las vegas to Yosemite early june 2013

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There is a free rest area just before the town of Tonopah on US6 called 'Millers rest' where you could get your head down for the night, before continuing to Warm Springs and onto the ET highway.[/B][/U] [Warm Springs is derelict but woth a quick stop to see the hot tub and it's source from a short walk up the hill.

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Dave on the Yosemite to Bryce leg of trip, your mention of Millers rest out side of Tonopah, is there any other place further down route 6 or 375 to stay for the night, rest stop or otherwise? I am thinking that day out of Yosmete I may want to push it a bit to get me closer to Bryce.
thanks
Brian

As I mentioned in previous posts, the Little A'le' Inn in Rachel on 375 has a few rooms in trailers, I'd recommend prebooking. They have 1 small room with a twin bed for $35 plus tax, other rooms are $45. I believe these are shared bathrooms. There are 2 motels in Alamo on 93 south (a bit out of the way) and 3 motels in Caliente on 93 north. There is absolutely NOTHING between Tonopah and Rachel. After Caliente, Cedar City has a wide selection of lodging. I'm not aware of anywhere where you could just stop and sleep free except Miller's Rest.

Tonopah to Bryce is 380 miles via my recommended route - figure about 8 hours if you want to do it straight through.

I'll echoe what glc has said above, there is nothing in between. One thing to consider is that it is a 5 hour drive from Yosemite Bug to Tonopah and you will want to stop along the Tioga Pass and take in the views and perhaps get out of the car for a while at such places as Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne meadows. If that doesn't take up your time then you would have the opportunity to stop at Mono Lake and/or wander around the 'Queen of the Silver camps'.

Your itinerary looks fine and fairly relaxed and your days are all doable, but expect the 4 and 5 hour driving days to turn into fuller days as you enjoy the sights along the way. With the amount of time you have at the Grand canyon you could also consider a detour to Monument valley tribal park from Bryce and perhaps stay in Kayenta or Tuba city before continuing to GC.

Well I have my Itenerary all pinned down, booked all my reservations today, looks good, plus I have 2 extra days to allow for some flexability if needed. Thanks for all your input, it helped to pull this all together. I will take some great pics and video, show em when I get back.
thanks again guys!!!!

Dave, thanks for all your input, very helpful, and thanks for the "queen of the silver camps" link, just checked it out. Looks like a good place to stop and stretch my legs on the way to Rachel. Looking forward to my trip !!!!
Thanks again for all your help.

Brian

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Originally Posted by brian3222

I will take some great pics and video, show em when I get back.

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We have a special forum for that. After all your hardwork, I am looking forward to reading the report and seeing the pictures.

Lifey

Have a great trip Brian and I will look forward to your trip report and some pics !

Dave.

Hey GLC,

Any Adivice on how to see Bryce, I plan on having about 1.5 to 2 days there (staying at grand stair case on Kodachome Drive) and then at Zion about 1.5 days there. ( staying 1 night at Mt Carmel RV/Motel/cabins).

Thanks

Moderator Note: Please don't ask identical questions twice. There is no need to ask individuals for responses, if people have an answer, they will respond.

When you enter Bryce, stop at the visitor's center and watch the movie. Then drive down to the end, turn around, and stop at each viewpoint on the way back. They will all be on your side of the road. Unless you want to hike some of the trails, this will really only take you a few hours. You will have time to see some other nearby attractions, I would recommend Kodachrome Basin State Park.

At Zion, you will be heading in through the tunnel. The visitor's center is at the west entrance. If the parking lot is full, leave the park and park somewhere in Springdale. You can catch a shuttle bus back into the park in Springdale. You can catch a shuttle bus for Zion Canyon at the visitor's center. That's the only way you can see the canyon, private cars are not allowed on the road except in winter.

Bryce can be seen in 2 'portions', the Ampitheater to Bryce point where you can take an easy stroll along the rim between different points and/or use the shutlle bus service. The second is the drive down the canyon where all the viewpoints are easily accessable from the pull outs along the road. As glc pointed out, drive to the far end first [Yovimpa Point] and work your way back to save having to cut across the traffic at each stop.

During the summer I would advise you use the shuttle bus for the Ampitheater area [Sunset, Sunrise, Inspiration and Bryce point] as you can have a lot of hassle and waste time looking for a parking bay.

You will have to take the shuttle bus into Zion canyon, but they run frequently between the main trailheads. It's a wonderful place with nice walking in the canyon, the most popular being the Riverside walk which is an easy stroll, unless you decide to continue into the river and through the slot canyon at the end ! At each park you will get visitor info leaflets and Rangers are only to happy to tell you about their favourite areas and level of difficulty for each trail. Weeping Rock and Emerald pools are a couple of other options.

Between Bryce and Zion you will drive under a natural rock arch across the road where just beyond there is a pull out at Red canyon on the edge of the Dixie National Forest if you fancy stretching your legs away from the crowds. You will also drive through Checkaboard Mesa just before the Mt Carmel tunnel where there is a pull out just before the tunnel with a trail to Zion canyon overlook. The Trail is an hours round walk and steep in a couple of places with some steep drop offs and narrow spots, so not for anyone with a fear of heights apparently.

Both parks are spectacular, but Zion you enjoy from within and Bryce more for it's spectacular vistas and therefor Zion needs that bit of extra time to enjoy.

Well I am counting down the days to leave , a couple of last minute questions:

1. My first leg is: Vegas---Death valley----Lake isabela(staying here over night), it's a bit of a haul 6-8 hours depending on how much I stop. My question is about entering Death Valley:
Pahrump: Then take 190 in .. Or
Pahrump: take 372 to 178 to Badwater road--this way adds about an extra hour plus, IS THIS WORTH THE DRIVE to go this way? Is it worth seeing?
Considering the extra distance and the drive time I have to lake Isabela in 1 day?

2. When I head to Bryce Via: Nevada 6 to 375 ( stay over night and Lil'A'lee' Inn) what are the speed limits along these roads? How heavily enforced/patrolled are they?

thanks
Brian

1. The quickest way into DV is NV-190 to Pahrump, Bell Vista Ave to DV Junction, then CA-190 in. However, NV-372/CA-178 in through Badwater is well worth it if you have the time.

2. The open road speed limit in NV is 70. They are lightly patrolled but I don't know how much leeway you would get if you did happen to stumble across a cop.

Another option would be to take 190 and then drive down to Badwater Basin and back to Furnace Creek. That would be somewhere in the middle of the two options for time. It's a short bit of backtracking, but you could take Artists Drive on the way back up to FC, although it would take up a bit more time it's part of the 'sight seeing' and Badwater and Artists drive are a big part of that. Get an early start and you will be fine !

My advice would be to stay around the speed limits as it's not worth risking a ticket or worse. They do have spotter planes flying in the desert areas who can ticket you without you knowing it, until you get the bill ! One of the toughest parts I found was after driving at 60 +mph for a long period on empty roads and then entering town with a limit of 25mph, it felt like we were going at snails pace, but it's when we entered thses towns we saw the most [only] speed guns pointed our way.

Well I've been back for a while and have put together some Videos on youtube of my trip. As we all know it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL in the American west.
I WANT TO GO BACK !!!!
Could have spent all summer , just going from park to park. I again want to thank all you guys for your input, it made this trip a success and pleasure with the routes suggested here. Road trip America is great!!!! Here are some links to videos, I will post more as I complete them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRPl3hXsTyU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehf4hFu6dcc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkEuFuHw2kk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf8lx-rQN5E

Thanks again guys!!!!!!

Brian