Carry on along UT-9 past Hurricane then turn onto UT-7 - if you're feeling adventurous, head out down the smaller roads which lead off it to enjoy fabulous desert views and dinosaur tracks. Los Angeles to Salt Lake City Drive: 21 Amazing Stops to Make You didn't say where you ate that disappointing meal in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The closest national park to Las Vegas, Zion National Park is the first stop on your Utah national parks itinerary from Las Vegas. The Queens Garden Trail is an easy hike leading past the Queen Victoria hoodoo towards the Fairyland Loop. Taste some Americana at Route 66, AZ (2 hours) A couple of hours' drive from Las Vegas will get . If you decide to arrive between May and September, consider visiting early in the morning. This route will take you thorugh Colorado City, Ferdonia AZ. 1130 Brickyard Road . There are so many diverse landscapes at Snow Canyon, it feels like several parks in one. Car on a scenic road in Zion National Park Another way to get from Las Vegas to Zion is to jump in a car and drive. It wasnt the greatest view, but it was a condor! Zion National Park is on Mountain Time, one hour ahead of Las Vegas, which is in the Pacific Time Zone. Be careful of some crosswinds, and of tandem rig drivers - unless you're used to being next to one in a hilly, curvy pass. You will be booking a trip to Southern Utah in no time! These unique structures aid in creating a landscape that looks like something out of a science fiction movie. It's one of the most scenic drives in PA. (A shuttle takes you into the park along the 6-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.). Day 3: Zion National Park - Las Vegas. At the east entrance/exit of Zion National Park, is the Checkerboard Mesa, a white colored plateau with a distinctive checkerboard pattern surrounded by cliffs covered in white and amber striations and swirls. Back in town, we did a grocery run for picnic provisions for the next day and then had mediocre takeout back at our lodging (the charming Red Canyon Cabins). 13 Fantastic Self-Drive Day Trips Around Las Vegas - Trip Memos Welcome to Kids Are A Trip. The top stops along the way from St. George to Las Vegas (with short detours) are Bellagio Fountain, Fremont Street Experience, and Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Salt Lake City is Utah's state capital, and it's around 6 hour and 30 minutes' drive from your starting point in Las Vegas. We took the shuttle (no wait) to its last stop (Temple of Sinawava), then did the Riverside Walk, which was honestly less of a hike and more of a stroll down a busy sidewalk (albeit in a beautiful setting). If you dont mind a tour bus, there are many Zion National Park day trip options from the Las Vegas Strip. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-117391709', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Zion, Bryce - Monday). Travel Safe. This is a notorious (and expensive) speed trap, as we've learned the hard way. Highs average 72 degrees Fahrenheit so this is a good time for outdoor exploration. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass so bring a pole and head out fishing any time of year. Limber pine trees dot the landscape, with their exposed roots clinging to the eroding, tilted ground. An in-park shuttle system operates to help visitors easily reach all the main points of interest within the park while helping to reduce car traffic and its effects on the natural surroundings. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. The river is full & fast - hard to imagine hiking the Narrows anytime soon! U.S. Route 6. Just outside the entrance to Zion National Park, lies the abandoned town of Grafton. The (steep) trail made for a beautiful hike in the early morning light, and a great introduction to Zion. Id hiked this trail once before, so knew in general what to expect: beautiful, not too strenuous, and a lot of stream crossings. Whether because of the labor shortage thats plaguing the area or because it was still the off season, or both, they had limited hours & a limited menu. The town was originally settled in 1859 by five Mormon families, but three years later, the Virgin River flooded and wiped out the town. From there, we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to head for Vermillion Cliffs in AZ to see if we could spot condors. There is no public bus that goes from Las Vegas to Zion National Park. However, there is often construction along the very narrow stretch of I-15 between Mesquite, Nevada and St. George, Utah, in the Virgin River Gorge, which passes through the northwestern corner of Arizona. The people in Vegas have made it really easy to get there, too. There are two pools here, one outdoor and the other indoor, and the wellness center has spa packages, including everything from a relaxation area to body treatments. Total drive time: 1 hour, 35 mins. Instead we just walked the dam and marveled at the views, both manmade & natural. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-117391687', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Las Vegas from our respective cities, connecting in SLC and taking the same SLC-LAS flight. Another popular hiking spot in the park is the Emerald Pools area, offering trails suitable for families that can accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, to strenuous trails at higher elevations. more. Drive Route 6 for yourself to see why it's deserving of the "one of America's most scenic drives" title from National Geographic. Outdoor fans should also head to Pioneer Park, 52 acres of red-rock landscapes where the star attraction is the St George Narrows. Looking forward to when the construction is finished. Available once daily, the flight leaves St. George daily at 6:40am and lands 90 minutes later in L.A . A short walk from the shuttle along the Weeping Rock Trailhead is an alcove under a sandstone bowl, formed by water erosion, with water seeping from the rock forming hanging gardens and anything from a slow trickle of water to a rushing waterfall, depending on the season and level of recent rainfall. I'm looking forward to another stellar meal there. :). But count on at least a two-hour layover and stops along the way. Day 3 (Kolob Canyon section of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Other popular stops include Las Vegas Strip, Hoover Dam, and Valley of Fire State Park. Turn east on Highway 12 and travel through Red Canyon and up to the turn for Bryce Canyon heading south to the park gate. I dragged my daughter out of bed to catch the sunrise from Sunset Point (recommended by someone here and also by a ranger). Tip: Dont speed! St. George, Utah which is the closest city in proximity to Zion National Park also has . On to St George, where we collapsed at the Inn & Suites. A short section of the Interstate is a bridge that goes above the Virgin River. I have lived in Utah and specifically Southern Utah my entire life so I have explored just about every road, highway, interstate of dirt road. ), If you can spring for the fare, helicoptering to Zion is the most scenic route! Daily trips between Las Vegas, St. George, Springville (Provo Area), and Salt Lake City. This is the firs. Whichever way you look at it, you will be mostly driving from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon on the first day. Best part was listening to the cacophony of voices and languages. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Southern Utah road trip report - Las Vegas to Bryce, Kanab, Valley of Fire was one of the sleeper hits of our trip, totally worth a detour. From Kamas, you'll make the 250-mile drive south to Moab. Located a quick ninety minute drive from Las Vegas, St. George lies within striking distance of four state parks and Zion National Park. Your name: Re: Place to Eat Between Las Vegas and Zion National Park 4 years ago Save The best food will be in the town of Springdale, Utah right at the entrance to Zion NP. Some stunning views but it's the sides of a highway, not a natural park and people are driving really fast. Sand Hollow State Park is 20,000 acres of pure recreation. This is the Most Legendary 3-Day Road Trip You Can Add to Your Vegas Southern Utah's oldest Receptive Tour Operator offering regularly scheduled and customized tours of Utah's Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, and Colorado's San Juan Mountains. Late June through to August is when you'll experience the hot weather, with an average high in Salt Lake City of 92 degrees Fahrenheit in July, the hottest month of the summer. If youre arriving from Las Vegas, please note that Utah is one hour ahead of Nevada. After checking in at the Bryce View Lodge (more on that below), we still had plenty of daylight left, so we took the scenic drive & stopped at various points to "ooooh" and "ahhhh" the otherworldly landscape. The museum features dinosaur footprints and swimming tracks, hands-on activities, and fossils. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Located only 168 miles from Las Vegas, Zion National Park is most well-known for the expansive Zion Canyon, a gorge . After the bright lights of Las Vegas, a road trip around Utah is a real contrast. Dinner at Rubys, where they were out of all their interesting-sounding beers and the food was mediocre at best. We went as far as Escalante before reluctantly turning around. Zion means the Promised Land in Hebrew and this iconic park certainly lives up to its name. Scenic drives to consider in Pennsylvania are listed below. Driving in your own car is the fastest way. The Utah mountains are prone to heavy snowfall, and as such, the area is a top skiing destination. Made of many layers of colored rocks beginning with the pink cliffs under your feet, with striations of grey, white, vermillion, and chocolate winding into the distance. In St. George be sure to stop at Kayenta Art Village and have lunch at Xetava Gardens. We've come up with the perfect road trip which takes you across the Nevada desert, then makes a loop through all five of the state's national parks, with plenty more to see and do in between. I have traveled this route several time It is Highway 15. