Preparing For Grand Canyon Trip Question
 

Okay, forgive me for asking what I know will seem a lame question, but here goes. My family's meeting up in Vegas next month and then driving a rental car to the GC and Zion. Since we're not driving from our homes, I'm curious what most people do to be road-trip ready. Do you stop at the beginning of the trip and buy a cheap cooler for water and snacks? I've done lots of road trips, but always from my home base. And I've driven to the Grand Canyon before from Los Angeles, but it was a spur of the moment thing (we picked a direction and drove), so it wasn't really an issue then (plus my friends and I were just young and stupid - driving to the GC on Memorial Day, with water and chips, wearing Converse sneakers, then driving back to LA the same night!) So when you don't have the convenience of packing up your own car at home, is buying a cooler on the road I guess the best option? Thanks!

I should probably add that we're staying in hotels, so it's not like we're camping out or anything. Just trying to keep the driving portions of the trip civilized for 4 adults :)

Just got back from the GC, and a cooler is a good thing. The dry air makes ya thirsty, and standing in line for a drink is a pain.

A cooler also makes it easy to take some fruit and veggies for snacks, instead of eating pure junk. (But be sure to eat some junk, wouldn't be road trip without it.)

And watch for the California Condors--we saw two.

My husband and I take fly-then-drive vacations a lot. We've done the cooler thing 3 ways:

- buying a cheap styrofoam cooler at a grocery stores soon after picking up our rental car

- packing an insulated soft-sided small cooler in our luggage

- using a medium sized hard-sided cooler as a piece of checked or carry-on luggage.

I've kind of wanted to try one of those rolling backpack coolers, but they're expensive. Overall, I prefer buying cheap coolers on arrival, but we have a hard time bringing ourselves to toss them when we're done.

We've always stopped at a grocery store after picking up our rental car and bought a styrofoam cooler and drinks/snacks etc. We've found that it is best to do this early in your trip, because once you get into the park/mountain areas it isn't like the populated areas where there is a Walmart close by. There is a grocery type store at the Grand Canyon and some small stores in Springdale, but in our experience, you're still better off getting "essentials" before you get there.

Thanks everyone, that's exactly the type of info I was looking for. I guess it's obvious we don't do this fly/drive type of trip very often!

I have a soft-sided cooler that I have used as a carryon. I put my purse, camera, other stuff in it and take it out when I get in the car. I can't stand the squeaky noise styrofoam coolers always seem to make. Bought the first collapsible cooler at a home show. Bought several more on-line and gave them as presents one year - big hit! I almost always pack the small version in my suitcase to keep things cool in hotel rooms, even when I'm not driving. Got that one at Wal-mart for less than $10. The bigger, nicer ones were around $30, but I use them until they basically wear out!

And you didn't ask, but a favorite memory is hiking to Delicate Arch in Arches NP. Loved it!

Gracieb

Where did you get the soft sided coolers on line? Sounds like it would work for us--I'm going to try it.

I have seen soft-sided coolers everywhere this summer - Walmart, Target, etc. Try there

Thanks, I will.

we are doing the same thing flying into La Vegas from PHL and then taking a road trip. I just purhcased a cooler that you plug into your car's lighter and then it will stay cool. no need for ice

melissa

Now here is a thread that I can really love!

Have done this several times including the LV-Zion-GC trip. We have always done the styrofoam cooler thing (it can squeak but a well placed bag or shoe will solve that). Great advice about getting it at your starting point. Walgreens, Walmart, Target, etc. are all in Vegas. Stock up, this is a cheap as it will get, selection dwindles and price increases as you progress.

Downside of a soft side: It will leak. You will put loose or almost loose ice in your cooler and these things will make your luggage, car, carpet, etc. wet.

End of the trip: If the cooler is not already useless, we leave it in the room or ask a passing family if they would like it.

Melissa...you should have called me! I would have made you a great deal on that plug in cooler, I have one in storage. Used it on one trip and hated it. Picture parking your car for any reason (lunch, hike, shop, etc.) in the summer in anyplace US. It most definately does not cool like your Kenmore. Within 1 day we were putting ice in it.

Gee, I thought I was the only one who lived with the styrofoam cooler. I use the dry cleaning bag in the hotel to cover the cooler so it does not leak all over the car. My trip to Vegas always consist of picking up the rental car, stopping at Vons for the cooler and fillings including a case of water, and junk food. Just don't forget the plastic plates,knives, etc.
You never want to be in the southwest without liquids available. We once sat in traffic on the road to the damn for two hours and thank God we had water.

I also make sure there's a loaf of bread and peanut butter in the car. Loving memory of my niece and nephew whining about being hungry as we drove through Monument Valley, and then remembering "Oh, yeah, she's going to make us eat 'foldovers'". It started when they were little and wanted a certain fast food meal because of current giveaway at the time - they play with the toy, but all of a sudden, weren't hungry anymore! A flat of waters and PB sandwiches have gotten us through quite a lot of territory!

Lacal,

We're arriving in Vegas around 8:20 pm on the 21st. Will get our rental car asap and head out to do the shopping thing. Where is Vons and how late is it open? We usually just look for a WalMart SuperCenter since they're open 24/7 but if Vons or someplace else is quicker/easier, we'll do that. We're satying that first night out near Summerlin since we're heading out through Death Valley before dawn on the 22nd. Any advice on store locations would be appreciated.

We did the cooler thing when we went to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and it was great. We're often up and out before the restuarants open so we were able to take care of breakfast with the cooler. When we got ready to turn our car back in we gave the cooler and an inexpensive box fan to one of the guys at the car rental agency who'd been especially helpful earlier.

FloridaFran

Will Death Valley still be opened? I thought they shut down most activities during the heat of summer. Maybe it was July 4th? I hope you are stopping at Scotty's Castle.

Is this your first Death Valley trip?

The Vons I use is on Tropicana. It is on your right hand side as you head to the strip from the airport.

FloridaFran:
Oops! Von's would be on your left as you head of Tropicana towards the strip from the airport.

We have a large collection of coolers that we've acquired on our travels. We always say we'll purchase a cheap styrofoam one, but then realize for a few more $ we can get a nicer one. We bring it home and it gets stored in the garage with other similarly-purchased coolers!

We've also found that the soft sided coolers leak.

Once we actually brought our cooler to the airport and checked it through to our destination. If we remember and are organized enough again, we might do that next trip. If you do this, just don't tape it up beforehand, b/c when you check it, the airlines will want to see if anything's in it. They have tape at the counter to tape it up.

In the SW in the summer, having water in the car is a necessity! Sounds like a great trip - even though we've been to the SW several times, I'm always jealous when I hear of someone else going. You'll have a great time.

Lacal,

This is our first trip anywhere in the Southwest except the Yellowstone/Grand Teton trip. We haven't made a final decision on whether we'll stop at Scotty's Castle or not. Probably won't decide until we get to the Valley that morning and see what time it is. We want to be out of DV before it gets too hot. We're just driving through on our way to Yosemite. (Going up 395.) I hope we'll get back there some time when it's cool enough to get out and hike a bit. For now I just don't want to be that close and not at least do a "drive-through" tour and take a few photos.

Thanks for the off site info on Vons.