Phoenix - GC - Vegas
 

Hello everyone,
I'm planning a family trip in mid Aug this year for 6 of us, hubby, me, my 2 girls(6&8), and my in laws.
We are just going mainly for fun & sightseeing, no hiking/climbing/adventure, and it will be our first time, though we all have been to Vegas couple of times.

This is my rough itinerary:

Day 1 : Arrive in Phoenix at Pointe South Mountain Resort
Day 2 : Drive to Grand Canyon through Sedona, probably stop by about 1-2 hours, and hopefully arrive in GC by sunset. Stay in GC lodge.
Day 3 : Bryce, Lake Powell
Day 4 : Zion, Hoover Dam, Vegas
Day 5 : Fly out from Vegas

Is this itinerary doable? Should I take out either Zion/Bryce? I'm not sure if both of them similar/totally different experience.
Any comments/suggestions is welcome.

Thank you!

lots of driving. Get driving time estimates and factor in the time you gewt started in the morning to figure out if it is doab le. It wouldn't be for my family

I think you'll need a vacation from this vacation.

Lots of driving and not alot of relaxing. You will get to the Grand Canyon in the late afternoon and have to leave first thing the following morning. Is that really want you want to do?

agreed, I think that's way too much to fit into 5 days.

Wow, i agree with the other posters. We ourselves pack alot into each of our road trippin days but thats even too much for us. You MIGHT be able to do it if you drop Lake Powell, but again, its still way too much driving.

Have you researched any of the posts here? Theres an amazing amount of info and feedback regarding all of these amazing sites. Type in any of them in the search box above. Definitely worth seeing so don't give up, just realize you won't be able to do it all within 5 days.

I also agree that's it is a lot of driving. ellen mentioned dropping Lake Powell, but it's right on the way if you are going to do Bryce and/or Zion. Bryce and Zion are as different as day and night. Bryce might be the better one to remove because it's the one that is the most out of your way.

I'd skip the Hoover Dam and just do the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell. The Hoover Dam will be out of your way, where you will drive right by the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, AZ.

Utahtea

Actually I based my planning from this trip report http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34970566 , add Bryce and shortened the days..

I think I'll cut Bryce, Lake Powell and Hoover Dam altogether. Is that sounds better? How long the drive from GC to Zion?

Thanks!

I haven't get anything booked yet, so I was thinking if we should spent the night in Sedona instead of Phoenix.
How's this look:

Day 1 AM : Arrive in Phoenix, city tour.
PM : Drive to Sedona, stay overnight.
Day 2 : Touring Red Rock, PM drive to Grand Canyon. Stay in GC lodge.
Day 3 : AM GC, PM drive to Zion
Day 4 : AM Zion, PM drive to Vegas
Day 5 : PM Fly out from Vegas

Is there anything we shouldn't miss in Phoenix or in between?

Much better plan.

I've only been to Phoenix for work but I'm not so sure what the city tour would actually be?

I would just arrive in Phoenix and immediately drive to Sedona.

Either way this trip sounds much better than the one you first proposed.

p.s. Grand Canyon rooms fill up fast so book as soon as you can.

You do realize the post you were basing this intineray on...was a 12 day trip and you have less than 5 full days. The drive from Grand Canyon to Zion will take you right by Lake Powell. It's 255 miles from Grand Canyon village to Zion Canyon and plan on a little over 5 hours of just driving time.

If your flight isn't until the PM on the 5th day, why not spend a second night in Zion and have a little more time to explore the park. Zion has lots of good walks for your family. It's just a fast three hour drive from Zion to Las Vegas on the 5th day.

Utahtea