kaygee
Junior Member
Posts: 73 
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Post by kaygee on Apr 13, 2018 15:57:55 GMT
Hi all, my family would like to do a 10-11 day road trip in mid - end July. We’re thinking Utah - Arizona - Colorado if time permits. We def want to see Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon. Can anyone recommend other places that could work and that a 16 and 14 year old would enjoy? Or any tips for those places mentioned? A little overwhelmed of where to start and end. Flying from NY. Thinking we should start in UT then AZ since we definitely want to see those places. I don’t know anything about Colorado. What are some good places that we could drive to after the Grand Canyon on the way to CO? Or any suggestions for a better route? I originally wanted to visit CA instead of CO but that looks like more time. Lodging might be a problem at the parks since we are planning this late. Outside of those places we’re ok winging it. Thanks!
Update**
Actually we just narrowed things down... 8-9 days now, no CO:( Flying into AZ for Grand Canyon - Bryce - Zion - Hoover Dam and leave from Las Vegas. I guess 2 nights in each place? DH doesn't want to wing the hotel part so I need to plan the nights and find some places to stay ASAP!
Peas that have done this - better to fly into Flagstaff or Phoenix?
Any hotel recommendations in the surrounding areas? I know we might not get any at the park.
UPDATE #2**
We just booked the flight to PHX - cheaper than Flagstaff. I hear about Sedona a lot. Worth it? Thinking we can stay there the first night then head to the Grand Canyon.
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Post by mikklynn on Apr 13, 2018 15:59:25 GMT
The El Tovar lodge on the south rim of the Grand Canyon does book up early, but give them a call. I lucked out doing that on the advice of a friend. The website said they were booked, but I got a room by calling.
Have a wonderful trip!
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Post by ~summer~ on Apr 13, 2018 16:07:27 GMT
We did a road trip with our 3 boys that was amazing - it included:
From SF up through Yosemite to Momouth
Las Vegas
Death Valley
Grand Canyon
Bryce
Zion
We covered 5 National parks it was amazing
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,107
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Apr 13, 2018 16:11:28 GMT
Where are you flying in and out of? Is this a round trip drive or one way to different airport?
Durango Colorado and Million Dollar Highway. There is a Durango Silverton Train ride.
Four corners was a huge disappointment for us and I feel we wasted time.
Bandolier in NM was nice.
If one way, you could hit Arches and some other places in Utah and head over to Rocky Mountain National Park and fly out of Denver. If round trip, map out a circle from your airport. How many miles do you want to do each day? allow breaks and actually see things too. What is your style?
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Post by ntsf on Apr 13, 2018 16:11:31 GMT
mesa verde, chaco canyon (the dirt road is pretty good.. bring your own water and food). I would skip bryce and zion in mid summer.. everywhere is going to be super super hot. I would also plan to travel with lots of water in car.. like gallons. monument valley is about 3 hours from grand canyon. maybe do some river rafting somewhere in there. I would also plan to get up very early every day and take naps mid afternoon. come with spritzers, long sleeved shirts and long pants that are light and nylon. brimmed hats that cover your neck.
petrified forest national park is super neat.. but it will all be very hot in july. we stayed in williams KOA cabins.. good price and only 1 hour from main south rim grand canyon.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:58:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 16:13:27 GMT
Colorado is beautiful. I'd make sure to include it. Look up Rocky Mountain National Park--
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kaygee
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by kaygee on Apr 13, 2018 16:30:55 GMT
Thanks so far. Not round trip. Will fly into one state, rent a car to travel the whole time, and fly home from a different state. I just don’t know any specifics yet. I need to narrow down a starting point.
I’ve read Bryce and Zion were nicer than the Grand Canyon??
Update**
Actually we just narrowed things down... 8-9 days now, no CO:( Flying into AZ for Grand Canyon - Bryce - Zion - Hoover Dam and leave from Las Vegas. I guess 2 nights in each place? DH doesn't want to wing the hotel part so I need to plan the nights and find some places to stay ASAP!
Peas that have done this - better to fly into Flagstaff or Phoenix?
