Hello Everyone,
We are planning a trip to Nevada and Utah in October. I would really appreciate suggestions on how to plan our trip and hotels:

October 7, 2009 Arrive in Vegas (stay 2 nights)
Ocotber 9, 2009 Leave for Zion (stay 1 or 2 nights)
October 10 or 11, 2009 Leave for Bryce (stay 1 or 2 nights)
October 12, 2009 Leave for Page (should we stay????)
October 13, 2009 Leave for Grand Canyon (stay 1 night)
October 14, 2009 Arrive in Vegas via Hoover Dam
October 14, 11:00PM Fly out of Vegas

I am really looking for help between October 9 and 14.
- How can we divide the nights up between the places mentioned above?
- Are those the best places for the route we selected?

Appreciate any assistance. Thanks

Before I make any suggestions that won't work, is there a reason for going to Zion and then Bryce? Could you go to Bryce first and then loop down to Zion and then keep going south to Grand Canyon? And is there a special reason for going to Page? And do you want to stay in the Parks?

If you do go to Page would you consider visiting the Hopi Nation? It's not for everyone.

http://www.hopi.org/

Hello. My wife and I have just returned to the UK from the area that you are considering visiting.
We also visited the same areas last year, with friends. I would hasten to add that I am not someone who continues to return to the same place. It's simply that this year a couple of our intended destinations proved to be unacceptable, so we re-planned and moved into Bryce and then Vegas, again.
It's a pretty long drive to get to the Canyon and what we chose to do was to stay in Vegas (Mandalay Bay is an excellent hotel though at the southern end of The Strip - free monorail gets you to Excalibur). We elected to re-visit the Canyon but to do so by helicopter. We booked our ride with Maverick Tours (a few hundred yards along the Strip and opposite the Mandalay). We took the 06:30 tour. The company bus collected us from the hotel and took us along to the Maverick office, where we were weighed. The Eurocopter seated 6-8 (cannot recall which) and took us off across the desert to the Canyon, then landed part way down the rock face on a ledge and we were offered breakfast: champagne, muffins, juice). After about 45 minutes we took off again and flew back over the desert and back to Vegas, then down the back of The Strip. It was fabulous! Not cheap but worth EVERY cent. The 06:30 flight has the benefit that you're not flying in the heat of the afternoon. Thoroghly recommended.
Bryce is unbelievable and we have stayed at both Rubys Inn and, this year, at the new Best Western across the road from Rubys. The new hotel has been open just 2.5 months and the accommodation is better than Rubys, but you'd probably want to walk over to Rubys for meals. The new hhotel is the Best Western Bryce Canyon City tel 435 834 5700, Lovely place. If you go to Bryce and you are reasonably fit then do talk one of the walks down into the canyon. It's pretty hard work but is well worth putting in the effort to see the views that most miss by only walking the rim.
Zion is a place that I only spent a day in. I don't think that I would want longer.
Hoover Dam is great and, should you have the chance, then do the deep (hard hat) tour, rather than the standard tour. We did it pre 9-11 and it was fascinating. It's recently been put back into the itinerary.
Vegas is mind-blowing. It's so tacky that it's superb. It won't be too hot when you're there but we had 100 deg + last week. I wouldn't want to spend more that four days there, but I am not a gambler. Whilst there, and if you like a good steak, visit the Outback Steakhouse. There are two on The Strip: one upstairs in the building directly opposite The Mirage and another opposite New York, New York and located within the Coke Bottle, on floor 4. The third is in the Outlet Mall a few miles south of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the road that is the extension of the Strip. Great food.
Enjoy. I did.

First of all thank you all for responding.

Morganray - is the Hopi Nation worth visiting? If so, we can certainly check it out.

DavidBailey - Sounds like you guys had a blast. We are planning on staying in the new Trump Plaza while in Vegas. We have been to Vegas before and stay at the Venetian and thus are only spending 2 days in Vegas.

Texasbookworm - there is no particular reason of going to Zion and then Bryce. We just thought from Vegas, Zion would come before Bryce?????? Just reading on this forum, it seems Page might be worth visiting so we tentatively added that to our trip. We are a group of 10 people (with 2 kids - 4yr and 1 yr old). I guess that would help too. For Grand Canyon - which rim should we do with this being our first visit?

I spent some time in the area a few years ago and feel the exact opposite to David Bailey. I loved Zion and Springdale and could easily have spent more time there than the 3 or 4 days we had. I was much less impressed by Bryce and think you could definitely do it in a day. We camped at both places, so I can't help with accommodations. We spent a lot of time hiking at Zion, so if you're not into hiking, then a day may be enough. Springdale has some nice restaurants.

