Hello , i'm coming to visit your fabulous country in 2 weeks. I would like some help for an itinary.
We're arriving the 1st of september in L.A. We'll stay at my friend's appartment for 2 days. here the progrma for the rest:

sept. 3rd
Depart. From L.A at 6.00am - arrive in Grand Canyon arround 3.00pm(arizona time) (If some one did the trip by car from LA to GC , tell me how much time it can take, thks)
Visiting the West and East RIm Drives, sunset and diner in the Park. Night at the Yavapai Lodge.

Sept. 4th
Depart. from GC arrounbd 11.30am, arrive at Mexican Hat (San Juan Inn Motel) arround 5.00pm ( navajo nation time = summer time)
Come back in Monument Valley to watch the sunset and eventually diner near that place or at the hotel. Night at the San Juan Inn

Sept. 5th
Depart. From Mexican Hat around 7.30am, Visiting Monument Valley during 3 hours and take the road to Bryce passing by Glen Canyon Dam and Grand Staircase Nat. Monument. Arrive in Bryce arround 8.00pm with some stops on the road of course. Diner and Night at Bryce view Lodge.

Sept. 6th
Arrive in Bryce Canyon Nat. park arround 7.00-7.30am, visit of the park during 3 hours ( only the amphitheater and its view points)
Depart. around 11.00am, arrive in East Zion Entrance arround 1.00pm, we'll do the Canyon overlook trail (approx. 1.5 hour), Lunch in Springdale Depart. around 2.45pm, arriv in Valley of Fire arouind 3.45pm(pacific time zone, depart. arround 4.30-5.00pm arrive in Las Vegas arround 6.00pm. Diner , night and show(Ka : cirque du Soleil) in Las Vegas. we'll stay at the Flamingo.

Sept. 7th : during the morning and begining afternoon, we'll drive to Red Rock canyon National conservation area, afternoon, evening and night in Las Vegas.

Sept. 8th
Depart. from Vegas around 8.00am, arriving in Death Valley National Park around 11.30am visit of the park and come back in L.A arround 7.30-8.00pm.

That's it. I look all the options , i know we'll not hike in Grand canyon and Bryce (it take too much time), we'll not visiting Zion, and we'll drive more than walking, but it's a kind of express tour i would like to try. I just wanna see the sites and the different views of these parks. It's a first approach, i will do others trips to visit Zion, and other park better than this time.

My road book is ready. But i would like informations on the road and time of driving between those "sites".
LA -> Grand canyon
Grand canyon -> Monument Valley
monument Valley -> Bryce
Bryce -> zion east entrance
Zion -> Valley of fire
Las vegas -> Bad Water via Shoshone.

Thanks a lot.

nobody wants to answer?

To have a good appreciation/driving time try the site mapquest.com and click on "directions".Just enter the city and the state..
For the days in Monument Valley, sunset is a good option and perhaps a diner at the Goulding's Lodge cafetaria : nothing special, but not so expensive and the view is nice on the valley(+ the museum...).
3 hours the day after is really a minimum for Monument Valley...
In the neighbourough, try also to see Goosenecks state park...
For me, you could skip a day in LA and take more time in the park, but it's only my opinion.
Erik.

You might considerer leaving the Gr. Canyon a little earlier (10 AM) and drive to Monument Valley (about 160 miles). You should arrive at the Valley before 2 pm and instead of driving past to Mexican Hat stop and tour the Valley. Have an early dinner at Gouldings and watch the sunset from there or go back to the valley - a very short drive. Then drive to Mexican Hat for the night. Start out for Bryce early the next morning so you will have more time in Bryce.

Thanks for your advices. I did my Road bokk with mapquest. So i think it's gonna be ok. you're right about leaving GC earlier, we'll try to do it. I would have like to book e room at the goulding's lodge but it was full. i will not do the helicopter ride we wanted to do and leave earlier. it's only a first approach. We want to stay in LA because we have a lot of friends to see and a lot things to do... That why we stay seven days more after the tour. to relax, enjoy the city with universal studios anbd six flags magi mountains. of course we have to shop a lot...
so for you it's possible? thanks a lot

If you have 7 days in LA after your tour, perhaps you can skip one of the first two days...
I don't know if it's possible but after Goulding's , for me, the best accomodation near Monument Valley is the Recapture Lodge in Bluff...It's
1/2 h farer than Mexican Hat, but
atmosphere is so better than it's not a problem.San Juan Inn is a "motel",
and have not the charm of the Recapture Lodge...No problem for one or other about cleanness...
And you can try Gouldings even till 3 days before because sometimes you can be lucky with a cancellation...
If you choose to take a guide for Monument Valley, Take Keyah Ozhoni tour and try to get Tom J.Philips : he knows a lot about navajo traditions,...
The sites : www.Monumentvalley.com
www.recapturelodge.com
Erik

If you are not locked into the lodge in Mexican Hat then consider staying in Kayenta. Kayenta is 20 miles from the Valley as is Mexican Hat. That will save at last 40 miles of driving when you head for Bryce. Incidentally all the roads you will be traveling are good.

Ok thanks a lot. only 12 days to wait and i'll be in USA.
i'm gonna look the lodges in kayenta and bluff. Thanks for the names of the guides.
I will put my report online to tell every body how it was. i'm gonna try to make a website with all the pictures and stories.
Thanks a lot. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! ;-)