Any hotel recommendations in the surrounding areas? I know we might not get any at the park.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Apr 13, 2018 16:31:43 GMT
Arches NP. We live in Nebraska so we drove through Colorado to Moab/Arches, then down through Navajo lands to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. If we had spent less time at the GC we would have done Bryce and Zion also.
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Post by ~summer~ on Apr 13, 2018 16:41:02 GMT
Thanks so far. Not round trip. Will fly into one state, rent a car to travel the whole time, and fly home from a different state. I just don’t know any specifics yet. I need to narrow down a starting point. I’ve read Bryce and Zion were nicer than the Grand Canyon?? Bryce is one of my absolute favorite places - I loved it |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Apr 13, 2018 17:34:33 GMT
Ours total trip was longer (we started in CA), but for one segment we did Grand Canyon, Zion, Monument Valley, Moab, UT to Vail,CO - over a week maybe?. Our kids were a bit younger, but their highlights were mountain biking in Moab and river rafting in Vail. In general, they really enjoyed the activities at the locations, but were a bit restless with some of the longer car stretches - but as I said mine were younger.
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Post by katlady on Apr 13, 2018 17:42:29 GMT
Since you are doing Zion, you may want to do the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I hear it is less crowded and just as beautiful, if not more so.
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Julie W
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,209
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Post by Julie W on Apr 13, 2018 18:02:20 GMT
Since you are doing Zion, you may want to do the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I hear it is less crowded and just as beautiful, if not more so. This! We did this trip two summers ago. Flew into Las Vegas, rented a car and saw the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion - along with two nights in Vegas at the end of our trip (9 days). Having experienced both the South and North Rim of the GC, the North Rim is just as lovely, and far less crowded - it was the most enjoyable and peaceful stop of our trip. We stayed in cabins through the Park Service (which were LOVELY!) but we also made reservations 14 months in advance. Good luck! Save |
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,652
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Apr 13, 2018 19:18:27 GMT
Hi all, my family would like to do a 10-11 day road trip in mid - end July. We’re thinking Utah - Arizona - Colorado if time permits. We def want to see Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon. Can anyone recommend other places that could work and that a 16 and 14 year old would enjoy? Or any tips for those places mentioned? A little overwhelmed of where to start and end. Flying from NY. Thinking we should start in UT then AZ since we definitely want to see those places. I don’t know anything about Colorado. What are some good places that we could drive to after the Grand Canyon on the way to CO? Or any suggestions for a better route? I originally wanted to visit CA instead of CO but that looks like more time. Lodging might be a problem at the parks since we are planning this late. Outside of those places we’re ok winging it. Thanks! First, your biggest issue is going to be securing lodging at this late of a date. Cancellations are common, so check often to book something. Lodging in the parks has a pretty lenient cancellation policy, so even if it's not your first choice of lodging, take what you can get because you can cancel later without penalty if something else comes up. Second, there are so many parks in that area and I think people often want to hit as many as they can, but I would caution trying to fit too much in. IMHO, it's better to spend more time actually doing stuff instead of driving from park to park and things will likely take longer than you anticipate (i.e. in Zion you have to ride the shuttle in the main canyon and that can take time). Are you looking to fly in/out of the same airport or doing a one way trip? What kind of things do you guys like to do? I ask because some of the parks don't require much time, especially if you aren't hiking. For the parks you specifically mentioned: Bryce - you really only need one night here (provided you arrive in decent time and/or have some time the day you leave). There are some easy hikes that connect trails among the hoodoos and that takes half a day at most. They have good night ranger programs and watching sunrise and/or