amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Flagstaff are the three closest airports to the Grand Canyon. Spend the day in the Grand Canyon, either hiking one of the trails, biking, taking a scenic helicopter ride, or visiting more South Rim viewpoints. Bryce Canyon National Park is quite remote and far from major cities. Along the way, visit Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. I have 4 full days (Arrive in LV Wednesday, leave for parks Thursday, return to LV Sunday night miles are limited to 1000 for the Turo car rental). Losing the trail makes it difficult to find the key routes back up to the rim and the Rainbow Point Road. Thats right. Well be coming from NC and dont want to spend the whole time in a plane or car and are open to suggestions. May and October are wonderful months for this Grand Canyon road trip. Or, if you are really feeling ambitious and you dont mind a long day, you could sneak in a hike in Zion National Park. These days are exactly the same as the 7-day itinerary listed above. amzn_assoc_asins = "0899977243,1797045504,1441328483,1465443770"; . You can also refer to our Arches Canyonlands Capitol Reef itinerary for more info on how to road trip between these national parks. You can enjoy all of the park's major overlooks if you get out of your car and take leisurely strolls out to the edge of the pavement. You can see the highlights in the morning and midday and have the afternoon free to do something else. If you have Jurassic Park fans and dinosaurs lovers in your family you absolutely have to stop at Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm located in St. George. I wanted to know , from your perspective, if flying into Phoenix, (or Vegas) to Grand Canyon, then up to Big Water is too much driving within a 6-7 day period.? amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "unforgechrist-20"; If you want a road trip that is done as a loop from Las Vegas and includes the Grand Canyon and several other national parks, this is my top pick. 5:09 pm arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park. To fly from here, you save one hour of driving and you can add on a very quick visit to Sedona today. One day you can drive East on UT-12 and explore this scenic road and a portion of HW 89 and another day you can drive West and enjoy Staircase Escalante National Monument. Past Panguitch (Panguitchs Main Street offers a modest tribute to the Far West), you enter the beautiful UT-12, cross the Red Canyon, and finally reach Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon is a small park. We will be coming from Los Angeles. A few must-see spots include: Sunrise Point By plane, you can fly into the following major airports: LAS - McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas (170 miles from the park) - 2.5 hour drive. Just the name of it sounded very intriguing so we decided to check it out and we were so glad we did! Our favorite place for drinks is the Cosmopolitan (we love the Chandelier Bar and Clique and would love to try the Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails). Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Spend Sunday morning to midday at Antelope Canyon and see Horseshoe Bend, and then it is a long drive back to Las Vegas. Antelope Canyon closed and also an extra couple of hours travel between the Grand Canyon and Page given the Navajo closures), Im trying to figure out whether that itinerary makes sense. We stayed in Tropic at the Bryce Canyon Inn. Large snowfall. This is a big driving day, but you get to visit the most popular viewpoints, see the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and walk across Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the United States. Day 4: Zion - most of the day and drive to Bryce Canyon late afternoon, early evening. If you catch a 20 minutes geology talk by a Park Ranger, it is totally worth your time. Bryce typically sees an average of about 100 inches of snow throughout the winter season, and daily temperatures range from the teens to the mid-thirties fahrenheit. You just need to get up those pesky switchbacks. On this itinerary, you start in Phoenix and end in Las Vegas. Just trying to make the best of our time there. Dont forget to follow me on Instagram where I post many more cool photos and videos about our trips than I could include in a blog post and organize some nice giveaways! Get an early start in both Bryce and Zion (especially Zion) and if you can get up for sunrise, its amazing at Bryce Canyon. Get settled into your hotel. BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK 4-hour drive Distance from Las Vegas: 260 miles Price: $35 per vehicle BOOK A BRYCE CANYON TOUR NOW This one is for the real road warriors. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Again, after a brief stay, you could even drive through Zion, probably no time to stop, and get back to Vegas by nightfall. The shortest route is in fact 261 miles long and it takes about 4 hours, without breaks. fitopardo/Getty Images. Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon Itinerary: A Family Friendly One Week Road Trip. LEARN MORE: A Photojourney through Peek-A-Boo Gulch and Spooky Gulch. Ideally, you want to spend more time out of the car seeing really cool stuff than behind the steering wheel. My vote would be for a Mighty 5 road trip. SERVICES. On this list are the Zion Narrows, Angels Landing, and Observation Point. Drive Time: 4 hours; Distance from Las Vegas: 260 miles; One visit to Bryce Canyon, and you'll see why it's one of the most unique national parks in the country. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Cheers, Julie. There was an eerie silence amongst the hoodoos, columns of twisted rocks shaped by the forces of nature. LEARN MORE: Whats It Like to Drive Cottonwood Canyon Road? Im currently signed up for a tour where I have learned its up to 100 people. 