I'm getting some ideas together for a 16-day trip to the Southwest in July 2015, and could use some advice. We're from CT, and we have 2 kids who will be 15 and 11 when we travel. Want to see a good mix of parks and cities knowing full well that it will be really hot when we go. My ROUGH plan is to fly to Phoenix, spend a couple nights there, then head to Sedona for 2 nights. Would like to visit the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell after that. Not really familiar with that area, so any advice on North Rim vs. South Rim would be appreciated, and where to stay for a couple nights. Could then do a night in Kanab before spending a couple days in Zion. Would then drive west to Vegas for a night or two, then south through the desert to Palm Springs for maybe a night. Would like to finish in San Diego, then either fly home from there or drive back to Phoenix, depending on rental car rates. Trying to pack as much in as we can while keeping driving distances manageable. Would appreciate any thoughts on this especially how many nights we should spend at each stop, and suggestions for off the path stops along the way.

odie1

What are your interests? What do you enjoy doing? It will definitely be hot in Palm Springs-like 110+.

emalloy

It is early enough to get lodging in the parks, if you call as soon as they start booking for next year.

Is there a reason to visit Phoenix in the summer? Why not head for Sedona as soon as you touch down.

If you decide on the south rim of GC, (my favorite and IMHO the most wonderful views) then head there next. Spend a day and night, hike down a little. There will be company, but the advantage of staying there is that early in the morning or late afternoon the day trippers will not be there and the color changes are wonderful at sunrise and sunset.

Then head to the page area for Lake Powell check out Antelope canyon and maybe take a half day smooth water raft trip from the dam to Lee's ferry. or take a boat on the lake.

From LP, head west and visit Bryce Canyon NP for a night, perhaps take a mule ride. Do a little hiking, visit the wonderful view points, and spend the night in the park if you can, or in one of the motels near the entrance.

Then if you didn't see GC yet, visit the North Rim and stay overnight. Hike, maybe take a mule ride there if you haven't yet.

Then go to Zion NP for some more wonderful sights, hikes, etc.

Head to Vegas if you have to, not a great place for kids especially in the summer, and continue on to the rest of your sites.

The parks are all different, with different geology, so you won't be looking at the same thing over and over. Bryce and the North Rim are at higher elevations than the other places so will probably be cooler. Phoenix and Vegas will be HOT and a dry hot is still beastly hot.

Check the cost of flying into Vegas as well as Phoenix and compare the cost of rental cars in both places. Be aware that there will probably be a drop off fee for the car so look also at doing the California part of the trip first and end in Vegas or Phoenix, so see if it makes a difference.

Get a National Park Pass at the first NP you enter $80, good for a year for all the parks.

National Park lodging is basic, but clean and you pay for the location, not the frills. The kids will probably want to stay in motels/hotels that have pools and game rooms some of the time.

Have a wonderful trip.

HappyTrvlr

Include Bryce Canyon. Skip Phoenix in July.

ElendilPickle

The only reason I would go to Vegas with kids is if I was flying in and out of there. It will be really hot and there is very little suited to them.

You could fly into Vegas, then head to Zion. Spend a couple of days there, then go to Bryce Canyon. Head down to Page to see Antelope Canyon, then visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and also the South Rim. After that, head to southern California.

Lee Ann

janisj

Lee Ann suggests a good itinerary . . .

>>After that, head to southern California.

cgards

Thanks for the advice. I hear the concerns about the heat and Vegas with the kids. Maybe we'll cut that back to one night and check out Lake Mead and the dam, then take a quick run down the strip and tell them to keep their eyes closed. We are Marriott timeshare owners, so I wanted to check out a couple resorts along the way, hence the stops in Phoenix and Palm Springs, but they aren't absolutely necessary. Generally most concerned about seeing Zion and Grand Canyon, but you've talked me into Bryce, as well. If anyone else has any thoughts I'd love to hear them.

spirobulldog

Does it have to be in July? So much more enjoyable in early June. May would be even better.

RVvagabond

Tooooo many miles and distance for those short days.
As advised earlier, skip Phoenix. Also skip California. Just the southern part alone is at least a one week plus trip - Recomment three weeks starting in San Diego and driving north along the coast to San Francisco especially along the Pacific Coast (Highway 1). Don't forget Yosemite - off the track. Or continue past SF to Napa Valley wine country (tad $$$)

So, what do I recommend? Fly into LV and do a circle tour from LV to South Rim Grand Canyon and then do a loop to include Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelley, Monument Valley up to Arches and back down to Bryce and then to Zion and back to LV.

Vaga

cgards

Yeah Spiro, unfortunately no choice but July with school vacations in the east. Vaga you've given me something to think about with that route minus California and Phoenix. Thank you.