sunset is a must. The hoodoo amphitheater looks amazing at those times. They are one of the darkest places in that area, so good start gazing too (depending on moon phase). Zion - Zion will be hot in July (and is lower elevation than Bryce) - so plan accordingly. Zion warrants more time. Angel's Landing and The Narrows are the most popular hikes, and Observation Point is popular too. Angel's Landing has a fear factor if you are afraid of heights/exposure. Observation Point has better views, but is a longer hike with more elevation. The Narrows is hiking in the Virgin River and is good if it's hot. Just be sure to pay attention to weather forecasts because in the summer there is a risk of flash flooding. There is also canyoneering in this area if you want to book a trip with a local outfitter - rappelling, etc. Your kids might like that. You are required to use the shuttle in Zion and during peak season the place is pretty much a CF. Go as early as you can into the park. I personally would plan for at least two nights at Zion. The Grand Canyon. If you are visiting Bryce and Zion, it is most logical to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The advantage is that it's ~1500 feet higher than the South Rim, so it's cooler in the summer and also sees less visitor. The only downside is that there aren't as many services - so might be tougher for lodging. If you aren't doing much hiking, one night can be sufficient for the Grand Canyon (especially if arrive early and/or depart late), but can spend more time if do ranger programs, hikes, etc. These three locations are pretty common for a week long loop out of Vegas (only those places is about 650 miles of driving). There are other locations to add, depending on time and itinerary (e.g. a side trip to Page, Valley of Fire SP, Snow Canyon SP). If you want to add in Colorado, then it makes more sense to focus on the Moab area and other attractions in that area. Moab is one of the few places that you could actually base for a whole week as there is a lot to see and do there. It's a good place for teens because there are a lot of other activities to do like rafting, mountain biking, jeep rides, and canyoneering. Good resources are the forums on Tripadvisor and this website is useful (especially charts with distances between locations): American Southwest
I also have trip reports and pictures posted - we've made mulitple trips to the Southwest and I'm happy to answer any questions (if I know the answer, lol): Zion, Snow Canyon SP, Valley of FireMoabBryce, Page, GC, and other locations |
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Post by Basket1lady on Apr 13, 2018 19:26:39 GMT
What a fun trip! I'm a big proponent of flying into one city and out of another, but sometimes rental car prices can be higher if you aren't returning them to the origination point.
If you choose Colorado, we love the Colorado Springs area--DD was born there and we lived there for 3 years. Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and the AF Academy are all in that area. And the Vail area is very pretty, too!
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,652
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Apr 13, 2018 19:29:02 GMT
Arches NP. We live in Nebraska so we drove through Colorado to Moab/Arches, then down through Navajo lands to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. If we had spent less time at the GC we would have done Bryce and Zion also. Where do you live in Nebraska? I grew up in the Panhandle (always on the lookout for other Nebraskans as I rarely come across them where I live now  ). |
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kaygee
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by kaygee on Apr 13, 2018 21:00:51 GMT
Hi all, my family would like to do a 10-11 day road trip in mid - end July. We’re thinking Utah - Arizona - Colorado if time permits. We def want to see Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon. Can anyone recommend other places that could work and that a 16 and 14 year old would enjoy? Or any tips for those places mentioned? A little overwhelmed of where to start and end. Flying from NY. Thinking we should start in UT then AZ since we definitely want to see those places. I don’t know anything about Colorado. What are some good places that we could drive to after the Grand Canyon on the way to CO? Or any suggestions for a better route? I originally wanted to visit CA instead of CO but that looks like more time. Lodging might be a problem at the parks since we are planning this late. Outside of those places we’re ok winging it. Thanks! First, your biggest issue is going to be securing lodging at this late of a date. Cancellations are common, so check often to