Joanel

potential trip:
day 1 - arrive las vegas late afternoon
day 2 - explore las vegas, maybe side trip to hoover dam.
day 3 - leave LV in the morning - explore valley of fire. arrive zion very late afternoon.
day 4 - zion
day 5 - zion and area
day 6 -leave for bryce arrive by afternoon?
explore bryce
day 7- drive up to boulder on rt 12 and back to bryce. spend night at bryce
day 8 - finish exploring bryce and drive to st. george for the night.
day 9 - to LV and plane home.

We are not hikers (hip problem), but like to take pictures. Don't like to drive a lot in one day. Are we spending too much time in zion? (if so what do instead? or shorten trip by a day)? Anything to do in springfield? 1 day enough time to drive rt 12 up and back from bryce? Any comments on rest of plans?

utahtea

It looks like a good plan. You do have a lot of time in Zion, but then I can spend a week at a time there and not get bored with the scenery. Just relax at the different scenic stops on the free shuttle bus run and enjoy the the way the sun changes the colors of the beautiful walls of sandstone.

Springdale is just a little tourist town with motels, restaurants, rock shops and curio shops. Right next door is a little town of Rockville and ask the locals how to get to Grafton Ghost town. The town is in pretty sad shape but there is an old church with Zion in the back ground and makes for really nice pictures. There is also an old cemetery nearby. If you don't mind driving over a graded dirt road you can take the Smithsonian Butte Scenic Backway.

From Bryce to Boulder and back is only about 160 miles and can be done as a day trip from Bryce. That's how we did it the first time we went.

Utahtea

sharondi

While in Boulder, be sure to have lunch or dinner at Hells Backbone Grill. It's one of the only places to eat in town and the food is outstanding.

mainetoday

Hey there, we have gone to Zion and Bryce before from Las Vegas. This is very doable, lot's of sites along the way and in between. Do you know where you are staying in those areas yet??

Dayle

Note: Reservations required for Hell's Backbone Grill. Very small, very creative. Go prepared hungry and with an adventurous palate.