Grand Canyon and Las Vegas Tour
This is just a short round-trip for those of you who don’t have a lot of time but during your stay in Las Vegas, want to see the Grand Canyon – not by a fleeting over-fly but really “on the ground”!
You may, of course, extend the trip if you wish and stay longer to explore some more of
Day 1
Collect your Motor Home in Las Vegas and make your way directly to Blake Ranch for your first night. You will cross into Arizona at the Hoover Dam but we suggest you stop and visit here on your return journey. It is possible that you will have a Homeland Security check as you pass through this area – nothing scary but there’s a few million gallons of Colorado River behind that dam.
✪ 115 miles to Kingman via Hoover Dam
★ Visit the old silver mining town of Chloride
Day 2
You’re headed for Williams and The Grand Canyon Railway RV park which adjoins their railway depot and hotel to form a pleasant resort area. The hotel’s indoor pool and Jacuzzi, as well as the bar and restaurant, are available to RV guests too.
✪100 miles to Grand Canyon Railway
★ Visit Planes of Fame, the Williams aircraft museum, or the Flintstones’ Bedrock City www.thetrain.com/rvpark
Day 3
The highlight of this little tour will be when you stand at the rim of this magnificent National Park. No photograph, painting or film begins to capture it: you just have to carry the memory away with you.
We recommend the Mather campground which has showers and toilets though no electrical hook-ups. Do take an unforgettable helicopter trip over or into the Canyon.
✪ 55 miles to the Grand Canyon Camper Village
★ Visit the Canyons rim as the sun goes down but be sure to be there again at first light www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/cg-sr.htm
Day 4
Continue on I-40 to Flagstaff and then go south on I-17 toward the Coconino National Forest until you turn off for Sedona and your home for tonight, Rancho Sedona. It’s walking distance from the town’s restaurants, shops and galleries and in the heart of stunning red rock formations.
✪ 110 miles to Sedona
★ Visit Oak Creek Canyon; sometimes described as the Grand Canyon’s little cousin www.ranchosedona.com
Day 5
Today you are going to loop round through Prescott National Forest, and back up to Seligman. Its about a four hour drive and, along the way, the museums of western art and Indian artifacts in Prescott are worth a visit as is Sharlot Hall, the first territorial governor’s mansion. Just past Ash Fork, you will re-join Route 66 and it’s only a short way along to your KOA Campground.
✪ 130 miles to Seligman and the start of Historic Route 66
★ Visit the picturesque mining town of Jerome www.koa.com/where/az/03164
Day 6
There’s not much of Route 66 left “from Chicago to LA” but one of the longest sections remaining will take you on the scenic drive through Peach Springs , on the edge of the Hualapai Indian Reservation, to Kingman. Your headed for the Fort Beale RV Park.
✪ 90 miles to Kingman
★ Visit Grand Canyon Caverns, so named because the air travels sixty miles underground from the Canyon itself www.ftbealerv.com
Day 7
This is the time to spend a while at the Hoover Dam. There is so much to see and admire in this amazing man-made structure that channels the mighty Colorado River through turbines at eighty five miles an hour to create power for much of three states. We think we have found you the nicest campground in Las Vegas for your final night.
✪ 100 miles to Las Vegas
★ Visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Nearly 2,500 square miles of both Nevada and Arizona and 550 miles of stunning shoreline. www.oasislasvegasrvresort.com
Day 8
Drive just 10 Miles to drop of your Motor Home at the Las Vegas depot.
