manishbit

Hi All,
2 (Adults) of us are planning a 5 day trip to Las Vegas during Thanksgiving. Following is the itinerary. Please let me know your thoughts, also if I can/should cover anything else. (Note : I have seen Grand Canyon earlier)

Day 1 --> Late Night arrival in Vegas, stay the night at a hotel near the strip.
Day 2 --> Las Vegas
Day 3 --> Las Vegas
Day 4 --> Leave early for Zion National Park and then see Bryce Canyon. Stay overnight near Bryce Canyon
Day 5 --> Leave early for Glen Canyon and Lake Powell. Return in the evening and stay overnight at Bryce Canyon/Zion (Please Suggest)
Day 6 --> Leave for Las Vegas and cover Red Rock Canyon OR any other place (Please Suggest). Catch late night flight for Home

Should I reverse the order i.e. cover the National Parks and then stay 2-3 Days in Vegas ?

Thanks

utahtea

Your days are shorter in November so you won't have a lot of daylight to do both Zion and Bryce in one day. You might drive though Zion on the first day to Bryce and then stay in Zion after Glen Canyon. Bryce is really out of your way to do twice while Zion is right on the way to both Bryce and Glen Canyon.

Your time is so short, I'm wondering if driving the almost 200 miles to Lake Powell is the best use of your time.

Red Rock Canyon is located north and west of Las Vegas so it's not really on the way from Zion. If you can tear yourself away from Zion, then you might drive though Valley of Fire State Park before returning to Las Vegas.

I really don't think there's any benefit to reversing your plans other than you might fall in love so much with the National Parks you want to give up a day or two in Vegas!

Utahtea

Myer

Since Vegas never sleeps, why don't you spend some time the day you arrive (day 0) and maybe the next day (day 1).

Then maybe you'll have some time to see the real sights and not just tick them off a list.

Won't there be snow in Bryce canyon by then?

InSandy

You are trying to see four parks/places of interest in three days. I spent three or four days at Zion last year and didn't feel like I was finished seeing it (and I've been there many, many times before as well- love that park). You really should cut out something- and a day in LV would be my first chop.

So for what it is worth here would be my plan.

Day 1 arrive LV
Day 2 LV
Day 3 drive to Bryce (about 5 hrs plus time change) enjoy and stay Bryce (may be snow but shouldn't affect you unless it is snowing that day, and Bryce with snow is wonderful.)
Day 4 drive to Page, see dam, antelope canyon, etc Stay Page
Day 5 drive to Zion, stay Springdale enjoy, take a few hikes
Day 6 Zion in morning, drive through Valley of Fire on way back to LV, Flight home

That is a much less insane trip and will allow you some time to visit the parks rather than just say you've been there.

utahtea

I agree with InSandy's advice & itinerary!!

(I was just to chicken to suggest it! )

Utahtea

InSandy

Thanks Utahtea. Chicken? Nah!

manishbit

Thanks, I am following InSandy's advice and made a revision to my earlier plan. Please suggest on the following:

Day 1 -- Late Night arrival in Vegas, stay the night at a hotel near the strip.
Day 2 -- Drive to Bryce, stay there
Day 3 -- Drive to Page, see dam, antelope canyon, Stay Page
Day 4 -- Drive to Zion, stay Springdale
Day 5 -- Zion in morning, drive through Valley of Fire on way back to Vegas
Day 6 -- Vegas, Take flight at night.

regards
Manish

emalloy

If you can find lodging on the north side of Vegas, you will avoid a bit of traffic for the trip to Bryce.

In Page, take a walk out to the overlook for Horseshoe bend. Easy mile or so over sand. The key to great pictures at Antelope is to have good sunshine. If it looks like cloudy/rainy/snowy weather, spend the time in the Zion or Bryce area or go to Red Rock Canyon or Hoover Dam.

utahtea

I agree with emalloy about the taking the hike to Horseshoe Bend. It's only 3/4 of a mile hike (or so the sign says!)

http://www.travelsw.com/southwest-tr.../horseshoe.htm



Utahtea

InSandy

I like this plan much better than first one. The thought to be back in LV at the end is good, no panic about missing your flight home.

LV to Bryce is about 5 hrs plus an hour time change, so do leave early in order to give yourselves at least half a day for Bryce. IF you run out of time there just do the main amphitheater viewpoints (Sunrise, Sunset and Inspiration) with a hike down into the hoodoos (Queen's Garden or Navajo loop or both). The scenic drive is nice but not essential when time is a factor.

Hikes at Zion that will give you a good sense of the park in a short amount of time. First stop at Canyon Overlook trail coming in. Parking is right by the entrance to the long tunnel. Hopefully there will be room. This is a shorter trail with a great view. Then Riverside Trail to the entrance to the Narrows. Kayenta trail into the Emerald Pools. Weeping Rock. You can do those in a full day, or two half days.

isabel

I would take it a step further and skip Page. Just do Bryce and Zion and maybe something closer if you need something else, but in that amount of time, at that time of year, I don't think you will. Do you hike at all? If all you are going to do is drive and get out at the overlooks, then you do probably have time to go to Page. But if you want to do any hikes, and given the short amount of daylight, then I'd stick to just Bryce/Zion. The road between Page and Kanab is not as scenic as Rt 12 on both sides of Bryce. If you want a day trip from Bryce you could drive Rt 12 which is supposed to be one of the most scenic roads in America (and based on the part of it I did, I would agree). Off of that are both Willis Creek and Calf Creek Falls.

I was just in that area and did a trip report - http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...parks-trip.cfm

I also did three days in Vegas. For your night off the strip I suggest the Comfort Inn Airport which was close, nice, and had a free shuttle to the airport for picking up or dropping off car, etc. For your night IN Vegas I would stay on the strip. Even though the CI only looked like a 'block' or so off the strip it was a long,boring looking walk. Although the CI also offers a shuttle to the strip.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-to-vegas.cfm