Los Angeles - Grand Canyon (Phoenix, Tucson: how much, hotels, construction)

[baker_001]

Hello,
I have posted in other forums but first time posting in Arizona folder. I have some questions and would really appreciate your help. We are traveling on Nov-20 from LA early morning like 4 or 5 am . We are hoping to reach GC by 3 pm with stops. We have two kids traveling with us ages 3 and 15months old. Now I know we are not into hiking at all specially with the kids being that young. So we would like to know what viewpoints are there in GC that we can go and stop there by car.
Secondly should we stay at GCNP lodging or outside like William's or Flagstaff? What is better ? What are the food options their inside the park I believe not many but we are into vegetarian or seafood. Will we face any problem in that regard?
One more thing is that we will be continuing our journey the next day towards Houston. So what you suggest ?

[jamies]

First of all Houston is nowhere near the Grand Canyon, wrong freeway. From LA to Houston if you are making a marathon drive you take the 10 not the 40. I-40 is the scenic route, and if you are going for the scenery why rush the trip?

With kids that young I would either break the trip with an overnight in Laughlin, on the Colorado River, numerous nice (inexpensive) hotel/casinos, about 5 hours from LA. That's my preference, gives you a little time to unwind by the river in the evening with a relaxing drink. After 5 hours in the car with two babies you might need a stiff drink.

Or if you must, drive to Flagstaff, another 3 hours, arrive about 3-4 pm. Stay in Flagstaff overnight, good range of hotels. Drive up to the GC the next day. You will need most of the day. There are numerous car accessible overlooks or with parking nearby. Alternatively, you can do a loop trip along the road that parallels the canyon and return to Flag that way, or reverse it. It's about a 150 mile drive from Flag and back.

If you must rush it, you can spend the night right outside the park, there's a little town with about 10 hotels. I wouldn't spend the premium to stay in the park unless you get one of the suites that overlook the canyon rim, for several hundred a night, "if" you can get reservations even.

If you are going to the CG you really should have lunch at El Tovar (11 am to 2 pm, only) though with two little kids that might be something you want to wait a few years to do so they will remember it. There are snack bars and other places to eat in the main area of the park. You should have a stroller, there's walking involved wherever you go. Keep in mind that even this time of year about 15,000 people a day visit the park.

Then drive back to Flag and spend a second night and enjoy a relaxing dinner. (Is that possible with an 18 month old? jk)

The next day (day #3) drive down Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona and check out a few art galleries, then drive through Jerome, Prescott and on to Tuscon for the night. After you leave Prescott there's nothing to see until you reach Houston or Daytona Beach, FL so how you go the rest of the way is your affair.

But now I think we should discuss why you are driving to Houston in the first place. If it was me I'd forget about Houston and after Flagstaff I'd drive up to Monument Valley and into the Four Corners area and Moab, then on to Aspen and Yellowstone and parts of Wyoming. Heck if I lived in LA I might never go back...

[rambrush]

I am questioning the logic of a GC visit, you really don't have time to enjoy what it has to offer.
Stay on the 10 make a stop @ Saguaro National Park on the way by then head North a bit from El Paso to Guadalupe Mtns and Carlsbad Caverns. Or Fort Davis and Big Bend NP.
The canyon is not going anywhere anytime soon, so plan different and visit the North Rim

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by jamies

After you leave Prescott there's nothing to see until you reach Houston

what!!!????

anyway, jamies does offer some other ok advice!!

if you must leave LA that early, you'll be able to get to the canyon by 3....it'll be one hour later over here by then, too....

I highly, highly recommend staying overnight at the canyon itself in the south rim village, as opposed to Tusayan, Williams, or Flag.....lots to see and explore...and very relaxing to be able to just walk over to your room after some sightseeing and dinner instead of loading up in the car in the dark for an up-to-80-mile drive back to a dreary motel well away from the scenery....call now!...prices and rooms vary enormously:

https://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

there are several viewpoints along the south rim near the village....each is different and spectacular....best views are just before sunset - about 5pm in late November

as jamies suggests, the direct way to Houston (I-10) is not via the Grand Canyon (I-40), but, in that great distance, you'll be able to figure out how to get down to I-40, whether it's in AZ, NM, or TX....

[baker_001]

Thank you for the help. Its really great. So yeah we have decided to come to GC by 3-4 , already reserved a room at bright angels. So we can just see the sunset. Have dinner got to our room and relax. Then next day we do a short tour the whole day. Stay at flagstaff and the in the morning continue our journey to Houston.
From flagstaff we intend to drive from flagstaff to I-17 south to Phoenix, then merge onto I-10 down through Tucson and on to Texas and Houston.

[azdr0710]

$25 fee to enter the Grand Canyon....of course, allow three or more full days to get from the Grand Canyon to Houston, depending how much you drive each day...lots of driving!

[jamies]

Yes I forgot about the Bright Angel, it's all really pretty and right next door to El Tovar. El Tovar is pricy and for dinner you can't see the view in the dark, which is why I recommend lunch to my friends. If you know the Governor (or if you "are" a Governor) you might be able to get one of the coveted window tables. I don't know the Governor, but I saw one on TV once and we had a magical lunch with the canyon just outside our window.

And remember, just close your eyes after Tuscon, you won't miss anything.

Have a great trip.

PS - In Flag my favorite restaurants are the Mountain Oasis downtown for dinner and the Weatherford hotel, good sandwiches.

Don't forget to drive down Oak Creek through Sedona, you can rejoin the 17 south of town. The side trip will add a couple of well spent hours.

[baker_001]

From GC what is better I-10 or I-40 to Houston and why? I want to decide so that I know where to stop. I want to book the rooms now.
Thanks

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by baker_001

From GC what is better I-10 or I-40 to Houston and why? I want to decide so that I know where to stop. I want to book the rooms now.
Thanks

I-40 goes nowhere near Houston....assuming you want to stay on interstates, from I-40 in Flag you can use I-17 in Arizona down to I-10 in Phoenix....or I-25 in Albuquerque from I-40 down to I-10 in Las Cruces....or I-35 and I-45 from I-40 in Oklahoma City via Dallas....

I'd go via I-25 from Albuquerque to I-10....check Google Maps....allow at least three or four days from the Canyon and check state road department websites for construction areas....

[baker_001]

I am confused if we take I-40 do we have to travel through the cities( Oklahoma city or Dallas , which means the sped limit will be lower) ? Because with I-10 I believe its a straight road towards Houston.