Following as we are planning a similar trip next summer.
8:24pm on 7/27/25 by
njhyndman
Last time (2023) we flew in/out of Las Vegas for Zion, Bryce, and N Rim Grand Canyon (sadness, that lodge was gorgeous) and stayed in-park for all 3. We hiked early before the heat (mid Aug) and late afternoon. Arches would have meant adding on more time
9:13pm on 7/27/25 by
KLuck
than we had available. Love Arches tho! Discovered we prefer N Rim to S Rim but not sure how the fires will affect that side going forward :(
9:14pm on 7/27/25 by
KLuck
Completely agree w @kluck! We flew to Vegas. Stopped at Hoover Dam (surprisingly great!), then South Rim. Stayed at Bright Angel Lodge. Ate at El Tovar. Biked out to Hermits Rest. Drove to North Rim. Loved it. Drove to Zion. Stopped in Kanab on the way.
9:38pm on 7/27/25 by
evamarie320
Excellent place for lunch and movie museum stop. Zion beautiful. Drove to Bryce. Then up thru Utah and on to Rocky Mtn Park. Flew out of Denver. Lots of driving but unforgettable trip.
9:40pm on 7/27/25 by
evamarie320
We did Hoover Dam and south Rim this past June, both spectacular. Wishing now we had gone to the N Rim. We went from Sedona though. We entered east entrance and then stopped all along down the road to GC village. Then shuttle to hermits rest.
9:44pm on 7/27/25 by
koolaid
If you do Hoover dam try to rope drop so you can do the extended tour (can only purchase onsite) and you'll be in the 1st groups
And won't have to wait hours for a time slot.
9:46pm on 7/27/25 by
koolaid
Zion Zion Zion! One of the coolest places I've ever been. We stayed nearby last time and visited Bryce, too. Bryce is weird rocks - pretty, but weird.
10:11pm on 7/27/25 by
moondance07
Get the extra rental car insurance if you are plannning to drive after dark. The darkness when you drive thru the desert and Grand Canyon is more than car headlines can manage as Mrs. Elk found out when we hit her.
10:37pm on 7/27/25 by
Elaine5715
RDR Doug & son have just come back from Arches- see @shotbyalden on insta. Looks stunning.
2:50am on 7/28/25 by
hodg
Arches is amazing (Zion is on our list too)! We did Arches in July a few years ago not realizing that it is low season there. In hindsight, that makes so much sense! We just hit the hiking trails/arches super-early and hung out in the condo/pool in the...
12:55pm on 7/28/25 by
splashmommy
...afternoons! On the plus side, we had all of the arches, except Delicate Arch, pretty much to ourselves, which was really awesome. :-)
12:56pm on 7/28/25 by
splashmommy
It's a great trip! We too flew in/out of Vegas and did a loop- drove to Zion first and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Springdale. It's the best HI I've ever been to and fabulous views of the mts. Get food/water on your way, Springdale is small town
4:28pm on 7/28/25 by
Mindys9
If staying off site, download the Greater Zion app for good intel on the parking situation and how full the trails are. Emerald Pools Hike is easy, has a lot of shade and you walk behind a waterfall as long as there was rain recently.
4:31pm on 7/28/25 by
Mindys9
Zion Canyon Overlook was great too! There is a mile long tunnel to go through, the hike starts right after the tunnel. Beware that in the afternoon, they allow oversized trucks to go in the tunnel and it stops traffic. It can take an hour+ to pass.
4:35pm on 7/28/25 by
Mindys9
Bryce is gorgeous! Pump the electrolytes if in the summer and hiking down the canyons. I wiped my family out on the Queens/Navajo loop. Should have made them drink electrolytes to start b/c it got hot in that canyon and the steep switchbacks going out
4:42pm on 7/28/25 by
Mindys9
Consider adding Antelope Slot Canyon, it was amazing! You need to book with a tour guide, make sure your tour is when the sun will hit the slot, bet. 11-1. In the summer, 12 is great, we did 11:15 and saw a good view, but 12 would have been better.
4:46pm on 7/28/25 by
Mindys9
We toured the GC South rim, stayed at the Red Feather Inn, updated side. It was good, had a microwave. Food at the Grand Hotel was terrible, but nice rooms as some of our party was there.
4:55pm on 7/28/25 by
Mindys9
These are great! Has anyone stayed inside a park and where? Is it very helpful to do so ?
10:44pm on 7/29/25 by
fcoffey
We stay at el Tovar when doing Grand Canyon. Right on the s rim. Great meals there too.
10:53pm on 7/29/25 by
matterhorn55
Can't stay at the North Rim anymore :(
8:00am on 7/30/25 by
moondance07
@fcoffey we always try to stay in-park when possible bc you are closer to the main attractions and can start hiking way before those staying outside. At Zion we stayed in a cabin at the Zion Lodge, at Bryce in Sunrise Hotel, and at N Rim in cabin now gone
8:16am on 7/30/25 by
KLuck
We've stayed in multiple locations at S Rim-many options there, some on/close to the rim. Check to see how close you'd be to food options.
8:18am on 7/30/25 by
KLuck
If you are looking for park itineraries I recommend Dirt In My Shoes run by Ash, a former park ranger. She sells multi day step by step plans. FUN FACT I met her on the trail using her Yosemite itinerary this summer! That was a surprise!
