Vegas-Arizona-Utah road Trip

Old Nov 24th, 2015, 03:15 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Vegas-Arizona-Utah road Trip

Dear Experts/Contributors,

I and my girlfriend are planning a week long vacation in December 2015. Here is the itinerary we have as of now -

1. 20 Dec Morning - Fly from Houston to Vegas. Reach Vegas in morning. Roam/gamble strip all day, catch a show in the evening. Check in hotel(most probably Bally's)

2. 21 Dec - More Strip fun/gambling/brunch. Checkout from hotel. Get rental car in evening and drive to hotel near Zion National Park. Hotel not decided yet. We are planning 2 night stay here on 21-22

3. 22 Dec - Visit Zion National Park. Dinner/get back to hotel.

4. 23 Dec - Visit Bryce Canyon National Park. Check in at Moab hotel (2 nights, to be decided).

5. 24 Dec - Visit Arches National Park. Get back to Moab hotel

6. 25 Dec - Visit Canyonlands National Park. Drive to hotel near Monument Valley. (1 night, to be decided)

7. 26 Dec - Visit Monument Valley. Check in at Page hotel for night. (2 night stay on 26-27, to be decided)

8. 27 Dec - Visit Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon. Dinner/get back to hotel.

9. 28 Dec - Visit Horseshoe Bend. Drive back to Vegas, return car at Strip. Have dinner at Strip and catch the red eye to Houston.

I need help with -

1. Itinerary suggestions. Any changes needed?

2. Hotel suggestions?

3. Road conditions in Arizona/Utah in December. We are planning to rent compact car with no snow driving experience.

4. My girlfriend would love to do a ski stop. Any suggestions on that?

Appreciate your reply.

Thanks,

Rohit
RohitN is offline  
Old Nov 24th, 2015, 03:50 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You could get snow in December, so make hotel reservations that can be cancelled without penalty and hope for the best. That said, we did one winter trip and the roads were clear although there was snow on the trails in Bryce, so we didn't hike there that time.

I would guess that you could do a tour of upper and lower Antelope canyon in half a day unless you take the longer photographer's tour in lower. If it isn't sunny, then it will not be spectacular so I would give it a pass.

Stay flexible and think about a plan B in case it gets snowy.
emalloy is offline  
Old Nov 24th, 2015, 08:12 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Compact car with no snow driving experience????? um. no. just don't. Unless we are having a really dry winter--which certainly can happen. But I wouldn't count on it. Stay in the south west corner of Utah-stay out of Bryce because it will be really snowy and cold--unless you want to cross country ski there.

A skiing stop? Do you ski? Does she? Because that means renting skis, buying lift tix etc. and the nearest place for that might be outside of Cedar City Utah.

Remember that you should NOT drive after dark. Too many deer on the road not to mention black ice etc and windy roads. In the summer--you can chance it, but not in the winter. It gets dark here at 5 in December, so that cuts down on your available travel time.

Get a map, look up driving times, and determine how much you can really do in the time you have. You don't want your vacation to turn into a disaster.
StantonHyde is offline  
Old Nov 25th, 2015, 04:24 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here is a map that was posted years ago on this forum and I bookmarked. Do scroll down to the time/distance chart.

http://ohiohickstraveltips.weebly.co...-utah-map.html
emalloy is offline  
Old Nov 25th, 2015, 09:28 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not to scare you off as I think this was unusual, but below is a link to pictures from my trip to Arches on December 9, 2013. Drive down from Salt Lake City was tough even in 4 WD Explorer.

https://docs.google.com/presentation...it?usp=sharing

We did go back to visit and expand upon the area this past April though and had wonderful weather. There was still snow along the road on Route 12 in the pass between Torrey and Boulder even then. I would not want to drive that stretch much less in a compact if it was snowing (and I live in Buffalo). Best Western (more expensive) and Inca Inn (simple/clean) we liked in Moab. Cliffrose was very nice in Springdale outside of Zion.
DaveS is offline  
Old Nov 25th, 2015, 12:44 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No. 6 is a very long day. The Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands is WNW of Moab, and the southern access to Canyonlands is quite a distance from the north-south through road.

There is a ski resort near Flagstaff which might be more accessible than Bryce.
Michael is online now  
Old Dec 1st, 2015, 11:39 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks all for your valued responses. We would make necessary changes as advised. Thanks again.
RohitN is offline  
Old Dec 3rd, 2015, 09:04 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ski: Assume downhill:
Near Cedar City
http://www.sundanceresort.com/

At Flagstaff, AZ
http://www.arizonasnowbowl.com/

Compaq car is ok, but don't drive it while snowing or if there is snow on the road.

Black ice is frozen water on asphalt that can't be seen - skid off the road quickly. Just be cautious if it is cold.

In reality, the roads you will be driving are well maintained.

Chains are often offered as a rental option. Usually, there are people on the road who will install them - usually -

Vaga
RVvagabond is offline  
Old Dec 4th, 2015, 05:36 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
RV
I think you got some bad info. The ski resort east of Cedar City is Brianhead. Sun dance is about an hours drive south of SLC on the backside of Mt Timpanogas. I think Sundance is one of the most beautiful places in the world and have spent hundred of days there skiing, hiking and riding.

RR is a very smart man and certainly knows a good thing when he sees it. He has been a good steward of the canyon.
Dayle is offline  
Old Dec 4th, 2015, 08:15 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dayle
You are right.
I've been to Brianhead, but not Sundance.
As I recall, you can't enter BH from Cedar City east, but have to come in from the north.

Thanks for catching that error

Len

I believe in the summery they use the lifts to haul mountain bikers to the top. It is not a massive mountain like Snowbird (many falls on that steep mountain).
RVvagabond is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ldenne
United States
27
Aug 7th, 2019 09:45 AM
ashugovil
Road Trips
27
Sep 29th, 2017 05:15 AM
Ackislander
Europe
11
Dec 29th, 2014 02:43 PM
HanBan
Road Trips
10
Jan 21st, 2014 06:23 AM
ayakkadan
United States
14
May 6th, 2006 08:29 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -