Two week road trip from Vegas
Jan 17th, 2015, 05:51 PM
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Two week road trip from Vegas
My brother and I (20&18) are beginning to plan a road trip round trip from Las Vegas in late May early June. My question is how far can we trek with 12-14 days?
We for sure want to make it to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. Not interested in staying in Vegas it was just the cheapest flight and car rental (20 y/o can rent with Hertz now) we want to hit as many of the national parks as possible and not spend more than 8 hours in the car a day. We also want adventure activities such as atving, rafting Etc. Any help you can give will be much much appreciated!'
We for sure want to make it to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. Not interested in staying in Vegas it was just the cheapest flight and car rental (20 y/o can rent with Hertz now) we want to hit as many of the national parks as possible and not spend more than 8 hours in the car a day. We also want adventure activities such as atving, rafting Etc. Any help you can give will be much much appreciated!'
Jan 17th, 2015, 06:29 PM
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Get your driving out of the way. Head to Salt Lake City 420 miles from Las Vegas. Make a stop at the Kolob section of Zion National Park on the way. View the Great Salt Lake.
Great Salt Lake to West Yellowstone 320 miles. Try and spend several days for Yellowstone. Hopefully 3 - 4 full days.
West Yellowtone to Grand Tetons 115 miles
Grand Tetons to Vernal, Utah 300 miles and see Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area on the way. Just outside of Vernal, UT is Dinosaur National Monument. Check out the dinosaur quarry and there is a little hiking. Water rafting is in the park.
Vernal, UT to Torrey, Utah 275 miles and you will see Capitol Reef National Monument. You might want to stop at Goblin State Park on the way too. Both have hiking
Torrey, Utah to Bryce Canyon National Park is 80 very SCENIC miles on Hwy 12. There are hikes like Calf Creek Falls on this route. Lots of hiking in Bryce. There are horseback rides but if you want to ride in the park you need to book your tour inside the park.
Bryce to Zion National Park is 88 miles. Zion has a lot of different hikes. You can rent intertubes in the town of Springdale and tube in the Virgin River. Or you can just go down and play in the river.
Zion to Las Vegas is 160 miles.
If you decided on any of these areas we can help you more with the details.
Utahtea
Great Salt Lake to West Yellowstone 320 miles. Try and spend several days for Yellowstone. Hopefully 3 - 4 full days.
West Yellowtone to Grand Tetons 115 miles
Grand Tetons to Vernal, Utah 300 miles and see Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area on the way. Just outside of Vernal, UT is Dinosaur National Monument. Check out the dinosaur quarry and there is a little hiking. Water rafting is in the park.
Vernal, UT to Torrey, Utah 275 miles and you will see Capitol Reef National Monument. You might want to stop at Goblin State Park on the way too. Both have hiking
Torrey, Utah to Bryce Canyon National Park is 80 very SCENIC miles on Hwy 12. There are hikes like Calf Creek Falls on this route. Lots of hiking in Bryce. There are horseback rides but if you want to ride in the park you need to book your tour inside the park.
Bryce to Zion National Park is 88 miles. Zion has a lot of different hikes. You can rent intertubes in the town of Springdale and tube in the Virgin River. Or you can just go down and play in the river.
Zion to Las Vegas is 160 miles.
If you decided on any of these areas we can help you more with the details.
Utahtea
Jan 18th, 2015, 08:14 AM
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Taylor,
For the time of year you are going plus in/out of LV, I would recommend staying in the southern Utah parks. There is plenty there in the way of adventure to keep you happy!
I live here so I never do the "circle" as a visitor. I'm not good telling you a loop route off the top of my head.
In 2 weeks you could visit the Grand Canyon, Page w/ Antelope Canyon, Moab, Capitol Reef, Escalante/Grand Staircase, Bryce and Zion. Lots of awesome hiking and rafting to be had plus more.
Moab - Arches and Canyonlands Natl Parks. Besides the sightseeing and hikes, take a mountainbike tour all day or half day. They can take you to some incredible places and Moab is the Mecca of mountainbiking. Guided is very important for beginners due to learning curve! Also in Moab you can do whitewater rafting, or a combo rafting/jet boat trip, OR an off road hummer tour (whiteknuckle). Easier "float" trip on the CO River east of Moab up to Class V rapids in Cataract Canyon. Truly awesome would be a canyoneering trip with Desert Highlights - rapelling and all!
You can stay in Moab for a week and never be bored.
In between Moab and Capitol Reef you can visit Goblin Valley (like being on another planet) and hike Little Wildhorse Canyon (slots).
Capitol Reef has some of my favorite hikes, Golden Throne is one.
You can also do an ATV tour on part of the Great Western Train out of Torrey/Teasdale.
Escalante/Grand Staircase has more incredible hiking. Lower Calf Creek Falls and the Fremont River are both very popular but with no chance of getting lost.
Bryce has horseback riding in addition to hiking. If you want to ride down the canyon you must book thru the Natl Park concession. If you are good with riding in other areas, book with Ruby's. They also do ATV tours.
Zion has some of the all time classic incredible hikes - Angel's Landing and The Narrows. Doing the Narrows (or even being able to tube the river thru town) will depend on spring runoff. Water levels might be too high at end of May. The mountains that supply the Virgin River are way over normal snowpack right now. There are also off road ATV tours just southwest of Springdale that are highly recommended for thrill seekers.....
Spring is prime time for the area so be sure to book your adventure activities in advance to avoid disappointment.
