Vegas/Grand Canyon/New Mexico advice

[hamster]

In my attempt to avoid any real work, I'm day dreaming about our next vacation.

I was thinking of flying into Vegas, staying for a couple days, then driving to the Grand Canyon for a couple days, and finally ending up in Albuquerque/Santa Fe and flying home from there.

When do you think the best time to go would be? February/March is out because of work, and so is September/October (but is more flexible with proper planning). I know we'll want to do some hiking, but hadn't gotten much farther in the planning stages.

Has anybody done a trip like this? Any advice?

[gnomesweetgnome]

I think April/May would probably be your best bet weather-wise. I've not done a trip like that, but Santa Fe is beautiful, and if you can make it to Taos you should definitely do that, as well.

[mccallister84]

We did Vegas/Grand Canyon this past summer (late July). We flew into Vegas spent a few nights drove to the GC and spent a night there drove back to Vegas spent another night and then drove to CA and flew out of LAX later. I would try to time Vegas for during the week. Things were so much cheaper. It was really hot when we went but the guideline for hiking into the canyon is to be done by like 10 am. We got up super early and hiked so it was nice that it was summer so that it wasn't freezing before dawn. Definitely book your lodging at the GC ASAP and make sure to fill up on gas. We came really close to running out on the way back to Vegas. Overall we had a great time and we were so glad we did it.

I would also budget in some time to stop at the Hoover Dam on the way to the GC.

[crazygame]

The Grand Canyon is located at 6,000 ft above sea level. I lived there for a year and it gets cold in the winter. If you want to ensure that you will be able to hike, I would go later in the spring. My last trip there was in May and we woke up to a few inches of snow. That is a bit late for a large snowfall, but at that elevation, anything is possible. I would also not suggest that you go in July or August. It's super busy and if you hike into the canyon, it can be 120 degrees.

If you actually make the trip, I can give you some suggestions about what to do at the canyon.

[Susie]

We went to the Grand Canyon in mid/late June this year, and we did all our hiking from sunrise to ~10am, slept til 4pm, and hiked again til sunset. Having to stop during the hot parts of the day really precluded getting as far into the canyon as we wanted to.

Not the time of year I'd have picked, but we were out there for a wedding and I'm glad we at least saw it. It was phenomenally beautiful. Make sure to see it at sunrise/sunset.

If you want to stay in the park, accommodations do book up early.

[hamster]

Dec 21, 2012 13:47:35 GMT -5 crazygame said:

The Grand Canyon is located at 6,000 ft above sea level. I lived there for a year and it gets cold in the winter. If you want to ensure that you will be able to hike, I would go later in the spring. My last trip there was in May and we woke up to a few inches of snow. That is a bit late for a large snowfall, but at that elevation, anything is possible. I would also not suggest that you go in July or August. It's super busy and if you hike into the canyon, it can be 120 degrees.

If you actually make the trip, I can give you some suggestions about what to do at the canyon.

I'm not really concerned about a little bit of snow. I realize that comes with the territory. I'd much rather deal with that over 120 degree heat!

[hamster]

Dec 21, 2012 13:52:05 GMT -5 Susie said:

We went to the Grand Canyon in mid/late June this year, and we did all our hiking from sunrise to ~10am, slept til 4pm, and hiked again til sunset. Having to stop during the hot parts of the day really precluded getting as far into the canyon as we wanted to.

Not the time of year I'd have picked, but we were out there for a wedding and I'm glad we at least saw it. It was phenomenally beautiful. Make sure to see it at sunrise/sunset.

If you want to stay in the park, accommodations do book up early.

Honestly, I'd love to camp but there's the logistical hassle of getting our stuff there.

[duff]

Coming out of lurkdom...

I'd suggest April/May. Vegas will be much cooler then than it would in the summer and ABQ (my home) is gorgeous that time of year! You'd definitely be able to get some good hiking weather out here around that time.

[Susie]

Dec 21, 2012 13:55:33 GMT -5 hamster said:

Dec 21, 2012 13:52:05 GMT -5 Susie said:

We went to the Grand Canyon in mid/late June this year, and we did all our hiking from sunrise to ~10am, slept til 4pm, and hiked again til sunset. Having to stop during the hot parts of the day really precluded getting as far into the canyon as we wanted to.

Not the time of year I'd have picked, but we were out there for a wedding and I'm glad we at least saw it. It was phenomenally beautiful. Make sure to see it at sunrise/sunset.

If you want to stay in the park, accommodations do book up early.

Honestly, I'd love to camp but there's the logistical hassle of getting our stuff there.

Ugh, it was a huge hassle. We spent a fortune on bag checking fees between going to a wedding (and clothes for that) and all our camping gear. Plus, the o-rings on our camp stove disintegrated with the air pressure change on the plane, so we had to fix that when we got there. Le sigh. But it was fun.

There are lodges in the park if you wanted to stay in the park but not camp. That was what I was assuming you might want do. Bright Angel lodge is one, but there are others too.

[barney96]

I live in Flagstaff. Most of the touring companies start up around April, but I would wait till May personally. The weather here & there is so different sometimes it can be good, sometimes it can be bad. I wouldnt go before April though, and wouldnt go once school gets out.

[Deleted]

I've done the trip & I've lived years in both Vegas & Albuquerque. Plan ahead & time it to make the Balloon Fiesta in October. It'll be warm in Vegas, cool in the GC & cool mornings (but warms up) in ABQ. I freaking hate the GC in the summer now--it used to be not so horrible but now most of the NP are way crowded during peak season. Campgrounds are packed too. Are you planning just to do the South Rim of the GC? If you have time I'd highly recommend going to Bryce, Zion & the North rim too but it's considerably farther & out of the way. If you have any specific questions let me know. I love NM, especially Santa Fe! Ps-it's too cold to swim in Vegas at most Hotels in March/early April but I think many stay open into Sept/Oct. At least that is what I recall if you wanted to relax by the pool in Vegas.

[vegas]

Dec 23, 2012 10:40:36 GMT -5 L said:

I've done the trip & I've lived years in both Vegas & Albuquerque. Plan ahead & time it to make the Balloon Fiesta in October. It'll be warm in Vegas, cool in the GC & cool mornings (but warms up) in ABQ. I freaking hate the GC in the summer now--it used to be not so horrible but now most of the NP are way crowded during peak season. Campgrounds are packed too. Are you planning just to do the South Rim of the GC? If you have time I'd highly recommend going to Bryce, Zion & the North rim too but it's considerably farther & out of the way. If you have any specific questions let me know. I love NM, especially Santa Fe! Ps-it's too cold to swim in Vegas at most Hotels in March/early April but I think many stay open into Sept/Oct. At least that is what I recall if you wanted to relax by the pool in Vegas.

This is true for the most part. March and April can be too cold and windy, it just depends on the year. September through mid-October is usually still very warm and probably my favorite part of the year in Vegas.