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Original poster

Should we make the 10 hour+ round trip to see the Grand Canyon?

78 replies

TheScreamingHeebieJeebies · 11/03/2014 15:50

DH and I have planned a California itinerary/loop in a hire car taking in the coast, San Francisco, Yosemite and Vegas, and hadn't factored in going to see the Grand Canyon, but everyone keeps telling us to go and see it! I don't want to do one of those day tours from Vegas when you pay $$$$$ to see it for an hour - I'd rather go properly and spend the night if we're going to do it at all. I guess we are not that drawn to see it as we didn't plan to in the first place - we mostly want to hike in Yosemite and see the coast - so am just wondering if you think we'll regret it!

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Creamycoolerwithcream · 11/03/2014 17:23

Oh I know, I worry about running out of years to see everything. But to be that close...

magimedi · 11/03/2014 17:25

I would not miss the Grand Canyon for anything. I went on a 50th birthday trip & had been waiting to see it nearly all my life.

I was not disappointed at all - I am so grateful I had the chance to go & would have skipped everything else just for that sight.

Original poster
TheScreamingHeebieJeebies · 11/03/2014 17:29

But Creamy we're really close to loads of things I want to see Grin I'm just not sure I feel like it's one of those places I HAVE to see. I would totally go hours and hours out of my way to see some things poocatcher That's a point of view I haven't heard before, not useless at all! :)

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Original poster
TheScreamingHeebieJeebies · 11/03/2014 17:30

Er, sorry that was a badly punctuated post. Hope it makes reasonable sense...

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Original poster
TheScreamingHeebieJeebies · 11/03/2014 17:32

The Zion national park looks great - we'd probably have time to do some actual hiking if we went there instead.

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really1234 · 11/03/2014 17:37

We drove from San Francisco through Yosemite and Death Valley to Vegas and stayed in Furnace Creek and Lee Vining. We then got a helicopter trip from Vegas to the Grand Canyon flying past Hoover Dam. It was a really good trip and well worth it, so whilst not your ideal trip worth considering if you can afford it. Then it wouldn't take too much of your time either.

Wrt Las Vegas, we only went because people said we should rather than because we particularly wanted to but actually very much enjoyed it despite not being gamblers.

Creamycoolerwithcream · 11/03/2014 17:43

I'm biased as went for my 40th and was literally speechless when I saw it. Have a great trip.

specialsubject · 11/03/2014 17:48

utterly, utterly worth it. Get 500 metres from the car, or take the shuttle bus, and you'll have peace as most people won't move that far. Plan a short walk down into the canyon but heed the advice about how far to go, remember you've got to come back up!

Flagstaff makes a reasonable base for the south rim. Take packed food so you don't waste time queuing at restaurants.

Vegas is worth one night - then get out. The day tours from it don't get you to the best bit of the canyon because it is too far.

BTW with all that get an annual pass for the national parks, I think it will be cheaper that way.

SmashleyHop · 11/03/2014 17:52

Ugh- This thread has made me incredibly home sick. Having fantasies about eating clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Pier 39, wine tasting in Napa and feeling the sand and sun along the coast.. God I miss California.

Original poster
TheScreamingHeebieJeebies · 11/03/2014 17:53

Great tips special, thanks! really we were thinking about the helicopter tours as we could fit one in easily, but they're SO expensive for what you get, which is basically a 'view' of the GC, which I can get from a picture!

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Original poster
TheScreamingHeebieJeebies · 11/03/2014 17:55

Ooh Smashley we've heard great things about the clam chowder! Sorry you feel homesick :(

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specialsubject · 11/03/2014 17:56

ps the website you want is

www.nps.gov/grca

and also www.nps.gov/yose

or even

www.nps.gov/deva

LOADS of mouth-watering reading!

Hooleywhipper · 11/03/2014 17:58

Can I suggest Bryce canyon too, we did a very similar trip for my 40th few years ago, in awe for all of the 17 days we were there. Still have to pinch myself. Soak up every second x

andadietcoke · 11/03/2014 17:59

We drove to the west rim and back (I know the south rim is supposed to be much better) from Vegas comfortably in a day (2 hours each way). We did the Skywalk and all the stops on the bus. The dirt track from the main road is a bit heavy going so bear that in mind when hiring a car. We had a Chrysler mid sized thing but a 4x4 would have been better.

Broodzilla · 11/03/2014 18:33

From Vegas, you can follow the old Route 66 towards Vegas - take the long way if you want, the scenery along the way is amazing in itself and very different from the rest of your trip!

