Southwest road trip

Old Jan 27th, 2016, 08:08 AM
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Southwest road trip

I am flying into LV June 20, renting a car/van and going on a road trip with 4 adults and 4 teens. We have 10 to 11 days and want to go to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Zion, maybe Bryce and any where else that time would allow. I have never been to the Southwest and would appreciate any guidance I can get. We were thinking about renting a van or large SUV that would accommodate 8. We are interested in hiking, rafting and seeing the beauty. Please help, I am not an organized person.
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Old Jan 27th, 2016, 08:15 AM
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What month and will you need 2 or 3 hotel rooms each place you stay?
You may find it cheaper to rent 2 cars and meet at the end of the day wherever you stay for the night.
See Hoover dam on the way to Sedona from LV.
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Old Jan 27th, 2016, 08:38 AM
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This map with distance and time chart was posted by another person here and I've found it very helpful with planning.

http://ohiohickstraveltips.weebly.co...-utah-map.html

You can easily do a loop from Vegas to see the sights you want to visit. The length of time you spend in each will depend on what you want to do in the parks. Will you be doing a lot of hiking, rock climbing, take a picture and then leave, rafting, etc. ?

The vehicle/s will need to fit all of you and your luggage and a cooler for snacks and several gallons of water. My experience with renting an 8 passenger suv for 6 people was that we fit 2 in each of the 3 rows of seats and all had only a carryon and personal bag. We did not have room for the cooler in the back, but put it on one of the middle seats. If anyone had brought a full sized bag, it would not have fit in the car. So tom's suggestion of renting 2 cars might be the way to go.

If you don't have lodging yet you need to get that arranged asap. Check that for the dates you guess you'll be going and then decide what direction to head out of Vegas. If you plan a loop you will be able to go in either direction.
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Old Jan 27th, 2016, 11:59 AM
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I am going in June and will plan to rent 2 hotel rooms. What way is the best to loop first?
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Old Jan 27th, 2016, 12:03 PM
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Don't skip Bryce Canyon;it is easy to combine with Zion and North Rim of Grand Canyon.
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Old Jan 27th, 2016, 01:15 PM
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Ok, arrive Las Vegas morning of June 20 and drive to Flagstaff for the night. Next 2 nights spend in Sedona. Day 4 drive to Grand Canyon, Day 4 and 5. Day 6 either Page for 1 night and/or skip and go to Bryce for a night, then Zion for 2 nights and back to Las Vegas. What do you guys think?
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Old Jan 27th, 2016, 01:30 PM
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Flagstaff is not far from Sedona. Why not just go to Sedona even if you get there about sunset?
Coming from Las Vegas you will be going over the big bridge that is next to Hoover Dam. You might want to make a short stop there.
Skip Page and go to Bryce Canyon.
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Old Jan 27th, 2016, 01:37 PM
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If you get into Vegas early , just go to Sedona on the 20th unless you are planning on stopping at Hoover Dam for a dam tour.

I'm thinking that what you are calling days are really nights to stay right? If you don't do a lot of hiking in Grand Canyon the drive is not too long so pretty much a full day to see the highlights and do a little hiking spend night 4, finish up the next day and head out to Page for a night if you want to do Antelope Canyon, and/or some dam activities.

That would give you an extra day for Bryce or Zion.

Of course if getting lodging is easier if you go to Zion to Bryce to Page to Grand Canyon to Sedona and back to Vegas, then reverse the loop. It's only 3 hours from Vegas to Zion so if you arrive by morning you can be there by the afternoon.
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Old Jan 28th, 2016, 04:18 AM
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After listening to all great advice, this is the plan:
June 20: fly into vegas drive to Sedona stopping at Hoover Dam on the way
Stay in Sedona 3 nights.
June 23: Drive to Grand Canyon and stay 2 nights.
June 25; Drive to Bryce and stay 1 night.
June 26: Zion for 3 nights
June 28: Drive back to Vegas for 1 night.

I would appreciate any suggestions on routes and lodging. The lodge at Zion was only available 1 night in June at 253.00 for a room not a cabin. Is it worth it? I have been reading that Cable mountain lodge is nice. Do I want to stay in the parks if I can?? Please help
This site has been great!!!
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Old Jan 28th, 2016, 04:48 AM
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Look at adding Antelope Canyon. It was the place we knew the least aout before the trip and it blew everyone away.
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Old Jan 28th, 2016, 03:53 PM
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You could stay in Springdale, which is just outside the western entrance to Zion and is, IMO, a better location than Cable Mountain Lodge on the east side of the park.

