taylorcpa

I am trying to plan a trip the week of Thanksgiving. My priorities, in order of importance are: Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Zion, and Bryce - would also like to see Las Vegas. I also want to maximize our daylight hours which might be difficult since we will be coming from CLT. I haven't booked flights yet, but we will either leave late on Thursday the 19th or early on Friday the 20th and come back either the following Thursday or Friday. I'm going to use American FF miles and can fly to either Phoenix or Las Vegas. It will me, DH, DD7 and DS8.

Here's my first attempt and assumes we fly in and out of Las Vegas:

1 - Fly into LV (arrive around 1 pm) - drive to Bryce, overnight there (reason I planned Bryce first was I have heard it was a beautiful drive TO Zion)
2 - Spend 1/2 day in Bryce, drive to Zion, see what we can of Zion, overnight there
3 - See other things in Zion if needed, drive to South rim, overnight there
4 - Grand Canyon, overnight there
5 - Grand Canyon, overnight there
6 - Drive to Hoover Dam, overnight LV
7 - Fly home around noon

Do you see anything you would change? Would it be better to fly in or out of Phoenix? Is that too much time at the Grand Canyon?

Thanks so much for your help!

Gilbert56

Unless you plan to do a lot of hiking, I would probably spend 2 nights at Grand Canyon.

emalloy

I would play it by ear and since you are doing a loop, take a look at the weather and decide if you want to to to Bryce and Zion first or Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon first.

Lodging should not be a real problem at that time of year, but you might want to make your reservations for in park lodging (which you can cancel if weather is a problem).

If you drive from Zion to Grand Canyon through Page (about 4 and a half hours), you might want to spend an hour or so and go to Antelope canyon. The drive has some great views in both directions through southern Utah.

J62

Driving miles & time I think Zion, Bryce, then GC is a better itinerary. There is nothing about the drive INTO Zion that you can't see on the way out going to Bryce. Three nights at GC is definitely too much - with 7/8 yr olds any time of the year, even more so in winter weather.

Your best weather will definitely be at Zion, so I would spend more time there. Late November high temps at Bryce are less than 40F, average lows 10-15F, or well below freezing. Similar at GC South Rim.

Zion daytime temps will be 20-25 degrees warmer, although it'll still be winter cold at night and in the mornings.

WIth 7 & 8 year olds you won't be doing any long hikes. Having been all these parks with kids, I would honestly suggest you wait until a warmer time of year - April/May, or Sept/Oct are best IMO.

Dayle

Yikes! Thanksgiving week is one of the MOST crowded weeks all year at Zion! It's also a free Natl Park weekend. Check to see if it is again this year. Plus, since the weather is usually nice in Zion at that time, you have all the people who live within a Reasonable drive taking visiting family to Zion.

Better get you reservations Now!

jul4

Skip hoover dam and make time to go to Page. We just got back. Do a boat ride on lake Powell and see antelope canyon it is so amazing. if you really want to see a dam see the glen canyon dam there (i know its smaller then hoover but after seeing the other amazing things in page my husband forgave me for cutting out the hoover dam)

jul4

Skip hoover dam and make time to go to Page. We just got back. Do a boat ride on lake Powell and see antelope canyon it is so amazing. if you really want to see a dam see the glen canyon dam there (i know its smaller then hoover but after seeing the other amazing things in page my husband forgave me for cutting out the hoover dam)

cruzrmomma

If you are going to North Rim GC, it usually closes some time in November-so check that out.
South Rim will be open

utahtea

There are limited services at the North Rim after October 15th. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisi...CP_JUMP_339333

Utahtea