From Vegas to San Fran... Grand Canyon included!!!

[RelandCraig]

Hi.
I would be really grateful for any advice anyone could offer us for a rough route from Vegas to San Fran... We have about 12 days and have hired a car. We will be leaving Vegas on the 6th September and hope to go to the grand canyon... any suggestions on where? And then will take it nice and slow and scenic to San Fran from Grand Canyon....

We are both quite into nature so will enjoy seeing some really beautiful sites. Any suggestions at all will be much appreciated.

Thanking you in advance.

[Utahtea]

Day 1 drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon via Hwy 93, Interstate 40 and Hwy 64. 280 miles approx 5 hours driving time.

Day 2 Explore the Grand Canyon

Day 3 Exit the Grand Canyon at Desert View stopping at the scenic overlooks on your way. Take Hwy 89 north and stop at Page, AZ and Lake Powell for the night. 140 miles and approx 3 hours driving time.

Day 4 Spend the day in the Page/ Lake Powell area: There's plenty to do at Lake Powell. Take a boat tour of the lake, take a float trip on the Colorado River, see the slots canyons, take the short hike to Horseshoe Bend to name a few.

Day 5 Drive to Bryce Canyon National Park and spend the night. 155 miles and approx. 3 1/2 hours driving time.

Day 6 Explore Bryce

Day 7 Drive to Zion National Park. 86 miles and approx. 2 hours drive.

Day 8 Explore Zion

Day 9 Take Hwy 9 to La Verkin, take Hwy 17 to Interstate 15. DRive north on I- 15 to Hwy 56. Drive west on Hwy 56 to the Utah/Nevada border where it turns into Hwy 319. In Panaca, Nevada take Hwy 93 to Cold Springs. (Make sure you gas up in Panaca!!!) In Cold Springs take Hwy 375 which is also know as the Extraterrestrial Highway At Warm Springs take Hwy 6 to Tonopah, Nevada. Spend the night in Tonopah, NV. 335 miles and approx. 8 1/2 hours driving.

Day 10 Take Hwy 6 to Benton, California. Then take Hwy 120. This is a really beautiful section of highway. Keep taking Hwy 120 thought Yosemite National Park. If you can get accomodations, I would spend 2 nights in Yosemite Valley. 205 miles approx. 5 1/2 hours driving...but plan on more because there's sites to see before you reach Yosemite Valley.

Day 11 Explore Yosemite

Day 12 Drive to San Francisco. 190 miles approx. 4 1/2 hours...depending on the San Francisco Bay traffic!

Well, that's what I would do with 12 days.

Utahtea