wanderlust125

we are planning to visit Vegas/Grand canyon during september long weekend. we only have 5 days and we want to cover cover Vegas, Grand canyon southrim and would love to include Zion in our itinerary.

Is it possible to visit all three palces in 5 days. I am travelling with my husband and my parents.

Should I fly into Phoenix or Las Vegas for the drive to the South Rim.

Thanks for any help with the itinerary and it would be nice if anyone can post the driving distances and approximate driving time between vegas - GC and Vegas - Zion

Guess I am being too greedy, but couldnt stop asking...is it possible to include Bryce canyon in our tight schedule.

wanderlust125

Didnt realize that I ended up posting twice, Sorry

kopp

Hello wanderlust125, since you have Vegas on your list, why not fly into Vegas instead of Arizona?

And yes, it is possible to do everything in your 5 days, albeit a bit rushed but do-able nonetheless.

With an early morning arrival in Vegas, spend the day exploring Vegas. The next morning, drive to Grand Canyon, next day to Zion, then Bryce, then back to Vegas the last night. Adds up to 5 nights.

For driving times and distances, check any of the online resources, such as yahoo maps, mappy, mapquest, etc. They'll all have distances and approximate drive times, even maps for your route along the way.

Hope this helps.
Happy trails!

vegasnative

Driving to Zion from Vegas is about 3 hours (each way), to the Grand Canyon it is a little over 4. If you have 5 full days I would spend my arrival day in and around the hotel, the next day go to the GC as this is the furthest, you could even stay the night there then head back to Vegas in the morning. Spend that day in Vegas. Then the next day drive to Utah and explore there. That isn't so bad to drive up and back in one day.
Have a great time!!

utahtea

vegasnative,

You have wanderlust125 driving 880 miles by back tracking once to Grand Canyon and back to Las Vegas and then to Zion and back to Las Vegas. Wanderlust125 can save 180 miles and no back tracking by making a circle from Grand Canyon, Lake Powell and Zion. Exiting the Grand Canyon on Hwy 64 towards Cameron, the drive north on Hwy 89 is much more scenic than I-40...twice!

Utahtea

vegasnative

Utahtea,
I did it that way because wanderlust125 asked for driving distances between Vegas-GC and then between Vegas-Zion! (so, that's what I did, I gave driving distances between Vegas-GC and then Vegas-Zion) It sounded as if the poster might have wanted to do it that way with a little rest in the middle of it all. Sorry, if this upset you! Anyway, utahtea is right..you can make a big loop of it all as well, that is another option to consider.

dfpasto

We did it this way just last summmer . . . flew to Las Vegas and stayed the night. Next day drove to Zion; after dinner drove to our Holiday Inn Express hotel in Kanab, Utah (exceptionally clean and very nice; paid about $90 and it includes breakfast)and used this hotel as our base. Next day drove to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (same impressive vistas as the south rim with less commercialization and therefore less crowds). Dined at the Lodge which was fantastic (if you go make a reservation as soon as possible). Then drove back to Kanab. Next day drove to Bryce Canyon and then back to Kanab. The next morning drove to Las Vegas. This worked out fantastic. Highly encourage you to follow this path. Good luck!

cwojo99

You can totally fly into Vegas and visit the Grand Canyon! My friends and I visited the South Rim and back in one day. A couple of recommendations...

Rent a convertable. If you use Dollar or Budget, pretty cheap. Pack a Picnic! Great views, nice picnic, how do you beat it?

Plan all day. Leave early, take your time.

One last thing, you didn't ask, but...

Take the tour to the top of the "Eifel Tower" at Paris to watch the fountain display at the Belagio! It is awesome...

wanderlust125

Thanks a lot for giving me so much input. I really appreciate it.

utahtea

I had answered your first post on this question. Don't know if you saw it or not:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...rlust125&fid=1

Utahtea

utahtea

#-o

Oooops, I hate when that happens. Try this link:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34662413

Utahtea

wanderlust125

Thanks Utahtea for that thread. I looked at it.

There is some change in our trip planning now. I have to fly to Folsom, CA on Aug 31st ( business trip). So we are looking at other options now.

Originally we were thinking of flying to Vegas on August 31st night and then flying out of vegas on Sep 5th afternoon. We had 5 days to visit GC/Vegas/Zion and if possible bryce.

