Using Las Vegas as the starting point for a southwestern national park tour is a smart idea. Las Vegas was established as a stopover for travelers going from the east coast to California, as a reprieve from the long stretches of desert which hold little to no changes in scenery. Lets face it, Las Vegas is very isolated in the middle of the desert and doesn’t have a lot around it. This is the very reason it became so popular, because people traveling across the desert needed a place to stop and rest for a while before heading out to more of the same in every direction. This fact actually works to the advantage of those seeking an experience at the national parks of the southwest due to the fact that they are located inside those long stretches of area that is remote. National parks are kept pristine by prohibiting development inside them and around them, and because of the expanse Las Vegas is the nearest major city to more than a few of them. While you may find some smaller towns that are closer, you are going to probably need to take a flight into the starting point and Las Vegas is the best choice with regards to proximity and commercial air choices.
Once you are in Las Vegas, you will realize that there are numerous national parks within driving distance of about one-half to one-full day. These parks are Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. Death Valley is also available as is Arches and Canyonlands, however for sheer popularity of parks that are accessible you will want to choose from the first five. This is mainly because they are all located closer to each other than they are to Las Vegas itself, and if you decide to visit multiple parks during your trip you will want to drive to Zion first, then on to Bryce and Monument Valley. By staggering the parks in this fashion, you minimize your driving time in between parks and maximize the amount of time you can allocate for exploration. This type of trip is going to take at least three days if you want to allow yourself enough time to see some interesting things and explore each area. We offer a tour that is three days using this type of sequence, and also a seven day tour that visits more places and spends more time in each park.
If you only have minimal time of a day or so, you may want to visit Zion Canyon or Death Valley, as these can be reached n only a few hours drive and will not eat up all of your daylight with driving. Bindlestiff Tours does offer single day tours, but special arrangements will have to be made in some cases so as to maximize your enjoyment time. All of the parks offer a totally unique experience and hiking, as well as scenic views that are beyond breathtaking. Let us arrange your next national parks tour, whether it is a single day or a multiple day tour.