ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. George is so beautiful. Zion National Park is the perfect spot for kids with many family friendly hiking and biking trails. That turned out to be to our advantage, as it led us to Penns Thai House for fantastic Thai food (khao soi and nam kau tod). Be careful driving. The McCarren International Airport will serve as your gateway to Utahs National Parks, allowing visitors the opportunity to spend a few days in Las Vegas before leaving the neon lights behind in exchange for twinkling stars and moonlight. If you're starting and ending your trip in Las Vegas that takes you up to 24 hours of driving, covering 1,400 miles, which works out as nearly 5 hours of driving per day. I-15 will be your main interstate (highway) that will take you from Las Vegas into Southern Utah. Driving distance: 52 miles. From here, we've plotted the best route around Utah, which lets you travel around the state's most popular landmarks and cities. Yoga classes are available, and the rooftop sun terrace is relaxing in the sunshine. It's about 160 miles, and the drive usually takes between two and three hours. When big conventions are in town, prices go up. However, it's worth considering that driving in the winter months might be challenging and smaller roads may close. Thanks for your report and insights. The people in Vegas have made it really easy to get there, too. Rather than racing from Las Vegas to Zion as quickly as possible, slow down and enjoy the drive. However, half way through there is an exit for Virgin River Canyon Campground. 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. The Flight exhibit is a popular attraction where you can try your hand at flying in a flight simulator and jump aboard a plane. The shortest, and one of the most family-friendly, is Weeping Rock, which is a quarter-mile walk on a paved road that ends at a weeping rock that drips with water. We hadnt packed provisions beyond water (preparation fail, a picnic would have been nice), so lunch was fast food in Cedar City. Red Rock Canyon State Park | Scenic Drives Near Las Vegas (30 Minutes) Just 16 miles west of Las Vegas, you will find the Red Rock Canyon National Conservational Area and Scenic loop drive. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Other options are a solid choice and safer but will add some time on to your travels. If you leave St George at 4 , you would be at Zion by 5.There is a shuttle at Zion that takes about 1.5 hours to go from the visitor center to the end of the canyon and back.You will be very limited on time coming that late in the afternoon.You may want to skip a night at . It parallels the Virgin River in many areas, and cuts through the towns of Hurricane, Virgin, Rockville, and Springdale before ending the park. Direct flights from Phoenix (PHX), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Denver (DEN) to St. George (SGU) are available through Skywest/Delta Connection. Tip: Las Vegas car rental rates, like hotel rates, fluctuate with the citys convention schedule. Head north out of Las Vegas, taking Interstate 15 (I-15) north to St George. Reset. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Then, you can enjoy your lunch on the bus, or have a picnic when you get to the park. You'll skirt around some of the state's most impressive natural monuments, including Zion National Park and Dixie National Forest. As you leave Zion National Park, you'll be on the home leg of your road trip. It wasnt a full day, but it was a full day, if that makes sense. There are three levels of pools, Lower, Middle and Upper, amid the trails, each a bit harder to get to than the last. All photos are property of Kids Are A Trip, Inc., unless otherwise noted. Wow! Bryce Canyons most famous section of hoodoos, Silent City, has its home in Sunset Point. Popular activities in Arches include canyoneering, ATV rides, hiking, river rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Expect hotel prices to rise for these events because of demand. From St George and Las Vegas will be continuing north on I-15 through Cedar City. Once you leave the park you will reach highway 89 and turn north. September is when temperatures start to drop. The closest national park to Las Vegas, Zion National Park is the first stop on your Utah national parks itinerary from Las Vegas. Please keep in mind that this (highway 14) route can be closed during some wintertime periods do to extreme snowfall. ), 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. This section is just desert country, but after you cross the state line, it's not far to the Virgin River canyon. This drive also gives you some insight into Virgin River flooding and geologic challenges. Not for the faint of heart, but a seriously glorious climb. Keyword. Since the city is located in the Mojave Desert, it doesnt have the cold weather found in other parts of the state. From there to Bryce, through drop-dead gorgeous scenery. So rather than drive there direct I thought it would be a good idea to take in somewhere else en-route. Theres nothing else like it! But that was just a previewthe scenery as we drove on to the Visitors Center wowed us. It is not walker nor wheelchair friendly unless there is a side trail Im missing. Still, with car rental rates hovering around $35 per day, you can pile a few people into the car and easily beat the prices of any bus tour or shuttle service serving Las Vegas. 