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USA National Parks fly drive advice needed
colinw
Posts: 59,967 Forumite
I am currently planning a fly drive to the USA in August. I would be grateful if anyone has any advice or suggestions on the itinerary we have planned. Although I have done a lot of fly driving in Australia / New Zealand I have not done that much in the USA. In fact the only one we have done was a fly drive in Alaska a couple of years ago. We have toured some of these parks many years ago, but this was on coach tours and we want to do it now with the freedom your own car gives you.
The plan is to do a fly drive of the National Parks in the USA and then have a break in Maui. The plan currently is to do the following:
Fly into Jackson Hole from London – pick up car at airport
1 Night in Jackson Hole
Drive up through the Titan’s national park up to Yellowstone
Stay in Yellowstone Grant Village for 3 nights
Drive back down to Jackson Hole
1 Night in Jackson Hole
Fly to Las Vegas, pick up car and drive to either Zion or Bryce NP
Not sure about the next two nights but I am thinking possibly
Lake Powell – 1 night
Monument Valley – 1 night
Grand Canyon – 2 nights at the Maswik Lodge
Drive to Las Vegas
2 nights Las Vegas as I want to see cirque du soleil show ‘O’
Drive to Death Valley – 1 night
Drive to Yosemite
Yosemite 3 nights at the Yosemite Lodge
Drive to San Francisco airport hotel
Airport Hotel – 1 night
Fly to Maui
Maui Royal Lahania 4 nights
Fly to San Francisco
Airport hotel – 1 night
Fly to London
Does this make sense? It is the loop from Las Vegas around the national parks that I am unsure of. I presume driving direct from Las Vegas to Yosemite would be too much without stopping for a night in Death Valley. I would appreciate any views anyone has on this.
The plan is to do a fly drive of the National Parks in the USA and then have a break in Maui. The plan currently is to do the following:
Fly into Jackson Hole from London – pick up car at airport
1 Night in Jackson Hole
Drive up through the Titan’s national park up to Yellowstone
Stay in Yellowstone Grant Village for 3 nights
Drive back down to Jackson Hole
1 Night in Jackson Hole
Fly to Las Vegas, pick up car and drive to either Zion or Bryce NP
Not sure about the next two nights but I am thinking possibly
Lake Powell – 1 night
Monument Valley – 1 night
Grand Canyon – 2 nights at the Maswik Lodge
Drive to Las Vegas
2 nights Las Vegas as I want to see cirque du soleil show ‘O’
Drive to Death Valley – 1 night
Drive to Yosemite
Yosemite 3 nights at the Yosemite Lodge
Drive to San Francisco airport hotel
Airport Hotel – 1 night
Fly to Maui
Maui Royal Lahania 4 nights
Fly to San Francisco
Airport hotel – 1 night
Fly to London
Does this make sense? It is the loop from Las Vegas around the national parks that I am unsure of. I presume driving direct from Las Vegas to Yosemite would be too much without stopping for a night in Death Valley. I would appreciate any views anyone has on this.
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Comments
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We have done Yosemite, DV, Zion (passing through) Bryce, Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon in the last couple of years. How many days exactly do you have from when you fly into Vegas, then out of SF ? I will then give you my suggested route.
Before you book Yosemite Lodge, take a look at this place:
https://www.yosemitebluebutterflyinn.com
A great website for planning your roadtrip is https://www.roadtripamerica.com (have a look at their forum).
I may also want to pick your brains at some point about driving in Australia - never been but looking into it for next year.0 -
Hi Colinw
Can't realky make any suggestions on the itinerary (we did San Fran-Yosemite-Cambria-Carmel-Monterey-San Fran a couple of years ago) but, rather than stay at an airport hotel at SF, why not try Half Moon Bay? Its only about 15 miles from the airport and much more pleasant (nice high street/restaurants/etc). We stayed at the Zaballa House B&B - on the high street and opposite a really nice Italian restaurant!0 -
We have done Yosemite, DV, Zion (passing through) Bryce, Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon in the last couple of years. How many days exactly do you have from when you fly into Vegas, then out of SF ? I will then give you my suggested route.
