SF to Grand Canyon to Zion - directions

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Originally Posted by noraoconnor

If I were to leave in the morning on July 4th (and not take the scenic route - do that on the way back) - would it be reasonable to say that I would reach MATHER SOUTH RIM campsite by Tuesday (6/5) afternoon/evening, or should I expect to be there Wednesday (6/6). I'm asking because I would like to make reservations at MATHER SOUTH RIM, and wondering if I should do so for July 5th or July 6th? Again, I'm not in a hurry - but definitely want to make the most of my trip!

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From SF to the S. Rim is just under 800 miles. If you can drive 400 miles per day, then you can easily make. If you leave on the 4th and drive to say Barstow (415 miles) or Needles (560 miles) then you can easily make it by late afternoon to the S. Rim of the Grand Canyon on the 5th of July.

We have driven from Zion all the way home to the San Francisco Bay area in one day. We didn't start out to do this, but we got so close we just decided to keep going and made it home late evening. It's a long day especially when towing a trailer so I don't recommend it.

Utahtea

Dear Utahtea, et al,

I was looking for where to make camping reservations for Watchman in Zion Park. It was not on the US National Park reservations site. Any input on where to make those reservations?

Any for any one else ... I was thinking of staying at the Grand Canyon on the 5, 6 and 7th and then driving to Zion on the 7th ... and then stay there on the 7 and 8th. And then start heading back to SF sometime on the 8th (need to back on the 10th).

Okay, any feedback is welcomed. I know someone mentioned Bryce (?) Park before going to Zion ... Not aure if I have enough time ...

Thanks again for all the input -- it has been so helpful.

Peace,
- nora

This page has a phone number for reservations.

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I was thinking of staying at the Grand Canyon on the 5, 6 and 7th and then driving to Zion on the 7th ... and then stay there on the 7 and 8th. And then start heading back to SF sometime on the 8th (need to back on the 10th).

OK, any feedback is welcomed. I know someone mentioned Bryce (?) Park before going to Zion ... Not sure if I have enough time ...

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I'll tell you what we did last year. This may not fit your needs but it worked for us as we wanted to see more places, even if it meant just hitting the high points, than spending more time in any one place. So, here's the whirlwind tour:

Day 1: Left Flagstaff at about 7am. Stopped at Bedrock City for a couple of hours. (Wow, fun, tacky tourist stop for any Flintstone fan!). Explored the South Rim of the GC. We stopped at all the major viewpoints on the way into the main Grand Canyon Village area. Then we went into the village and explored the various shops, visitor centers, and viewpoints along the main walkways. Then we drove east along the GC stopping at each and every scenic viewpoint along the way, the Tusayan Ruins, and the Watch Tower. Then we headed to Page for the night.

Day 2: Left Page about 6am. Stopped at Navajo Bridge. Accidentally went right past Lee's Ferry. Went to the North Rim of the GC. We did not have time to go to all of the lookouts. We mainly explored around the lodge area. We did drive to one other scenic viewpoint that had a great reputation for good views but, unfortunately, I don't recall the name of it off the top of my head. Stopped for lunch in Kanab. Checked out the Frontier Movie Town. Then drove into Zion where we spent the later hours in the afternoon/early evening. We took the bus tour into other parts of Zion where you can't drive by car but we only did a rather short stint on that. We didn't have time to ride it all the way to the end and back. Nor did we do much hiking there. (This was mainly due to me having a heat exhaustion incident a couple days before and I just didn't have my normal stamina for these types of trips). Then we headed to Ruby's Inn, just outside of Bryce for the night.

Day 3: Left Ruby's early to go into Bryce (don't recall the time) but it was before the visitor center opened so it was early. Maybe 7am. Explored Bryce. Stopped at each and every viewpoint. Took a few short hikes...very short, maybe 10-15 minutes each. Stopped at the Visitor Center on the way out. Drove to Idaho for the night.

Of course, since you're going back to California, if you decide to do the Whirlwind Tour, you would go to Bryce after the North Rim and then Zion last so you're headed in the right direction.

So, I do think it's doable to do Bryce, too. However, you may want to have more time. So, do it in the way that works best for you.

If you enjoy this part of the country as much as I do, I'm sure you'll go back and get Bryce later. I know I want to go back and spend more time at all these beautiful parks, plus snag Grand Staircase/Escalante, Glen Canyon, and Canyonlands as well. I'd also like more time to play in Page. It's beautiful country.

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Originally Posted by noraoconnor

Dear Utahtea, et al,

I was looking for where to make camping reservations for Watchman in Zion Park. It was not on the US National Park reservations site. Any input on where to make those reservations?

Any for any one else ... I was thinking of staying at the Grand Canyon on the 5, 6 and 7th and then driving to Zion on the 7th ... and then stay there on the 7 and 8th. And then start heading back to SF sometime on the 8th (need to back on the 10th).

Okay, any feedback is welcomed. I know someone mentioned Bryce (?) Park before going to Zion ... Not aure if I have enough time ...

Thanks again for all the input -- it has been so helpful.

Peace,
- nora

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Watchman campground in Zion is on the US National Park Reservation website. I know, I've made reservations online before.

