Trip out west starting in Vegas
 

Guys and Gals looking for some friendly advice on a trip we are planning out west the first couple weeks of June. We are planning on flying into Las Vegas on Sunday and picking up the Rv on Monday and we have a reservation starting on Thursday in Yellowstone until Sunday. Looking at options before Yellowstone and after. Have thought about the Glacier park after Yellowstone and we would have 7 days to get back to Las Vegas after we leave Yellowstone.

Thanks

Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire are good options before Yellowstone, and Monument Valley and Utah parks would be good for after Yellowstone (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands).

The problem with going to Yellowstone that it will take a minimum of two days to drive there from the Grand Canyon and two more days to drive from Yellowstone back to Las Vegas.

Thus, if you go to Yellowstone, you will spend four days driving that you could have spent at beautiful and unique places in Utah.

What I have said about Yellowstone applies more so to Glacier.

HTtY

If you can rent the RV from Salt Lake City for the same money, do it.
If you can return the RV to SLC and rent a full size car for the rest of the trip staying in motels you should be happier.
Are you paying for the RV on a per day basis or per day plus mileage? Expect some extra fees like use of dishes, propane and a few other incidentals. The gas mileage is poor when compared to a car.

We have an Rv rented for the full 2 weeks. Flying in to Vegas gave us the best options as far as price for the rv and airfare. We are paying around $110 a night for the rv plus mileage.

<i>We are paying around $110 a night for the rv plus mileage.</i>

Thanks. All the more reason to check out Sedona and some of the extremely desirable destinations mentioned earlier.

HTtY

How much per mile?? Those are long driving distances from Vegas.

A straight drive from Las Vegas to Yellowstone & back is over 1500 miles. If the mileage rate is $0.35/mile, then 1500 miles over 15 days will cost ~$35/day.

Adding in Glacier NP ups the total to 2500mi, or roughly $60/d for mileage.

To me that's all within the noise when it comes to planning a trip like this. ymmv. Sounds like a fun trip, but I agree with htty, check out some of the great destinations closer to Las Vegas - Sedona, GC, Bryce, Moab, Zion, etc. To me they are just as spectacular, if not more so than Yellowstone.

I agree that spending the time to go up to Glacier would not make sense.

On Monday after you pick up the RV, head toward Jackson WY. Unless you want do do a very long day driving, spend the night along the way.

Tuesday and Wednesday night could be spent in Grand Teton NP.

Thursday through Sunday in Yellowstone.

The next 7 days I would spend getting to and in the Utah Parks.

Monday on the road towards Bryce.

Tuesday and Wednesday night at Bryce drive to Grand Canyon north rim Thursday morning.

Thursday and Friday night at Grand Canyon north rim.

Saturday and Sunday night at Zion.

Monday back to Vegas and turn in the RV.

Try for reservations in the National Parks and get a national park pass if you don't already have one. If you are old enough, get the senior pass - $10 and good for a lifetime at all the parks.

I would also leave off Glacier and save it for another trip. I agree about heading toward Grand Teton for the nights before Yellowstone. We absolutely love the Tetons. After your time in Yellowstone I would head back and check out the parks in Utah. Bryce and Zion are incredible and very convenient to Las Vegas. Also consider the Moab area (try to give it at least 3 nights) and Torrey/Capitol Reef. Capitol Reef doesn't seem to get much attention but is fantastic. From there you could drive the beautiful route 12 to Bryce, then on to Zion before returning to Las Vegas. We have made several loop trips out of Las Vegas. It is very convenient for the Utah parks.

Leave out Glacier and go back via Moab, UT to visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. We went on a camping trip in that area, you might be interested in the trip report; click on my name to find it.

I agree totally with Tetons before Yellowstone, and then Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion on the way back to Vegas.

Thanks for all the feedback great advice Thanks!