During the summer months, yes. However, there will be NO time change crossing from Utah into Arizona if it is late autumn through early spring. In other words, if Utah is on Mountain Standard Time (as opposed to Mountain Daylight Saving Time).

In all that driving around, be sure to tour the dam at either Lake Powell or Lake Mead. You'll have a dam good time.

I know that....

Its the first Sunday in Nov to the second Sunday in March Utah and Arizona have the same time.......they are traveling in the summer so that is what matters....

Also the Navajo nation in Arizona is on the same time as Utah on Mountain Daylight time.

What I have heard is the counties on the Nevada border along the Colorado River may stay with with Nevada time...

Thanks so much for your help everyone.

We've decided to go for 5 days:

Day 1
Arrive Las Vegas afternoon
Drive from Las Vegas to Zion
Desert Pearl Inn

Day 2
Hike Zion
Stay Desert Pearl Inn

Day 3
Drive to Grand canyon north rim
Hike GC
Stay GC lodge

Day 4
Hike GC
Drive to Bryce canyon
Stay Best Western Plus Bryce canyon

Day 5
Sunrise at Bryce and Hike
Drive from Bryce to Hoover dam, back to Las Vegas


We thought about Kanab and the other parks, but we wanted to do them slower rather than a whirlwind tour, so 3 parks it is!

Questions though,

Is it difficult driving West in the evening? We plan to drive back to Las Vegas in the evening... will there be bad sun glare?

What car do people recommend? Looking at the car rental websites, probably a standard or intermediate? And fuel up every 50/100 kms?

Worth it to buy hiking shoes?

Thanks so much again

I dont see you driving in the evening based on your itinerary.

From North Rim to Bryce will be about 4 hr drive plus you will lose an hr with time change entering Utah.

You will gain an hr when you go to North Rim from Zion.

for cars you would be fine with an standard/intermediate.

Gas stations are separated.

You will be fine along I-15 from LV to st george to Zion.

from Zion...Kanab/Fredona has gas stations and Kanab has a supermarket right on 89 where the split is with 89 and 89A at the light.

Kanab to North Rim there is one station when you turn of 89A to the north rim and then there is one at least at the north rim. Fil up in Kanab.

Going back you go back through Kanab. Along 89 to Bryce you will pass through some towns and there are gas stations and outside of the towns at a main route turnoff there is a gas station. At Bryce at Best Western Ruby and across the street are two gas stations to get gas in.

What I suggest you try to do....get to Bryce Canyon about 2 hrs before sunset and go to sunset point for pics.

When you leave Bryce to drive back there are two ways to go....

A. You go south on 89 to UT 14 and then cross the mountains over toward Cedar City. A short distance of this is cedar breaks national monument which is similar to Bryce. Last year there was construction on Ut 14 near Cedar City thus the road was closed. I dont know the current status of this. You can check UT highway website that says construction areas et all.

B. GPS way--you go US 89 north through Pangultch to UT 20 over the mountains to I-15. This road is the main truck pass over the mountains. Try to do this while its still daylight. After that on I-15 it will be easy to drive at night/dark.

I am assuming you arent going to try and hike into the Grand Canyon.

Zion---you dont need hiking boots. the trails in the valley are flat and well maintained.

There is a part of Zion--the Narrows where you can wade in the water and explore the canyon. Here waterproof shoes or open sandles that can be wet would be good to bring if you want to do this.

North rim---You have the rim trail and then there are view points you can walk to that are formed of rock. I am an average hiker. I can do this with sneakers. If you have weaker ankles then use hiking boots.

Bryce---the way its set up is that you drive to pull off view points. that are rim views into the canyon. At some of these points you can take trails intot he canyon. This is not at all difficult.

The common place to do this is at sunset point. you go down into the canyon on switchbacks. One part is called the Wall which is a bunch of short switch backs through this narrow part.

i did this in sneakers...The hills you are going down is wide and well maintained. You should be fine just in sneakers.

When you are at the canyon floor the walk is flat.

At the time you are traveling it will still be summer. Remember to have water.

What I usually do is stop at a store and get one of those 24 pack of water bottles for the two of you.

Something to remember....

altitude sickness.

Vegas is around 2,000 ft
Zion floor 4300 ft
North rim 8500 ft
Bryce 8500-9500 feet
Cedar breaks 10,400 ft

When you are at north rim just be careful. once you get above 8,000 feet you can feel the altitude. Its usually headaches and possibly light headed ness. you need to take time to adjust and drink fluids.


When does your flight get into Vegas?

It will be about 2:30 hrs to get to the hotel plus an hr time change entering Utah. If you leave at 5:00pm you get there at 8:30pm.

My concern if you have delays and cant make it to your hotel on day 1. plus I dont know how you will adjust with your body clocks to the local time.

As for driving West.....the only time you would be is when you go from Bryce to Las Vegas. If you leave early enough the sun wont be much of an issue.

Part of your drive the sun will be blocked because of the mountains. The issue will be the short part from the mountains to I-15. Down I-15 the sun will be to your side so it wont be an issue.

Much appreciated djp.

