ME_ME_1

PLEASE HELP WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN A FEW DAYS. WILL ARRIVE IN SALT LAKE CITY MORNING OF JUNE 2ND HAVE TO BE IN LAS VEGAS BY THE EVENING OF JUNE 5TH. WILL BE TRAVELING WITH A 14 YR.OLD AND AN ELDERLY MOTHER THAT HAS TO USE A WALKING CANE. WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE NO MORE THAN 300 MILES A DAY FOR MY MOM.

jlm_mi

1) If at all possible, please don't post in all caps. It's difficult to read and is considered shouting in the internet world.


2) What kind of help are you looking for? Just routing? Hotels? What do you want to see?

jlm_mi

Also, I don't know if you've looked at a map for this, but it's only 420 miles between the two cities. You should have no trouble doing that in 3 days with fewer than 300 miles per day. Check www.mapquest.com www.freetrip.com or yahoo maps for more info.

utahtea

June 2: Salt Lake City to Torrey, Utah 215 miles. Take I-15 down to Scipio, then take Hwy 50 to Hwy 24 and keep going south to you reach Torrey, Utah. Tour Capitol Reef National Park. Drive the scenic drive and spend the night in Torrey, Utah.

June 3: Drive scenic Hwy 12 to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, stopping at Bryce National Park. 266 miles. If you want to do this you better see if you can get reservations at the North Rim as soon as possible! Stop at some of the overlooks at Bryce. Short walks to the overlooks will be involved at both Bryce and N. Rim. Take Hwy 12, Hwy 89 and Alt. 89.

June 4: North Rim to Zion National Park 122 miles. Spend the night in Zion or nearby Springdale, Utah. Ride the free shuttle buses to all the stops. If you're Mom doesn't mind sitting in a beautiful location for a short time, maybe you and your son can do the short and easy Riverside Walk while you're Mom waits at the shuttle bus stop.

June 5 Spend the morning in Zion before driving the 164 miles to Las Vegas, Nevada. Don't leave after dark, because the drive thought the Virgin River Gorge is pretty nice.

Utahtea

bob_brown

Well 300 miles out there will take you 4 to 5 hours of driving time. And that is counter to your desire to see a lot.

Under conditions of urgency my wife drove from Bryce Canyon NP itself all the way to downtown SLC in something like 4 hours. I will admit she was pushing a little, but not dangerously so. People cruise at 75 mph regularly on I 15; 70 is the slow lane and 80 is not that rare.

Where was I? I was in SLC, having arrived there via a different means of transportation from Panguitch.

Well, I used a cane for a long time, too, so I am not sure how the cane and a 14 year old force you to travel such short distances. Also, realize that 200 miles south of SLC takes you no place fancy.

I woud suggest going first to Capitol Reef. Then from Torrey (town near the park) to Bryce (Panguitch perhaps for motels) via Utah 12. Then detour via Zion to Vegas. You could burn up 5 whole days very easily on that caper.

And you would get 3 beautiful parks and some awesome scenery.

Also, you need to pick your destinations and make reservations now, IF you can still do so. Bryce Canyon Lodge is probably full. It usually is.
Near there is Bryce Canyon Pines Motel and Ruby's. And Panguitch has motels.

Zion will be hot already, and you must tour it on a shuttle bus. That may be limiting factor. And one of these parks can be seen without getting out of the car and walking a little.

I remember last year in Canada. I hobbled up the trail cane and all. Tis not fun if you over do it, but I was determined. And I am not exactly 60 any more.

ME_ME_1

Thanks for all the great information.
Sorry, about shouting I'm new at this.
I should have mention that I took my mom to the Grand Canyon 3 years, enjoyed it very much. My mom does not mind waiting and enjoying the view. I was thinking about taking the horseback ride in Bryce. Any suggestions on hotels?

utahtea

Since you've been to the Grand Canyon, then I would skip the N. Rim and spend more time at Bryce and Zion.

I haven't done the horseback ride in Bryce, but I do know that if you want to ride in the park, you have to book though the park consession. They do have a weight limit of 250 pounds and they have a scale and enforce that weight. BIL found that out!

Utahtea