Las Vegas to San Francisco via the canyons and parks

[UKTerry]

Hi - new to the site so any help gratefully accepted!!

I am meeting a friend from Canada in Las Vegas, and thinking of driving from there through the Grand Canyon - Monument Valley - Lake Powell - Bryce canyon - Zion - Yesemite - San Francisco - from where I fly home.

Welocme any information on mileages, time taken and hotels - and any potential alternatives.

Cheers

UKTerry

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

You will find plenty of information on this very popular trip by searching around the forums. Laying out your route in the Map centre will also provide you with info on mileage and you can find road trip attractions. The stops you have laid out are all well within a day's drive, other than perhaps Zion to Yosemite which would be best suited to an overnight stop, perhaps in Death valley ?. The trip could be comfortably in achieved in 10 days, but you could just as easily fill 3 weeks or more, so how long have you got ? Zion is a little over 3 hours from Vegas where you could easily spend a couple of days before heading to Bryce for a day. Down through Page [Lake Powell, Antelope canyon] to Monument valley to the South rim. That part ofthe trip you can do either way around. If you ended 'part 1' in Zion you could still head towards Vegas and Death valley or head across the desert through Tonopah. From GC you could include a trip through Death valley to the Tioga pass or via Bakersfield/Lake Isabella to Yosemite, perhaps via Sequoia NP. It would also be good to know when you are travelling as it is possible some mountain passes might be close.

[UKTerry]

Thanks Southwest Dave - we have up to 14 - 16 days and will probably spend the first 2 - 3 in Vegas - arriving mid september 2011.

Haven't got to the Map centre yet - will try navigating that a bit later and also find what hotels are located where.

Thanks Again

UKTerry

[Southwest Dave]

If you leave 10/11 days available for the road rip and the rest of your time shared between time in Vegas and San Fran, it should make for a really nice trip. September into October is at a time where you should get across the Sierra Nevada via Tioga pass [CA120]. It's also a wonderful time of year to travel in these parts. Once you have looked around a bit you can sort out what appeals to you and how to spend your time, but a nice balance to the road trip would look something like this, Day 1 and 2 Vegas to Zion > Day 3 To Bryce > Day 4 To Lake Powell > Day 5 To Monument valley > Day 6 & 7 Grand canyon > Day 8 to Death valley > Day 9 & 10 Yosemite.

National park lodgings are more expensive than in surrounding towns generally speaking, but if your budget can manage it, I would recommend booking in advance, the NP's are very popular.

Let us know as new questions come up.

[UKTerry]

Sounds like a plan!! Will find a decent map - may even get a paper one that I can spread out - and trace the route - are there specific towns/places/lodges along the route that I can check out do you know?

Cheers

UKTerry

[Southwest Dave]

Finding your lodging options would be something to look at when you have got the map out and finalised your routing and where you want to stop. As I mentioned you have the choice of NP lodgings or looking at the surrounding areas. We don't really do specific lodging advice/recommendations, that's more for the likes of sites such as Tripadvisor or Expedia. However, for Zion I would check out the town of Springdale, great little town, great location. For Bryce canyon check out 'Ruby's Inn' right by the park entrance, if not there are cheaper lodgings in Tropic. Page AZ is a popular town for Lake Powell and Monument valley has Gouldings lodge. Kayenta, Tuba City and the interesting 'Cameron trading post' are all options. Cameron is near the East entrance to Grand canyon South rim. Out of the South entrance Tusayan is the nearest town with lodgings and Flagstaff and Williams have cheaper options. Death valley lodging is limited and can be found at 'Furnace creek', Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Springs. Prior to crossing the Sierra's into Yosemite you could stop anywhere along the 395, Lone Pine, Bishop, Lee Vining and so on. Out the other side of Yosemite you have towns like Groveland, Mariposa, El Portal and Oakhurst.

[UKTerry]

Thanks again Southwest Dave - very helpful - will take a couple of days to check this out but no doubt I'll be back.

Regards

UKTerry

[tanglefoot]

Hi ,just joined forum. we are planning a trip in early sept Vegas to San francisco via moument valley ,Brice canyon, Death valley , Yosamite, only have 10 days in total so a bit of a rush, would like at least a day in S F to see alcatraz before returning to UK. any advice would be much apreciated, regards tanglefoot

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

The trip you describe is very popular and is certainly doable with 10 day's to spare. From Vegas you could head over the Hoover dam to I40 and visit the south rim of the Grand canyon which would be a good area to spend night 1 of the road trip. From there continue to Monument valley and to Bryce canyon, perhaps stopping in Page AZ for Lake Powell/Antelope canyon etc. On to Bryce canyon for a stay and then perhaps you could take the Mt Carmel highway into Zion NP before heading back towards Vegas on I15 and into Death valley. Through Death valley on 190/136 to Lone Pine and then North on 395 from Lone Pine to Mono lake where you will meet the Tioga pass [CA120] into Yosemite. Round your trip off with a day or 2 in SF and you would of had one memorable trip !

look around the forums and road trip planning pages and if you have some specific questions just ask !