nightxsky

Just wondering your thoughts on driving from Vegas to the Grand Canyon and back in a day. I know it's about 5 hours each way, making for a super long day, but I would like to take advantage of the opportunity while I have it.

emalloy

It can be done, but will make for a very long day. I would advise you to get out of town as early as possible, by 6 or so if you can. If you can spend the night there, even if you keep your room in Vegas that would make for a nicer trip, where you could visit the view points along the rim, hike down a bit and see sunset and sunrise the next day.

If you won't be able to get there otherwise, go for it.

Michael

If you consider 10 hours of driving doable then do it. I've known people who drive 3.5+ hours to the ski slopes from San Francisco, ski the whole day and drive back to the city. Seeing the Grand Canyon is less tiring than skiing.

nightxsky

Thanks for the tip emalloy. I'm thinking of maybe getting a room the night before, driving down, spending most of the day there and then heading back mid-afternoon.

Or I could always go with Zion NP instead? A bit closer!

WhereAreWe

Zion and Grand Canyon are totally different. You could throw Death Valley in the mix too if you're looking for a long day trip.

What are the rest of your plans? You said you're thinking of getting a room (in Vegas) the night before? If you are just arriving, I'd drive at least a little ways that evening and then get a room.

ltt

i really like driving but people ask this all the time and it seems not very wise to me. unless you have time .to appreciate and enjoy the grand canyon, i don't know why you do the long drive (and i'm not sure, but i don't think it's a very interesting drive). definitly spend a night if you can and if you still want to go, as mentioned, leave really early in the morning from vegas (even in the dark) so you can enjoy more of the canyon area.

nightxsky

These are our plans:
Boston to Vegas on Friday, plane arrives around 9am local time.

Staying at the Stratosphere hotel. Will check out the strip and various Vegas fanfare all day/night Friday. Saturday we are racing about 30 minutes from the strip (Spartan Race), will spend most of the day there, then head back to Vegas late afternoon.

Sunday would be the day trip, either Death Valley, Zion, or Grand Canyon, then taking a red eye out of Vegas (12:15am Monday morning).

msteacher

I absolutely love the Grand Canyon, but I would not recommend driving there and then back to Vegas the same day you need to make a midnight flight. Very long day, and too tight a time schedule. Stick to something closer to Vegas like the Hoover Dam or Red Rocks. Save the GC for a time when you will really be able to explore and enjoy it.

WhereAreWe

I think it really depends on how much you want to see the Grand Canyon vs. how much time you want to spend in Las Vegas. If you can skip the 2nd night there and just start driving in the direction of the Grand Canyon after your race, that would help.

How tired are you going to be the morning after the race? That is possibly the biggest question - if you're going to be really tired, either skip the Grand Canyon or start the drive the evening beforehand.

nightxsky

I don't anticipate us being too tired, WhereAreWe. Though we are entertaining the idea of driving to Zion instead to save us a few hours of driving and leaving the GC for another trip when we can spend more time.

WhereAreWe

Well, if you look at most suggestions/itineraries on here, the general recommendation is that an overnight at the Grand Canyon is best, or just a day. Everyone generally suggest 2-3 days at Zion because there are more doable hikes there than at the Grand Canyon.

Death Valley is 2.5 hours from Vegas, same distance as Zion and a bit easier for a quick day trip. In Zion you will have to park your car and use the shuttle, whereas you can drive yourself everywhere in Death Valley.

Tomsd

Nuttin' to see in Death Valley except scorched rock. Like Zion a lot - but it ain't da Grand Canyon.

If you could drive to the Grand Canyon after your race - you could greet the sunset at the GC - and aftwards take the bus tours to the West and drive back with plenty of time/cushion to make your midnight flight.

Hang20

Weloved Zion and flew in and out of Vegas to get there. Only about 2 hours. I used to go to Vegas on business and would have an extra day or two there. One time we went to Sedona, another to Hoover Dam, another time to the Grand Canyon. They are all doable but I had more time for GC. I realized I wouldn't see everything but just tried to enjoy the opportunity to see what I could and plan on going back to the places I loved. We went back to GC and Zion. Haven't made it back to Sedona yet but it would definitely be worth doing as well.

flinn

If you only have one day why not consider an air tour from vegas. You can fly in a fixed wing aircraft and they land at an airport near the west or south rim. You then are bussed a few miles to the canyon. I don't know the actual current prices but have seen ads for around $200 per person. Given the amount you will spend on gas this might not be as expensive as it would seem.

Myer

If you've never been to the Grand Canyon I wouldn't suggest you skip it even though in my opinion it's a waste of time.

Zion on the other hand is beautiful and worth the drive.

By far Zion over GC.

dbdurand

Here's what Teddy Roosevelt said about the Grand Canyon.

In January 1908, Roosevelt exercised his right to make more than 800,000 acres of the Grand Canyon area into a national monument. "Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is," he declared. "You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is keep it for your children, your children’s children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see."

Tomsd

It's called the GRAND Canyon for a reason. Take a pair of binos for the many terrific sights and maybe you can look down on the river - from out on the east side - and see some of the rafters running the rapids/river.

WhereAreWe

Saying there's nothing to see in Death Valley except scorched rock is like saying the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground.

dwdvagamundo

Concur with those who think Grand Canyon is preferable to Zion. Zion is beautiful, but the Grand Canyon is awesome, in the original sense of the word. No picture you've seen will prepare you for it.

I like flinn's idea of flying there, which should permit you to see it from the air as well. If we ever get to Las Vegas, the top thing on my list is to fly over the Grand Canyon.

ziggypop

I've done it as a day trip from Las Vegas. It is a long day but worth it because I think The Grand Canyon should be seen once in your lifetime. If you like to hike THEN I would wait until you can spend a couple of days hiking and site seeing in the Canyon but I would go for it.(cheaper than gambling)