I would suggest not skipping Bryce and doing all 3 parks but would go to the South Rim instead. For someone (your friend) who has never seen the GC, views from the North Rim are pretty limited to one side canyon. The North Rim is quiet and small so no crowds but the "wow" factor is just not there. In October, the South Rim should be significantly less crowded, giving you a great experience. It's worth the extra driving getting there but one day there is plenty if you're not hiking into the canyon.

If you go from LV to the Grand Canyon for your first day, spend part of the second day seeing the sights, drive up to Bryce and spend second night there. Get up early, do one of the many incredible hikes in Bryce (Navajo/Queens Garden, Fairyland). Bryce is a small park but so worth your time and completely different from Zion and GC. Get up early for sunrise over the hoodoos - gorgeous.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/85511280

Then head to Zion for 2 nights. Zion is stunning and there are lots of short but wonderful hikes. Your drive in the east entrance will amaze you! Canyon Overlook hike just before the tunnel entrance is a great short hike to an incredible view: http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/85429039

If your want to add a night to either Bryce or GC, you can skip that last night in LV and easily drive from Zion to LV in 2.5 hrs plus you'll gain an hour entering Nevada from Utah. I think you have enough time to get in some fun hikes and sightseeing at the overlooks and visitors centers. I hope you can find lodging in Bryce - keep calling for a room. Have a great trip! We're headed out there for a 10 day trip in a few weeks and can't wait!

I agree with Sharon...the south rim is best for newbies since it offers multiple views. A first time visitor should get the big "wow" factor that the south rim provides.

I'd do the GC first, then Bryce then Zion. Remember, the drive from Bryce to Zion is only 2 hours. You can have a very full day at Bryce and still drive to Zion before dark. This route gets the big drives out of the way early in the trip and then much shorter at the end of the trip.

Also, if your flight out of Vegas is noon or later, you can stay in Springdale (Zion) and depart from there to the airport. No need to go to Vegas the night before unless your flight is early or you are an fan of Vegas (I am not).

The time change from Springdale to Vegas gives you a nice advantage of the return trip.

I just got back from Glacier yesterday evening so I'm joining the party late.

Grand Canyon is my least favorite of all the contenders here.

I would do it alone with nothing else on that trip (sarcastically) because anything else you see on that trip will be a much better choice. Get GC out of the way and then you can enjoy scenery, wildlide and waterfalls (depending upon where you go).

Bryce and Zion are close together and different like day and night. Do not skip either of these.

Some will agree with me others won't.

I've been to GC once, Zion twice and Bryce three time.

The sunrise at Bryce point is the most spectacular I've seen.

I sort of agree with Myer. Spend one night at GC so you can see a sunset and sunrise and then head out to Bryce. That will free up a night to add to Bryce or Zion...both have great short hikes.

Different opinions are what make the world go round. Some folks go for and adrenalin rush and love the challenge of hard hikes, some just want to look. I like some hiking, some beautiful vistas, some interesting geology, some history which I've found in GC every visit.

I love GC and have returned every time I've been near enough, 6 or 7 trips to south rim, 1 to north.. Have been to Zion and Bryce 3 times, but would rather go to GC, Arches or Canyonlands.

I agree with sharondi and peterboy, if you want to try to get in all three.

For a first timer, the south rim of the GC is the Wow producer. If I had to chose between the north rim as a first time view of the CG and Bryce, Bryce would win. Just MHO.

Have been to all 3 Parks, some more than once. I don't have a favorite among them because they're so different. Each has something wonderful to offer.

If you opt to do only 2, then OO's suggestion for Bryce and Zion this trip with Grand Canyon and Sedona later, is great.

Be forewarned, if you're like most of us, this part of the country will get in your blood and you'll find yourself returning again and again. It's all so amazingly beautiful.

emalloy,

Canyonlands is also one of my less (not least) favorite places but arches is up there.

I purposely omitted them as I didn't think they were part of the discussion.

But since we're digressing, Yellowstone & Grand Tetons are up and Yosemite is down. Unfortunately The problem with Yosemite (it's beautiful) is mostly administrative.

Yosemite is the most commercial park I've been to and everything they do is intended to encourage you to buy a ticket for something. They will even inconvenience you to further that goal.

As I wrote, I just got back yesterday evening from Glacier. I'm seriously considering going back again next year and spending more time there.

Myer,

I totally agree with you on Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. I hope they will do something to make Yosemite less of a tourist zoo. Maybe a winter trip would be better.

As someone who's done a quick Vegas to South Rim, Bryce, Zion, and back to Vegas trip (one night in each, in hot weather, with senior parents), I'd also suggest not skipping Bryce. I found that park to be easiest to appreciate without any real hiking. Whereas at the Grand Canyon I hiked down into the canyon, and at Zion we did many hikes, at Bryce we really enjoyed the views just from easier walks around the rim. I've been back to Zion several times (love the Narrows!), but I don't feel the need to return to Bryce (however, I know for some people it's their favorite, so that's just my experience. ) But I'm glad I got to see the spectacular hoodoos during the day and at sunrise the next morning. You'll be so close, I think it'd be a shame to leave it out.

I have had wonderful visits to all three so will not add to your choices but do want to include some advice - be careful driving at night between Bryce and Zion. We stayed at Zion and drove to Bryce to take in the views and sunset, then returned to our hotel in Springdale. On the drive home, the deer came out to graze by the side of the road and then would step in front of cars and freeze, or whole herds would cross the road, and then scatter. It was a very tense, and weirdly surreal drive. Just be mindful.

I agree with POIson on this.

Be very careful if driving on those roads at night.

For Bryce, the bigger event is sunrise rather than sunset.