Grand Canyon in late December????
 

Hi again,
we will be in the Vegas area over the New Year's eve period. Have a few days at Red Rock resort and then one day later on the strip.
Have some time before arriving at Red Rock.
is it worth driving to part of the Canyon in Winter?
We are from Australia and not used to driving in the snow???
( we flew to the canyon from Vegas on another trip ) but would like to drive and see more of the land if possible.
Spending time in LA and San Diego and are considering whether to visit the canyon or Palm Springs.
What do you think?
Donna

The weather isn't really predictable, but there is definitely a significant chance of snow at South Rim or on the way there.

A better alternative, though perhaps not in a convenient direction, might be Death Valley.

Thanks for your reply.
Where would you stay in or near Death Valley?
Thanks
Donna

Furnace Creek would be my preference at Death Valley; the Inn if you want more luxurious acomodation, the ranch for more basic but less expensive rooms. Death Valley is quite remote, and with limited facilities, sort of Outback like, but with maybe more interesting geology.

Palm Springs, while still in the desert, is very much the opposite of Death Valley, full of golf courses, resorts, and upscale shops.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check out Furnace Creek.
Donna

<b>is it worth driving to part of the Canyon in Winter?
We are from Australia and not used to driving in the snow???</b>

Typically the roads are free of snow and ice except during and shortly after winter storms. There's maybe a 20-25% chance of a storm any given week and typically you know in advance because it will be a storm front moving in off the Pacific, causing rain in S. California a day or day and a half before it hits Arizona.

Once it snows the roads are cleared pretty quickly.

So what I'd suggest is making tentative plans to visit the GC but not getting room reservations ahead of time. Just check the weather carefully while in Vegas and if the skies are clear with no forecasts of rain in CA or snow in northern AZ then you can go for it and still get a hotel room on or near the rim. If a storm is coming then go somewhere else at lower elevation, like Palm Springs or San Diego etc.

Bill

Last year, we drove to the Grand Canyon the week after Christmas from Phoenix. The roads were fine. I think you would be ok to make the drive; the storms are predictable so you could always cancel your reservation if you hear that something is coming. Just make sure you check the cancellation policies!

If you have never seen the canyon, it is worth it in any weather. The North Rim of the canyon is closed as of October due to heavy snow. You will be stunned by the beauty of the place.

Family did GC just before Christmas a few years ago. Had no problem with snow.

Thanks for your ideas.
We are still deciding what to do.
Thanks
Donna

We did Death Valley on New Years this past year. Of the 20 or so National Parks I have been to, it suprised me the most with, how much better it was than what I had pictured in my mind. There is a lot to see and do there in the Winter. You should plan on spending at least 2 full days there. We stayed at the Ranch. It is just a place to sleep, nothing special, but clean. We did eat at the Inn for a meal and it was fantastic. They are a couple of minutes from each other. It isn't hot in the winter. Mornings were at 30 degrees. Drive Titus Canyon, if you go.

If you haven't seen the Grand Canyon, you will not be disappointed with spending a day or two there as well.

How many days extra do you have???

Dear Spirobulldog,
we have 3-4 days up our sleeve.
We fly out of Vegas on the 2nd of Jan and leave Lake Arrowhead on the 26th of December. We have 2 nights at Red Rock from the 30th Decemeber.
We flew to the Grand Canyon from Vegas on a previuos visit but only had a short time there.
We have not been to Death Valley and have just been a little put off by the possible weather this time of year.
Thanks for your help
Donna

Friends were stranded in Flagstaff for several days due to a snowstorm on their way to visit their children over Christmas.

We had snow in Flagstaff in October. But then the day turned off warm and sunny and everything melted.

You wouldn't likely encounter snow in DV. Most likely, it would be 50s and 60s during the day and around 40 at night. Winter, or early srping is the time to go to DV. Furnace Creek Inn is only open Oct-May. It is a big park, so it does require some driving. Highlights, are Badwater(lowest, driest, hottest place), Artist Point(very colorful), Devils Golf Course, Scottys Castle, Zabriski Point, Dante's Peak. Titus Canyon was great. We didn't go to Playa Racetrack where the slidding rocks are. We were just afraid to risk a tire. But it would be great to see.

Since you have seen the Grand Canyon, I probably wouldn't go there, unless you plan to do some hiking, or rafting(which is out of the question in Jan). You could see a lot more of it than what you did, but it does look similar along the way. If you haven't seen Hoover Dam, it is worth seeing along the way.

We spent 2 days in DV and then drove to Sequoia NP and spent 2 days there. Both were very good. We flew into Vegas and then out of Fresno.

The Grand Canyon is more jaw dropping stunning. DV is stunning, but is a very strange wierd unusual place. We weren't expecting much, but were suprised with how much we liked it.

The GC is a WOW (wonder of the world) while DV is not.

You can fly there from Las Vegas (take the airplane not helicopter tour). It can be a day trip or overnight. This saves 9-10 hours of driving.

Mr. Wunderful,
You might want to read earlier posts. OP has done the plane from Vegas. What was it that you didn't like about DV. We found it very interesting and plenty to do. Did you go in the middle of the summer?

Been there done that? ok, never mind. I've seen one-night tours LV to GC but would be nice to have a two night tour (by plane at least one way). I drove GC to LV and thought it was boring. Wouldn't want to do it, more or less, both ways.

It is great to have so much discussion about the Grand Canyon and Death Valley. I have started to check availabilty and it does not seem to be a problem in either place.
I will let you know what we decide.
Thanks again
Donna