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. 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. Instead we just walked the dam and marveled at the views, both manmade & natural. 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. To continue on your route towards Utah, turn left onto Northshore Road and follow it through Moapa Valley until you meet I-15. Travel Safe. (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.). 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. This section of I-15 is particularly scenic and shows where we drove through the Virgin River Canyon. When you hit highway 89 you will turn north and continue up highway 89 until you reach highway 12. A relaxing scenic drive through the Mojave desert from Las Vegas, NV to St. George, Utah north on Interstate 15. Rangers are on hand to answer questions and offer advice for your time in the park. Those who have plenty of time and don't love a tour bus. 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. Show on Map. There are two scenic routes to take through the park, each offering distinctive sites and scenery. 24K views 2 years ago LAS VEGAS STRIP A relaxing scenic drive through the Mojave desert from Las Vegas, NV to St. George, Utah north on Interstate 15. And it wasnt just a one-time fluke: on our return a week later, we also noted that Dollar was the only brand with a line. There are more than 2,000 natural stone arches and thousands of stone pinnacles, rock fins, and red-rock formations throughout Arches National Park. With so many things to see and do, your itinerary can be customized to include a smattering of highlights, or an in-depth exploration of one or more of the treasures to be found in the almost 92,000 square miles of national parks in Utah. Sitting 128-feet above the ground, this boulder estimated to be 3,000 tons is attached to its pedestal in a natural balancing act. 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. Located a quick ninety minute drive from Las Vegas, St. George lies within striking distance of four state parks and Zion National Park. This route is going to take at least 5 days to enjoy in full with so many majestic national parks, forests and attractions, so here are some of our top picks for places to stay along the way. It went very well with takeout pizza (and Succession!) Visiting this Utah state park is one of the best things to do on a Utah road trip. This 130 complete journey was filmed in August, 2020 in a Ford Mustang and plays at normal (real time) speed (playback speed can be adjusted in the video settings). Taste some Americana at Route 66, AZ (2 hours) A couple of hours' drive from Las Vegas will get . Be sure to select Red Mountain Resort as your destination. If youre arriving from Las Vegas, please note that Utah is one hour ahead of Nevada. We both loved the way the landscape changed as we drove, from desert to mountain pine forest and back to desert. It's an International Dark Sky Park, and you can join a guided astronomy tour if you want to learn more about the stellar night sky views. Day 6 ((ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The nearby town of Springfield is the best place for gathering supplies and booking guided tours. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon Day 1. Even if they dont, youll need to wait for other passengers to load and unload. Specifically the gorge area.. stunning views. Thanks for joining us! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-117395788', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kanab and beyond - Wednesday). We flew into (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? After spending some time exploring Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, rejoin I-15 and continue heading north. Take your time to enjoy the incredible views you'll get from this fabulous highway. So, what to do with the rest of the day? Halfway through the drive, your dedicated driver and guide will pick up your fresh deli lunch on the way from Las Vegas to Zion. The ideal travel companion for Keystone State residents and visitors, this book compiles 30 drives that can suggest how to fill an afternoon or an entire vacation. The experience is unlike anything youve done before and its one of the best things to do in St George Utah! It only makes four pickups at Springdale each day. Each one offers visitors something new to see and explore, from sweeping canyons and monuments to red rocks and alpine forests, all working together to create the breath-taking landscape of the Colorado Plateau. To get there, exit onto US-189, then turn off towards Deer Mountain, keeping Jordanelle Reservoir on your right-hand side. Length Under 30 miles 30 to 75 miles Over 75 miles. The drive took us through Jacob Lake, where Id stayed on a past trip to the North Rim (closed now, of course). Dinner at Rubys, where they were out of all their interesting-sounding beers and the food was mediocre at best. Also nearby, Hamblin Home is a historic stone house with 1860s-style furnishings, and you can learn about Jacob Hamblin and his dedication to native American Indians in the region. Twin Lakes in the Poconos. Also in St. George is one of our all time favorite restaurants, Hash House A Go Go. Start your trip in comfort and style with a stay at the Advenire, Autograph Collection, where the rooms combine both vintage grandeur and contemporary design.