Southwest Trip

[nikkistevej]

We are planning a tentative trip next summer to the southwest area, we only have 1 week, and want to hit a few new states we haven't been. DH and I have been to Grand Canyon, but want to take our DD10. We also may want to see Bryce Canyon possibly. Here is our plan, does anyone have any input or advice to change? Also anything that would e fun for us to do in any of the places?Thanks for any help.:

Sat- fly into Albuquerque New Mexico, tour in afternoon and evening
Sun- tour Albuquerque until lunch, drive to Grand Canyon(6 hours), eat dinner in area
Mon- tour Grand Canyon all day
Tues- drive to Zion National Park(5 hours), tour in afternoon, dinner and stay in area
Wed- drive to Arches National Park(5 hours), tour in afternoon, dinner and stay in area
Thurs- drive to Salt Lake City(4 hours), tour in afternoon, dinner and stay in area
Fri- tour Salt Lake City. Stay in area
Sat- fly home

 

[CPT Tripss]

Are you set on visiting Albuquerque and SLC? You may get hit with substantial one way car rental premiums.

You could do a round trip from Las Vegas seeing the parks you list plus add Bryce Canyon. LV to Springdale UT for Zion is about 3 hours, stay there the first night, then Bryce, Arches, Grand Canyon (6 hours) back to LV is about 5 hours. This would increase your touring/hiking time in the parks.

IIRC, you will have to use the buses in both Zion and GCNP during the summer, so you might want extra time in those places which ever airport you use.

 

[Neesy228]

We are planning a tentative trip next summer to the southwest area, we only have 1 week, and want to hit a few new states we haven't been. DH and I have been to Grand Canyon, but want to take our DD10. We also may want to see Bryce Canyon possibly. Here is our plan, does anyone have any input or advice to change? Also anything that would e fun for us to do in any of the places?Thanks for any help.:

Sat- fly into Albuquerque New Mexico, tour in afternoon and evening
Sun- tour Albuquerque until lunch, drive to Grand Canyon(6 hours), eat dinner in area
Mon- tour Grand Canyon all day
Tues- drive to Zion National Park(5 hours), tour in afternoon, dinner and stay in area
Wed- drive to Arches National Park(5 hours), tour in afternoon, dinner and stay in area
Thurs- drive to Salt Lake City(4 hours), tour in afternoon, dinner and stay in area
Fri- tour Salt Lake City. Stay in area
Sat- fly home

Two years ago we did something similar. If your not stuck on Salt Lake as a final destination, i have some suggestions....

We Landed in ABQ and stayed to watch the international balloon fiesta (we went in the fall) and explored the Sandia Mountains a bit and rode the skyride there...we also ate at the cool Mexican restaurant at the base of the mountain...then we went up to the Four Corners and took pictures at the monument. That place was a little remote, but so neat! my kids loved it! From there, we went into Monument Valley, then onto the Navajo National Monument (cave homes) We stayed in Kayenta, AZ at a Hampton Inn and the place was great!

Then, to the Grand Canyon (stayed overnight on site at Maswik Lodge - it was very cool). THEN, we went south and got onto Route 66 and hit all the small "towns" along Route 66 on our way to Las Vegas. We spent two nights in Vegas and took a day trip to the Hoover dam and bridge. Route 66 was by far the most fun, unusual part of the trip! We few out of Vegas 10 days after landing in ABQ. Best trip ever.

You will spend a lot in car rental fees, but the memories will totally be worth it. There are so many fun things to do and see...parks, historic sites, small towns...I suggest you find airfare to two cities close enough to each other that you know you can make the drive in your allotted time, then plot your route from there. Our whole trip started because we found cheap airfare from our home to ABQ! I stared at maps for a long time when I started planning. Then I started researching certain areas of the states...I was able to plan everything with online resources.

If you are going to stay overnight in the Grand Canyon, book very early! If you are going to travel Route 66, read online and check out the towns. When we traveled they had a passport program for kids where the kids got a free book and all the stops had stamps for their passports.

Sorry that was so wordy! Have a great trip!

 

[nikkistevej]

Well we really wanted to hit 2 states we haven't been, so that would be Utah and New Mexico. We have been to Vegas(DH and I were there for 9/11- so we had a 5 day trip- that got 3 days added to it), so we went to Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam then. I know she would like Vegas and Hoover Dam, just not wanted to do there this time.
We figured SLC would be a good place to leave from- plus we will be visiting near there somewhat. I have heard it is a beautiful city as well.
Looking at some hotels in Tusayan? Which is supposed to be very close to Grand Canyon South Rim. We haven't been to that part of it.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Have you considered the North Rim instead of the South Rim? The North Rim is a closer drive to Zion and Bryce canyons. The North Rim Lodge has cabins but you need to book them about a year in advance.

 

[nikkistevej]

Have you considered the North Rim instead of the South Rim? The North Rim is a closer drive to Zion and Bryce canyons. The North Rim Lodge has cabins but you need to book them about a year in advance.

Haven't even thought about it, but will look into it. I don't know which one is closer to Albuquerque either. I definitely want to get a guide book for all these parks, so I can more info. When DH and I went years ago, we were in an area that there was nothing, no visitor centers or anything, so we will have to check that out.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Haven't even thought about it, but will look into it. I don't know which one is closer to Albuquerque either. I definitely want to get a guide book for all these parks, so I can more info. When DH and I went years ago, we were in an area that there was nothing, no visitor centers or anything, so we will have to check that out.

You would still take I-40W towards Flagstaff and then head north on 89 towards Page. It is a very pretty drive when you get to the Vermillion Cliffs.

The North Rim is beautiful and less touristy than the South. My canyon trip report in my signature has some pictures.