Travelfootprint

Hi Travel Fans
We are a party of 4 friends in our late 40s travelling from down under to red white and blue shores for the first time. Have booked flights and some accommodation. After a 3 day stay in LA picking up a vehicle (leaving at approx. 9am) to drive to the Grand Canyon on 15th October 2016 staying over night in accommodation located in Williams with a plan to spend the 16th sightseeing in this area heading for Les Vegas to commence a two day stay in Vegas. I believe Williams in on the south rim of the GC and travel time without any stops is 6 hours and 30 minutes from here to GC. What stops would you recommend from LA to GC? History / Site seeing / Places of Interest? Wanted to make GC for sunset or if not will do sunrise next morning. What would be your recommendations for the day of the 16th? What are the "Must sees/History/Site seeing/Places of Interest"? Short hikes/walks would be all we could fit in due to time limits as our first night of two is booked in LV on the 16th? Thanking you in advance.
Kind Regards
Travelfootprint

janisj

I would not stay in Williams. It is not at the south rim, but an hour away. It will only be about another hour's drive all the way to the Grand Canyon. If you leave @ 9:00 AM and just break for lunch you'll be at the Canyon by about 4:30 or 5:00PM. Stay at there and see both sunset and sunrise.

But - if it was me, I'd try to get on the road much earlier than 9AM. I'd have a quick breakfast and head out by 0700-0730 (or even earlier if you can manage) and actually have time to walk along the canyon rim that afternoon.

Travelfootprint

Thank you so much for the heads up. We will need to up grade our plan. A little more travel then planned.

Kind regards and thanks

emalloy

I agree with janisj and would try to get lodging in the park. If they say they are full, keep calling back as people book so far in advance and often find they can't travel.

jamie99

I agree with janis and emalloy, also I would pick up the car the day after you arrive in LA (after getting over jetlag) rather than when you leave LA, our public transport is getting better but still has a ways to go and can be very time consuming.

Travelfootprint

Thank you guys. Great idea about picking the car up the day before. Will definitely go with this. What would you recommend doing for the day prior to ending up in LV?

janisj

You spend more time at the Grand Canyon, then stop at Hoover Dam and take a tour, and get to Vegas. It is nearly a 5 hour drive so so you really don't have time for much else.

Travelfootprint

Will definitely spent a few hours at the Grand Canyon. Will be there for sunrise and a few hundred photos to take home. We will stop for a few photos at Hoover Dam. As we have seen many a documentary on the dam would prefer to put the tour time looking at some more sights in the area. Any other must sees?

janisj

>>Any other must sees?

Travelfootprint

Thanks janisj for the information. Will spend the extra time at H/Dam.
Thank you again everybody for yor help.