We're going to Las Vegas from Portland, OR, the last week of October because of a special airfare on Spirit Airlines. After staying 2 nights in Las Vegas, we'd like to go see Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. We were thinking of staying in Springdale for 2 nights. Would it be doable to drive from Las Vegas and arrive in Springdale by noon, check into our hotel then drive to Bryce and come back that evening to Springdale? Then spend the next day seeing Zion and driving back to Las Vegas the following day to catch our 3:30 PM flight home. Are we biting off more than we can chew? Or what about spending the first night in Bryce then the second night in Zion? Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Help with Zion and Bryce Schedule
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October can start getting cold in Bryce Canyon because the elevation ranges from 8,000 to 9,000 feet and maybe even snow in late October. With that in mind, I think I'd stick to your first plan of visiting Bryce from Springdale. It will also cut down the packing and unpacking time since your time is so limited.
Utahtea
I think I'd opt for leaving LV early and being at Bryce before noon, do one of the hikes (maybe Navajo Loop), spending the night there AND seeing the sunrise the next morning (it is spectacular!) and then drive to Zion -- spend most of the day there and overnight in Springdale (Desert Pearl is a really nice place). You can then drive back to Las Vegas in the morning...after a great breakfast at the Spotted Dog Cafe -- it is approx 170 miles, most of it on I-15, so it would take about 3+ hours.
Have a great time! Oh, btw, Moon Handbooks has a good Zion and Bryce book. We used that the last time we were in Utah.
I would stay "in park" at Zion Lodge and Bryce Lodge. Get a cabin at both places.
As for how long you need at each place, it would depend on how much hiking and what all you plan on doing.
Thank you, everyone, for your ideas. We're now leaning towards travlsolo2's suggestion to spend the first night in Bryce and see the sunrise the next morning. It sounds wonderful! Then we'll spend the second night in Springdale. Thanks, too, for the Moon Handbook suggestion.