Grand Canyon/Vegas/DL plans need help

[dlm1017]

Any west coast experts I need help! early planning trip for Oct 2012, thinking of flying into Vegas or Phoenix doing GC for a couple days then Vegas a couple days then DL for 5 days. Should I fly to Phoenix and do GC at the south rim first? Or should I fly into Vegas, drive to the west rim (I think the west is closer to Vegas) then back to Vegas, then to DL? We will be renting a car, just not sure which rim of the canyon is best for someone who has never been before. We will only be there for 2 days so not sure how much we can accomplish during that amount of time.

I haven’t researched anything on the drive from Phoenix/Vegas yet so which drive has more to see along the way?

Also, I have been to Vegas before but what is there to see along the way from Vegas to DL as we will be driving.
Any suggestions?
Thanks for any help you can give me!
Dana

 

[disneyfaninaz]

If this is your first visit to the Grand Canyon, I would recommend flying into Phoenix and going to the South Rim. The West Rim is not really developed. You could also swing through Sedona on your way to the Canyon. It is beautiful in the fall. If you want to stay in the Canyon, you want to get reservations about a year in advance. I would recommend El Tovar, if you want to spend a lot, or Bright Angel Lodge for a more reasonable price.

I have never driven from Vegas to DL, so I can't help you there.

 

[GrandBob]

AAlso, I have been to Vegas before but what is there to see along the way from Vegas to DL as we will be driving.

Nothing. Sorry to be so direct, but it's mostly desert. There's a major road stop in Barstow, called Barstow Station, that most of the busses stop at. Mostly a bunch of restaurants, and mostly fast food (McD's, etc). Probably your best bet for a pit stop.

Make sure to time your trip so you don't try to do the Vegas to LA leg on a Friday. On Fridays, the road can be stop and go for the entire distance, and it's a major PITA. On other days, you should be fine, at least until you get into the LA traffic.

-Bob

 

[zimaaaaah]

Nothing. Sorry to be so direct, but it's mostly desert. There's a major road stop in Barstow, called Barstow Station, that most of the busses stop at. Mostly a bunch of restaurants, and mostly fast food (McD's, etc). Probably your best bet for a pit stop.

Make sure to time your trip so you don't try to do the Vegas to LA leg on a Friday. On Fridays, the road can be stop and go for the entire distance, and it's a major PITA. On other days, you should be fine, at least until you get into the LA traffic.

-Bob

Just checking - is the Vegas to LA part packed all Friday or after a certain time of day? Already booked in there on a Friday, so just wondered what we are in for.

 

[blueiis99]

Any west coast experts I need help! early planning trip for Oct 2012, thinking of flying into Vegas or Phoenix doing GC for a couple days then Vegas a couple days then DL for 5 days. Should I fly to Phoenix and do GC at the south rim first? Or should I fly into Vegas, drive to the west rim (I think the west is closer to Vegas) then back to Vegas, then to DL? We will be renting a car, just not sure which rim of the canyon is best for someone who has never been before. We will only be there for 2 days so not sure how much we can accomplish during that amount of time.

I haven’t researched anything on the drive from Phoenix/Vegas yet so which drive has more to see along the way?

Also, I have been to Vegas before but what is there to see along the way from Vegas to DL as we will be driving.
Any suggestions?
Thanks for any help you can give me!
Dana

we are doing the same as you.... So I am quite interested inthis thread and what you all have to say!

I have still not decided which way we are going to go first from east to west or west to east. This is a much more difficult trip to plan than Disney!

I believe we will do 2 days grand canyon, 3 days vegas, and 2 days Disney Land. I have heard that that these parks can really be done in 1 day, but with the new cars land being built, I figure 2 days no more than 3.
I am also looking at blue angel and el Tovar, and on our way to vegas, i thought that stopping by the glass walkway would be a quickie side trip.

 

[azlaura]

I would arrive in Phoenix and drive north to the Grand Canyon( you will get to see desert and then red rocks and then mountains with pine trees) and spend your two days. You could stay outside the park, there is a tiny little town with some hotels, can't remember the name but we stayed there a few years ago and it was great! Then I would go on to Vegas from there. You will need at least 3 days in DLand to see and do everything esp. with the new Carsland opening.
I hope this helps.

FYI....The skywalk is a long way from the Grand Canyon's main enterance.

 

[blueiis99]

I would arrive in Phoenix and drive north to the Grand Canyon( you will get to see desert and then red rocks and then mountains with pine trees) and spend your two days. You could stay outside the park, there is a tiny little town with some hotels, can't remember the name but we stayed there a few years ago and it was great! Then I would go on to Vegas from there. You will need at least 3 days in DLand to see and do everything esp. with the new Carsland opening.
I hope this helps.

FYI....The skywalk is a long way from the Grand Canyon's main enterance.

Thank You!! I will most definitely used this information!! Very helpful!

 

[lovebuzz]

I would arrive in Phoenix and drive north to the Grand Canyon( you will get to see desert and then red rocks and then mountains with pine trees) and spend your two days. You could stay outside the park, there is a tiny little town with some hotels, can't remember the name but we stayed there a few years ago and it was great! Then I would go on to Vegas from there. You will need at least 3 days in DLand to see and do everything esp. with the new Carsland opening.
I hope this helps.

FYI....The skywalk is a long way from the Grand Canyon's main enterance.

Great advice! We just came back from the grand canyon. If you can make reservations far enough in advance, you will want to stay the night in the GC. However, we stayed in Williams, it is an hour south of the GC and it is a charming little town. They even have a gun fight in the middle of town at 7:00. From there we drove to Sedona, about another 1 1/2 hours and stayed there. It is another great town to visit. From there we drove to Pheonix and watched a Arizona Diamonbacks game. If you have any questions fire away.

 

[cyclenut]

We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and took the train up to to the south rim for the day, round trip. We really enjoyed the entire experience. They did a little stage show/shootout thing just outside the hotel before we boarded the train. We booked it through AAA to get a discount on the entire package. Hotel, Train and bus tour of the south rim (and meals were included). We didn't do any hiking or anything and basically just stayed for two nights, spending only one day at the GC.

Flying into Phoenix and driving up is a better choice I think than flying into Vegas and driving down.