Utah Parks for Spring Break in late March
 

I have tickets on hold on American to fly direct r/t to Vegas and then to drive to the Utah Parks. It comes out to 8 nights. Is this doable??

We'd love to make it to Arches and Canyonlands. Also see Zion and Bryce.

Tickets to SLC aren't direct and the times and prices arent good for my dates. Another idea is to fly into grand Junction, CO and out of Vegas to save time looping back to Vegas from Moab, but its def more $$$ and not direct. Is it worth the extra time and $$$$ to start there??

How should we split up our nights????

Did you check on flying to Denver? You can either drive from Denver or take the Amtrak California Zephyr west to Grand Junction and rent a car there.
Riding the train through the Glenwood Canyon is a lot better than driving through it.
The westbound CZ leaves Denver about 8AM every day.
Las Vegas is fine for seeing Bryce and Zion but not so good for going all the way to Moab.

You really need at least 10 nights to enjoy the trip all the way out to Moab from LV and back. But the drive is incredibly scenic if you take the right roads. We always fly nonstop to LV from the east coast - the flights and rental vehicles are far less expensive.

We much prefer the drive out to Moab and back on scenic route 12 over the southern route through Kayenta and Page, unless you plan to visit the Grand Canyon. With 10 nights, you could think about doing this:
Day 1 & 2 Zion NP
Day 3 Bryce NP
Day 4 Scenic Route 12/Escalante/Capitol Reef NP
Day 5,6,7 Moab/Arches/Canyonlands/etc.
Day 8 Blanding/Valley of Gods/Mexican Hat
Day 9 Moqui Dugway/Scenic Rte 95 & Natural Bridge NM/stay in Boulder/Escalante
Day 10 Zion/Springdale (or Las Vegas if you have an early flight.

This is doable with some driving but still time to hike and see lots of amazing places and sights. None of these days requires too much driving and you have 3 full nights to relax in Moab in the middle of the trip.

Check out some good maps to get a better idea of distances and what stops you might enjoy along the way. Do a search on southern Utah in Fodor's, and you'll get some great detailed information. Draft an itinerary and ask more questions. The Fodor's Utah forum regulars are a helpful and knowledgeable bunch who love to help!

Be prepared for the dead of winter at higher elevations like Bryce. Snow & bitter cold are distinct possibilities.

It depends on how much hiking, horseback riding, etc that you want to do as to how much time you need.

We only have the 8 nights/9 partial days because of school. So somewhere I have to cut 1-2 days off.

Our flight in lands at 1:00 pm. Our fight out on the last day is at 2:30 in the afternoon. We couldn't be more than 2-3 hours from Vegas to make sure we get back on time..

Should we skip Bryce? Or "play it by ear"??

We don't have to do any crazy hiking.... we can horse back ride once, would like to canyoneer (is that whats its called?? - the kids would go nits for that - and its looks like they are old enough)

Sunset the end of March looks like 7:30/7:45 which is great!!! More daylight!!

Any suggestions on where to cut??

Bryce is an hour or so from Zion. You can go there pretty easily. Get there before sunset, look at the view from Sunset Point, spend the night, then get up early the next morning to watch the sunrise. It's pretty spectacular.

Lee Ann

Well, I don't think I've ever seen an itinerary for southern Utah where the person has had too much time. Nobody ever has enough time to visit everything, so at least take comfort in knowing that you're not alone.

How about this:
Day 1: arrive in LV, drive directly to Moab
Day 2,3: explore Moab, stay there overnight
Day 4: morning hike in Moab, then drive the scenic route to Capitol Reef
Day 5: morning in Capitol Reef, then overnight at Bryce
Day 6: sunrise at Bryce, plus a hike, then head to Zion for the remaining nights (7 and 8)

That lets you hit all 4 parks that you want to see, plus you have a scenic drive to Capitol Reef. You could maybe squeeze in a slot canyon and/or stop at Goblin Valley State Park along the way but you'd need to be fairly disciplined timewise. Or just accept that your time in Capitol Reef isn't going to amount to much and simply use it as an overnight.

You would drive to Moab on the interstate and get there after dark, but you'd have daylight most of the way.