For Bryce, there are several motels just outside the park entrance which would work if you can't get a reservation inside the park.

Lee Ann
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Old Jan 29th, 2016, 07:17 AM
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I have added Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe bend after suggestion. I am having difficulty deciding on lodging at Grand Canyon. In park or out?? Is 2 nights enough?
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Old Jan 29th, 2016, 07:31 AM
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2 nights in GC is plenty unless you are planning on long hikes every day. I prefer in the park, and there are now two concessionaires now, one for elTovar, Bright Angel, Thunderbird, Kachina and Maswick, and one of Yavapai. Do check both, otherwise look in Tusayan for several motels a few miles to the south or at Cameron Trading post at the junction of 89 and 64 to the east. The benefit of staying in the park is you do not have to drive after dusk or before dawn when the animals- mostly elk and deer- are also on the roads. You are also in the park before the crowds and after they leave.
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Old Jan 29th, 2016, 04:33 PM
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Definitely stay in the park at Grand Canyon. I have heard that Maswick is easier to book.
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Old Jan 30th, 2016, 12:03 AM
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It takes you to the most famous sights of California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada while keeping driving distances relatively low. Starting from San Francisco you’ll take a big loop through the southwest with many national parks, natural wonders and enough time for first-timers in the big cities of San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Depending on flight prices you can also start in LA or Vegas.
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Old Jan 30th, 2016, 09:05 AM
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I suggest skipping Sedona (EXPENSIVE) in favor of visiting Zion, Bryce, Arches and above sites.

4 adult and 4 teens
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for lodging
Have you considered renting RV (cook own food) and have the kids sleep in tents at campgrounds? (or on top of RV)

For example, Ten X park south of Grand Canyon is Forest Service and about $20/night.
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/te...O&parkId=75372

Near Bryce at Red Canyon, camping is free.
Etc.

Vaga
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Old Jan 30th, 2016, 09:25 AM
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We stayed outside of Bryce in Panguich, UT. There were several places to stay.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 05:24 PM
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HappyTrvle is correct. There are two campground and many, many motels that are cheaper than those next to Bryce.

Panguitch has an excellent BBQ restaurant,
Cowboys Smokehouse - we always eat there.

Google: panguitch utah motels


Vaga
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 06:25 PM
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May I offer an alternative plan? Las Vegas is typically 110 degrees the end of June. Can you fly into Salt Lake City? It's a much more beautiful drive to Bryce and Zion from there, lots to see and do along the way. Everything in Utah is adapted to large LDS families, you'll have no trouble finding a large SUV to fit. Stay in Panguitch for Bryce, stay near Mt Carmel Junction for Zion. Then take route 89 to see the north rim of the Grand Canyon, then stay in Page for hiking and rafting. Avoid Sedona unless you want to spend the entire day in a miles-long, hours-long traffic jam. From Page you can drive through Monument Valley and Canyonlands up to Moab, to see Arches NP, north Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park (way better than Grand Canyon). Moab has rafting and hiking and glorious scenery. And from there, back to Provo and Salt Lake City. Camping is free on Bureau of Land Management land, and inexpensive in campgrounds. It's a good way to save a few thousand dollars on your trip cost. You can buy anything you need in Salt Lake City or Provo on the way out, if you don't want to carry it as baggage. Have fun!
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 05:59 AM
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We travel to many national parks and I am a huge fan of staying in the park. I believe Zion is an exception to that and we prefer to stay in Springdale. Springdale is IMMEDIATELY outside the entrance to Zion and has many restuarants and a wide variety of accommodation choices. The Grand Canyon and Bryce are two places I highly recommend staying inside the park. I have stayed at the Ruby's properties immediately outside of Bryce and they are a fine alternative if you can't get in the park (I would not recommend stayinig any further than that - of course it is cheaper to stay in Panguitch or Tropic but you will spend much more time in the car and it will be more difficult to be at the rim of Bryce Canyon at sunrise and sunset which is when it is most impressive). We stayed at the cabins inside Bryce in October and it was literally a 2 minute walk from our front door to the canyon rim - this is unbelievably awesome to watch the sunrise. For the Grand Canyon, take any lodging you can get inside the park. Check often as cancellations do occur.
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