Best National Park closest to Las Vegas?
 

Family get-together in Las Vegas in the Spring. Where should we take the children (7 years and 4 years) to see the wonders of the US? (Kids are coming from England) How far (driving) is the South Rim Grand Canyon or other special place? Recommendations please!

Not sure about South Rim but North took us about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Zion National Park is another idea, just beautiful there takes about 4 1/2 hours. One may opt to stay overnight in St George and travel to Zion the following morning which is about 25 mins away. Locally there is Red Rock Canyon about 35 mins from the strip which is definitely worth the trip. Also locally there is Mount Charleston and Lake Mead. I think Valley of Fire is about 1 hr away but I haven't been there myself. My personal choices would be GC, Zion, and Red Rock. Welcome to the US.

Valley of Fire is not a national park, I think it's a state park, but it's a very beautiful, highly recommended place to visit.

Depending on when in the spring you are coming the North Rim of the Grand Canyon will not be an option. It won't be open. It could take five to six hours to get to the South Rim from Las Vegas.

Death Valley is definitely an option...

Zion National Park is a BEAUTIFUL park and it's 160 miles and since most of it is Interstate Highway it's only a 3 hour drive from Las Vegas.

The N. Rim as someone has mentioned will be closed until mid-May so that is not an option.

The S. Rim of the Grand Canyon is 280 miles and will take about 5 hours of driving.

If you don't have enought time to spend a night at the park, then I would recommend Zion. It could be done in one long day trip. If you go to the Grand Canyon you should plan on spending at least one night on the road.

If you have a lot of time, then you might consider a loop. Down to the S. Rim, up thought Page, AZ to Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, then up to Bryce Canyon and back to Las Vegas thought Zion.

We just did that loop trip this summer. Here are my pictures:

http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/pictures.htm

Utahtea

Thanks for all the excellent information. Zion will be in our plans. The kids should love it. If there is time we will do the suggested loop.

Yeah, Zion would be my bet, and maybe drive thru the Valley of Fire on the way there or back. It is about 170 miles from Vegas, BUT, you can do 80+ on interstate 15 (75 mph). IT won't take much time at all. If you have a little time, you might want to take 15 north until you get to Cedar City, UT, then drive thru Cedar Breaks National Monument, then go thru the East entrance to Zion. Just a thought, we've done this before and loved it!!! Good luck

Maybe I'm in the minority here, and yes, I LOVED Zion, but for pure WOW power, especially for a couple of younger kids I think Grand Canyon (if late enough in the spring) far surpasses Zion. And I'd even choose Bryce over Zion -- more "dramatic" in formations.

At the Red Rock Canyon visitor's center, there is a desert tortoise habitat that the kids might get a kick out of. There are 10 tortoises and it is fun for the kids to look in the brush to find them.

Also, the Wet n Wild water park on LV Blvd down past the Stratosphere is a good place for kids to spend a day.