One of my very favorite places in UT is Goblin Valley-Don't Miss It!! Right nearby is Little Wildhorse Canyon(you want Lil WH-not Wildhorse-they are easy to confuse). You can ask for directions at Goblin Valley Visitor Center. I would go in the canyon for about an hour and then turn around. You can do the entire loop, which is 8 miles. I've done it twice. First time went in about an hour. 2nd time, ran into a lot of water after about an hour and my wife didn't want to go any further. DO NOT go into a slot canyon if it has rained recently or rain is threatening.

Stop at Gifford House for pie in Capitol Reef. We eat it for breakfast, because they are often out of them by noon.

www.deserthighlights.com is my favorite thing to do in Moab.

How old are your kids? That helps a lot with planning.

Thanks for all great tips!

Boys are 14 and 11.

Wondering if there is a stop to overnight before Moab. 6 1/2 hours of driving after flying all morning from Miami might be too much to pull off.

Cedar City is about 2.5 hours north from Vegas. Surely, there would be other lodging options too. I would be tempted to maybe stay in Torrey that first night. Perhaps do Capitol Reef first, then Goblin Valley, before heading into Moab. Torrey would be a 5 hour drive.

FYI, There is a Whole Foods Grocery store not far from McCarran airport. We always get a picnic supplies there for the first day. Another great place for picnic/sandwiches is Austin's Chuckwagon in Torrey, UT(also a good place to stay). Springdale has several deli places that are good too. The Love Muffin in Moab has good sandwiches and healthier type of food for a good lunch.

Since you mentioned it earlier, I've flown in/out of Grand Junction several times and it's very easy to get to Moab from there. There is also a tiny plane that flies directly into Moab from Denver. That is pretty much an adventure in itself. Open cabin, every person has a window seat.

Green River is about 50 miles from Moab, but if you can make it that far you can just keep driving to Moab. I'm not familiar enough with that interstate to say if there are any motels before Green River. The one advantage to staying in Green River would be that you could stop at Dead Horse Point State Park in the morning on your way to Moab.

I know that's a longish drive to Moab after traveling but then you'd be there, and could check in and not move for a few nights. I wouldn't stop as early as Cedar City because that defeats the purpose.....you'd spend the whole next morning on the road to Moab and basically waste a half day doing nothing, because there's not much to see in Cedar City. Maybe you could stop at the Kolob Canyons section of Zion and do a hike before Cedar City if you decide that's where you'd like to stop for the night. But I think there are probably a couple other places between there and Green River, I just don't know that interstate very well.

If you're just looking for a place to stop and are doing the faster I-15 to I-70 route from Vegas to Moab, there are tons of places to stay near the hwys in St. George from 15 or Richfield from 70.

We have used Green River a couple of times, because it was as far as we could get or was a convenient meeting place and/or we were going to go down 24 and up to Buckhorn Wash as well as Moab, and DH does like to drive out west.

You could also just reverse the route I suggested, go to Zion the first night and finish in Moab. Drive back from Moab to St. George on your last night. The last morning you could meander through Snow Canyon State Park or Valley of Fire, depending on how much time you have available after you get all packed up.

I'm with Wherearewe, I would just drive all the way to Moab. When does your plane arrive at Vegas? I was just throwing places out there for you to consider.

Just make sure you are not in Moab the week before Easter!
That is the Jeep safari week and its insanely crowded. No fun at all.

We arrive in Vegas around 2 pm

I couldn't get my kids to do a 6.5 hour drive after that long a flight either!!! Heck, *I* couldn't stand it!!

Maybe drive to Bryce? Or just do a short drive at the start and then figure you will have a long drive on your last day.

If you'll be coming from Miami, that will be 5 pm body time, just go 3 hours to St. George and spend the night. Plenty of places to stay close to the hwy.

I bought the tickets and got the SUV rented! Now to nail down the itinerary to book some lodging. Thanks to all for your ideas!!

What would be 3 1/2 - 4 hours from Vegas going towards moab?

Google maps says
St George is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Green River is 5 hours and 45 minutes.
Cedar City is 2 and 1/2 hours.
Capital Reef is 5 1/2 hours.

Spend the first and last night in Springdale near Zion NP. Remember, you "gain" an hour between Springdale and Vegas. For instance 2 PM in Utah is 1 PM Vegas.

