Road Trip: Vegas to Phoenix and back

[OCMD]

Just planning ahead. I may need to be in Phoenix the weekend of July 6,7,8 for "work." I may bring the fam along, and thought we could fly into Vegas, stay a night for under $100 with my Marriott discount, then head south to Phoenix. (It's so much cheaper flying into Vegas than it is Phoenix) Thinking of flying into Vegas Wed afternoon, then head south Thursday. Need to be in Phoenix by Saturday morning. Along the way it would be cool to see the Grand Canyon, although I know it is a bit out of the way. It looks to be about a 3-4 hour trip from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix, so that's not a big deal after we saw the canyon. Last time out we did the Williams train trip to the Canyon, but that's kind of a rip and more for little kids imo.

Suggestions for a place to stay for a night near the Canyon? Or is the Williams train still the way to go to squeeze a day in? Or if we skipped the canyon, what route would we take and what kind of cool things could we see? Or is it just a boring trip through long stretches of highway? Then, of course, we have to make the return trip from Vegas to Phoenix Monday or Tuesday. I am just trying to sketch out a plan, and figure this is the best place to start, as we all know. We will drive by the Hoover Dam but have seen it a few times, so don't make this a stop.

I was also thinking of just departing from Phoenix rather than Vegas, but the rental car jacks up about 400 bucks for not returning to Vegas so screw that.

Any and all suggestions/recommendations etc are welcome. Thanks.

 

[Hector]

Just planning ahead. I may need to be in Phoenix the weekend of July 6,7,8 for "work." I may bring the fam along, and thought we could fly into Vegas, stay a night for under $100 with my Marriott discount, then head south to Phoenix. (It's so much cheaper flying into Vegas than it is Phoenix) Thinking of flying into Vegas Wed afternoon, then head south Thursday. Need to be in Phoenix by Saturday morning. Along the way it would be cool to see the Grand Canyon, although I know it is a bit out of the way. It looks to be about a 3-4 hour trip from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix, so that's not a big deal after we saw the canyon. Last time out we did the Williams train trip to the Canyon, but that's kind of a rip and more for little kids imo.

Suggestions for a place to stay for a night near the Canyon? Or is the Williams train still the way to go to squeeze a day in? Or if we skipped the canyon, what route would we take and what kind of cool things could we see? Or is it just a boring trip through long stretches of highway? Then, of course, we have to make the return trip from Vegas to Phoenix Monday or Tuesday. I am just trying to sketch out a plan, and figure this is the best place to start, as we all know. We will drive by the Hoover Dam but have seen it a few times, so don't make this a stop.

I was also thinking of just departing from Phoenix rather than Vegas, but the rental car jacks up about 400 bucks for not returning to Vegas so screw that.

Any and all suggestions/recommendations etc are welcome. Thanks.

If you have already done the canyon, why not stop by Sedona! It’s beautiful and you can rent side by sides everywhere there and go to the formations or even up to the mountains. Prescott is pretty cool too..

 

[Jgorm]

Sedona is cool, but lake Powell is just an hour away and much much cooler! I'd ditch the grand canyon, get a hotel in page and check out the Glenn canyon area. It's amazing! Lees ferry is the start of the grand canyon.