Before you book Yosemite Lodge, take a look at this place:
www.yosemitebluebutterflyinn.com
A great website for planning your roadtrip is www.roadtripamerica.com (have a look at their forum).
I may also want to pick your brains at some point about driving in Australia - never been but looking into it for next year.
I would be glad to help you with driving in Australia. We have done
Adelaide to Darwin
Perth up to Broome
Up the coast from Brisbane to Hervey Bay
Tour of Tasmania
Drive around the red centre
So if any of them are any use let me know. You need to be aware of the one way drop of fees which seem to apply more to the Perth area and Western Australia. We got hit with a £300 drop of fee on the Perth-Broome trip. Also some companies charge in other states so it pays to shop around. I was suprised to get away with a one way fee last year on the Adelaide - Drawin trip. Hertz did not charge. Avis would have. Australia is a great country to fly drive. I would go there pretty muh every year if I could.
With this USA trip I will fly into Las Vegas on the 12th August and I will be flying out of San Francisco to Maui on the 24th so I will need to get to San Francisco airport hotel on the 23rd. I just want to see as much as possible without rushing about too much. We also want to see the Cirque de soliel show in Las Vegas as well.0 -
Maxjessdru wrote: »Hi Colinw
Can't realky make any suggestions on the itinerary (we did San Fran-Yosemite-Cambria-Carmel-Monterey-San Fran a couple of years ago) but, rather than stay at an airport hotel at SF, why not try Half Moon Bay? Its only about 15 miles from the airport and much more pleasant (nice high street/restaurants/etc). We stayed at the Zaballa House B&B - on the high street and opposite a really nice Italian restaurant!
I will check that out thanks. How are the roads to the airport?0 -
Think you'll find it's the Grand Tetons NP, not the Titans :rotfl: though not a bad translation!
You staying in Jackson or Jackson Hole? If Jackson, check out the Snake River Brewery and Restaurant :beer:
Done many of the parks - and Vegas - with my Ex (Belnahua) so he might be able to give you pointers. I would but I still have baby brain so my memory is bad!:heartpuls Mrs Marleyboy :heartpuls
MSE: many of the benefits of a helpful family, without disadvantages like having to compete for the tv remote
Proud Parents to an Aut-some son 0 -
We drove from the Rocky Mountain NP, through Arches, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Tetons and Yellowstone a couple of years ago. The best advice I can offer is to make sure you buy a National Parks card - it will save you a bunch of money on park entry fees.
There's some information on it here: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html and you can buy it at any of the park entrances or visitor centres.
I would also recommend picking up a copy of the book "National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States". We bought a copy and it's excellent - maps and descriptions of parks, suggested itineraries based on the amount of time you have in the park and suggestions for other things to see in the area. We found it invaluable for planning and making the best of our trip.
Zion and Bryce are both worth a visit, but bear in mind that Bryce is like the Grand Canyon, in that you drive around the edge and walk down in to the canyon, whereas at Zion you are at the bottom of the canyon and there are plenty of walks up and out of it. Both are fabulous! You're going to have a great time.0 -
I second the suggestion to buy a NP pass - we used to buy ours in advance over tinternet.:heartpuls Mrs Marleyboy :heartpuls
MSE: many of the benefits of a helpful family, without disadvantages like having to compete for the tv remote Proud Parents to an Aut-some son 0 -
OK, how about this for starters:
12/8 - Drive to Zion - 1 night
13/8 - Drive to Bryce - 1 night
14/8 - Drive to Lake Powell - 1 night
15/8 - Drive to Grand Canyon (via Monument Valley) - 2 nights
17/8 - Drive to Vegas - 2 nights
19/8 - Drive to Death Valley - 1 night
20/8 - Drive to Yosemite - 3 nights
23/8 - Drive to SF airport - 1 night
It is almost the same as what you already have but I have chosen to skip staying over at Monument Valley and stay over at both Zion & Bryce. I wish we had spent more time in Zion based on what we saw driving through. Otherwise you could skip Lake Powell and stay at MV.