Well, originally you said you arrived in Vegas at 1, and with that time you could expect to be in Moab a little after 9. Since you're actually arriving at 2, I wouldn't go all the way to Moab. As I said before, I would reverse the order of my original itinerary and just drive to Springdale.

And then spend the last night in St. George. It is right on the interstate and will make for a relatively easy drive from Moab. You can then wake up in the morning and gauge how much time you have to get to Vegas in time for your flight, with the possibility of driving through Snow Canyon or Valley of Fire on the way back. St. George is also about an hour closer to Vegas than Springdale, so you won't feel as rushed.

The sun sets a bit after 6 pm in late March, so I would want to stick to the interstates to get to Moab without encountering animals on the curvy back roads where I couldn't see the wonderful scenery because it is dark. That said, the junction of 15 and 70 is about 3 and a half hours from Vegas. I think the town is Sulphurdale, UT, if you google for lodging.

It all depends on where you want to go that first day. Also to consider is how long of a trip do you want to make back the last day to Vegas. Hopefully your plane will be on time and you can get your SUV rental/luggage in under an hour.
You could book 2 or 3 places that you could cancel. See how you feel and if your plane is on time.

This is the plan...
2 nights Zion
3 nights Moab
1 night Torrey
1 night Bryce
1 night Vegas

Any tips on Lodging???

Zion - stay in park at Lodge or stay in Springdale?
Moab - stay in town or at Sorrel River??

Sign up for the Fiery Furnace Tour at Arches asap.

www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/programs.htm

We've stayed at the following:

Desert Pearl Inn in Springdale. I love this place. Large rooms, kitchenette, beautiful pool area and hot tub. Short walk to Zion Pizza & Noodle Co which is very tasty after a day of hiking.

Best Western Canyonlands Inn in Moab.

Best Western Capitol Reef in Torrey. It was clean & basic. I might try Austin's Chuckwagon next time.

Best Western Ruby's in Bryce. It was just okay for a night, but it has been several years since we stayed there.

Can you tell me more on the Fiery Furnace? I have no problem climbing, squeezing through tunnels - but freak out over side of cliff drops.

Booked it anyway.....my kids are going to LOVE it!! I watched the video!

I'm glad you booked it! I was worried about the same thing, but didn't have any issues and don't remember anything the least bit scary.

I did get stressed on a hike at Zion a couple of years ago. My then 14 year old would not stop turning around and talking to me while he was walking. Rather than watch him walk off a cliff, I left him with his dad & brother and I went back to the trail head.

Very torn on lodging in Moab - Sorrel River looks so lovely..but will it be too far out of the way???

We are there 3 nights.....

Thinking that we would eat dinner on the way back to the resort in Moab after visiting parks each day... so as to not have to drive back and forth too often.

In Moab we enjoyed Cali Cochita, a block from town, great breakfasts at 8 AM.

I also love Cali Cochita B&B but don't think they take kids and if I recall from several other spring break threads posted by OP, she has 1 or 2...

I may be wrong above; they have a room [ Suite Cochitta] that will take kids.

<<Very torn on lodging in Moab - Sorrel River looks so lovely..but will it be too far out of the way???>>

Yes. 20 miles one-way to Moab is too far when there are some great properties in or very near Moab. Why spend 50 minutes or more every day just driving to/from Moab? And why do that to stay at a nice resort which you won't be there to enjoy all day? Just too much driving back and forth for what you're looking to do in the parks.

Cali Conchita is booked for our dates. Any other ideas? Would love to not stay at a motel.

Stay in park at Bryce and Zion. Consider Austin's Chuckwagon in Torrey or the Schoolhouse B&B.

Gozno Inn?? Sunflower B&B??

Sunflower B&B is supposed to be very nice. I'm going to try it next trip. Definitely stay in town. Driving out and back to Sorrel Ranch every day will be a major drag. Too FAR!

Best restaurant in town is Desert Bistro, res required, kind of expensive and worth it! Only if your kids are on the sophisticated side for dining.

Zion pizza and noodle is great in Springdale!

Booked sunflower. On to Torrey - whats the story with the Chuckwagon?? Everyone loves it but it looks like an old motel. What makes it special??