When I was a the GC we were on the south rim and stayed in Tusayan at the Grand Hotel which I thought was fine. When I was at the north rim we were only there for a couple of hours so I can't speak to the accommodations - it is in the middle of nowhere, however!

Desai: Just got back from similar trip for the 2nd time, first time was in 2007.

I guess one question I would have to ask is if at least part or all of the group plans to do some hiking? I would presume so.

First of all, going to Zion and then Bryce is no problem at all. Since you're headed to GC next, you'll be backtracking somewhere no matter how you plan it.

Secondly, I would recommend skipping Page this time and going directly to the Grand Canyon South Rim(better than North Rim for first time visitors). There is a lot to do in Page but I would favor spending 2 nights at GC. You are already jamming in alot in just 5 nights with a decent amount of driving. But if this is your time constraint, then I would do 2 nights Zion, 1 night Bryce, and 2 night GC-South.

If you were to leave fairly early, perhaps by 9am since you have little ones, on 10/9 for Zion, then you could arrive in Zion by noon/1pm (you lose an hour going from LV into Utah) or so and have plenty of time to go to the Visitors Center and then do a decent amount of the Narrows hike(the quintessential Zion must-do hike). Next morning, for those more adventourous and up for a challenge, early rise and do Angels Landing hike- definitely NOT for your 4 and 1 yr old. Very strenous and scary hike, but views of the canyon from the top of AL is worth it. Rest of the day can be for Emerald Pools hike, Canyon Overlook, Checkerboard Mesa, etc.

Next morning of the 11th, set out early again for Bryce- will only take you 2hrs to get there max. Spend rest of the day there walking the Rim Trail, or doing Queens Garden/Navajo Loop, or driving out to Natural Bridge and Rainbow Point.

The next day the drive to the South Rim will take you most of the day, 7hrs driving time or so. Page is on the way so you'll see a little of it. You'll prob arrive late afternoon, time to walk along the rim and take in Mather Point. On the 13th, spend the whole day hiking down part of the way of Bright Angel or South Kaibab Trail. Then spend afternoon riding the shuttle out to Hermits Rest and stopping at some of the overlooks.

On the 14th, you can stop by Hoover Dam and do the tour which I think is worth doing.

Each of these places you could easily spend another day. But in this short amount of time, you'll get a decent flavor.

Agree with dw732 on spending time at south rim for a first timer. If you go to the www.nps.gov site you will be able to see the kinds of places the parks have for people to stay and if they suit you, make reservations. If they say they are full, keep calling as people cancel all the time. We've done this loop both ways,Vegas, Hoover Dam, GC, Page, Bryce, Zion, Vegas and also in the opposite direction. If you dare wait until about a week before you travel and decide and make reservations based on weather conditions. From Vegas to Zion is a 3 hr. trip, so if you want to be hiking the first day, go there first. At GC you could use a stroller along much of the rim trail with your little one. Remember there are no railings there so keep the young ones close in any case.

Have a wonderful tripl

I live in southern Utah, Hurricane to be exact. I have been to all of the parks you mention and am intimately familiar with them and the drive to all your destinations. I have put together a GPS video guided tour and trip planner of Zion and Bryce for the iPhone/iPod Touch devices, so I know the area really well. Here are my recommendations.

From Vegas I would definately go to Zion first. Springdale is the little town immediately before the park, stay there. Many decent hotels. The average visitor spends one day exploring the main canyon and two days if they want to do more hiking.

From Zion go to Bryce. Depending on how much hiking you want to do, most people who don't want to hike only spend one day there and spend most if not all their time on the Rim trail and view points that can be accessed by car. Stay the night at one of the hotels close by.

Now after Bryce, I am not sure why you want to go to Page. Unless you are wanting to see Lake Powell. Is that the case? If so, definately take the Page route. If you are just looking for a route to the Grand Canyon, you have better options. For example you can go from Byce to the North or South Rim of the Grand Canyon without going through Page. Just follow highway 89 it will be much faster. I love the North Rim, but you will be spending alot of windshield time. So you will need to decide if the 45 mile one way drive off of the road taking you to the South rim is worth the drive and additional time. There are more people who visit the south rim. Either way I would not go through Page. I would follow 89 past Lee's Ferry which takes you over the Colorado River.

Now after you leave the South Rim you will be taking a long drive to Vegas. You can break it up by visiting the skywalk on the west rim and or getting out at Hoover dam and taking a tour. Both are cool. Many people don't realize that they drive right past the West Rim with the skywalk on their way to Vegas. Here is a link http://www.grandcanyonwest.com/skywalk.html
The west rim does require a drive down a dirt road. I am not sure how long it is though.

Once you get to Vegas you are on your own.

Good luck and I hope you have a FANTASTIC trip here in my backyard!!

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful and helpful suggestions. It seems Page is definitely out.