I think I am overthinking this itinerary. I have come up with two plans.
first:
Fly into Salt lake city. Drive to Moab and stay 2 nights.
Capital Reef 1 night
Bryce 1 nights
North rim 2 nights
Zion 2 nights
Las Vegas 2 nights

Second plan
Fly into Las Vegas and go to South rim GC stay 2 nights
Page 2 nights
Bryce 2 nights
Zion 2 nights
Las vegas 2 nights

I may be able to stay one additional nights. where would you add it?? Thanks

I would probably pick the first one because I think 2 days in Moab is better than 2 days in Page and because the GC North Rim is quieter and in some ways more enjoyable than the south rim (assuming you are staying at the lodge on the NR). Also, one night at Bryce is probably enough.

But either one would be fine ...

Bill

I was thinking I would like to see Moab. What else I am wondering is if going to the south rim is better than the north. If I went to the south and then up to Moab, it would be a long drive. I would need to stop somewhere like Momument Valley to break up the drive. Would you recommend that??

am wondering ...if going to the south rim is better than the north.

South rim has more overlooks and it's easier to get a room inside the park or, if you are too late reserving, easy to get rooms just outside the park like at Tusayan. Also have canyon flights and even an IMAX at Tusayan showing a Grand Canyon 'tour'

North rim will probably have 1/10th as many people and more a feeling of peace and quiet (no IMAX, no flights, not as many tour busses). It's not that one is "better", it's that they are "different" and you need to decide which ambience you prefer.

If I went to the south and then up to Moab, it would be a long drive. I would need to stop somewhere like Momument Valley to break up the drive. Would you recommend that??

Maybe a 6 hour drive from south rim to Moab ... we usually go out at sunrise and photograph and try to move mid-day so we are at the next place about 3-4 PM and this is a bit far for that ... if you have the extra night staying one night at Monument Valley and doing a guided tour of the valley floor would be a nice break. It's about 2.5 - 3 hours from MV to Moab. Gouldings is the best place to stay at MV.

Bill

I'd go with the first itinerary and add the night in Moab. You only have two nights there, which is only one full day, but there are TWO amazing national parks plus Dead Horse Point State Park (not to mention the scenic drives and great hikes that are outside of these parks, too!). If you try to do it all in one day you'll spend a lot of time in the car, and still miss a lot.

I actually made reservations at both the north and south since I couldn't decide...so I have to cancel one. 6 hours isn't so bad...I thought it would be closer to 7-8 to drive there. I read that many thought that the south rim had the prettier views...but I like the thought of the quiet of the north rim. I usually don't like to drive more than 3-4 hours in one day, but one long day would be ok. Gouldings looks ok. Did you do the tour? I am trying to think if monument valley would be better to see versus having time to see Capital Reef? I wish I had more time.

I should have done this before. I checked what the rate would be to pick up the car in Salt lake and drop off in Las Vegas. It is close to double the amount. So now I should look at picking up and dropping off in Las Vegas. It is very hard to route a good route. I could go from las vegas to South rim to Moab (long drive) to Capital Reef, Bryce, Zion and back to Las Vegas. I can't seem to come up with a good route from las Vegas to the north rim and include Moab. Staying in Page doesn't appeal to me that much as compaired to Moab, although I guess the lake would be nice to go out on a boat(or go on a rafting trip).

Either route you do, you will enjoy a lot of great scenery...so don't beat yourself up to much. What you need to decide is if you want to do a fast, lot of driving, see just the basic stuff type of trip, or do you want a more relaxing trip?

Let me know and I'll then give you a couple of itineraries.

Utahtea

I like to spend two night at most places with an occasional one night stay. Even three nights is good if there is enough to do or see. I actually have been looking for a cheaper rental from salt lake and found a couple so I could still do that itinerary.

I am also wondering if it would be better to stay only one night at the north rim if we do that itinerary and add it to somewhere else. I would like to keep the trip at 10 nights if possible but could probably add one more night.

Have you checked with different car rental companies (ie comparing them on travelocity or expedia)? I've done one-way rentals many times and the fee hasn't been very high. There might be something about SLC that makes it so expensive but it couldn't hurt to compare a bunch of companies if you haven't.

If you are going to do trip number one, I agree with Christy1 that you really need 3 nights in Moab. There is just so much to do in the area that you really need 2 or more full days.

The only reason I would keep 2 nights at the N. Rim would be to spend more time at Bryce on the day you leave for the N. Rim. Or I think I would spend 2 nights at Bryce and leave very early that morning for the N. Rim and spend one night there.

Utahtea

Moab does seem to have alot to do. Do you find the town to be nice also? Would you stay in town or somewhere else...like at the Red Cliffs Lodge? I put in the night at Capital Reef to break up the drive. Is there alot to see there or would you give 2 nights to Bryce?

I think that the first itinerary is better. Arches NM is more intersting that what you would see around Page.

Moab is a nice little town. We always camp and depending on our mood or the season, we either stay in the parks or a private campground in town.

Moab will have a lot of traffic and most motels are on the main drag...so you could get a lot of car noise. The advantage is it is a scenic location and only 4 miles to the entrance to Arches. Red Cliff is on scenic Hwy 128, so the scenery is good, but it will take a little longer to get to the parks.

There's plenty to do in Captol Reef for an afternoon. The advantage of spending the night near Captiol Reef is you can have a fresh start to drive Scenic Hwy 12 on your way to Bryce. The drive between Torrey and Bryce on Hwy 12 is a destination in itself.

If it were me, I would spend 3 nights in Moab, 1 night at Captiol Reef, 2 nights in Bryce, 1 at N. Rim. and 2 in Zion. If you could squeeze another night..then I'd spend 2 at the N. Rim.

Utahtea

We really loved Red Cliffs Lodge just outside MOAB. The short drive out of town was scenic and well-worth it. Our room was large, comfortable and private with an outstanding private deck overlooking the Colorado River and the red cliffs.

For us, 1 night at North Rim would have been plenty. Get there early in the day, spend 1 night, and enjoy a full day of hiking/exploring; then head down the mountain before dark and stay somewhere like Kanab where the motels are inexpensive. Unless you are in a cabin at North Rim, the accommodations are not too great. We prefer to spend our time in Zion and Bryce.

Cparris, what did you finally decide to do?

So far we are planning to fly to Salt Lake and drive to Moab. We will spend 2 nights there at the Sunflower Inn. Then we are going on a three night horse pack trip in the Fishlake National Forest where we will be camping. After that one night at Bryce in Ruby's, One night at the north rim, two nights in Zion at Dream Keeper Inn and the last two nights in Las Vegas at the Mirage. I would have liked to do an additional night in Moab, but I wanted to do the horse trip too so that should be fun.