We will arrive LAS airport at 1540, hope to leave airport at 1630 or so. Should be able to arrive at 2000?

Does GPS work throughout the whole trip? or will there be grey areas? Maybe it's better to buy a map?

Advice taken on hiking boots, we'll just buy some new sneakers.

Thanks again

GPS works throughout. Sure there could be a spot where you briefly lose signal due to interference.

There aren't many rounds at all you need to worry bout for your trip.

I-15.

UT9 from st George through Zion to Kanab
US 89 from Kanab north to UT 20 turn off ( turning lane here for left turn)
UT 20 and UT 14 cross roads between US 89 and I-15
US89A Kanab to jacob lake
AZ 67 from Jacob lake to north rim.
UT 12 from US89 to Bryce.

Roads are well defined and signage is very good.

You should make it by 2000... The only issue is this is rush hour traffic at 1600-1800 so heavier traffic n Vegas.


Some of the black spots would be going through the Zion tunnels. Elsewhere you will be fine.

You could print a map frm online that would be sufficient.

If you are members of AAA or the equivalent down there, you could always request maps in advance, or pop in one of their locations and pick up maps and tour books.
If not, a map or Internet printout could certainly be handy, just in case. Most gas stations will sell local maps if you're desperate.

I have some Merrill hiking shoes and really love them. They're a bit more sturdy than sneakers. I've used trail running shoes also, and they're similar...but these Merrill's have just a little more support, and are waterproof. I think there's a discussion on shoes over in the Travel Tools forum somewhere. I picked up mine at Dick's Sporting Goods, and I think there's some in Vegas.

Lastly, I'd definitely pack or pick up some sunglasses. I keep a pair in my car, have a dedicated pair for cycling, and have one other just in case. I wear contacts and my eyes are pretty sensitive to the sun, especially during rising/setting.
If nothing else, when you go to Target to get your water and snacks, a $20 pair of sunglasses should work. Plus a hat and sunblock

as far as shoes, I have a pair of chaco sandals I do my hiking in. Tres comfortable! As long as it isn't too rough (and it sounds like nothing you are doing is). I do 90% of my hiking in these sandals, and they pack down nice and compact!

I find Angel's Landing in Zion to be a great and short hike. It's all relative, but it is worth the trip to the top if you can manage it.

peachy3, your trip sounds great. We've done just about what you're doing a few times and I never get sick of going to that area. The advice to see just one side of the GC is a good one. We've stayed at the Desert Pearl and liked it. We had a large room along the river. Restaurants are all within walking distance. We stayed at the NPS lodge at Bryce. It was just okay. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

Bobette

Thanks again djp. We'll make sure we get GPS and print a few maps.

Sunglasses noted, seems like much the same as Australia!

Thanks ronoc and Bobette. Definitely looking forward to it. Bobette did you need to shuttle to and from Zion from Desert Pearl Inn? Was it very troublesome?

http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisi...king%20Map.pdf

http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisi...tle-system.htm

It's an easy shuttle system. A stop is right t the lodge.

You take the shuttle to the visitors center which you transfer to a park entrance shuttle taking you in the valley.

Sometimes we took the shuttle and sometimes we drove and parked at the visitors center. It was no problem for us. I liked having a swimming pool and being in town. But I think either way, in the park or Desert Pearl you'll be happy. I liked the Desert Pearl enough to go back. Don't be expecting a luxury hotel though. There aren't any of those animals in Sprindale. We stayed a little longer than you will be staying since we did the GC on another trip. I wasn't that balmy over the GC. Someone else suggested Cedar Breaks but I didn't think it was that special in light of the fact we had just come from Zion and Bryce.

Bobette

I stayed at Desert Pearl Inn a few years ago for a visit to Zion, etc. and would do so again. I did a long day trip from there to the North Rim. Worked out OK but I did not get to see how the sunlight plays in the GC at sunrise or sunset. What I did get to see was a magnificent starry night sky on the way back while driving through Zion. Almost no traffic, and a star field bright enough to light the canyon (no moon that night). Down in the canyons you are protected from almost all light pollution, which is why you can see so many stars, galaxies, etc.

TRRed: Did you find that one day was enough to do the north rim and some hikes? Would you have preferred to stay one night at the north rim? Definitely looking forward to the starry nights

For north rim be day is fine unless you plan on trying o walk deep into the canyon.

On the south rim you have a road the enters the park and runs along the canyon for 20 miles before getting to the lodges, then another 10 miles of road only operated by buses during the summer.

With the north you have one road in and it basically splits in 2 directions where you drive and park and not much drives along the canyn rim like the south. Thus it's much smaller.

For starry nights the whole area is good. Kanab isn't the big of a town so you won't get that much interference with city lights.

With sequestration could affect the night programs offered regarding. Star gazing.

North rim is good....so is Bryce canyon. The best I've ever seen was in Torrey, UT which is up by Capitol reef at the end of UZt 12 about 75 miles N-NE as the bird flies from Bryce.

For Zion it's about a 2.5 hr drive to north rim. Sunset in the summer would be around 7:30 PT/8:30 MT. You could stay through sunset then leave and return to your hotel near Zion by about midnight.