We are insane…that’s all that needs to be said.
We hadn’t driven for 3 days, so as we were all rested up, and as we simply could NOT skip the Grand Canyon since we had reservations in Zion for a campsite that evening (and we had already skipped one of those nights for an extra “rest” day in Vegas)…we drove from Vegas to the Grand Canyon and then to Zion all in one day!
By the time we got to the Grand Canyon, it was late afternoon (because seriously, we had planned to leave Vegas early but we did not get packed up to leave until about 11). We had dinner overlooking the rim, attended a ranger program (about Condors – they are a HUGE bird with a wingspan of over 9 feet- see, more learning!), went for a couple of different hikes, earned Junior Ranger badges, AND watched the sunset over the canyon… (yes, we watched the sunset before we even left for our 3-hour drive to Zion where we had to set up a tent!!)
We visited the North Rim, as it fit into our route easiest. The North Rim is less touristy than the South Rim and although I have not visited the other viewpoints, this stop was amazing. As with most of the other stops on this trip, I believe we could easily have spent more time here.
I am glad we participated in the junior ranger programs at the parks as they required us to stop, spend time, and participate in activities that we may not have been inclined to do otherwise. The kids (and adults too) learned so much from the ranger programs…and the hikes and information needed to complete the booklets was such a fun way for the kids to learn about our country’s natural resources.
The kids were amazing and have been real troopers during this whole adventure…they earned super road tripper status this day.
We got to Zion at about 11:30 at night– set up our tent – cuddled in and then played some games in the tent before finally falling asleep at around 1.
Related content
- Ultimate Road Trip Post 18- Stop #22 SoCal to Vegas, Baby
- Ultimate Road Trip Post 19 – Stop # 23 Vegas to Zion National Park via Grand Canyon
- Ultimate Road Trip Post 20- Stop # 24 Zion National Park
- 8-Day Utah’s Mighty 5 National Park Road Trip with Kids
- 8-Day Grand Circle Tour Itinerary with Kids: Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks Plus Grand Canyon
- Grand Canyon National Park – South Rim Guide with Kids plus 15 Tips to Help You Plan Your Visit