ih

I wil be in vegas from 22nd dec to 25th dec. i would like to do a day trip to one of the locations. please recommend preference.
I shall be visiting GC separately.

emalloy

These are so different in terms of what you want to see and do.

Death Valley is awesome and huge and if you are not a hiker, can provide a fascinating visit. If you are a hiker it will provide some nice hikes too, but you can visit the Borax works, Furnace Creek VC, Devil's Golf Course, Badwater, Artists Pallet Drive, and Zebriski Point with just short walks from your car in one day. It takes a couple of hours to get to DV and the weather in the valley in Dec. will probably be very nice.

Zion is about 3 hours drive from Vegas and has fantastic cliffs/scenery also. I found it best to appreciate on hikes in the area but a drive in and a ride into the valley on the park service bus will give some nice picture opportunities. Unless you are staying at Zion lodge in the park you have to take the park service bus to get into the valley but can drive a little way and then up through the tunnel to the east (northeast?).

Bryce is another hour/hour and a half past Zion and because of its elevation will probably have snow and may have bad road conditions on the way into it. It is beautiful, but not for a one day trip in December.

IMHO for one day, DV and Z are possible one day trips, DV will give you more time for exploring the park. Both are wonderful and if you are a US citizen and over 62 do pick up a senior park pass, it is $10 and is good for a lifetime for all of the National Parks. Otherwise, if you will be visiting any parks this year, pick up the America Beautiful Park pass for $80 which is good for a year and valid for all National Parks for everyone in your car. The fees for GC and Z or DV will be about half of that for this trip alone.

ih

thanks for the excellent feedback

travelottie

All three are great parks. I would pick Death Valley because as emalloy said, you will have time to explore. I have been to many of the Nat'l parks on several cross country trips. Death Valley is truly unique and I would advise you to see it while you are close.

Zion/Bryce on a day trip will turn into a drive through the park (beautiful ride but not enough to do it justice).

happytrailstoyou

I love all these parks.

When we go to Zion off-season we can drive into the park--no need to take the bus as in summer months.

I believe that for most people, the embracing beauty of Zion is easier to apprehend than the more subtle and stark beauty of Death Valley.

I don't know about weather conditions in December. If roads in Zion are clear in December, go there; if not, go to Death Valley.

Enjoy, HTTY

lgott

Zion is my favorite national park -- but I think emalloy has nailed the answer on this one. In December, the weather is likely to be better at Death Valley. Also, Zion is best appreciated via hiking -- making a day trip problematic. Bryce is just too far away.

elnap29

Death Valley or Zion can be done in daytrips but not Bryce. I love all 3 parks, but each is so different that it is difficult to choose one over the others.

Death Valley, while a shorter distance from Las Vegas, does involve driving once you are inside the park. Each "scenic site" (or "E-ticket Ride," as we like to say) is some distance from one another. It is a vast park, awesome and unique and other-wordly. You can see plant and animal life that has adapted to the extreme climate and lack of water. One fascinating example is at the Salt Creek boardwalk where you can view the pupfish which can live in an inch of hot water. And the geological views provide obvious lessons about the forces of water as well as surprising examples of other elements.

Zion is a more intimate experience as you will spend your time right in the canyon. Those red, sheer canyon walls are too awesome to describe.

I recommend that you do a search of images of these places to help you decide where you will go on your daytrip.
Either way, you'll be impressed with the landscape!

spirobulldog

We really enjoyed Death Valley at Christmas a couple of years ago. I think Zion or DV both deserve longer than a 1 days visit. I like to go places when it is the best season to do so. I would definately pick DV in this case.

Placename

Be prepared for it to be cold and windy in Death Valley, and in Las Vegas, too.

elnap29

I don't recall having cold or wind in the daytime in Death Valley in December. We had a sunny 72 degrees in the day, but sometimes biting cold winds in the evening. Just check weather reports before you go.