I would definitely not miss out on Death Valley & Yosemite, they were breathtaking. If you need to get an extra day somewhere you could stay only 2 nights in Yosemite but personally I would stay 3 nights. What about driving from Yosemite straight to the airport, this would give you an extra night somewhere ?
Make sure you stop off here for some food on the way over to Yosemite - https://www.whoanelliedeli.com
Hope this has been a little help.0 -
Tigsteroonie wrote: »Think you'll find it's the Grand Tetons NP, not the Titans :rotfl: though not a bad translation!
You staying in Jackson or Jackson Hole? If Jackson, check out the Snake River Brewery and Restaurant :beer:
Done many of the parks - and Vegas - with my Ex (Belnahua) so he might be able to give you pointers. I would but I still have baby brain so my memory is bad!
Oops:o I am remembering what the coach driver translated it to when I was there last time. I think it will be Jackson so thanks for that tipWe drove from the Rocky Mountain NP, through Arches, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Tetons and Yellowstone a couple of years ago. The best advice I can offer is to make sure you buy a National Parks card - it will save you a bunch of money on park entry fees.
There's some information on it here: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html and you can buy it at any of the park entrances or visitor centres.
I would also recommend picking up a copy of the book "National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States". We bought a copy and it's excellent - maps and descriptions of parks, suggested itineraries based on the amount of time you have in the park and suggestions for other things to see in the area. We found it invaluable for planning and making the best of our trip.
Zion and Bryce are both worth a visit, but bear in mind that Bryce is like the Grand Canyon, in that you drive around the edge and walk down in to the canyon, whereas at Zion you are at the bottom of the canyon and there are plenty of walks up and out of it. Both are fabulous! You're going to have a great time.
Thanks to both of you for recommending the pass. I will check that out.OK, how about this for starters:
12/8 - Drive to Zion - 1 night
13/8 - Drive to Bryce - 1 night
14/8 - Drive to Lake Powell - 1 night
15/8 - Drive to Grand Canyon (via Monument Valley) - 2 nights
17/8 - Drive to Vegas - 2 nights
19/8 - Drive to Death Valley - 1 night
20/8 - Drive to Yosemite - 3 nights
23/8 - Drive to SF airport - 1 night
It is almost the same as what you already have but I have chosen to skip staying over at Monument Valley and stay over at both Zion & Bryce. I wish we had spent more time in Zion based on what we saw driving through. Otherwise you could skip Lake Powell and stay at MV.
I would definitely not miss out on Death Valley & Yosemite, they were breathtaking. If you need to get an extra day somewhere you could stay only 2 nights in Yosemite but personally I would stay 3 nights. What about driving from Yosemite straight to the airport, this would give you an extra night somewhere ?
Make sure you stop off here for some food on the way over to Yosemite - www.whoanelliedeli.com
Hope this has been a little help.
Thanks for that it gives me something to think about. I might skip the lake powell and do Monument Valley. We have been to lake powell many Moons ago and did a nice boat trip on it. Did you know that is where they shot the original 1969 Planet of the Apes movie. The bit when the space ship crashes into the water, It was before the dam was built so it was a lot deeper then. I can't do the Yosemite to SFO airport in one day as I have an early flight.
Thanks for all the replies folks and thanks to Torbrex who has been advising via PM's. As I said if you want any advice on Australia tingtong just PM at the time as I usually hang around in the Arms.0 -
Do stay in Monument Valley at the View Hotel. We were there in May & it was the most memorable night of our whole trip - the silence & peace & spirituality of the place just blew me away!
A 3rd here for the NP pass - best $80 odd you'll spend!
Our trip was circular from Denver..... across South Park (yep - THE South Park!) towards Sand Dunes NP, on to Pagosa Springs (Sulphur Spa hotel!), Mesa Verde NP, Four Corners, Canyon de Chelly, Route66, Painted Desert & Petrified Forest NPs, GC, Monument Valley, Arches NP, Rockie Mountains.
If you want info on any of that little lot let me know!
A
xx:mad: :j:D:beer::eek::A:p:rotfl::cool::):(:T0
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