Need help planning a first time RV trip from LA to Grand Canyon

[DiAnna Wheatley Michel]

Looking for help in planning the best route for a first time RV trip from LA to Grand Canyon. We would be flying into LA, would like to spend 1-2 days in LA seeing the sites, then picking up the RV and heading east - ending up in Grand Canyon and returning the RV to Las Vegas. Would love to see Sequoia along the way and travel through Death Valley. We do not really want to go to Sedona as we were just there a couple of months ago. We have 9 days total for our trip from the day we land until the day we take off for home. Any suggestions on the best route and what to see along the way?? Thank you so much for any suggestions you can provide. PS - also willing to flip the trip and start in Las Vegas if there are any advantages to that...

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

We really don't do 'best' here as there are many great options to choose from that cater for different tastes so I would encourage you to do a little reading around the forums and study a good map for inspiration. What I can do is give you a couple of options to consider. If you want to see GC and Sequoia then a loop trip starting and ending in LA, or LV could work well. So you could go LA >GC > LV > DV > Yosemite > Sequoia > LA. An alternative that does not include DV or Sequoia and finishes in Vegas could look something like this, LA >GC >Monument valley >Page> Bryce canyon >Zion NP> LV. Of course you could simply go from LA to Sequoia and then the GC and back to Vegas, much depends on the pace you wish to travel at.

One other thing to keep in mind and check on, is that the RV company may not permit you to drive through Death valley in the summer months as part of your contract.

[DiAnna Wheatley Michel]

Dave - thanks for the pointers! After some additional research and confirming the availability of the RV, etc. We have switched our plans - would love to get some advice on the following planned itinerary - again, we will be doing this in a rented RV (first time users)...our start AND end point will be Las Vegas. We are looking to hit the following attractions: Zion; Bryce; Grand Canyon (including a one-day rafting trip from the West rim area); Hoover Damn and back to Vegas. Any pointers for this trip? We have a total of 8 days before we need to return the RV. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

[Southwest Dave]

That will work. I would spend 2 nights in or near to Zion, Watchman NP campground being in a great location. As with all NP's, booking sites is essential and the sooner the better. One night in Bryce would work as you can admire the canyon from the rim viewpoints and is quicker to explore than Zion. To enjoy the views, go to the far end of the canyon and stop at the viewpoints on the way back up, they will all be on your side of the road which makes it much easier than to keep having to pull across the traffic, especially in an RV. The NP does ave a campground, but I would recommend Rubys Inn right near the park entrance and close to shops and restuarants. You could break the journey to the GC with a stop over in Page. [Antelope canyon/Lake Powell etc.] Keep in mind that the west rim is not part of the National park and you will want to spend time at the south rim enjoying the views and sunrise/sunset. There are two campgrounds not far from the village and rim, Trailer village with hook ups and Mather without. Again, I would recommend a couple of nights and you could consider on a detour to Monument valley from Page AZ. On US89 near to the junction with 64 to GC you will find the Cameron Trading post which is a little touristy, but still a pretty cool stop for a look around the stores. If you are tempted to buy trinkets as gifts etc there are roadside stalls on the way to the canyon which offer better value.

Any questions, just ask.