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. This strenuous hike winds down the canyon and through the maze of hoodoos below, before ascending to Sunset Point. Being from the east, we don't have a jaded view of the desert, rocks, hills, mountains and passes that comprise a route like this. Then turn off towards Ducks Creek Village and stop to explore Dixie National Forest and Cedar Breaks National Monument. Once at Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, to cover all the best attractions Utah has to offer, it'll take 20 hours and 50 minutes. Our kids loved climbing into lava tubes, rolling down sand dunes, and hiking slot canyons. Yes, food at Bryce is mediocre at best - food for the masses. Founded in 1935, the Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest state park. Which are best national parks to see in Utah? This section of I-15 is particularly scenic and shows where we drove through the Virgin River Canyon. Brigham Young, the second president of the LDS Church maintained a winter home in St. George and today it is available for local tours. Southern Utah Scenic Tours (Its just another hours drive from Zion to the wild red hoodoo rock formations of Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Kanab.). This route will cost you the park daily $25.00 entrance fee so please be prepared for that, but if you have time you can see great amounts of Zion National Park along the way to highway 89. So, what to do with the rest of the day? Both were once thriving towns, but abandoned long ago. The nearby town of Springfield is the best place for gathering supplies and booking guided tours. You can pay a small fee for day use or overnight camping if spots are available. The best place to capture the beauty of the setting sun reflecting off the hoodoos and slot canyons is at Paria View. We are going to St. George in a week. With the creek so high, some of the crossings were rather challenging. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. There are two scenic routes to take through the park, each offering distinctive sites and scenery. Length Under 30 miles 30 to 75 miles Over 75 miles. There are no shuttles along this route, but there are many overlooks, including some along the popular Canyon Overlook Trail, an easy one-mile round-trip hike through towering pine trees. Giant shadows. Directions from St. George, UT to Grand Canyon South Rim Take Highway 9 to Hurricane. Virgin River Gorge Scenic Drive Easy 4 (33) St. George, Utah Photos (65) Directions Print/PDF map Length 24.2 miElevation gain 1,079 ftRoute type Point to point Experience this 24.2-mile point-to-point trail near St. George, Utah. Rather than racing from Las Vegas to Zion as quickly as possible, slow down and enjoy the drive. I've never had a bad experience there. Another great choice in Springdale is MeMes with the best Cubano sandwich Ive ever eaten! Follow along for ideas on planning the best Utah national parks itinerary from Las Vegas! The Grand America Hotel adds vintage 5-star luxury to your road trip and is a favorite Salt Lake City hotel for its regal design. Once you leave the park you will reach highway 89 and turn north. Sign up for our free travel guide to help plan your next trip! in Mesquite. The Natural History Museum of Utah is a go-to attraction, where you can find out about the dinosaurs that roamed the state millions of years ago. But that was just a previewthe scenery as we drove on to the Visitors Center wowed us. In Hurricane you will turn towards the UT-59, which becomes AZ 389-A. Uniquely formed by water erosion from above instead of from the sides like most arches, the large arches share the same stone foundation, which can be climbed and walked upon for close inspection of this famous landform. The 750-mile road trip from Las Vegas to Denver takes 11 hours to drive. Full of red rocks, fabulous vistas, and pink cliffs, this national park is also home to the largest concentration of hoodoos in the world. It is a moderate hike to reach the Delicate Arch but is well worth the effort. We had enjoyed our time in St George and the drive back to Vegas was easy with little traffic en-route.Our Yesnomads channel offers regular video updates from our travels and life. George is so beautiful. Upscale Charter Service adjacent to the St. George Airport. Sandy Hollow Reservoir meets the red sand dunes and provides for some amazing ATV adventures. We hadnt packed provisions beyond water (preparation fail, a picnic would have been nice), so lunch was fast food in Cedar City. Balanced Rock can be seen from the parks road, but is an easy, .3 mile walk from the parking area for a closer view. (For instance, you wont want to miss all the hand-dipped chocolates and homemade ice cream at the Springdale Candy Company about a mile from the entrance. Halfway through the drive, your dedicated driver and guide will pick up your fresh deli lunch on the way from Las Vegas to Zion. After a day exploring the great outdoors, you can soak in the view of the national park while you relax in the outdoor hot tub or end the day with a few laps of the outdoor swimming pool. Explore the state parks near St George, Where to eat in St George and Greater Zion, Advenire Autograph Collection boutique hotel, Things to Do in Cedar City Utah with Kids, Top 7 Things Not to Miss in Tokyo with Kids, 18 Best Lake Vacations in the US for Families, 12 Must See Places on a California Road Trip with Kids, 15 Amazing Adventures to Have in Yucatn with Kids, 15 Best Things to Do in Belfast Northern Ireland. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-117399795', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');St. George. From St George and Las Vegas will be continuing north on I-15 through Cedar City. Plus the staff were so kind and welcoming, we regretted not eating in. You can often save yourself some timeand a possible headache of a traffic jamby detouring through the Shivwits Paiute land. Want to report conditions for this trail? Also in St. George is one of our all time favorite restaurants, Hash House A Go Go. This was honestly my favorite hike of the day: it wasnt a name trail, and so we had it pretty much to ourselves. Please keep in mind that this (highway 14) route can be closed during some wintertime periods do to extreme snowfall. After an OK lunch we continued on Scenic Byway 12. Too bad you didn't drive past Escalante on highway 12. Zion is all about the hikesand the variety is endless. In September we will drive from Las Vegas to Springdale, Utah for 2 nights to visit Zion NP. