travelgirl12

What is the variation in driving distances from Vegas to the North Rim vs. South Rim. Also, what is the difference in driving time when going to Bryce from the South Rim and North Rim?

bob_brown

Lv to GC South Rim 280
Lv to GC North Rim 285
North Rim to Bryce 165
South Rim to Bryce 300
(dirt road route is nearer but no faster)

LV to Zion is about 115
Difference in going from the North Rim to Bryce and South Rim to Bryce is about 2 hours or so, depending on your style.
It would take me longer because I would get out and look at anything worthwhile.

Like would you go whizzing by the turnoff to Pipe Spring National Monument?
Small, but very interesting reconstructioin of a way station in the middle of nowhere from the early days of the territory.

I am curious. Now that I have told you all this, what do you do with it?

utahtea

I came up with about the same mileages, but I'll put in the estimated driving times.

LV to S.Rim 280 miles 5 hrs.
S. Rim to Bryce 290 miles 6 hrs.
Bryce to Zion 85 miles 2 hrs
Zion to LV 164 miles 3 hrs.

LV to N. Rim 265 miles 6 1/2 hrs.
N. Rim to Bryce 155 miles 5 hrs.
On the N. Rim you will be doubling back on 70 miles of very slow driving.

I also saw in your other post that you only plan one night at the N. Rim. That's not going to give you much time there since it will be 5 to 6 1/2 hours of driving to get there or get out of there BUT I wouldn't give up the two nights at Zion.

IMHO the S. Rim is much better scenery but many like the N. Rim because it has less crowds.

Utahtea

travelgirl12

Thank you both for your reply. Mapquest said Bryce was about 6 hours from South Rim and that North Rim was only 3 hours, making a stay at north rim more appealing o us. I am sure, from reading your other posts, that you guys are much more familiar with actual driving distances than mapquest. I am really in a dilemma now that you have informed me that it is only 1-2 hours difference, and not three. I would much rather see the South Rim, but was not a fan of the long journey to Bryce. Now it seems the driving length is not all that much different. Do you think it would be better to stay one night on the South Rim and one night on the North Rim and skip a night at Zion?? I didn't want to spend so much of our precious time driving and would rather be seeing and hiking. On the other hand, my hubby had a good point - we have never seen either the south rim or the north rim, so either would be beautiful. I just don't know. Thanks again, and I'll post my desicion - hoping to book everything tomorrow!!

Patrick

I didn't record our driving time, but I do know that we had lunch at the North Rim, leaving somewhere around 1 PM. And we were in Bryce well before 5, in fact closer to 4 if memory serves. That 155 miles might be slow, but we traveled about 55 or 60 most of the way. I don't think it took us much over 3 hours.
We drove first from Las Vegas to Zion where we stayed overnight. Then drove to North Rim the next morning.

gail

Pick North or South Rim, add Zion. You can do a very nice trip with LV, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce - I don't think it significantly improves with both rims of Canyon.

dwooddon

I think someone should point out, the distance from anywhere to the North Rim is moot except in summer. The road to the North Rim usually opens around the first of June (later in heavy snow years) and closes once the snows start to fall.

bob_brown

The official openening times for the North Rim are mid May to mid October.
It does vary with snow fall. But, the route is fairly flat as plateau and canyon country roads go, and can be plowed in late spring.

I have been to both rims several times and my preferences hold: Better views of the canyon from the south rim. More solitude and a more beautiful forest at the North. Which is best? It all depends on your preferences.

utahtea

dwooddon,

I had already seen travelgirl12's other post. They are going in June/July.

Travelgirl12,

Please don't skip Zion. Pick either the N. Rim or the S. Rim. I also agree with bob_brown. I've been to both rims and I prefer the S. Rim for the views. I would suggest adding a day of travel to your schedule so you have time to enjoy all these areas. An added bonus if you do a circle from Las Vegas to the S. Rim Grand Canyon, to Bryce, you will drive right pass beautiful Lake Powell. Plan on lunch at the Marina!

Utahtea