help with Grand Canyon/Lake Powell /Monument Valley/itinerary
 

Can anyone help with the following? Day 1.Fly into Phoenix and overnight stay. Day 2.Overnight Flagstaff. Day3&4.Bright Angel Lodge, Grand Canyon. Day5,6,7&8 at Wahweap Lodge,Page taking in float trip on Colorado river and trip to Antelope canyon. Day9&10. Gouldings lodge, Monument Valley including guided jeep tour. Day11-14. leisurely drive back to Phoenix for flight. My questions are. What are the driving times between each place as we don't want to spend all day in the car? Should we try and squeeze in Bryce Canyon or is this too ambitious? Any ideas for stopovers on last few nights? Don't want luxury - quaint but clean suits us. This itinery is still in the planning stage so if you think we should do things differently or can recommend any other places to see, please say. I should say this is planned for June. Thanks everyone.

Two suggestions:
1. If you arrive in Phoenix early enough, I suggest you drive right to Flagstaff. It's only about a 2 1/2 drive. You then pick up a day to do what you really want to do!
2. Substitute one of the nights at Monument Valley for a trip to Canyon de Chelly. (Don't get me wrong, Monument Valley is great...but you can do it in one day and then have the added joy of experiencing Canyon de Chelly, another one of the Southwestern gems.
You actually could include Bryce by eliminating a couple of the days at the end-of-your trip plans. It might be a little busy, but it can be done.

If you think you will be to tried to drive to Flagstaff the first night like Howard mentioned, then drive from Phoenix all the way to the Grand Canyon on the first day.

Question. Is there a reason for flying into Phoenix? I ask, because if you flew in and out of Las Vegas you could easily see Bryce.

Day 1. Fly into Las Vegas.
Day 2. Las Vegas to Grand Canyon 280 miles.
Day 3 Explore the Grand Canyon
Day 5 Drive out of Grand Canyon and spend time stopping at overlooks all the way to Desert View. Drive to Monument Valley 180 miles.
Day 6 Explore Monument Valley
Day 7 Drive to Page 125 miles and still have enought time to do a tour of Antelope Canyon.
Day 8 Float Trip on Colorado River...I highly recommend this adventure!

Pictures from our trip:
http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/vacation2003/float.htm

Day 9 Boat trip on Lake Powell
Day 10 Get up early to take the hike to Horseshoe Bend before driving Hwy 89 and Hwy 12 to Bryce National Park 155 miles.
Day 11 Hike and visit Bryce
Day 12 Drive the 86 miles to Zion National Park
Day 13 Hike and visit Zion
Day 14 Drive back to Las Vegas, NV 165 miles.


Utahtea

One full day in Monuent Valley is enough to do the valley adequately. Four days in Page may be two days too much. The 3 days saved could be used to work in Bryce and Zion which are worth visiting, If you decide to visit these two places then LV would be a better starting and ending place,. If you feel that would be too much driving then visit Canyon de Chelly after MV and plan ta visit Sedona on the way back to PHX.

I would definitely recommend at least one night in Sedona. We did a similar trip last spring, and regret spending only one night there. Four days at Wahweap might be a bit much. Besides the lake, there really isn't much in Page. However, just a few miles outside of Page is the short hike to Horsehoe Bend - this is truly spectacular. You will need to ask for directions, as the highway pullover is not very well marked.