book something. Lodging in the parks has a pretty lenient cancellation policy, so even if it's not your first choice of lodging, take what you can get because you can cancel later without penalty if something else comes up. Second, there are so many parks in that area and I think people often want to hit as many as they can, but I would caution trying to fit too much in. IMHO, it's better to spend more time actually doing stuff instead of driving from park to park and things will likely take longer than you anticipate (i.e. in Zion you have to ride the shuttle in the main canyon and that can take time). Are you looking to fly in/out of the same airport or doing a one way trip? What kind of things do you guys like to do? I ask because some of the parks don't require much time, especially if you aren't hiking. For the parks you specifically mentioned: Bryce - you really only need one night here (provided you arrive in decent time and/or have some time the day you leave). There are some easy hikes that connect trails among the hoodoos and that takes half a day at most. They have good night ranger programs and watching sunrise and/or sunset is a must. The hoodoo amphitheater looks amazing at those times. They are one of the darkest places in that area, so good start gazing too (depending on moon phase). Zion - Zion will be hot in July (and is lower elevation than Bryce) - so plan accordingly. Zion warrants more time. Angel's Landing and The Narrows are the most popular hikes, and Observation Point is popular too. Angel's Landing has a fear factor if you are afraid of heights/exposure. Observation Point has better views, but is a longer hike with more elevation. The Narrows is hiking in the Virgin River and is good if it's hot. Just be sure to pay attention to weather forecasts because in the summer there is a risk of flash flooding. There is also canyoneering in this area if you want to book a trip with a local outfitter - rappelling, etc. Your kids might like that. You are required to use the shuttle in Zion and during peak season the place is pretty much a CF. Go as early as you can into the park. I personally would plan for at least two nights at Zion. The Grand Canyon. If you are visiting Bryce and Zion, it is most logical to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The advantage is that it's ~1500 feet higher than the South Rim, so it's cooler in the summer and also sees less visitor. The only downside is that there aren't as many services - so might be tougher for lodging. If you aren't doing much hiking, one night can be sufficient for the Grand Canyon (especially if arrive early and/or depart late), but can spend more time if do ranger programs, hikes, etc. These three locations are pretty common for a week long loop out of Vegas (only those places is about 650 miles of driving). There are other locations to add, depending on time and itinerary (e.g. a side trip to Page, Valley of Fire SP, Snow Canyon SP). If you want to add in Colorado, then it makes more sense to focus on the Moab area and other attractions in that area. Moab is one of the few places that you could actually base for a whole week as there is a lot to see and do there. It's a good place for teens because there are a lot of other activities to do like rafting, mountain biking, jeep rides, and canyoneering. Good resources are the forums on Tripadvisor and this website is useful (especially charts with distances between locations): American Southwest
I also have trip reports and pictures posted - we've made mulitple trips to the Southwest and I'm happy to answer any questions (if I know the answer, lol): Zion, Snow Canyon SP, Valley of FireMoabBryce, Page, GC, and other locationsWow - thank you so much! I just posted an update in my OP - see below. Thanks for the links - I will check them out. I see you're in the Hudson Valley - how funny - I am too Update** Actually we just narrowed things down... 8-9 days now, no CO:( Flying into AZ for Grand Canyon - Bryce - Zion - Hoover Dam and leave from Las Vegas. I guess 2 nights in each place? DH doesn't want to wing the hotel part so I need to plan the nights and find some places to stay ASAP! Peas that have done this - better to fly into Flagstaff or Phoenix? Any hotel recommendations in the surrounding areas? I know we might not get any at the park. |
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Post by GroovySteph on Apr 13, 2018 22:05:10 GMT
You should definitely make time for Sedona!!!
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Post by librarylady on Apr 13, 2018 22:24:31 GMT
We stayed inside the Grand Canyon park, on the south rim.
We were lucky enough to get a cabin RIGHT ON the rim. We could lie in bed, open curtains and see the canyon.
