Day/2-Day Trip From Vegas

Hi All:

I'm going to Las Vegas with my family to visit some other family around Christmas and plan to take a day or 2-day trip for landscape photos. I've done some research on possible destinations, but would love some feedback from the POTN community with knowledge of the area. Here is what I'm considering thus far:

1/2 to 1 Day Trip:

Red Rock Canyon (Been Once Before - really enjoyed it)
Valley of Fire
Desert Wildlife Refuge

1-2 Day Trip:

Mojave Desert National Preserve
Zion National Park
Death Valley
Joshua Tree National Park
Grand Canyon

I've only been to Red Rock. Nowhere else. I will probably be with wife and 5 year old wherever I go. I'm torn as to which spot to visit and can use some help to whittle down my options.

Thanks.

Valley of Fire, about 45 minutes Northeast of LV. Go to https://www.google.com …JAhVGiRoKHQ8VAw​sQ_AUIBygC to see some images. Makes Red Rock look like backyard gravel. Good site for some HDR photography is you want to take a tripod. Some sample HDR images are at https://www.google.com …RoKHVwhCsIQ_AUI​BigB&dpr=1.

The State park website for Valley of Fire is at http://parks.nv.gov …alley-of-fire-state-park/.

If you go hit Lake Mead, you are only about 10 miles away.

Thanks John from PA. I will be bringing my tripod. That's good to know between Red Rock and Valley of Fire. The VOF proximity is pretty enticing and I can probably run out there pre-dawn alone so I can get some nice sunrise photos.

Just came back from a 9 day road trip, Bryce, Zion Canyon and Valley of Fire. Here's a little video .... https://youtu.be/CWZ7z​uFxpkA Done at Valley of Fire, Mouse Hole trail with petroglyph's.

If you have kids, take them to Hoover Dam. It's the short side of 40 mile from LV but unfortunately southeast whereas Valley of Fire is northeast of LV.

If you go to Valley of fire it,s in the direction of Zion. Zion is about 31/2 hrs from Vegas Then Bryce would about 2/12 hrs further, the north rim of the Grand Canyon is closed in the winter and I think the south rim is about 6 hrs from Vegas. Death Valley is in the opposite direction of Zion and about 3Hrs from Vegas. My first choice would Zion if you are up for some hiking, My second choice would be Death Valley if you went to Death Valley Mono Lake just outside of Lee Vining is not Much further. The Hover Dam is also a nice take.

With a five year old in tow, I would probably choose an option with less driving to keep everybody happy.

My daughter was seven when we visited Death Valley last year at Thanksgiving time and she loved it (especially the sand dunes and the salt flats at Badwater).

Weather is a consideration too - we were just at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and it was very cold. We've also been there in winter when a snowstorm was coming and we had to leave early to avoid it. Plus the south rim is a long drive for just one night.

I would stick with the stuff closer to Vegas or Zion/Death Valley if you do two days.

I've been to the Hoover Dam. It is a very cool and a lot of neat photo ops and perspectives, but I want to check out places I haven't been.

Thanks Fisher. I'm really considering Zion. Bryce looks awesome but I think a little too far. Right now I am definitely planning on going to VOF due to its proximity to LV. Whether I can convince my family to take the drive to Zion or Death Valley is another story.

Thanks for the advice. I think my kid would prefer Death Valley and the sand dunes, and I know my wife would prefer to avoid extensive hiking that Zion could demand. A lot will depend on the weather I think. If it's colder, then Zion is probably out regardless.

pudgy_groundhog wrote in post #17799952
With a five year old in tow, I would probably choose an option with less driving to keep everybody happy.

My daughter was seven when we visited Death Valley last year at Thanksgiving time and she loved it (especially the sand dunes and the salt flats at Badwater).

Weather is a consideration too - we were just at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and it was very cold. We've also been there in winter when a snowstorm was coming and we had to leave early to avoid it. Plus the south rim is a long drive for just one night.

I would stick with the stuff closer to Vegas or Zion/Death Valley if you do two days.

I second this South Rim Grand Canyon is to far for a single overnight in my opinion. When we made the drive, it was early Feb last year. Got a decent start from Vegas in the morning with a quick stop in Valentine to visit Keepers of The Wild we just made sunset at the South Rim.

Zion, Bryce, Escalante, North Rim Grand Canyon would be my vote.
I lived in Vegas for 14yrs.
VofF is nice, Red Rock is nice also for 1/2 day or less.

Thanks Sevans. Good to know from someone who lived there for so long. I will probably make my final decision this weekend ahead the trip next week. Leaning towards grand canyon since I've never been. Wherever I go, I'll post photos (assuming I get good ones!) here.

I don't know if it has been mentioned but Mt Charleston this time of year can be confusingly breath taking. I say this because it will be warm in the valley and a snowy paradise up on the hill. The Lee Canyon drive is beautiful on the way up. It's only an hour up; weather permitting. I lived there for about 20 years before moving the Northwest!

Thank you for your suggestion. I know about Mt. Charleston, though I've never been and hadn't really considered it. That's definitely an option as it would double as a fun trip for my kid to play in some snow (which we never see in Florida).