May I suggest Sedona for a base, I thought I was all out of breath-taking after the GC but then we got to Sedona...Smile

Original poster
TheScreamingHeebieJeebies · 11/03/2014 19:06

Thank you, this is all really helpful! Nothings set in stone paticularly yet apart from our Yosemite accommodation so am taking all tips on board :)

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ohmeohmyforgotlogin · 11/03/2014 19:12

Vegas was awful, sleazy. I hadn't been keen to go to G Canyon but was actually really impressed. Worth the trip definitely

iwouldgoouttonight · 11/03/2014 19:23

I thought I'd hate Las Vegas but absolutely loved it, its completely insane but I was fascinated by it!

While we were there we did the five hours each way coach trip to the Grand Canyon. Due to bad planning it was the day after our friends wedding in Vegas and I had an awful hangover, but when we got there it was just breathtaking. I'm really glad I went. But l I've not seen any of the other canyons to compare so they may be equally as amazing, and not so far from your route.

elQuintoConyo · 11/03/2014 19:26

Personally, I'd skip Napa: vineyards. Whoopi. I live near vineyards, seen one, seen them all. We drove up the coast from SF instead, as far as Mendochino, and south as far as Carmel (only ten days).
We'd like to go back and see Yosemite and GC, and re-vist SF which is just fantastic, blew my socks off apart from getting lost in the Tenderloin while looking for a cinema, the only one we found was showing that family favourite: Dildo Wars DH could work there, I.couldn't Envy otherwise we'd up sticks and move there for a couple of years.

V jealous of your trip, screaming

incogKNEEto · 11/03/2014 21:03

Yes. It was 25 years ago I saw it but it was one of the most awe inspiring sights of my life and I am so glad I got the opportunity to see it, if there's any way you can include it in your trip then I would. Also the Painted Desert is pretty spectacular too...

lovingmatleave · 13/03/2014 23:47

Did a similar trip 12 years ago pre kids. The best trip of my life. Yesomite is breathtaking and was my favourite place, but the Grand Canyon was spectacular too.I was mesmerised. Definitely go. Lots and lots of driving to get there through miles of desert. We stayed overnight in flagstaff as another poster said. Loved San fransico. Camped in Death Valley and another national park. Did Las Vegas for a night and liked it for its kind of surreal atmosphere after all the nature.Did Monterey,Santa Monica and San diageo too all in two weeks. My only regret is we weren't able to stay overnight on Yesomite so I am v. Jealous of your trip!

bluesky · 15/03/2014 19:00

We went from zion to North Rim Grand Canyon, much more peaceful, no day trippers or commercial activity, just a campsite and hotel. Absolutely stunning, the drive there and just the WOW on arrival. The sunsets are amazing.

Zion is all about looking up at the spectacle and GC looking down.

I read on twitter that Alex Jones from the One Show is currently in Zion, busy preparing for her Sports Relief climb. There are some scary climbs in Zion!

Theonlyoneiknow · 17/03/2014 23:36

Oh you must go!!!! And do a hike down too. I really wanted to do a river trip in the Grand Canyon but ran out of time :-( it really is jaw droppingly amazing. How on earth does it exist! Monument Valley is also well worth a visit. Las Vegas at night is worth it just because it is so crazy! And go to a cirque de soleil show too.

Really want to see El Capitan though, am very envious! Have done a couple of California and Nevada trips but mainly rock climbing holidays with some touristy stuff thrown in

lovingmatleave · 20/03/2014 21:31

Just wanted to add to my previous post (have been thinking about it since), as I remember it, the actual drive was part of the travel experience. It wasn't like driving down the M6 in rush hour on a miserable grey day.

Get up and head out early and you have the roads to yourself.We were jet lagged when we arrived so headed off on first part of our trip up Route 1 at about 5am in the morning and got fantastic sunrise and mist rolling in off the sea. On the drive to the GC we seemed to be the only car on the road with surreal desert scenery all around. Same with the drive through Death Valley. We had a convertible too which helped make it more enjoyable.

HalfSpamHalfBrisket · 20/03/2014 21:45

In order of "wow":
Bryce Canyon ( + v easy to combine with Zion)
Monument Valley (too far for you this trip though?; if you ever go, stump up for the hotel right in the valley - watching the sunset over the rocks from your balcony with a glass of wine is amazing)
Yosemite
Grand
Zion

....and then about another 10 other amazing national parks that you think 'oh I'll pop in but it won't be much cop as I've never heard of it' and you then get overawed again (Petrified Forest, Painted Desert...)

And as much as I love the parks we always pop into Vegas for a night or two. It's horrid but hypnotic, and I am a terrible 'eat all you can' buffet ho.