My husband and I are planning on taking a trip out west (from upstate new york) in late June/early July. We both love Vegas, but want to enjoy some of the national parks in Arizona and Utah as well. We were plannning on flying into Las Vegas and renting a car to drive to Zion (2 nights), Bryce (1 night), and Grand Canyon North Rim (1 night). Some questions...
1) Is this a reasonable itinery?
2) Is the North Rim as nice as the South Rim?
3) Is the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim the only place to stay?
4) Would you recommend the Desert Pearl Inn over Flanigans?
5) Is Ruby's the best place to stay at Bryce?
Thanks in advance for all your tips!

I made this same trip for the first time in August. You'll spend half a day driving to Zion. We did that then spent the night outside Zion, most of the next day in the park, then drove to Bryce and did a quick walkthrough 2 hrs. before sunset (same day as Zion). Then we drove to the North rim and stayed about 40 minutes away. We spent a day at the North rim and another night there before driving to Flagstaff, where we then saw the South rim.

I think that you should try to get places to stay IN the parks or as close as you can get to the parks (we weren't able to get a place because they are booked wayyyyy ahead of time, so jump on it now). I highly suggest the Grand Canyon Lodge at the north rim for that reason, even though there was one lodge very nearby that would also work. Being at the parks will save you time -- you can venture outside your room literally and see the canyon at the Lodge at the North rim, whereas you'd have to get in your car and drive 20 minutes from the place just outside it (name I don't recall).

We thought the South rim was nicer because it has many more access points that you can reach easily by car, and we were trying to gauge the place for our first trip. We thought the views were more expansive, wider -- the crowds were not so awful at either location. I would have liked to have spent more time now that I've been there, especially at Bryce and the North Rim, but for a first trip I think you're doing fine.

Book those reservations NOW.

Regarding Bryce - define "best" place to stay. Ruby's is a sprawling mega-motel with many buildings and offering anything you might want during your stay and much you would not want. Restaurant is mediocre. But the whole operation is convenient and efficient.

If I had it to do over, I might stay in the National Park Service lodge (Xanterra.com). But that is very basic accomodations - no pool and very limited services. We decided to mix it up on our National Park trek last summer - staying some in Park lodges and some in regular hotels/motels.

If you don't want to move around, you might stay 3 nights between Bryce and Zion (I think the town is Springdale, but someone else will know better than I). Depends on what you expect in way of lodging and how you feel about being "right there" or driving.

My evaluation of the parks agrees with the above posting. I have never been tempted to stay at Ruby's Inn near Bryce. Too much of what I don't want.
Bryce Canyon Pines motel is less encumbered; it is more of a regular motel, and decent enough.

The accommodations within Bryce are ok, but pricey for what you get. The motel type units are of ample size and cheaper than the so called cabins.

The North Rim has good accommodations in several price ranges. There are not as many view points on the north side, but it is a serene place in a Ponderosa and Aspen forest. I like it up there, even if I prefer the canyon views on the South Rim.

Between Zion and Bryce, I suggest stopping at Cedar Breaks and taking the road via Brian Head to Panguitch.
It is more scenic.

We stayed in the lodge in Zion and I would certainly pick it over anything outside the park

At Bryce, we couldn't get into the park accomodations, so we stayed in Tropic at the Bryce Canyon Inn - little (new) cabins , reasonably priced, and friendly owners. Nice little town. We ate dinner at RUby's and I saw nothing that would make me want to stay there.

I agree with bob_brown and recommend going via Cedar Breaks between Zion and Bryce. At Bryce, we especially liked the Mossy Cave Trail (acessed from a trailhead on the road between Bryce and Tropic)

We did this trip and more 2 yrs ago..LOVED the DESERT PEARL, with a room overlooking the spectacular pool area and wish we would have stayed there for a week. One of the niceset places we have ever been. Huge rooms, very original, simply loved it. For BRYCE we stayed outside, a bit north of Tropic in the town of Boulder at the Boulder MTN Lodge..peaceful area, gorgeous room overlooking a bird pond refuge...For the N. Rim originally the motel units were only available, but i kept a watch on for the PIONEER cabins close to the rim and was finally was able to get that instead. Stayed 2 nights there and enjoyed it. Not anywhere as crowded as the SR, cooler too due to elevation..nice drive in, but alot of smoke also due to forest fires that summer.

Actually I was wrong about staying in the Pioneer cabins, I waited for a cancellation in the new bigger WESTERN cabins for a few $$ more. These were very nice and we could walk right to the rim and lodge. Also did a great nature walk at night with a ranger for stargazing, but haze from the forest fires prevented that...still a great hike for an evening activity.

if shoice is between zion lodges/cabins and desert pearl -which one?

DESERT PEARL...spend the day in the park, spend the night in an oasis!

It is possible to plan such a trip. If you have time try to visit Lake Powell and the slot canyons especially Antelope Canyon. It is some sight