Fly from New York to anywhere west and drive to Grand Canyon
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 70
Fly from New York to anywhere west and drive to Grand Canyon
Looking to take a flight from NYC area to visit the Grand Canyon.
I don't mind driving - Salt Lake City? Colorado Springs? New Mexico? as long as it is scenic.
What I really want to do is fly in somewhere with a cheap flight, but it seems like all NY airports heading west are $400 +, is it ever cheaper?
Any links to road trip maps showing scenic routes?
Any ideas?
Thanks.
I don't mind driving - Salt Lake City? Colorado Springs? New Mexico? as long as it is scenic.
What I really want to do is fly in somewhere with a cheap flight, but it seems like all NY airports heading west are $400 +, is it ever cheaper?
Any links to road trip maps showing scenic routes?
Any ideas?
Thanks.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 599
+1 on Vegas, and consider the much less crowded but just as stunning North rim of the canyon. In my opinion, it is less crowded because it is more remote (far from major east/west interstates, not Vegas), not because it offers lesser scenery.
Also makes for easy side trips to the wonderful national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon) in southern Utah. Whatever you do, enjoy your trip!
Also makes for easy side trips to the wonderful national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon) in southern Utah. Whatever you do, enjoy your trip!
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,457
How much time do you have?
Phoenix is closest to the S. Rim. Las Vegas is closest to the N. Rim. If you do both, its a wash. If you do any of the Nat'l Parks above GC then Las Vegas. However, Las Vegas airport has particularly high rental car fees and taxes. Gotta pay off that rental car facility and what not. Not sure if PHX is as bad.
Phoenix is closest to the S. Rim. Las Vegas is closest to the N. Rim. If you do both, its a wash. If you do any of the Nat'l Parks above GC then Las Vegas. However, Las Vegas airport has particularly high rental car fees and taxes. Gotta pay off that rental car facility and what not. Not sure if PHX is as bad.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
How much time do you have?
Phoenix is closest to the S. Rim. Las Vegas is closest to the N. Rim. If you do both, its a wash. If you do any of the Nat'l Parks above GC then Las Vegas. However, Las Vegas airport has particularly high rental car fees and taxes. Gotta pay off that rental car facility and what not. Not sure if PHX is as bad.
Phoenix is closest to the S. Rim. Las Vegas is closest to the N. Rim. If you do both, its a wash. If you do any of the Nat'l Parks above GC then Las Vegas. However, Las Vegas airport has particularly high rental car fees and taxes. Gotta pay off that rental car facility and what not. Not sure if PHX is as bad.
#7
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
Please follow the discussion as the thread moves to the Travel->West forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
My first trip to the area was 5-6 days. I flew in to Vegas, rented a car, and spent a day or two each in Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon (north rim). It was a marvelous trip that showed me enough of the area to inspire several repeat visits. The one thing I'd change in retrospect? Skip the Grand Canyon. Seriously. There's better stuff out there.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 70
My first trip to the area was 5-6 days. I flew in to Vegas, rented a car, and spent a day or two each in Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon (north rim). It was a marvelous trip that showed me enough of the area to inspire several repeat visits. The one thing I'd change in retrospect? Skip the Grand Canyon. Seriously. There's better stuff out there.
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: Starwood Gold, HiltonHHonors Silver, Marriott Silver, Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 1,775
What time of year are you going? FYI, the North rim is closed much of the year because it's at a higher elevation than the South rim. I suppose they don't want too many people slipping on ice and falling into the canyon.
The new "glass-bottom" overlook is on the north side, if that interests you.
I don't think you can go wrong either way. Flying into Phoenix and making your way north through Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, Painted Desert, etc. to the Desert View entrance is spectacular.
Heading south from Vegas gives you many options, too, including Zion and Bryce. My personal wish-list item also includes Antelope Canyon, where you can see slot canyons, which look out of this world. You have to make reservations in advance with an Indian guide.
The new "glass-bottom" overlook is on the north side, if that interests you.
I don't think you can go wrong either way. Flying into Phoenix and making your way north through Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, Painted Desert, etc. to the Desert View entrance is spectacular.
Heading south from Vegas gives you many options, too, including Zion and Bryce. My personal wish-list item also includes Antelope Canyon, where you can see slot canyons, which look out of this world. You have to make reservations in advance with an Indian guide.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
I think you will find cheaper flights into Vegas than into Phoenix. More competition, for one thing. If you drive to the North Rim of the GC, you'll pass through part of Zion National Park (worth a visit in its own right, and there are lots of hotels in adjoining town of Springdale).
The North Rim is higher, cooler, greener and less crowded than the South Rim, though some feel they get a more direct view to the bottom of the canyon from the South Rim, plus the South Rim area has a wider variety of accommodations, in the park, and nearby towns. For the North Rim,your choices are pretty much the lodge at the rim (http://foreverlodging.com/lodging.cfm?PropertyKey=181), which should be booked in advance, the rustic Kaibab Lodge (http://kaibablodge.com/). just outside the park boundary, and the motel-like Jacob Lake Inn (http://www.jacoblake.com/), 44 miles from the rim. There are reviews of all of them on Tripadvisor. After that, the next places are, I believe, way out in the small towns of Fredonia, AZ and Kanab, UT.
The North Rim is higher, cooler, greener and less crowded than the South Rim, though some feel they get a more direct view to the bottom of the canyon from the South Rim, plus the South Rim area has a wider variety of accommodations, in the park, and nearby towns. For the North Rim,your choices are pretty much the lodge at the rim (http://foreverlodging.com/lodging.cfm?PropertyKey=181), which should be booked in advance, the rustic Kaibab Lodge (http://kaibablodge.com/). just outside the park boundary, and the motel-like Jacob Lake Inn (http://www.jacoblake.com/), 44 miles from the rim. There are reviews of all of them on Tripadvisor. After that, the next places are, I believe, way out in the small towns of Fredonia, AZ and Kanab, UT.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,508
The glass bottom is not the north rim. It's the Western rim on an Indian reservation the name of which escapes me right now. It is the closest spot from Las Vegas btw. But the road to get there is a little rough. At least it was 4 years ago when I went. Might have been paved since. But even unpaved it's driveable with a regular car, just bumpy and slow going.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: UA *Alliance
Posts: 5,591
The glass bottom is not the north rim. It's the Western rim on an Indian reservation the name of which escapes me right now. It is the closest spot from Las Vegas btw. But the road to get there is a little rough. At least it was 4 years ago when I went. Might have been paved since. But even unpaved it's driveable with a regular car, just bumpy and slow going.
http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/
#14
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: MR Gold, DCL Silver, RSSC Silver
Posts: 775
For a short trip, Phoenix, Sedona, Williams, Grand Canyon probably is best. Vegas to the Grand Canyon is just okay in terms of natural scenery (though there is some interesting artificial scenery).
For a long trip, there are a lot of good options, including Denver, Arches/Canyonlands, Painted Desert, Flagstaff, Sedona, Phoenix, Tucson.
For a long trip, there are a lot of good options, including Denver, Arches/Canyonlands, Painted Desert, Flagstaff, Sedona, Phoenix, Tucson.