Tweaking my Zion and Bryce Trip
 

Kinda throwing a last minute Utah trip together for spring break this year. My kids are 6, 9, and 11. We aren't super adventurous, but definitely love to travel and see all the world has to offer. We found tickets to Vegas that we couldn't pass up so to Zion and Bryce we go April 6-11 (fly out early from Vegas on the 12th).

I was just informed that Bryce may be a bit chilly since it's a higher elevation. I was planning on 1 full day and 2 half days in Bryce, but maybe that is too much for this time of year. You think we'd be fine with a day and a half instead?

I was thinking this:
April 6 - Arrive into Vegas at 10:30. Rent car and get to Zion area around 2pm. Maybe do an afternoon hike in Zion.
April 7 - All day in Zion
April 8 - All day in Zion
April 9 - Drive to Bryce in the morning. Arrive around lunch. Eat then hike.
April 10 - All day in Bryce (sunrise if it's not too cold and we aren't too tired)
April 11 - Drive to Cedar Breaks National Park on the way back to Vegas. Was planning on another half day in Bryce before leaving for Vegas, but Cedar Breaks was recommended to me. What do you guys think? I guess we could always play that by ear. Dinner and sleep in Vegas.
April 12 - 6:30am flight from Vegas. Eeek!

Hotels are too expensive for us in Springdale. La Varkin/Hurricane has cheaper hotels. I know they are about 30 minutes from the park, but it may be worth it to save hundreds of dollars. Maybe we could do the first two nights in La Varkin and the third night in Springdale. Or there's a glamping tent or cabin available at Zion Ponderosa Ranch. We could do the ranch the third night since it's on the way to Bryce.

Then two nights (April 9th and 10th) in Bryce. Any recommendations on places to stay there? Again...on a budget. I'm thinking Best Western plus Rubys.

You guys are soooo helpful. Thanks Fodor Friends.

If Cedar Breaks National Monument doesn't work out, you could go to see Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada) on the way back to LV. There is a road that goes from the east side of Valley of Fire that goes south down to US 93 close to Hoover Dam. If you didn't want to spend the night IN Las Vegas, you could see the dam and then spend the night in Henderson.

There has been snow on the trails at Bryce when we have been there in April. If that is the case this year, then one day to stop at the overlooks will be plenty of time there unless you are experienced and equipped for hiking on snowy/icy trails.

The last time we tried to visit Cedar Breaks in April the road was closed with about five feet of snow on it.

There are plenty of other places to visit in the area though. Capitol Reef has been mentioned. You could do a day on the way back to Vegas and drive through Valley of Fire state park and going around the end of lake Mead over to Hoover dam. A half hour west of Vegas is Red Rock Canyon that is also a nice place to explore with kids.

If you decide to do VoF etc. you might want to look for lodging in/near Vegas that is less expensive. Get a map and look at the locations and add some time to the estimates of drive times between the places you want to visit.

I wouldn't count on Cedar Breaks this time of year. You could spend 2 days in Zion, one day in Bryce, and then head over to Escalante. Or tour the Hoover Dam and see Valley of Fire State Park. Rubys Inn outside of Bryce or the Best Western are fine places to stay.

If you click on my user name, you will see trip reports for Bryce, Zion, and Escalante with kids. You could also head down to Kanab from Zion and tour Best Friends and go to Pipe Spring National Monument. I have a trip report on that as well.

Check out state closures due to the corona virus before making any plans.commitments.