June loop roadtrip from LA - Death Valley - LV - Utah park back to LA

Hello,

I am planning family roadtrip in June from LA. I am flying from NY to LA and then renting a car and planning to do itienary suggested below.

7th June - NY - LA in the morning , LA Sight Seeing
8th June - Disneyland
9th - La to Death valley
10th - DV to Hoover Dam - Las Vegas
11th - LV to Zion
12th - Zion to Canyonlands
13th - Canyonlands to Arches
14th - Arches to MonumentValley
15th - MonumentValley to Grand Canyon National Park(still need to research which side is better north or south)
16th - GCNP - LV
17th - LV - LA, flying back to NY

I know this includes lots of driving but we only have few days. Please let me know what can I add and remove and what will be better route to complete all this.

We have done Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, Page last year. I included Zion in this trip only to cut down the driving from LV to Canyonlands. I want to include Sequoia but not sure we have that much time to include Sequoia and complete everything else.

Please let me know your suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

As you are already aware: "[T]his includes lots of driving but we only have few days." In point of fact, you plan to drive to a new location each and every day of your trip. Note that such an itinerary necessarily also includes packing up, checking out of a motel, checking into another and finally unpacking. The time you're left with to see some of the great natural wonders of the west is already minimal, so I wouldn't suggest adding anything. Indeed, I'd be cutting. Otherwise, all you're going to be doing is spending the bulk of each day sitting in your car for at most a few hours in a national or tribal park. I would cut out anything you feel you've already 'seen' and I'd cut out Arches NP as a bridge too far. Sequoia is two bridges too far since you'd have to drive completely around the Sierra Nevada to include it. In addition, you really have no choice but to do the South Rim of the Grand Canyon given the other locations on your itinerary and the North Rim's isolation and 'one road in, same road out' set up. As always with family RoadTrips, less is more. 'See' fewer places but enjoy them, and the entire trip, more.

AZBuck

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

You've already got a trip where you are really trying to cram in so much that I think you're going to have a hard time enjoying much anything - especially when you're talking about a family trip and have kids involved. That same sort of thing also I think will be somewhat problematic with a trip you've laid out where you are driving a significant distance pretty much every day.

So you certainly don't want to add anything else - doing Sequoia really isn't an option, unless you do that instead of Utah.

I'd also skip Zion, as you've already been there, and aren't giving yourself any time to really see anything there - so making the detour to go there really doesn't make sense.

I would also skip the double stop in Vegas, as again, it adds miles and time you don't have.

Finally, I'd think about saving Disney for the end, as presumably that's a stop for your kids sake it will probably be better to have that as something they can look forward to at the end, rather than just having a long drive back to LA with a trip to the airport as the only thing left on the agenda. Not to mention, that avoids having the kids tired out from Disney at the start of the trip, and would eliminate the stress of having to get from Vegas to LA in time to make a flight.

So what I would do would look something like this.

7 - Fly to LA, drive towards Death Valley
8 - See DV, spend the night in Vegas
9 - Vegas (Hoover Dam)
10 - drive to Moab
11/12 Cayonlands/Arches
13 - Monument Valley (perhaps spending the night near GC)
14 - Grand Canyon South Rim
15 - Drive to LA
16 - Disney
17 - Fly home.

That's still a very busy trip, and you'll have to think if that's still a pace that's enjoyable for your family, but it at least gives you a few nights where you are staying in the same place each night and not spending several hours each day in the car.

Another option would be to reverse the trip and head to Grand canyon first. You may be able to get a few hours drive out of LA on the 7th.
8. To Grand canyon.
9. Grand canyon. (Stay Cameron Trading post just out the east exit?)
10. Through Monument valley to Moab.
11/12 Arches and Canyonlands and drive to Capital Reef NP (?)
13. To Vegas.
14. Vegas to Death Valley and towards LA.
15/16/17 LA and home.

That's dropping Zion and Hoover Dam and adding Capital Reef which you may not have seen

Thanks AZBuck for the advice and suggestion. Appreciate it!