I made that reservation about 6 months in advance. We went in April.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,652
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Apr 14, 2018 0:50:07 GMT
Hi all, my family would like to do a 10-11 day road trip in mid - end July. We’re thinking Utah - Arizona - Colorado if time permits. We def want to see Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon. Can anyone recommend other places that could work and that a 16 and 14 year old would enjoy? Or any tips for those places mentioned? A little overwhelmed of where to start and end. Flying from NY. Thinking we should start in UT then AZ since we definitely want to see those places. I don’t know anything about Colorado. What are some good places that we could drive to after the Grand Canyon on the way to CO? Or any suggestions for a better route? I originally wanted to visit CA instead of CO but that looks like more time. Lodging might be a problem at the parks since we are planning this late. Outside of those places we’re ok winging it. Thanks! Update** Actually we just narrowed things down... 8-9 days now, no CO:( Flying into AZ for Grand Canyon - Bryce - Zion - Hoover Dam and leave from Las Vegas. I guess 2 nights in each place? DH doesn't want to wing the hotel part so I need to plan the nights and find some places to stay ASAP! Peas that have done this - better to fly into Flagstaff or Phoenix? Any hotel recommendations in the surrounding areas? I know we might not get any at the park. UPDATE #2** We just booked the flight to PHX - cheaper than Flagstaff. I hear about Sedona a lot. Worth it? Thinking we can stay there the first night then head to the Grand Canyon. Sedona is nice and if you are flying to PHX it's easy to stop there on the way to/from the Grand Canyon. I think you'll need to skip the Hoover Dam - it's too far out of the way and not as neat as going to the parks. From Phoenix, it's a haul to Zion and Bryce - if your route is Phoenix --> South Rim --> Bryce --> Zion --> Phoenix - that is 1000 miles driving. If you do that route, I don't know if you'll have much time to add on anything in between. If you did, I would add time in Page or Sedona area (also some national monuments in that area). What is your exact time frame for days? What time does your flight get into PHX? What time does it leave? If I had ten days, I would probably do something like this (obviously dependent on lodging you can get, route could be reversed too): Day 1, arrive PHX. Depending on arrival time, drive to South Rim (it's likely going to be ~4+ hours with stops). Flagstaff is ~2.5 hours - so if can't go all the way to the South Rim, head to Flagstaff at least. It's bigger, so likely can find a room for the night. Day 2. Arrive South Rim (or wake up there if drive the day before). Overnight South Rim (keep checking for cancellations, but in the meantime, book anything you can - either in the park or right outside in Tusayan. In the park is preferable, but availability will be tough). Can do a short hike down one of the corridor trails (Bright Angel or South Kaibab) - but will be really hot. Can also ride the shuttle out to Hermit's Rest, stopping at the viewpoints along the way (and walking along the rim for a bit if want), drive out to Desert View, visit Kolb Studio and other things along the rim, rent bikes, do ranger programs, watch sunset, etc. Day 3. South Rim - do whatever didn't do the day before, overnight South Rim. Day 4. Drive to Bryce. 5 hour drive. To break up drive, stop in Page - if can get tickets do Antelope Canyon. Companies also do tours to some other private canyons or can hike yourself in Water Holes canyon, Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch, Toadstools, or see Horseshoe Bend. Overnight Bryce. Lodging is limited right there by the park - not sure next closest place. Day 5. Bryce Canyon. Do sunrise if can, hike along the hoodoos, etc. I think they also have horseriding in this area. Overnight Bryce. Day 6. Drive to Zion (1.5 hours). Leave early - gets hella crowded and parking can be an issue. Look for anything you can in Springdale - most convenient. Kanab is backup, but will add drive time. You have to ride the shuttles. The parking lots by the visitor's center fill up early. If later, look for public parking in Springdale and ride the shuttle to the visitor center to catch the shuttle into the park. Day 7. Zion. Day 8. Zion. Day 9. Return to Phoenix. ~ 6 hour drive. Stop in Page, Sedona, Wupatki, etc. if need to break up drive. Alternatively, drive part way on Day 8 and stay in one of these areas. Day 10. Flight home. |
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,381
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Apr 14, 2018 2:15:41 GMT
When I did a driving trip years ago in that area, I went to Sedona and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and then on to Zion and Bryce. I went on up to Salt Lake City and Boise and into Yellowstone, but I had several weeks for the travel.
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kaygee
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by kaygee on Apr 14, 2018 15:47:53 GMT
Thank you all for your input - I really appreciate it!. So far Monday we will land in Phoenix early afternoon and drive to Sedona stay overnight and later in the next day drive and stay in Marble Canyon so DH can do some fishing. Then head on to Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and leave from Las Vegas.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,086
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 14, 2018 17:37:16 GMT
kaygee Since you a renting a car from PHX and leaving the car at LAS, there will be a service charge added to the car rental fee as the car will not be returned to the same airport that it was from.
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