Be sure to bring various layers of clothing for a wide range of weather. Lots of sunscreen, wide brim hat, polarized sunglasses and gallons upon gallons of water. More than you ever dream you could drink. Our climate is extremely dry and you won't even realize you are getting dehydrated. Never stop drinking. I like a Camelbak myself. Also, buy a cooler for your rental car and stock up on Gatoraid, snacks, etc.
Liquor Laws: Nevermind.....you are underage.
Google some of these areas and activities for pictures of all these activities. You will want to stay for a month.
For the time of year you are going plus in/out of LV, I would recommend staying in the southern Utah parks. There is plenty there in the way of adventure to keep you happy!
I live here so I never do the "circle" as a visitor. I'm not good telling you a loop route off the top of my head.
In 2 weeks you could visit the Grand Canyon, Page w/ Antelope Canyon, Moab, Capitol Reef, Escalante/Grand Staircase, Bryce and Zion. Lots of awesome hiking and rafting to be had plus more.
Moab - Arches and Canyonlands Natl Parks. Besides the sightseeing and hikes, take a mountainbike tour all day or half day. They can take you to some incredible places and Moab is the Mecca of mountainbiking. Guided is very important for beginners due to learning curve! Also in Moab you can do whitewater rafting, or a combo rafting/jet boat trip, OR an off road hummer tour (whiteknuckle). Easier "float" trip on the CO River east of Moab up to Class V rapids in Cataract Canyon. Truly awesome would be a canyoneering trip with Desert Highlights - rapelling and all!
You can stay in Moab for a week and never be bored.
In between Moab and Capitol Reef you can visit Goblin Valley (like being on another planet) and hike Little Wildhorse Canyon (slots).
Capitol Reef has some of my favorite hikes, Golden Throne is one.
You can also do an ATV tour on part of the Great Western Train out of Torrey/Teasdale.
Escalante/Grand Staircase has more incredible hiking. Lower Calf Creek Falls and the Fremont River are both very popular but with no chance of getting lost.
Bryce has horseback riding in addition to hiking. If you want to ride down the canyon you must book thru the Natl Park concession. If you are good with riding in other areas, book with Ruby's. They also do ATV tours.
Zion has some of the all time classic incredible hikes - Angel's Landing and The Narrows. Doing the Narrows (or even being able to tube the river thru town) will depend on spring runoff. Water levels might be too high at end of May. The mountains that supply the Virgin River are way over normal snowpack right now. There are also off road ATV tours just southwest of Springdale that are highly recommended for thrill seekers.....
Spring is prime time for the area so be sure to book your adventure activities in advance to avoid disappointment.
Be sure to bring various layers of clothing for a wide range of weather. Lots of sunscreen, wide brim hat, polarized sunglasses and gallons upon gallons of water. More than you ever dream you could drink. Our climate is extremely dry and you won't even realize you are getting dehydrated. Never stop drinking. I like a Camelbak myself. Also, buy a cooler for your rental car and stock up on Gatoraid, snacks, etc.
Liquor Laws: Nevermind.....you are underage.
Google some of these areas and activities for pictures of all these activities. You will want to stay for a month.
Jan 18th, 2015, 09:16 AM
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Lots of good ideas so far. I would do it so that Yellowstone was later in the trip with the likelihood of more of the park being open. We had a little snowfall there on June 24 a few years ago.
Something like: Vegas to south rim of Grand Canyon through Page AZ and Monument Valley to Moab for Arches and Canyonlands, to Grant Tetons and Yellowstone, to Bryce, Zion to Vegas. I'd add other parks like Dinosaur Capitol reef if time permits.
If you can get flights into Vegas that land before noon, you will be in Grand Canyon before sunset. The next day hike down Bright Angel or south Kaibab trail a bit and along the rim trail, head east and If you want gobstopping beauty, spend a little time in Page (Antelope Canyon and or horseshoe bend) and Monument Valley, otherwise head for Moab. Plan on 3 days at least there and 3 days at least in Yellowstone.
Use mapquest or google maps and start with Vegas then keep adding destinations to see how much time it takes to get from one park to the next, then add a couple of hours for getting gas, eating, taking pictures, etc.
You have long hours of daylight at that time of year, so you can cover a lot of ground without having to travel after dark on, steep, curvy, roads with large animals using them (deer, elk, lots of places, cattle and horses in the "open range" areas)
Have a fantastic trip
Something like: Vegas to south rim of Grand Canyon through Page AZ and Monument Valley to Moab for Arches and Canyonlands, to Grant Tetons and Yellowstone, to Bryce, Zion to Vegas. I'd add other parks like Dinosaur Capitol reef if time permits.
If you can get flights into Vegas that land before noon, you will be in Grand Canyon before sunset. The next day hike down Bright Angel or south Kaibab trail a bit and along the rim trail, head east and If you want gobstopping beauty, spend a little time in Page (Antelope Canyon and or horseshoe bend) and Monument Valley, otherwise head for Moab. Plan on 3 days at least there and 3 days at least in Yellowstone.
Use mapquest or google maps and start with Vegas then keep adding destinations to see how much time it takes to get from one park to the next, then add a couple of hours for getting gas, eating, taking pictures, etc.
You have long hours of daylight at that time of year, so you can cover a lot of ground without having to travel after dark on, steep, curvy, roads with large animals using them (deer, elk, lots of places, cattle and horses in the "open range" areas)
Have a fantastic trip
