Kau

Hello all,

I am reaching LV on the night of June 16 (Monday), and I need to be in LA on the night on June 21 (Saturday) (it doesnt matter how late it gets, I have a flight to catch on Sunday morning from LA).

In between, I want to go to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon South Rim and Zion National Park. I have never been to either of these places, and would like to get your opinion on how I should plan my trip and how much time I should spend in each location.

Any suggestions ?
Thanks a lot in advance!

utahtea

Hi Kau,

Tuesday drive from Las Vegas to Zion NP which is 160 miles. Spend the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday exploring the park. There are many trails to hike and ride the free shuttle buses to all the stops.

Thurday drive through the Zion tunnel to Mt. Carmel Junction, then take Hwy 89 pass Glen Canyon National Recreational Area on down to the Grand Canyon which is 255 miles. You might have time to enjoy a picnic lunch by Lake Powell or even a dip in the lake if you have your bathing suits. You will enter the Grand Canyon National Park at the Desert View entrance and stop at the over looks on you way to the Visitor Center. You won't want to have to double back to see these overlooks.

Friday spend the whole day at the Grand Canyon riding the shuttle bus and stopping at all the overlooks. The hiking along the rim is very easy and you can pick up the shuttle bus along the way.

Saturday you might have time for a quick look at the canyon before you drive back to L. A. which is 500 miles.

Utahtea

utahtea

I forgot to mention that I had you going to Zion first because it would save you 70 miles of driving.

Utahtea

Kau

Thanks Utahtea for your suggestions, but this doesnt leave me any time in LV. This is my first time in LV, so I'd like to spend some time at the casinos !

Kau

Here is what I was thinking. Any suggesions ?

Monday night goto Zion. Spend Monday night and all day Tuesday at Zion.

Tuesday night drive to Las Vegas. Spend Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at Las Vegas.

Thursday night reach Grand Canyon, South Rim. Spend Friday and Saturday morning at Grand Canyon.

Saturday morning drive to Los Angeles, reach LA by Saturday night.

What say ? Does this make sense ?

Thanks again !

joesorce

Listen to utahtea, she knows her stuff!

But Friday night head back to Las Vegas, spending Fri night and most of Saturday there. You'll have a near-5-hour drive to LAX, so plan your Sat evening drive accordingly. Or, catch an inexpensive Saturday night flight from LV to LAX. www.southwest.com

utahtea

Kau,

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that Las Vegas was a destination point.

I would still make the circle. It will save you almost 200 miles and you will see much more scenery.

You can do this route in reverse. ie go to the Grand Canyon first and Las Vegas last.

Spend Monday night and Tuesday night in Las Vegas and leave early Wednesday morning for Zion. If you get tired of all the glitz you could leave Vegas earlier. Spend the rest of Wednesday and Wednesday night in Zion and leave around noon on Thursday for the Grand Canyon.

From Zion go out the tunnel road to Mt. Carmel Junction, go to Glen Canyon and enter the Grand Canyon at the Desert View. Spend Thursday night, Friday, Friday night and Sat. morning at the Grand Canyon.

Drive back to L.A.

This route is less than 1200 miles. If you go to Zion and then back to Las Vegas and then to the Grand Canyon & then to L. A. this is about 1400 miles and about 340 miles you will be driving the same roads.

You will save miles and see more scenery if you make the circle.

Utahtea

mvara

Utahtea,

I am also planning to make the circle from 04/26 (leaving from Las Vegas) to 04/30 (arriving Las Vegas). I have planned the following:
04/25 (21:00) Arrived LV from Spain
04/26 (11:00) LV-Grand Canyon (arrived 18:00).268 miles
04/27 visit GC and go to Monument Valley (arrive MV 18:00).158 miles
04/28 Visit MV and go to Page (arrive Page 17:30) 100 miles
04/29 Visit Antelope Canyon and go to Bryce (86 miles), visit Bryce and go to Zion (84 miles)
04/30 Visit Zion and go to LV (158 miles)
¿Am I right with the distances? ¿Can I save 70 miles making the circle in the other way? Many people tell me that I should skip some of the stops. ¿Are they right?

Thanks

utahtea

Hi mvara

Going in the reverse order will not save you 70 miles because you are not coming from and returing to Los Angeles like Kau is.

I show 280 miles from LV to GC. You will be arriving in the evening and in April the sun will be setting at 19:00. You won't have much time to see the canyon that night. I would try to get there to see the sunset!

I show 180 miles from GC to Monument Valley. Again you will be arriving for sun set which will be beautiful.

From MV to Page is 125 miles and that's taking the Hwy 98 shortcut.

I've never been to Antelope Canyon but plan to go the next time I'm in the area. I have no idea how long this would take but I bet it will take at least a couple of hours.

You have from Page to Bryce (86 miles) that is if you take Cottonwood Road. I've never taken this DIRT road but I would like to. I would not recommend it in a car and I would not recommend it if it is raining or has rained or looks like. The paved road route is 154 miles. That's not going to give you much more than a chance to do a couple of over looks before you have to drive 86 miles to Zion. I do think you have to much planned for this day. You might want to spend this night at Bryce.

Your plan probably can be done if you get up early each morning. Sunrise in April will be just before 6 A.M. and if you were on the road by then it would help a lot.

You are just going to get a taste of each place. You might find that you will have to cut out one place. It would be hard for me to tell you which one that should be.

Utahtea