LV--> Bryce Canyon - Sunset vs Getting Dark
 

I arrive in LV at 2:40PM (in 10 days) and immediately pick a car and drive to Bryce Canyon NP.

I'm really not keen on driving too much of that route in the dark.

It appears that sunset in Salt Lake (the closest major city) is about 9PM local time.

When would it actually get dark?

I figure the drive is about 4 1/2 hours plus another hour of time change.

I also have 3 possible routes;
a) Routes 15, 9 & 89
b) Routes 15 & 14
and
c) Routes 15 & 20

My preferance is a) because of the scenery (?). However, is it really longer time-wise?

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

Hi Myer,

As long as your flight arrives on time, you'll get there before dark. I wouldn't stress over which way to go, but I do like the route through Zion best.

If it does start to get dark before you arrive at Bryce, just drive more slowly and watch for deer. The road itself is no big deal at all.

Three things to consider. When you get in to LV at 2:40 pm its already 3:40 pm in Utah. 4.5 hour drive time is about right if you don't stop many times. That should get you into Bryce before dark.

The first two routes will have about the same drive time. The third will take a little longer because you have to backtrack about 20 miles.

The first route is the most scenic but the second is not too shabby either. The first route will cost you extra to drive unless you have a current National Parks Pass. You have to pay the entry fee at Zion even if you're just driving through on the way to Bryce. Having said that, I'd recommend one of the first two routes on the way to Bryce and the other one on the way back.

Thanks, to both.

dwooddon,

You'll notice in my post I added an hour for time change.

I'm 63 years old. So, the first park I enter I'll buy a Golden Age Pass that's good for the rest of my life in all parks.

I guess it will be Route a).

Actually, if I was planning the trip now I would had stopped in Zion for a day on my way from LV. That might have been best.

However, the trip grew as I planned and getting in-park reservations is pretty near impossible. At first I wanted to do Bryce first and then Zion to shorten my all-in-one-day drive to Sedona.

I then added a day in GC to break up the drive.

I managed to get in-park reservations for all 3 parks and that took a lot of daily calls.

I'm not about to change now.

Thanks for the replies.

You also have some time for your rental pick up!

Check out this Sunrise - Sunset link. You can enter in Springdale, Utah which is at the gate of Zion National Park. http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html

It shows sunset at 8:49 pm on June 5th but end civil twilight at 9:20 pm.

I would do route A too. As long as you make it to Hwy 89 before dark, you will get to see this scenery again if you are back tracking down to the Grand Canyon. Hwy 89 and Hwy 12 to the park entrance are easy drives...as far as driving after dark.

Utahtea

utahtea, Thanks.

Yes, I figured it would take up to 45 minutes to get a car. I hope.

I should be fine with Route 1).