Thanks Michael for the response! Sorry, I forgot to mention in my post, all the travellers are adults, my wife’s family is visiting (my in-laws and my brother in law) so driving is not an issue but would like to plan accordingly where we can leave early in the morning and enjoy the must see places.

I liked your suggestion to avoid Zion and go to Moab instead but We also been to moab so I thought let’s visit Zion one more time, definitely great place to visit multiple times.

I was planning to stop in vegas so I can avoid long drive from GCNP to LA. Do you have any suggestion to visit any near by place which is good for night stay instead vegas?

Thanks again for your time!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

Another option would be to reverse the trip and head to Grand canyon first. You may be able to get a few hours drive out of LA on the 7th.
8. To Grand canyon.
9. Grand canyon. (Stay Cameron Trading post just out the east exit?)
10. Through Monument valley to Moab.
11/12 Arches and Canyonlands and drive to Capital Reef NP (?)
13. To Vegas.
14. Vegas to Death Valley and towards LA.
15/16/17 LA and home.

That's dropping Zion and Hoover Dam and adding Capital Reef which you may not have seen

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Hi Dave,

Thanks for the reply!

I haven’t thought this way. Let me see how can I fit whole itienary if I do reverse trip.

Thanks again for your response!

I don't disagree that Zion is worth visiting multiple times, but the larger point is that your original plan has you trying to do so much that you don't really have time to stop and enjoy much anything, instead, you're simply driving from place to place, barely giving yourself enough time to even check a box and say you've been there.

Being that Zion is someplace you'd just visited last year AND it adds some extra miles, it seems like a very logical place to cut. If you want to keep it, that's fine, but I'd pick something else to cut instead.

If you've already done Moab, then that would also be worth considering for the chopping block, perhaps instead using the time that you would have used on that pretty lengthy detour to visit both the North and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

... to visit both the North and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

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Jumping in here with a more radical suggestion. Assuming your in-laws are from out of country. why not give them a holiday in the greatest of the seven great natural wonders of the world.

There is so much more to the Grand Canyon than just peering over the rim at its granduer.

Fly into LV and next day head for the Grand Canyon South Rim. Before you enter, go see the IMAX movie of the GCNP. This will help you appreciate the GC so much more. Spend a day and a half at the GC, staying in the park if at all possible. If all the adults are able bodied, enjoy some of the shorter walks, and take part in the ranger led programs and walks. Exit out the east entrance, stopping at most of the many overlooks and view points, and stay at Cameron's Trading post.


Then head to the North Rim via US89/US89A. First sign you will come to is Horseshoe Bend. A 20 min walk each way to see one of the many scenic bends the Colorado river carved. Take in some, or all of the amazing sights along the way - Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, Lees Ferry (the only place within Glen Canyon where visitors can drive to the Colorado River in over 700 miles of canyon country) and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. These are all great sights to spend some time and learn their history, especially Lees Ferry, if you drive right to the end. The natural formations all have explanations with them.

This is also a scenic route to Fredonia and onto the North Rim, via Jacobs' Creek. There are also other sites along this route, but these will keep you occupied and give a true appreciation of Grand Canyon Country. The North Rim is at an elevation 1000' higher than the South Rim and it is a very scenic drive. Well worth taking your time over. Your entry ticket to the Grand Canyon is valid for seven days.

Give yourselves time to really absorb the difference between the North and South Rims. Again take part in the ranger programs offered. Hike some of the trails. Go see some of the remains of centuries old native dwellings And be sure to take in both a Sunset and and a Sunrise over the canyon. There is nothing on earth quite like it.

That should take up most of your time, and your visitors will have seen a lot more of Grand Canyon country than most visitors ever get to see.

Lifey

P.S. Here's a book which will help you understand the GC even more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

I don't disagree that Zion is worth visiting multiple times, but the larger point is that your original plan has you trying to do so much that you don't really have time to stop and enjoy much anything, instead, you're simply driving from place to place, barely giving yourself enough time to even check a box and say you've been there.