460 miles. It will be a long drive to get here, but if you are looking for a challenging and scenic hike, this is one to consider. What is the best time to visit Bryce Canyon? There are five hotels located in the Grand Canyon Village (El Tovar, Thunderbird Lodge, Bright Angel Lodge, Kachina Lodge, and Maswick Lodge). I am travelling with my 11 years old son and would like something not too strenuous. We love Las Vegas for a variety of reasons - the shiny strip with its lavish casinos, dozens of free shows and entertainment, gourmet buffets, and of course, the slot machines. We started the day with a stop at Visitors Center where you can find out current conditions of all trails in the Park. Instead of Bryce Canyon you will visit Death Valley on a day trip from Las Vegas. We are planning a trip to Utah in 2 weeks for spring break (two adults and. If you stick to the interstate then the drive from Las Vegas to Moab is an easy day's driving, taking less than 7 hours if the traffic is in your favor. Grand Canyon Route. Heres how to get there: As you can see below, compared to the shorter route which there are fewer miles to drive, but since UT-9 is not an interstate the route has more curves and you must drive at a moderate speed and slow down when necessary. Barring a truly freak storm, weather shouldn't slow you down. Its spectacularand you get to start your hike before the crowds arrive. Any advice would be appreciated. This is a trail that is also best hiked in winter. Pick up your rental car and spend your time on the Vegas Strip or hiking in Red Rock Canyon. Hello Julie from Hawaii! LEARN MORE: Is the Grand Canyon Skywalk Worth It? Photo Gallery. UT-24 has a lot of interesting scenic spots: Twin Rocks, Chimney Rock, Goosenecks Overlook, Capitol Dome and the Petroglyphs. Tips on where to stay between Zion and Bryce Canyon. We had our own cabin with queen sized beds, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. Bryce Canyon National Park gets the most snow out of the Mighty 5 Utah parks, sitting more than 8,000 feet above sea level. Your email address will not be published. Just 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon, an outdoor playground for hikers and families. Finally, if you are traveling as a family, here are the best parks to visit with kids. You should be fine if you concentrate on driving, it's a slow drive. For the next twelve miles the road climbs 2,500 feet to the top at Jacob Lake. Both hotels are located just a mile drive from the National Parks entrance, have reasonable prices, free breakfasts and heated pools. If you travel in winter, your air tickets will most likely be half as cheap if you fly to Las Vegas because Park City near Salt Lake City is a major skiing destination. For $80, you have unlimited entrances to all US national parks (and monuments, forests, seashores, etc over 2,000 protected lands) for one vehicle for a year! The only reason to fly in and out of Las Vegas to visit Bryce and Zion is the shorter driving distance. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; We have visited this area in May, June, October, and December. We are traveling from NC.. and Im hoping to visit the Grand Canyon and Big Water, UT (near Lake Powell) in April. It is a much quieter experience than sunset and the views are extraordinary. If you want to visit both parks starting from Las Vegas, follow the itinerary I suggest below. Zion National Park. Stop at the Visitor Center and Checkerboard Mesa at Zion, and explore different scenic viewpoints at Bryce Canyon. You may not be able to hike a lot but you will be rewarded with the most magnificent views for sure. Watch the sunset over Horseshoe Bend. Las Vegas: If you want to start and end in Las Vegas, drive back to Las Vegas today. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (places to go and the driving route). See current deals on local hotels below. The Scenic Drive 37.6397594,-112.1717112, map You can take in a lot of the beautiful scenery of the park via the scenic drive. Do the scenic drive, stop at all overlooks, check out the hikes that are open during your visit. The drive from Capitol Reef National Park to Las Vegas is about 5 and a half hours. Although I know many of you here are Utah experts, no one can predict the weather. These two slot canyons are located in Grand-Staircase Escalante. If youre in Las Vegas but dont have the opportunity, time, or desire to travel independently by car, you can always rely on an organized tour. Here are five sample itineraries, ranging from 5 to 10 days. These roads are mainly 44 roads and having four-wheel drive may not be required but it's a great idea. Weather permitting you can drive on UT-12 West all the way to Capitol Reef but that was not in the cards for us. Here is what we did along the way (we did this in May when we had a lot of daylight): Early morning: Cottonwood Canyon Road Late Morning: Zebra Slot Canyon Midday, Early Afternoon: Spooky and Peek-A-Boo Gulches Late Afternoon: Devils Garden and drive to Bryce Canyon. We so often find beauty in soft things: a pink sunset . You can pick up your rental car today, at the airport (more convenient) or on the day you drive to the Grand Canyon (less convenient but it will save money). Both locations are about a 4-hour drive from Bryce. You will get to know why Bryce Canyon hoodoos are unique to this place and get formed here in such huge numbers. I f not, is there a way to still hit all of the other places without going through Page? If this is the day you fly into Vegas and you are travelling in winter then the last leg of your trip will be in the dark along mountain roads (UT-20, UT-89 and UT-12). There is an airport in Tusayan, but flights are extremely limited so it is unlikely to get a flight from here (I found several but they cost thousands of dollars per person). Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. Cedar City Regional Airport has connections to Salt Lake City and is a 1.5-hour drive from Bryce. Whats It Like to Drive Cottonwood Canyon Road? When we visit Zion, our go-to hotel is the Holiday Inn Express in Springdale, one of the best Holiday Inn properties we have seen. Stay on the main road that cuts through the town until the junction with E Center St, turn right and continue on, From Cedar City, it takes about 35 minutes to get to, From Las Vegas, you have to get to St. George on the usual I-15. The best way to get from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon is to drive south on State Route 21. If you have any other questions please dont hesitate to write in again. My husband and I took a fabulous trip to the Tetons in September and you blog was so very helpful! On our way, we stocked up on food and snacks for the week. I was hoping you could help me with an itinerary that would include the Hoover dam, Grand Canyon and some other green parks. Every single National Park Ranger we talked to told us that the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is in winter. You will only receive new post notifications, no spam. Yes, its not fun to get up at the crack of dawn, but its so much better than waiting literally an hour or longer in line for a shuttle. The top cities between Las Vegas and Bryce Canyon National Park are Zion National Park, Boulder City, St. George, Cedar City, and Henderson. The hoodoo formations that are along the trail, such as Wall Street, Twin Bridges, and Thor's Hammer are iconic sights in Bryce Canyon National Park. Scattered along the basin of a small valley stands thousands of red and orange rock spires known as hoodoos. On this Grand Canyon road trip, you have the option to add on the Hoover Dam. I know, I know. Yours is the first one that went from Vegas straight to GC. The trail has lots of ups and downs totally different terrain compared to Grand Wash. Save your money, and your time, and skip the Skywalk. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Wouldnt it be better for me to interrupt my trip on UT-9 and go down Zion Scenic Drive for a few hours and postpone my arrival at Bryce Canyon for a few hours? Definitely watch out for wildlife here. If you start and end in two different locations, there is a good chance that your rental car price will include an additional drop fee. Im glad to help! We have recently had trips where we had a 4 to 5 hour drive in the morning to get to the airport and then a flight home. Hello, Ive been doing a ton of reading on a 7 day trip from Vegas to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon, Sedona and leave from Phoenix. For more information see RhinoCarHire.com Arches and Canyonlands have average highs of 30 to 50 F and lows down to 0. Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon & Phoenix. If you are doing great on time on Sunday, you could try to squeeze in Valley of Fire. Zion Route. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Julie Last updated: January 28, 2023 United States 18 Comments. How to get there: The closest airports to Bryce Canyon NP Utah are Las Vegas Airport (4-hours 10 min drive) and Salt Lake City International Airport (4-hour 5 minutes drive). amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Best Time for This Grand Canyon Road Trip, Tours of the Grand Canyon and the American Southwest, More Information about the American Southwest, in our Arizona Travel Guide. Carmel Junction. Read our article about the 15 Best National Parks, where we narrow down the long list into 15 must-see parks. We're spending 2 nights at Bryce Canyon Grand hotel, two nights Best Western Zion Park Inn and then heading back to Vegas. This is similar to the 10-day itinerary above, with one major change. Zion National Park is one of the best spots in the United States to go hiking. However, since there is just a 2 hour and 30 minute drive between Las Vegas and Zion, you can also decide to leave directly from there. I would love hotel recommends as well. Pro Tip: Pick up an America the Beautiful park pass before you go to save time at the gate. The driving-accessible area of Bryce Canyon National Park is quite manageable. his article is good!I wish all people to be happy! There are several hotels to choose from as well as some restaurants. During the winter months, snow can impact travel, particularly around the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. I recommend starting your day as early as possible. Yes, there could be some snow and ice, particularly in places at the higher elevations, such as the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. The Bryce Canyon airport is for scenic flights or private planes only. It goes without saying, therefore, that the travel time can reach almost 5 hours! For the evening try to book a Dark Ranger Telescope Tour. Its a long, somewhat boring drive to the Grand Canyon. Drive just 40 minutes from Vegas to see Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States. In your opinion, is it worth it to sacrifice Arches for Antelope Canyon? It is a must see museum that features real dinosaur tracks (hundreds of them! The guided tour to the park lasts 3 hours, which, in my opinion, is more than enough time to visit it. Luckily, there are Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon road trip was one of our best and most memorable vacations and I am very happy to share all the planning details with you. If you cant go point to point, use your 11th day to get back to Salt Lake City (or use it to get from Vegas to Moab). He wants to go out west. I was super excited to try your itineraries thinking 8 or 9 days Vegas to Grand Canyon to Page to Bryce to Zion. To see all the petroglyphs you need to take a short walk on the boardwalk along the mountain wall. From there to Bryce is no problem, nor is Bryce to Page. It was cozy, quiet, and very clean. Our original plan was to drive all the way to Kanab on HW 89 and stop at a couple of more attractions but it started snowing (there was a snow storm warning issued for the area) so we decided to turn back. PRO TRAVEL TIP: The popularity of Antelope Canyon has skyrocketed in the recent years. Day 5: Bryce Canyon - full day. If you love Wild West history then you will like this attraction and it is FREE to visit. We enjoy moderate day hikes. scenic short cut through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This place was wonderful. Since youll be visiting two national parks in just 24 hours, youll have to expect somewhat more superficial excursions and, in general, a not-so-relaxing experience. Without traffic the drive from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon is 4.5 hours. It is very tempting. The closest major airport to Zion National Park is Las Vegas, 170 miles away. Las Vegas, Death Valley, Grand Canyon & Zion. 12 hours 30 minutes. 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