Since I will be in folsom CA on August 31st, I can stay back and my family can fly to either sacramento or SFO and then we can drive to GC/Zion/Bryce and finally reach vegas on sep 4th night and spend a day in vegas and fly back on sep 5th.

we have two options now:

OPTION1: fly in and out of vegas and visit GC/BRYCE/Zion/vegas

OPTION 2: Fly in and out of Sacramento or San jose and do a road trip to vegas/GC/Bryce and Zion. If we cannot visit one of the national parks ( zion or bryce) its fine as we are travelling with our parents and dont want them to feel exhausted at the end of the trip. We dont mind driving anywhere between 4 to 6 hours per day but we dont want to drive more than that as we like to spend some time sight seeing.

we have come up with an itinerary based on your input for OPTION 1....

OPTION1: 5 nights 6 day vegas/GC/Bryce/Zion

Day 1: Arrive in LAS VEGAS on August 31st night. Stay overnight.

Day 2: Sep 1st: Thursday.
Spend time in vegas during the day and drive to GC ( 5 to 5 1/2 hours) , reach GC by 6 pm
Explore GC and watch Sunset.
Stay in GC overnight

Day 2: Sep 2nd : Friday

See sunrise, Spend time viewing vistas in GC.On the way to Page, Driving on HWY 64 going west towards Cameron and the Desert View visitor center, there are many great views of the Grand Canyon Stop here.
Leave GC by 6 pm and reach page AZ or Lake Powell by 9 pm. ( 3 hr driving time)

Day 3: Sep 3rd Saturday:
Have breakfast at the Lake Powell Resort to see the lake, then drive the 155 miles approx. 3 hours
drive to Bryce. Reach Byrce by 11.30 am and spend the day here. Leave Bryce after dinner( 7.30 pm) and stay
overnight in Zion.

Day 4: Sep 4th Sunday:
Get up early and spend the day in Zion. Finish dinner ( 7.30 pm) and drive to vegas ( 3 hours).
Explore vegas night light, Spend the night in Vegas.

Day 5: Sep 5th Monday.
Spend the day in vegas, fly out from vegas Monday afternoon.

Can anyone who is aware of the distances from Sacremento to GC or Vegas tell me if its possible to drive from sacremento and visit Vegas/ GC and Zion in 6 days.

We have a plan in mind for option1: fly in and out of vegas and visit GC/BRYCE/Zion/vegas

I would really appreciate if someone can help me put together an itinerary for option 2

Option 2: Fly in and out of Sacramento or San jose and do a road trip to vegas/GC/Bryce and Zion. If we cannot visit one of the national parks ( zion or bryce) its fine as we are travelling with our parents and dont want them to feel exhausted at the end of the trip. We dont mind driving anywhere between 4 to 6 hours per day but we dont want to drive more than that as we like to spend some time sight seeing.

Also is it too late to make reservations at the national park lodges? is there any decent accomodations near zion, bryce and GC.

We are ok with spending a night in motels/cabins if no rooms are available. Any sugesstion is welcome

Thanks for any help.....

utahtea

Option 1:

Day 2: Sep 1st: Thursday.
Spend time in vegas during the day and drive to GC ( 5 to 5 1/2 hours) , reach GC by 6 pm
Explore GC and watch Sunset.

At this time of the year you aren't going to have much time for siteseeing before sunset. Sunset on August 28 is 7:01

http://www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/Sunset04.html

Day 2: Sep 2nd : Friday

See sunrise, Spend time viewing vistas in GC.On the way to Page, Driving on HWY 64 going west towards Cameron and the Desert View visitor center, there are many great views of the Grand Canyon Stop here.
Leave GC by 6 pm and reach page AZ or Lake Powell by 9 pm. ( 3 hr driving time)

Sunset is going to be around 7 P.M. and you don't want to do any of the drive between the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell after dark...its' just to scenic!

Day 3: Sep 3rd Saturday:
Have breakfast at the Lake Powell Resort to see the lake, then drive the 155 miles approx. 3 hours
drive to Bryce. Reach Byrce by 11.30 am and spend the day here. Leave Bryce after dinner( 7.30 pm) and stay
overnight in Zion.

Again, you don't want to do the drive into Zion National Park after dark. The scenic drive before and after the Zion Tunnel down to the Zion Canyon is just to good to miss in the dark!

Day 4: Sep 4th Sunday:
Get up early and spend the day in Zion. Finish dinner ( 7.30 pm) and drive to vegas ( 3 hours).
Explore vegas night light, Spend the night in Vegas.

This section isn't so bad to do in the dark, but you will miss the Virgin River Gorge.

