On this massive day hike, you will hike down the South Kaibab Trail, cross the Colorado River, and hike back up the Bright Angel Trail. If you are super fit and have lots of hiking experience, consider hiking rim to river to rim. Just keep in mind that it is a hefty climb to get back up on the rim. If you go a little farther, the views open up even more. Round trip, it is a 1.8 mile hike to Ooh Aah Point. I recommend taking the shuttle out to Yaki Point Road and hiking a portion of the South Kaibab Trail. It’s easy to get to, since it starts right next to the Bright Angel Lodge, but once below the rim, it lacks the sweeping views of the Grand Canyon you can get from another trail, the South Kaibab Trail. The Bright Angel Trail is a popular pick. If you don’t mind a short but strenuous hike, going below the rim is an experience I highly recommend. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon never set foot below the rim. The Best Western and the Holiday Inn Express are two more hotels to try in Tusayan. For a nicer room, it’s worth upgrading to the Deluxe Queen Room. This is our go-to hotel when we visit the Grand Canyon. There are several hotels to choose from as well as some restaurants. From Tusayan, it is a 15-minute drive into the park. You also have the option to stay in Tusayan. Make your reservations at least 6 months in advance. These hotels fill up very far in advance. However, the hotels get mediocre reviews and many people say they are expensive for what you get.Ĭlick here to view the lodges and get updated pricing. Staying here gives you the advantage of easy access to the shuttles, short walks to several of the viewpoints, and no hassles driving into and out the park every day. There are five hotels located in the Grand Canyon Village (El Tovar, Thunderbird Lodge, Bright Angel Lodge, Kachina Lodge, and Maswick Lodge). On this itinerary, you will sleep at the Grand Canyon or in Tusayan for 3 nights. If you are lucky enough that it is still daylight, consider watching the sunset from the South Rim. My advice would be to save your money and go right to the South Rim. For a family of four, your ticket price will be almost $300. We did this and in our opinion, this experience is extremely overpriced and the views won’t come close to what you are about to see on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Skywalk looks and sounds thrilling…a glass walkway perched high above the canyon floor, offering spectacular views of the Grand Canyon. To learn more about tour options, click here. However, the Guided Dam Tour tickets can only be purchased on-site the same day, and tickets generally sell out in the morning. The Powerplant Tour can be reserved in advance online. You can either walk across the dam and take photos or join a guided tour of the dam. If you are able to start your drive early (by midday) you have the option to add on a visit to Hoover Dam. It is a long drive to get to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Try to plan your flight so you arrive in Las Vegas in the morning or early afternoon. More Information about the National ParksĪrrive in Las Vegas, Drive to the Grand Canyon.American Southwest Road Trip: Planning Checklist.
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Grand Staircase-Escalante: Hike the Slot Canyons.Capitol Reef National Park: Loop the Fold.Capitol Reef National Park: Cathedral Valley.Overview of this American Southwest Road Trip.With gorgeous scenic drives, stunning overlooks, and short but sweet strolls through the parks, you can have a fantastic trip without venturing too far down a hiking trail. If you are an avid hiker, be prepared to put some serious mileage on your hiking shoes, and a tough time narrowing down which hikes you want to do, because this area is a literal treasure trove of thrilling trails.Īnd if hiking is not your thing, not to worry. Kids will love the short hiking trails and the unique landscapes. If you are looking for a memorable family vacation, this is a good one. This American Southwest road trip is great for all ages. These two parks offer quite a few amazing experiences and lack the crowds that swarm Zion and Bryce Canyon. Capitol Reef and Canyonlands get far fewer visitors, but they are absolutely worth your time. Bryce Canyon, with its hoodoos and fun hiking trails, also gets a robust number of visitors. On this list are the uber popular Zion and Arches National Parks. The Mighty 5 are five national parks located in central and southern Utah. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.The sights you will see on this American Southwest road trip include: This is the itinerary I wish we had when we planned our first road trip to the American Southwest.
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