Southwest Road Trip help
 

Hey all!

I have finalized our itinerary and am now looking for some advice on which ways to take on our journey, scenic drives, general advice on the areas, etc. Hotels are all booked except for Sedona, got stuck on that one.

This is what we have so far:

April 18 – Boston to Las Vegas
Night in Vegas

April 19 – Vegas to Grand Canyon – 4 hours drive
Night in GC

April 20 – GC to Page – 3 hours drive
Night in Page

April 21 – Page to Monument Valley – 2 hours drive
Night in MV

April 22 – MV to Sedona – 4 hours drive
Night in Sedona

April 23 – Day and night in Sedona

April 24 – Sedona to Phoenix - 2 hours drive
Night in Phoenix

April 25 – Phoenix to Cabo

Some questions I have about routes:

*which route to take from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim (we are staying in a lodge at the South Rim), will we go over Hover Dam?
* which way to leave Grand Canyon South Rim and head to Page, AZ
*Is there anything cool in between Monument Valley & Sedona

Thanks in advance, this board has already been SO helpful ! We decided to save Santa Fe and Moab for other trips. :)

have you tried googlemaps?

Hoover Dam tour is worthwhile, IMOP. I assume you can still take a tour to the bottom.

In Monument Valley you need an Indian Guide to do it right, IMOP.

Also a word of caution. Depending on the time of year. Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Indian Reservations all have different time zones. I think this is right. Arizona doesn't go on Daylight Savings Time, but the Navajo Reservations(even though it is in Arizona, is on DST). Just make sure of the correct times, is what I am getting at. Somehow, me trying very hard, I always manage to get this all screwed up when traveling there.

<i>Is there anything cool in between Monument Valley & Sedona</i>

Yes, Canyon de Chelly. However, if you go there you will want to stay one night so you can take a jeep tour the following morning: http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/...iclientid=1952

HTTY

It is your choice if you want to drive over the new bridge that goes about 300 feet above Hoover Dam or drive the old highway on Hoover Dam. Parking is cheaper on the Arizona side than in the parking structure on the Nevada side.
Expect to be stopped briefly by Homeland Security types before they will let you drive over the dam.

Thanks!

Yes, I've done all the google mapping and what not, just wanted to get first hand opinions/experiences/etc.

That daylight savings time thing is confusing! Is there an app for that? lol

Here is what I have after more (and more, and more...) research:

April 18 – Boston to Las Vegas
arrive in Las Vegas 10:30 am, get rental car at airport
Spend day and night in Vegas, maybe catch a Cirque de Soliel show
Night in Vegas

April 19 – Vegas to Grand Canyon (leave Vegas by noon) – 4 hours drive
via Williams or via Route 66 scenic route with access to Grand Canyon West (glass bottom walkway - adds about 2 hours)
Arrive in GC by 6:00 pm to catch sunset
Night in GC (stargazing ! ! !)

April 20 – GC to Page – 3 hours drive (leave GC by noon)
leave GC via the East Gate - East Rim Drive (Desert View, Cameron Trading Post, etc.)
Stop at Horseshoe Bend
Night in Page

April 21 – Page - do Antelope Canyon around noon (and Horseshoe Bend if we missed it the day before)
Drive Page to Monument Valley – 2 hours drive (get on the road by 3:00 or earlier)
Arrive MV in time to catch sunset - maybe do Sunset tour?
Night in MV (stargazing! ! !)

April 22 – MV - do a Navajo Spirit Tour - Mystery Valley Tour?
MV to Sedona – 4 hours drive (must leave MV by 3:00 ish)
Have to do this drive in daylight
Night in Sedona

April 23 – Day and night in Sedona
(still working on what to do this day/night)

April 24 – Sedona to Phoenix - 2 hours drive
Night in Phoenix

April 25 – Phoenix to Cabo

I appreciate any and all feedback, SO helpful! :)


Whew! can't wait to go!

<b>* which way to leave Grand Canyon South Rim and head to Page, AZ</b>

Exit east entrance to Cameron, then north on 89 ... not much choice here.

<b>*Is there anything cool in between Monument Valley & Sedona</b>

Some short detours ... Navajo Code Talker's exhibit in Kayenta, dinosaur tracks exhibit outside Tuba City, loop thru Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments between Cameron and Flagstaff ... take the Oak Creek canyon road south of Flag to Sedona.

<b>or via Route 66 scenic route with access to Grand Canyon West (glass bottom walkway - adds about 2 hours)</b>

This is a poorly managed and conceived tourist trap, it costs around $75 for just a few minutes of walking on it over a side canyon, it isn't even in the Grand Canyon National Park. One of the two biggest tourist traps in Arizona in most surveys and consistently rated a rip-off by tourists. Skip the skywalk.

Thanks Bill_H ! I'll take a look and thanks for letting me know about the skywalk!!! What a bummer!!!