Being that Zion is someplace you'd just visited last year AND it adds some extra miles, it seems like a very logical place to cut. If you want to keep it, that's fine, but I'd pick something else to cut instead.

If you've already done Moab, then that would also be worth considering for the chopping block, perhaps instead using the time that you would have used on that pretty lengthy detour to visit both the North and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

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Thanks man! It seems more work now in planning. Thanks for the info! Will updte with the latest itienary.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lifemagician

Jumping in here with a more radical suggestion. Assuming your in-laws are from out of country. why not give them a holiday in the greatest of the seven great natural wonders of the world.

There is so much more to the Grand Canyon than just peering over the rim at its granduer.

Fly into LV and next day head for the Grand Canyon South Rim. Before you enter, go see the IMAX movie of the GCNP. This will help you appreciate the GC so much more. Spend a day and a half at the GC, staying in the park if at all possible. If all the adults are able bodied, enjoy some of the shorter walks, and take part in the ranger led programs and walks. Exit out the east entrance, stopping at most of the many overlooks and view points, and stay at Cameron's Trading post.


Then head to the North Rim via US89/US89A. First sign you will come to is Horseshoe Bend. A 20 min walk each way to see one of the many scenic bends the Colorado river carved. Take in some, or all of the amazing sights along the way - Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, Lees Ferry (the only place within Glen Canyon where visitors can drive to the Colorado River in over 700 miles of canyon country) and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. These are all great sights to spend some time and learn their history, especially Lees Ferry, if you drive right to the end. The natural formations all have explanations with them.

This is also a scenic route to Fredonia and onto the North Rim, via Jacobs' Creek. There are also other sites along this route, but these will keep you occupied and give a true appreciation of Grand Canyon Country. The North Rim is at an elevation 1000' higher than the South Rim and it is a very scenic drive. Well worth taking your time over. Your entry ticket to the Grand Canyon is valid for seven days.

Give yourselves time to really absorb the difference between the North and South Rims. Again take part in the ranger programs offered. Hike some of the trails. Go see some of the remains of centuries old native dwellings And be sure to take in both a Sunset and and a Sunrise over the canyon. There is nothing on earth quite like it.

That should take up most of your time, and your visitors will have seen a lot more of Grand Canyon country than most visitors ever get to see.

Lifey

P.S. Here's a book which will help you understand the GC even more.

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Thanks for your time and appreciate the response! We have to consider LA in so flying to LV is not an option, I also gave that option a thought but it is not working out for us. South to North rim is a good option though which I did not consider earlier.

Do you have any suggession for hotels/motels in Cameron Trading Post? Surprisingly did not find anything online.

Thanks!

Cameron Trading Post is the name of the motel.

Navigating LA is always a super important trip planning step or you will spend most of your time bumper to bumper. Seems like 10am-2pm are the key day time hours to make your escape and re-entry. Try to avoid the lunch hour rush ;)

Last year my wife and I stayed in a good little motel (Rodeway Inn) in Barstow, family owned and operated. The husband made fresh eggs to order in the lobby/breakfast den, grandma managed the laundry, and so on. There are also some decent restaurants nearby. Also stopped at a small brewpub in the nearby town before pulling into Barstow (Firestation?).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

Cameron Trading Post is the name of the motel.

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Thanks for the link Michael! This looks really close to the park.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

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Originally Posted by landmariner

Navigating LA is always a super important trip planning step or you will spend most of your time bumper to bumper. Seems like 10am-2pm are the key day time hours to make your escape and re-entry. Try to avoid the lunch hour rush ;)

Last year my wife and I stayed in a good little motel (Rodeway Inn) in Barstow, family owned and operated. The husband made fresh eggs to order in the lobby/breakfast den, grandma managed the laundry, and so on. There are also some decent restaurants nearby. Also stopped at a small brewpub in the nearby town before pulling into Barstow (Firestation?).

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Thanks, will check it out that place!