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Grand Canyon Recommendations
Posted on 1/18/23 at 10:02 pm
Posted on 1/18/23 at 10:02 pm
I’m flying into Vegas on a Monday around noon. I’ll be flying back out really early Friday morning. I would definitely like to hit Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, and Zion in that span, as well as maybe a night in Vegas. Do y’all have any recommendations on how I should make this trip? It’ll be in mid April by the way
3
Posted on 1/19/23 at 7:48 am to Tiger328
We're planning something similar. What we've learned is, there isn't an efficient way to get to GC from Zion. If it were me, I'd head straight to Zion on Monday and stay 2 nights. Drive to LV on Wed and do the GC West Rim on Thursday. Stay in LV Wed and Thurs night.
Another option would be to drop your car off when you get to LV and do a helicopter tour of GC and Hoover dam. That would give you more time in LV and less time driving.
Another option would be to drop your car off when you get to LV and do a helicopter tour of GC and Hoover dam. That would give you more time in LV and less time driving.
Posted on 1/19/23 at 8:50 am to Tiger328
I’ve done both GC and Zion before.
On separate trips.
Honestly, you’re trying to pack too much into what is, essentially, a 3 day trip.
Vegas to Grand Canyon is an 8 hour round trip. Just in the car. I’d recommend paying the money for helicopter tour of the Dam and the Canyon.
Zion is a 5 hour round trip. Doable, but you’re going to want to spend more than one day there. We spent 2 days and still didn’t get to do everything we wanted to do. Zion is a 5.5 hour drive from GCNP. You’ll lose a whole day traveling between the two.
If you decide to stay in Vegas, I recommend renting a car for one day and driving 30 minutes out to Red Rock Canyon west of LV. You can make one or two hikes in terrain very similar to Zion and GC.
My other suggestion is to rent a car, book a room in St. George or Springdale, UT and explore Zion. You can even day trip up to Bryce Canyon NP if you choose. Drive back to Vegas and hang out at the hotel of your choice Thursday. My nephew and I did this a couple of years ago and had a blast. (I liked Zion way more than GCNP btw. Much better hiking and you enter at the canyon floor there.)
On separate trips.
Honestly, you’re trying to pack too much into what is, essentially, a 3 day trip.
Vegas to Grand Canyon is an 8 hour round trip. Just in the car. I’d recommend paying the money for helicopter tour of the Dam and the Canyon.
Zion is a 5 hour round trip. Doable, but you’re going to want to spend more than one day there. We spent 2 days and still didn’t get to do everything we wanted to do. Zion is a 5.5 hour drive from GCNP. You’ll lose a whole day traveling between the two.
If you decide to stay in Vegas, I recommend renting a car for one day and driving 30 minutes out to Red Rock Canyon west of LV. You can make one or two hikes in terrain very similar to Zion and GC.
My other suggestion is to rent a car, book a room in St. George or Springdale, UT and explore Zion. You can even day trip up to Bryce Canyon NP if you choose. Drive back to Vegas and hang out at the hotel of your choice Thursday. My nephew and I did this a couple of years ago and had a blast. (I liked Zion way more than GCNP btw. Much better hiking and you enter at the canyon floor there.)
This post was edited on 1/19/23 at 8:52 am
Posted on 1/19/23 at 9:05 am to bluestem75
quote:
Vegas to Grand Canyon is an 8 hour round trip. Just in the car. I’d recommend paying the money for helicopter tour of the Dam and the Canyon
I agree with you but your 8 hour estimate is to get to the South Rim, correct? Correct me if I'm wrong b/c we're also planning this (but w/ more days); round trip to the West Rim would be about 5 hours from LV.
Posted on 1/19/23 at 9:15 am to Tiger328
That's a tight schedule to accomplish all of that with a lot of driving involved, but it is possible. My suggestions are below.
Do Monday night in Vegas. Head to Hoover Dam as soon as it opens Tuesday & then drive to Springdale, UT to spend Tuesday night. Get an early start & do Zion Canyon Wednesday. You probably don't have time to do Kolob Canyon too.
Drive to Page, AZ to spend Wednesday night. I highly recommend the drive via Hwy 89A to see Vermillion Cliffs & Marble Canyon on the way. Not sure if time would permit to stop at Horseshoe Bend, but it's a pretty awesome view as well.
Then get an early start Thursday morning & drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. If this is your first trip to the Grand Canyon, then the south rim is what you want to see.
I would recommend driving to Flagstaff Thursday night & changing your Friday return flight out of there to save some drive time.
Do Monday night in Vegas. Head to Hoover Dam as soon as it opens Tuesday & then drive to Springdale, UT to spend Tuesday night. Get an early start & do Zion Canyon Wednesday. You probably don't have time to do Kolob Canyon too.
Drive to Page, AZ to spend Wednesday night. I highly recommend the drive via Hwy 89A to see Vermillion Cliffs & Marble Canyon on the way. Not sure if time would permit to stop at Horseshoe Bend, but it's a pretty awesome view as well.
Then get an early start Thursday morning & drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. If this is your first trip to the Grand Canyon, then the south rim is what you want to see.
I would recommend driving to Flagstaff Thursday night & changing your Friday return flight out of there to save some drive time.
Posted on 1/19/23 at 9:33 am to Tigers13
quote:
Correct me if I'm wrong b/c we're also planning this (but w/ more days); round trip to the West Rim would be about 5 hours from LV.
Yes I calculated to South Rim, but as the other poster suggested, this is where you want to be.
Planning for more days would be a very good idea. If you can take a full week off of work and fly in on a Sat and leave the next Sat or Sun, you’ll be much happier with the result.
You can also go the opposite loop of what’s suggested above:
Fly into LV early and drive to Williams, AZ. Book your room there. You can stop at Hoover Dam on the way. Spend two-three nights there. South Rim one day then South Rim entrance and drive east to Desert View (check out the Watchtower there). Exit the park going east on 64 to 89. Four hour drive to Springdale, UT on 89.
Book a room in Springdale or drive the extra hour to St. George (more (cheaper) options). Spend two-three nights there to explore Zion.
Drive back to Vegas (2.5 hrs). Stay at hotel of your choice. Fly back whenever you choose.
This post was edited on 1/19/23 at 9:36 am
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