sb1020

Hi We leave soon on our dream trip? What do you experienced travellers think?
2 days Las Vegas
May 1,2 Zion Zion Cabin or Best Western
May 3,4 Bryce Bryce Lodge in park
May 5 Capital Reef Torry Best Western
May 6,7,8 Moab Holiday Inn Xpress as Base
For Arches Canyonlands
May 9 Monument Valley Kayenta Hampton Inn
May 10,11 Grand Canyon Thunderbird Lodge
May 12 Las Vegas Flight home 11;30 p.m

Some questions Where to stay in Zion-in
or out of the park?
Best use of day leaving Capital Reef and on to the Moab area? Best use of time in that region?
What about Kayenta as base for day in Monument Valley?
Any comments for interesting drive back to Vegas airport on last day Many thanks

Dayle

Hi SB,

If, as you say, you don't already have reservations for Zion, you may not get either of your first choices. Hurry! There are lots of other options, but May is very busy and a great time to visit.

On your drive day from Capitol Reef to Moab - drive will take 2.5 hours with no stops. If you want to detour to see Goblin Valley that will add about an hour or more.

I would recommend just going straight to Moab, starting early, and spend the rest of the day seeing some of Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point.

Spend your other 2 days in Arches.

Have fun!

sb1020

Hi Dayle I actually have reservations both in Zion (cabin -just became available) and at the Best Western I am leaning towards staying in the park as I am certain that it will be spectacular in early a.m. and late evening. Because we are staying in the park, I think that we can use our car

USNR

Suggest you try to book a room at Gouldings' Lodge in Monument Valley for May 9 instead of Kayenta. Gouldings offers so much more -- and the views are spectacular. If you can't get in, try Mexican Hat or towns north of Monument Valley.

Dayle

Hi SB,

Since you do have reservations at the Lodge, you will be able to drive your car to park at the lodge parking lot. I don't think you will be allowed to drive other than that, but you wouldn't want to anyway! The shuttles are so convenient. Get up before dawn for awesome photo ops, and have a great time!

utahtea

As Dayle mentioned, you won't be able to use your car in Zion canyon, except to park at the Lodge. The scenery at the Lodge and also in Springdale is beautiful. If I had my choice, I'd stay in the park.

Your schedule looks great! The day you leave Bryce and drive to Capitol Reef you will want to spend time driving scenic Hwy 12, so you might not get to Capitol Reef really early. On the day you leave Capitol Reef, you might want to do either the Grand Wash or Capitol Gorge Hike. I would skip Gobblin State Park and spend the time in the National Parks. You only have two full days in Moab so the day you arrive I'd do a little of Arches because it's so close to Moab. I love to go into Arches each evening we are in Moab to watch the sunset. Lots of great locations for this. One full day for Canyonlands & Dead Horse State Park and the other full day for Arches. If you find some time, drive the Potash Road and/or Hwy 128 out of Moab for two beautiful drives in canyons along the Colorado River.

Kayenta makes a good base for Monument Valley. It's only 25 easy driving miles away. You will drive right though Monument Valley on your way to Kayenta.

Utahtea

wtm003

Although, the Moab Holiday Inn Express is a newer motel, I don't care for the location. I originally had reservations there, but it was about a mile outside of town and not really w/in walking distance of restaurants and shops. I believe it was next to a water treatment facility. I switched to the Best Western Canyonlands and was satisfied with the location and rooms.

sb1020

Thanks for the input. On our last day we will leave Grand Canyon and return to the airport in Las Vegas. We should be there for about 8:30 as the flight home is the red eye at 11:30 back to Montreal. Any suggestions of what we could do on the last long day and what the best route back to the airport? What are the interesting sites along the way? Thanks




































lv
?

warrsher

Hi sb1020
Depending on your interst but the Hoover Dam is on the way back to Vegas. We are going there on our way to Vegas May 4 th.
Have a great trip
Warren

bob_brown

I think you are fine with your plans.
I have a little of a hang-up on Zion! I don't care for it.

Don't underestimate two aspects of your trip:

1. the drive along Utah 24 to Torrey from Bryce.
2. Capitol Reef itself.

I would almost suggest skipping the night in Monument Valley and adding a night to Torrey to spend more time in Capitol Reef.

To me it is far more interesting.

the Thunderbird Lodge is ok. But the food at all those cafeterias is lousy in my opinion. And watch out for the mob scene in the cafeteria when a tour bus pulls up.

utahtea

From the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas you can drive a section of Old Route 66 if you want. Kingman, AZ has a Route 66 museum that's pretty interesting.

Utahtea

elnap29

I would definitely keep the Zion Lodge reservations. Location, location, location. You can sit on your patio and balcony and enjoy the spectacular cliffs. You can walk out your door and begin a lovely stroll or hike.
When you get to Moab, drive into Arches to make a reservation at the Visitor Center for a guided hike in the Fiery Furnace. You can choose AM or PM hike for the next day or day after.
Have a wonderful time!

lifelist

I wouldn't expect too much from sunrise in Zion simply because you're in a canyon and you won't get the low angled light early in the morning. There are a couple of spots for good sunrise photography, but I find zion to be more of a sunset park. Bryce, on the other hand, is definitely a sunrise park.

I've stayed inside and outside of Zion, and I didn't find much difference. I'd be more driven by price than anything else. You have more dining options outside of the park.

For the Capitol Reef - Moab drive, I recommend a stop at Goblin Valley State Park. The rock formations are interesting and can be amusing. I also enjoyed the John Wesley Powell museum in Green River, Utah.

For Moab to Kayenta, if you have strong nerves, you may want to consider driving down the Moki Dugway. Great views, but a bit nerve-wracking as the drive is a bit steep.