So you plan on spending two nights the 5th and 6th at the S. Rim so that gives you one full day at the Grand Canyon. That's good. Then you plan on driving to Zion on the 7th which will take at least 5 1/2 hours and more if you stop at the scenic overlooks as you exit the park going towards Desert View. Plan on a little time at Lake Powell just to take a few quick pictures of the lake. This isn't going to give you a lot of time on the 7th to see Zion. If you plan on leaving Zion on the morning of the 8th, at least plan on spending until noon or so at the park before heading home.

Utahtea

Again, thanks for the input.

The way my trip is looking is that either I stay three nights in the Grand Canyon and two in Zion, (or the other way around).

I could camp at the Grand Canyon on the 5, 6, and 7th and then at Zion on the 8 and 9th, and spend the 10th driving home ...

Or camp at Zion on the 8th (arriving there probably later afternoon) and then spend the day at Zion on the 9th and start driving back on the 9th ... Just want to make sure I'm not "rushing home" from Zion in one day (if I were to leave Zion on the 10th ... needing to be back by around 5/6pm in San Francisco).

Thanks again for letting me process this out loud, and get some great feedback. I know this road trip is just a taste of what I will want to do in the "future."

- nora

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Originally Posted by noraoconnor

I could camp at the Grand Canyon on the 5, 6, and 7th and then at Zion on the 8 and 9th, and spend the 10th driving home ...

Or camp at Zion on the 8th (arriving there probably later afternoon) and then spend the day at Zion on the 9th and start driving back on the 9th ... Just want to make sure I'm not "rushing home" from Zion in one day (if I were to leave Zion on the 10th ... needing to be back by around 5/6pm in San Francisco).

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Nora, I think I would camp at the Grand Canyon on the nights of the 5 & 6th and Zion on the 7th and 8th and spend the 9th on the road home. This gives you one full day at the Grand Canyon and on the 7th day as you drive from Grand Canyon to Zion you can take your time seeing the sites as you exit the Grand Canyon and spend an hour or so at Lake Powell before reaching Zion. On the 8th day spend all day in Zion and leave about 3 hours before dark and make your way to Las Vegas or farther if you feel like it. Then you have all day of the 9th to get home.

I wouldn't try to drive all the way from Zion or even Las Vegas on the 10th day since you have to be in SF by 5 or 6 P. M.

Utahtea

Nearest I can figure, the fastest way between Zion and San Francisco is 11 hours just driving time -- all stops additional. Utahtea's right -- you should try to split that drive into at least two days. Bob

I have been looking at a road atlas (hard copy -- I'm not doing so well using the online map directions ... since it often asks the address of the Grand Canyon ???? ). What am I supposed to put in as an address for the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park? I have gone to website suggested and seem to be doing something wrong ...

Okay, so here's the route that looks reasonable to the South Rim from SF ....
HWY 580 to the 5 to the 99, cut over in Bakersfield (to the 58) then to the 40, and then the 40 the Mather South Rim Campsite. Sound right?

Then should I stay the night in Barstow or Needles, before heading on to the Grand Canyon?

When I leave the GC, South Rim ... I'm not clear on the route to Zion, Watchman Campsite ... ??? The 64 to the 89? I think I need some help with that drive route. Thank you.

Then on the way back ... how long of a drive is it from Zion to Vegas? Then I'd get back on the 15 home to SF.

I'm open to driving suggestions (and to a website, where I know what address to insert). I do understand there are much better scenic routes (to and from SF), and if I had another few more days I would do that ... but, I think the direct routes are going to best, so I can get the most out of my first trip to the GC and Zion.

Thanks in advance for your input.
- nora
San Francisco, CA

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Originally Posted by noraoconnor

I have been looking at a road atlas (hard copy -- I'm not doing so well using the online map directions ... since it often asks the address of the Grand Canyon ???? ). What am I supposed to put in as an address for the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park? I have gone to website suggested and seem to be doing something wrong ...

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Grand Canyon, Arizona usually works.

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Okay, so here's the route that looks reasonable to the South Rim from SF ....HWY 580 to the 5 to the 99, cut over in Bakersfield (to the 58) then to the 40, and then the 40 the Mather South Rim Campsite. Sound right?

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It is not the "scenic" route, but it does work. Actually you don't actually travel on CA-99, CA-58 is an exit on I-5 and you can follow this all the way to I-40.

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Then should I stay the night in Barstow or Needles, before heading on to the Grand Canyon?

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It depends on how much time you have for driving to the Grand. Personally, I would stay overnight in Kingman, but you could make it to Williams or even Flagstaff that first day.

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When I leave the GC, South Rim ... I'm not clear on the route to Zion, Watchman Campsite ... ??? The 64 to the 89? I think I need some help with that drive route. Thank you.

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Yes, that is fine., Personally, I like the route using US-89 ALt through Freedonia and then up to UT-9 for the trip into Zion.

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Then on the way back ... how long of a drive is it from Zion to Vegas? Then I'd get back on the 15 home to SF.

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It is about three hours (normally, but there are huge wildfires there right now -- and it would be hard to predict when you are going for the same reason)

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I'm open to driving suggestions (and to a website, where I know what address to insert). I do understand there are much better scenic routes (to and from SF),

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Buy a paper map -- it is much easier and I think would work better for you. Here are our recommendations for maps.

Have fun.

Mark