Zion to Bryce

[graywolfkayak]

We'll be traveling through the SW for six weeks, leaving our home in Washington on May 1st. We have reservations for four nights at Watchman campground in Zion NP, then four nights at Ruby's RV park at Bryce NP.

I read someone's post that they were staying at North campground in Bryce last week, and that if you got there before 11:00am you had a chance to get a campsite.

My question is this: should we get Zion to Bryce as quickly as possible to get one of the first come first served campsites at North? Or, is there too much great stuff to see between the two parks? We could keep our first night at the RV park, then move into Bryce the next morning.

We'll be taking the tunnel to the East entrance/exit of Zion NP, our 2004 PW Excel TS might need to have an "escort" due to width - so I know that the tunnel opens at 8:00am.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

[joelm]

I posted that we'd been in Bryce. Sunset should be open now and it's all first come first served. North campground will remain first come first served until May 27th.

Our experience this year and last is that if you can get there by 10 or 11 am, you should be able to find a space. Of course, no guarantees and it varies by day of week. i.e. more people seem to come in on Friday than Tuesday

IF Ruby's has spare places, you can use them as a backup. That was our plan. Also depends on amenities. Bryce has no showers. RV Dump should be open by now or by May. It was closed last week still due to overnight freezing temps.

Staying in the park is great since you can just walk a few hundred feet and you are at some of the best views of the canyon.

[graywolfkayak]

Ah, so it was your post that I read. Not too concerned about the showers, as my wife and I are very experienced backpackers in Olympic National Park, and know how to: 1. do without for a few days, and 2. make do with a "Navy shower" in our rig.

We're leaving Zion for Bryce on a Tuesday, so hopefully that will stack the odds in our favor.

My main concern is that I don't want to miss anything on our drive between the two parks because I'm so fixated on getting to Bryce in a timely fashion.

Thanks!

[joelm]

We had exactly the same concern about missing stuff. The good news is you are coming from Zion, so you've seen great sights! You'll be fine

[joelm]

BTW, North Campground is closest, it's on the Rim. Sunset is across the road. Close, but not as close. And I'd recommend B-loop for a ClassB. Nicer spots with bigger rigs in loop A

[graywolfkayak]

Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated.

[GallenH]

If I remember correctly, the sites in Zion on the Virgin river have electric (only). There is another park you might want to consider if you're in that area: Kodachrome Basin. It's slightly SE of Bryce. We spent several days there on our way to Arches. Very nice.

[graywolfkayak]

Originally Posted by GallenH

If I remember correctly, the sites in Zion on the Virgin river have electric (only). There is another park you might want to consider if you're in that area: Kodachrome Basin. It's slightly SE of Bryce. We spent several days there on our way to Arches. Very nice.

Appreciate the input, but our itinerary is pretty locked in: 4 nights at Zion, 4 nights at Bryce, 3 nights at Capitol Reef, 1 night in Moab (transition day), 3 nights at Arches, 3 nights at Deadhorse Point SP, 3 nights Mesa Verde, 2 nights Heron Lake SP (NM), 2 nights Monument Valley, 1 night Page (transition day), 6 nights North Rim GC, then head home.

All reserved with the exception of Bryce, which is first come first served. We still have our reservation for Ruby's at Bryce, but I'm probably going to cancel that and make a run for North campground in the park.

[GallenH]

Sounds like a fantastic trip. Enjoy.

[graywolfkayak]

Thanks, we're planning on it.

We got home a week ago from an eight day rafting trip down the Grand Canyon - it was incredible!

[Photog]

We visited Zion and Bryce last year. You will be driving from one spectacular canyon to one spectacular canyon/rim. The area is all beautiful, but you won’t be missing anything on the drive between the two parks. There is a small area, after you leave US-89 and head east on Hwy 12. We stopped because us was beautiful, but after seeing Bryce Canyon, we felt like we would have spent our time better, if we had just driven straight through to Bryce.

[graywolfkayak]

Originally Posted by Photog

We visited Zion and Bryce last year. You will be driving from one spectacular canyon to one spectacular canyon/rim. The area is all beautiful, but you won’t be missing anything on the drive between the two parks. There is a small area, after you leave US-89 and head east on Hwy 12. We stopped because us was beautiful, but after seeing Bryce Canyon, we felt like we would have spent our time better, if we had just driven straight through to Bryce.

Thanks, that's very helpful.