Visiting Australians -LA - Vegas - LA via Grand Canyon

[Ian J]

My wife and I will have 8 days from arrival LA to depart LA in mid July. We would like to see the coast, the GC and naturally visit Vegas befor we have to be back in LA. we would like to spend several days in Las Vegas.

We intend renting a car for the trip - any ideas

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The trip you are describing is easily the most popular and most discussed basic trip outline on this forum. Here are just a few of the thousands of posts we have on the subject. I suggest you start by simply looking around here to get some basic ideas.

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the R.T.A. forums.

This is one of the most popular areas for visitors and there are many threads covering it throughout the forums.Here is a link to our favorite ones.

we would like to spend several days in Las Vegas.

With only eight days from arrival and departure in L/A and wanting "several days" in Vegas is narrowing your options. If you have a day in L/A on arrival and took the second day travelling to G/C with a full day and 2 nights to see this wonder, and then a trip to Vegas and a couple of full days there you have gone through 6 days. You could certainly hit the coast in a day from Vegas, maybe around Morro Bay and then return to L/A.
Although if Vegas is the main attraction for you and you want to spend time there I would have thought it best to fly into there and visit the nearby parks of Death valley, Zion NP and take a trip to Grand Canyon.
You could also look at the option of flying into L/A and out of Vegas for a one way trip but it could possibly add to your rental charges.