Zion, then Grand Canyon or Bryce?
 

My family and I (2 kids) are going to Zion for a few days in early April. We are then heading to either the Grand Canyon or Bryce for one 1 day. Does anyone know how the roads are from Zion to Bryce, and also from Zion to the South Rim? I hear that the road from Zion to Bryce might contain a few steep drop-offs with no guard rail, but I am getting differing opinions.

Also, any advice as to whether we should go to the Grand Canyon or Bryce would be very much appreciated. We do not have time to do both, so we must choose!

Bryce would be closer and not such a long haul. It is only a couple of hours from Zion. Except for right at Zion, I did not find the roads particularly scary. How much time you have will determine whether you make th trek to the South Rim.

It is about a 2 hr drive from Zion to Bryce.
It is about a 5 hr drive from Zion to Grand Canyon
It is about 5 hrs to back to Las Vegas from either (assuming that is where you'd be coming from )

For only one day I'd go with Bryce. It is a small park and easy to see and experience almost completely in one day. Grand Canyon is so huge it is hard to really grasp the concept in a short time. It would be a long drive for little payoff.

There are certainly going to be sections of any road that you drive in the west that will have some degree of drop off. There is only one section of the road through Zion which has switchbacks up a steep cliff. It is not a bad road. They spent all summer two years ago redoing that part of the road, making it even safer and yes it has guardrails where needed. Millions travel it every year without incident. Don't give it another thought. (which is probably why you get differing opinions...some people may be a bit shocked by it, but actually it is very safe, and offers great views.)

You say you have a few days for Zion and one day for either Bryce or Grand Canyon, but you don't say how many total days you have. However many days you have, I suggest you divide them between the Grand Canyon and Zion. (If you spend two nights at the Grand Canyon, it will be more time than most visitors spend there.)

HTTY

PS Many worry unnecessarily about the roads in and between our national parks; however, as InSanday advises, millions travel them safely every year, and may I add--they do so with wonder and delight.

we did the trip over the summer. Went to GC and then to Zion. It is about a 5 hour drive. Zion is much closer. How long are you staying in Zion? you only need 2 days max there. GC 2-3 days.

Thanks everyone for your responses, especially about the roads. We are getting to Zion in the afternoon and then need to be back in Las Vegas for a late flight 5 days later. I am not looking forward to a 5 hour drive to the GC, but I do not forsee us being able to go again, so I feel I need to take my kids there.

As far as the time spent in Zion, we like to take our time in the parks and let our kids go slowly if they like, taking it all in.

It is very doable in five nights spending two nights and one and a half days in Zion followed by three nights and two full days at the Grand Canyon. You and your family are in for a very memorable experience.

HTTY

With 5 days you really don't have to leave one out. All three are worth the drive times.