When are you going? Do you plan to hike? How much? and are you talking about 3 1/2 days including driving to/from there for the parks? Are you flexible enough to look at the weather and road conditions before you make the decision?

Doing all three parks will be very rushed if not impossible. Zion is only about 3 hours from Vegas and you could spend the whole time there if you like to hike. Bryce is a couple of hours farther and you could spend the whole time there too.

South rim of Grand Canyon is 5+ from Vegas and I could spend the whole time there too and it is open year round. North rim is easier from either Zion or Bryce but not quite as spectacular views and is not open from sometime in October to sometime in May, depending on snow.

I think that GC is spectacular enough that everyone should see it once, (it's my favorite, but I don't do very long or hard hikes and love the history there) and unless you hike a lot 2 days would be plenty to give you a feel for it.

In your time frame Zion and Bryce could be done or Zion and north rim or Bryce and rim. How much hiking you could do will depend on when you go.

In any case, I would opt for lodging in the parks to give the most time to enjoy them and not try to do them all from one "base".

You have 3-4 days and don't want to rush? Then forget anything else and just stay in Springdale and enjoy Zion. It can take two days to really enjoy the main canyon. Then there is the Kolob Terrace, the Kolob Fingers, Grafton ghost town, the town of Springdale, the east side of Zion.

If you try to see all three parks in 3-4 days you will have a been there, done that kind of trip.

And btw, I could spend it all on the North Rim as well, but Zion is a particular favorite.

Before going any further I suggest you answer emalloy's very first questions.

When are you going? Do you plan to hike or do you just want to see the sights available from viewpoints?

Yes, we plan to hike - going the first week of April. Are very flexible & fully understand we are going to have to pick & choose, we are well aware that we can only see a mere fraction of the sites or if it makes more sense just visit one 'well'. Looking for suggestions as to how to best spend the time we do have.

Let me better define - leisurely as in not in a hurry, not as in 'not active'. We wish to maximize out time outdoors, not riding around in a car.....Hope that helps & thanks so far.

That makes it easier since the North Rim of GC is not open so it will be either two or three days in Zion and one or two in Bryce OR three or four in Grand Canyon. There would be less "driving around" doing Zion and Bryce. Do be aware that the scenery is wonderful even when you are driving around.

ttt

Grand Canyon for 3 1/2 days is a stretch, even with hiking. You could go there for an overnight and hike down/up S. Kaibab, walk along the rim and sightsee. Then go to Sedona for the rest of the time and hike there.

Or, Zion for 2 1/2 days with Bryce as an overnight trip (or as a short day trip if you don't want to switch your lodging).

No way you should do Grand Canyon and Zion in 3 1/2 days if you're goal is to be active and maximize your time outdoors.

A wonderful place to stay in Springdale (Zion), if you can't stay in the park, is the Desert Pearl Inn, within walking distance of several nice restaurants.

Were you planning on hiking into the canyon if you went to the Grand Canyon? If you're staying on the rim there's a limited amount of hiking especially if you have three and a half days.

If it were my trip, I'd go to Zion and maybe add in Bryce. There's a lot of hikes there - although it might still be cold at Bryce. And the drive to Zion from Las Vegas is shorter and much prettier than most of the drive to the South Rim.

If it's not too hot and time allows, also stop at Valley of Fire State Park on your way to or from Zion.

Casting my vote for Bryce, if the weather is OK. We absolutley loved the Queen's Garden Trail-- steep but amazing. We stayed at Ruby's, which was a tourist trap but convenient, with a large room that had a fridge, microwave and coffeemaker.

Zion and Bryce. Close enough to do both and they're so different.
Bryce is stunning especially at sunset and sunrise (if you're early risers). For this reason I'd suggest staying in the park or as close to Bryce as possible maybe just for one night if you don't mind splitting your stay. We don't like driving far after dark especially after hiking
Queen's Garden Trail is a favourite of mine too.

If that is Easter week better make sure you have res yesterday for Zion/Springdale

As noted - the GC is a 5 hour drive from Vegas, and IMO - it's the most spectacular - by far - of the three - and I would recommend that.

But if you want to go to a closer - beautiful place - then drive over to Zion. From Zion - if you still want to see something else - Bryce is a couple? of hours away.

You can hike down below the rim in the GC or go for long walks along the rims, whatever. Suggest you try to stay at Bright Angel Lodge - http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/bright-angel-lodge-408.html or one of the lodges that overlook the rim.

Only 20 minutes outside of Vegas is Red Rock Canyon - which has a neat visitor's center and you can hike there too.

And an hour away from Vegas is Mt. Charleston - at what - almost 12,000 feet - the tallest peak in Nevada. Not sure how much snowpack will be left when you are there - but lots of hiking opportunities there too. http://tinyurl.com/azxyben