Hi all, I'm in early stages of planning a 10 day trip in the Southwest U.S.. So far, this is what I have:

• Fly into Las Vegas, stay overnight.
• Drive to south rim GC, stay three nights
• Drive back to San Diego, stay 5 nights

So my main question is I'd like to see another park for 1-2 nights since we're out in this area--which park makes the most sense on the way to SD?

What month (2020?). I'm guessing you mean San Diego and not South Dakota. I would plan on driving back to Las Vegas to turn the car in instead of paying a drop fee.
The most likely park in between LV and San Diego would be Joshua Tree NP.

I would drop the car in Vegas and fly to San Diego.

Ditto. You omitted the time of year but if this is a summer trip - flying makes more sense. Any parks in the SW or SoCal would be bloody HOT.

The third way to leave Las Vegas if you don't want to return, is an Amtrak or Greyhound bus. The Amtrak bus takes you to Los Angeles Union Station where you can board a Pacific Surfliner train south to one of 3 stops in San Diego. The bus pickup spot in Las Vegas is not too far from the Fremont Street Experience.
I do agree. Flying makes more sense than driving across the Mojave Desert unless you want to visit Joshua Tree or Death Valley which is sometimes in the 110's.

Sorry Tom -- but I'd prefer a sharp stick in the eye over taking a bus from Vegas to LA and then a train south.

>>Joshua Tree or Death Valley which is sometimes in the 110's.

Thanks all! Yes, it's a summer trip

I'm now thinking of stopping at a park on the way from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon (Bryce or Zion?).

And then maybe stay a night in Prescott before heading (I'd prefer to drive to San Diego) back to SD. Does that sound more reasonable??

What about this as a revision??

• -Arrive Las Vegas, stay one night
• Drive to GC. Stop somewhere overnight?
• Grand Canyon, two nights
• Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon., two nights
• Wickenbrg, one night
• San Diego, four nights

I would drive straight to the GC and not stop anywhere overnight on the way. I would also pass on Wickenburg. Either dive straight to SD or check out Cottonwood, Jerome and the cool copper museum in Clarkdale.

Thanks.

Yes, it probably makes sense to go straight from Las Vegas to GC.

And we can skip Wickenburg.

But I would like to break up drive from Sedona to San Diego. I know previous posters mentioned Joshua Tree--I get that it' going to be hot. Any place worth stopping overnight?

>>I know previous posters mentioned Joshua Tree--I get that it' going to be hot. Any place worth stopping overnight?

Well, Bryce isn't "bloody hot" in summer, and the north rim is cooler than the South Rim.

If I was forced to do a summer trip, I'd probably go to Zion/Bryce/North Rim. I don't care for Sedona, actually.

San Diego doesn't make a lot of sense with a Southwest itinerary. Driving between Las Vegas and San Diego via I-15 is about 5 hours. There is a longer scenic back road via Kelso and the Mojave NP then down via Amboy to 29 Palms, where you could spend the night. Or you could drive through Joshua Tree and spend the night in Indio. But it's really not a great time to do any sightseeing other than from the car window.

If you want a stop between Sedona and San Diego, try a night at Lake Havasu City. You can actually see London Bridge there. I'm sure it will be cooler than the Mojave Desert. Continue south on AZ Rt. 95 until you tie in with US 95 south to Yuma. If you have your passports with you, you can walk across the border into Los Algodones Mexico a few miles west of Yuma. Many Americans and Canadians walk over to get dentistry and other one day medical procedures done. You can also get many pharmaceuticals at budget prices there.
I-8 will take you straight into San Diego.

I doubt that Lake Havasu City will be cooler than either 29 Palms or Joshua Tree in midsummer. It's brutal along the Colorado River. You may as well stay in Indio or elsewhere in the Coachella Valley.