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kirsten Maxwell and Kids Are A Trip, Inc. with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. After check-in, we headed to Hendersons brewery district, where several craft breweries are clustered together in a sort of industrial park/incubator. Along the way these travelers pass within 15 miles of a park that offers arches, petroglyphs, red rocks, petrified wood, spectacular geologic formations and beautiful desert scenery. Is There a Bus that Goes from Las Vegas to Zion National Park? Twin Lakes in the Poconos. After enjoying the stunning view of the valley and formations below, advanced hikers can descend into the canyon on the 8-mile Fairyland Loop. Please make your arrangements with Reservations byemailor calling 877.246.4453. Road Trip From San Francisco To Las Vegas, Road Trip From Los Angeles To Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, Start your trip in comfort and style with a stay at the Advenire, Autograph Collection, The Grand America Hotel adds vintage 5-star luxury to your road trip, Bumbleberry Inn is the perfect hotel choice while you're in Zion National Park. September is milder and makes for easier hiking, albeit there's still nice weather. First, typing your starting point and final destination into Google Maps will help anyone get to your destination with the fastest route or alternatives, but having driven all of these routes before during all the seasons, I can see my insight giving you much more than just a map. For this, you will want a car.). Then, you can enjoy your lunch on the bus, or have a picnic when you get to the park. Opportunities for heart pounding adventure and quiet reflection in nature will present themselves at every turn during this Utah national parks itinerary from Las Vegas. Wait, make that two condors! We flew into (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Did enroute to Salt Lake. Zion means "the Promised Land" in Hebrew and this iconic park certainly lives up to its name. Absent such consent, users of this website, including any third parties accessing the website through automated systems, are prohibited from using any of the content on the website for Artificial Intelligence Purposes. Still, try to pull over and get a photo when there's a patch of pavement or gravel. However, for outdoor exploration, keep in mind the humidity will make it difficult. We peered up at their cliffside roost, where 1 or 2 were supposedly tucked in, but saw only streaks of guano. How to Adventure From Las Vegas to Zion National Park - The Dyrt Magazine Take a Jeep tour with one of the local companies and head off road. Place to Eat Between Las Vegas and Zion National Park Just after Mesquite, the interstate crosses into Arizona. ), Weather in Early October - Southern Utah's National Parks, Confused about tubing in Zion (Virgin River), Super 8 by Wyndham Salina / Scenic Hills Area, Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. Complimentary airport transportation is provided for guests flying into St. George. Other options will be fast food and fast casual restaurants in Mesquite Nevada (1 from Las Vegas) and St. George, Utah (2 hours from Las Vegas). Flights from Los Angeles to St. George: United Express through Skywest. Driving distance: 52 miles. The shuttle begins at the Visitors Center, with stops at Sunrise Point, Bryce Lodge, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, and Paria View. Famous for its national parks, dubbed the Mighty Five, you'll enjoy outstanding scenic vistas as you travel between some of the country's most spectacular natural landmarks. Kids might enjoy taking a tour with a docent to learn more about the history of the town. As soon as you have hit St. George, Utah you will start having several different choices to look at. We've divided the road trip from Las Vegas to Utah into two sections to help you with your planning. For panoramic views of the entire park, a visit to Rainbow Point is in order. Snow Canyon State Park is just outside St. George and is well known for its volcanic cinder cones, sandstone cliffs, and petrified sand dunes. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-117391725', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Bryce Canyon Pines. The other route you could do is old hwy 91 from near Beaver Dam to St George .Its pretty scenic as you cross over the mountain range into UT. The best Utah national parks itinerary from Las Vegas will take you on an adventure from the hustle and bustle of Sin City to the serenity of nature and some of the most unique scenery you may ever be surrounded with in your life. Amor Transport929.352.6673www.amoretransport.com. The drive between Las Vegas and St. George is not that interesting, but you can take the 54-mile Zion Park Scenic Byway at the intersection of Highway 9 and I-15, about 9 miles east of St. George. We are unable to pick guests up or take guests to the shuttle station. Users or automated systems that fail to respect these choices will be considered to have breached our Terms of Service. Even if they dont, youll need to wait for other passengers to load and unload. Tour buses, while convenient, may make stops along the Strip.