Utahtea

utahtea

Option 2

The drive between Sacramento or San Francisco is only a difference of about 3 miles but YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE ON ANY OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA ROADS ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND...CAN YOU SAY PARKING LOT! Even Thursday will be bad with people leaving early. I can't speak for the Sacramento area.

The drive from Sacramento to the Grand Canyon is almost 800 miles and even driving 75 MPH on Interstate 5 you are looking at two days of driving 6 hours per day and on mostly BORING roads! This is going to kill 2 of your precious 5 days.

An alternative would be to drive thru Yosemite National Park and take Hwy 120 and then Hwy 6 to Tonopah, then Hwy 95 to Las Vegas. This route will take 3 days of only driving 6 hours per day, but at least it will be scenic!

I'd say fly into Las Vegas and meet your family there.

At this late date, over a holiday weekend, I can't see you getting reservations in the parks, BUT I would call. They say the best time to get a cancellation is within 10 days of arrival.

Utahtea

utahtea

The drive between Sacramento or San Francisco is only a difference of about 3 miles.

Should have read:

There are only 3 miles difference from Sacramento to Grand Canyon vs SF to Grand Canyon.

Utahtea..it's been a long day!

cabovacation

Don't try to drive from Sacramento. don't even consider San jose - it's still a few hours to Folsom - and it just does not fit into the picture for you. have your family fly to Vegas - you fly to Sacramento and then fly to Vegas. Can you do that?

wanderlust125

well looks like option 2 is out now. when we have only 5 days, it doesnt make sense to drive 800 miles and waste the precious 3 days in just driving.

My business trip is not yet finalized.I am hoping that it gets postponed. Even if I have to fly to Folsom, as you said cabovacation, i will have to fly to Vegas and ask my family to fly to Vegas too.

wanderlust125

Option 1:
Day 0: arrive in Vegas Aug 31st night, visit some hotels and spend the night in vegas

Day 1: Sep 1st: Thursday.
Start the day early say 7 am, Spend time in vegas till noon and drive to GC ( 5 to 5 1/2 hours) , reach GC by 6 pm
Explore GC and watch Sunset.
Stay overnight in GC

At this time of the year you aren't going to have much time for siteseeing before sunset. Sunset on August 28 is 7:01

http://www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/Sunset04.html

Day 2: Sep 2nd : Friday

See sunrise, Spend time viewing vistas in GC.On the way to Page, Driving on HWY 64 going west towards Cameron and the Desert View visitor center, there are many great views of the Grand Canyon Stop here.

Sunset is going to be around 7 P.M. and you don't want to do any of the drive between the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell after dark...its' just to scenic!

Wanderlust125:
Leave GC by 3.30 pm reach page AZ or Lake Powell by 7 pm. ( 3 hr driving time)

Day 3: Sep 3rd Saturday:
Have breakfast at the Lake Powell Resort to see the lake, then drive the 155 miles approx. 3 hours
drive to Bryce. Reach Byrce by 11.30 am and spend the day and night here.

Again, you don't want to do the drive into Zion National Park after dark. The scenic drive before and after the Zion Tunnel down to the Zion Canyon is just to good to miss in the dark!

Wanderlust 125:
Then we will have to stay overnight in Bryce


Day 4: Sep 4th Sunday:
Get up early drive the 86 miles to Zion and spend the day in Zion. Finish dinner ( 7.30 pm) and drive to vegas ( 3 hours).
Explore vegas night light, Spend the night in Vegas.

This section isn't so bad to do in the dark, but you will miss the Virgin River Gorge.

Wanderlust 125:

Guess we might have to leave Zion early say atleast at 4 pm if we want to see Virgin river gorge. depends on whether we can pull ourselves out of Zion as you said earlier


Let me see if this option works out.

I still need to find lodging too

utahtea

wanderlust125,

You only need to leave Zion about 1 1/2 hours before sunset to make it thru the Virgin River Gorge. Driving the rest of the desert at night won't be to bad. It will be neat driving into Las Vegas after dark...so many lights to guide your way...LOL.

If you can't tear yourself away from Zion, then spend the time there. Zion is 100 times better than the Virgin River Gorge.

Utahtea

wanderlust125

Bryce view lodge and best western rudy inn near Bryce both have vacancies. I will be choosing one among them.

can anyone recommend a decent hotel to stay for a night near GC north rim and Page please?

Utahtea, do you know of any hotel near page. According to the itinerary that I have mentioned in my earlier posts, we will have to stay in page on the way to bryce on sep 2nd.

Thanks