8:28am on 7/30/25 by
carolbahn
Dirt in My shoes also has a national park podcast and a very helpful website
8:29am on 7/30/25 by
carolbahn
We tried to get lodging in all the parks a year ahead but had trouble. South arum stayed in park at Bright Angel. Close to El Tovar where we ate. At Bryce and Zion we had to stay outside the park but ate at one of the lodges. At North Rim we stayed in a
8:55am on 7/30/25 by
evamarie320
cute little cabin RIP.
8:55am on 7/30/25 by
evamarie320
8:57am on 7/30/25 by
KLuck
I've done 3 road trips there. Vegas to Zion to N. Rim to Bryce to Arches and Canyonlands out Denver. Then Pheonix, petrified forest, sunset crater, canyon de challey, monument valley, S. Rim, vegas. Loved both!
9:41am on 7/30/25 by
heathernoel
Last trip was Pheonix to Sedona to S. Rim to Death Valley to Vegas. Spent more time in each on that trip - it was very interesting but the other two were better.
9:41am on 7/30/25 by
heathernoel
Spent a week in Moab in April with DH, DS9 and DS6. Arches is perfect for kids. Park entrance is a few minutes from town, accessible hikes, fun rock scrambles. Moab has plenty to do. Eat at Milt's for incredible burgers and shakes!
9:48am on 7/30/25 by
SnowWhite82
Sfl
10:17am on 7/30/25 by
LisaPooh
Use Liner skills to book in-park lodging. First check cancellation policies! Book what is available for your dates. Check back very frequently (I check multiple times a day, just like for DVC booking), cancel and rebook as you go. I piece together
10:22am on 7/30/25 by
KLuck
reservations day by day sometimes. People book as soon as dates are open, then cancel all the time! Sometimes I am able to change from an okay booking to a prime lodge/location a month out.
10:24am on 7/30/25 by
KLuck
Sfl
11:46am on 7/30/25 by
vstever
Just outside of Bryce is The Dark Ranger. Really cool experience if you are even the slightest bit interested in astronomy. You have to stay up late and dress warm but it's worth it!
12:00pm on 7/30/25 by
WanderingHart
Ooh that reminds me that in Bryce we did a star gazing program at the ranger station. For free! Several telescopes set up and rangers helping us id what we were seeing.
3:50pm on 7/30/25 by
evamarie320
Bryce does a ranger-guided hike during the full moon (not sure which months)
4:02pm on 7/30/25 by
KLuck
These are so helpful!! Thanks!!
10:46pm on 7/30/25 by
fcoffey
@Mindys9....what group did you use for the Antelope canyon tour?
9:13pm on 1/9/26 by
fcoffey
Saving as we are planning to go to Arches and Moab this summer!
10:12pm on 1/9/26 by
njhyndman
Do the delicate arch hike at sunset. Absolutely glorious. Also on the drive out of Grand Canyon towards antelope there's a little spot called Tuba City where Navajo guides will walk you through dinosaur prints (it was an old inland sea).
10:50pm on 1/9/26 by
KitchenKabaret
Former WDW AP now in CO. Add Capitol Reef to your list, it's quieter then the others but still amazing. Enjoy, drink lots of water, bring good shoes and prepare for wildfires, sadly. Seemed like Summer of 2025 everything was on fire.
10:40am on 1/10/26 by
Shades_of_disney
SFL - this all sounds amazing!
12:40pm on 1/10/26 by
ForeverSafari
I've done and loved all those national parks. But my favorite was Bryce.
6:20pm on 1/10/26 by
snowdiz
SFL...we would love to take this trip someday!
6:41pm on 1/10/26 by
katienowaity
Agreed on capital reef. A total sleeper, but really amazing.
10:00pm on 1/10/26 by
KitchenKabaret
Sfl
10:51pm on 1/10/26 by
stpjfl
SFL so much great info
10:58pm on 1/10/26 by
gopackgo
@fcoffey we went with Antelope Slot Canyon Tours on @stloui's recommendation and were happy with the experience. It's busy there but the tour was well run and the guide took great photos of us. Only time left was 2.30pm but my the light was still amazing!
8:11am on 1/11/26 by
NTEI
We stayed in standard rooms at El Tovar in GC (and dined at El Tovar dining room) and in Zion NP lodge in Zion. Rooms are dated and not huge, but otherwise fine - and locations simply can't be beat. In 2024, GC NP offered star gazing through telescopes...
8:17am on 1/11/26 by
NTEI
...in several places in the Rim Village, which is nice bonus for those staying there. We saw the Milky Way! In Zion NP, we rented water gear and rope dropped the Narrows from the NP Lodge. First party at the bus stop for the first bus! We hiked 5hrs to...
8:19am on 1/11/26 by
NTEI
...5hrs total and it was lovely for the first three-quarters or so (a bit chilly even in July because the it's so shady down there). Our favorite hike of a month-long NP-focused trip! By the time we got back to the trailhead at noon it was mobbed. Go e...
8:23am on 1/11/26 by
NTEI
@NTI ...what type of gear did you rent for the Narrows hike?
9:54am on 1/12/26 by
fcoffey
We rented river boots, neoprene socks and walking sticks from one of the many outfitters in Springdale (you can get them the night before and give back any time the following day). Would have been uncomfortable to go without those -
11:14am on 1/12/26 by
NTEI
you're in the water for 80% of the hike, which is part of what makes it so special and beautiful. At one point my 8-yr old was chest deep! I think we rented from Zion Outfitters.
11:17am on 1/12/26 by
NTEI