Nevada, Arizona, Utah Itinerary Feedback - Two 65YO's Loop from Las Vegas

We did a similar tour and itinerary in 2024.

If you want to stay in the park at GC or Zion, book now. We booked a year in advance.
We wanted to stay at the El Tovar in GC, but booked the Kachina Lodge, because none of the rooms at the El Tovar have south rim views. The Kachina Lodge did, which was next door to the El Tovar. We did eat dinner at the El Tovar.
The Kachina Lodge can only be described as ugly brutalist architecture but the location can't be beat.

We did a rim trail mule ride and enjoyed it, but if your husband is afraid of heights, this may not be for him. Those mules get close to the edge, but they are too smart to fall over the side and you won't either.

In Bryce, there is no Park Lodge inside the park. We stayed at the Best Western in Canyon City.

We did the Dark Ranger Telescope tour in Bryce rather than Zion because it was easier to get to.
https://www.darkrangertelescopetours.com

We also did a mule ride down into the Bryce Canyon to see the hoodoos close up.
https://canyonrides.com/bryce-canyon-horseback-riding/

We ate dinner at the Stone Hearth Grille in nearby Tropic, UT. It was a wonderful meal!
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=stone+hearth+grille&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

In Zion, book now to stay in the park at the Zion lodge. Otherwise, you have to stay outside the park and take the shuttle bus in everyday.

In Sedona, skip Rene at Tlaquepaque restaurant. Overated and food was so-so. Instead eat at Mariposa. Reservations required
https://www.mariposasedona.com

We stayed at the Matterhorn Inn.https://matterhorninn.com/accommodations/
Great location downtown with parking. We walked to the shops and to the Pink Jeep tour office.
Definitely do a pink Jeep tour.

In Page, we did the Antelope Canyon tour with Antelope Slot Canyon Tours.
https://antelopeslotcanyon.com
they meet in Page
We did a half day raft trip on the Colorado (didn't have enough time to do a several day trip). They meet in Page and drive out to Lee's Ferry and go up river to Horse Shoe Bend and back.
https://www.riveradventures.com/horseshoe-bend-rafting/horseshoe-bend-rafting-experience

We also did the dinner show at the Red Heritage Which we liked.
https://red-heritage.com

I wish we had added Monument Valley on this trip. I wouldn't hold off and do it with your other trip.
IN the future, When you do Arches NP also do Canyonlands NP they are nearby.

Also, I would fly into LV, visit Hoover dam, drive to Zion NP,, then East to Bryce NP, then south to Page, AZ, then side trip to Monument valley and back
then down to Grand Canyon NP, south rim, then south (consider visiting Flagstaff) then south to Sedona and then south to fly out of Phoenix. If you need to return the car to LV, then Sedona to LV or do the trip in the other direction.

I have been to Zion, Bryce, and other Southern Utah parks and monuments many times.
I believe there is (or used to be-I haven't checked) a lodge in Bryce. There is Ruby's Inn and a few others just outside of Bryce and even more options in Panguitch or Tropic. Much of Bryce can be seen from the overlooks.
Regarding Zion, you may want to consider the trail that goes to the beginning of the Virgin River Narrows. It is at the northernmost and final stop on the Zion shuttle (which you are required to use) and is called Temple of Sinawava. The trail is about a mile each way and this, to me, is the prettiest part of Zion canyon without entering the Narrows. The trail to Scout Overlook is mostly paved but does have a lot of elevation gain and is along the side of steep canyon walls. The view from the top is wonderful. There are many lodging options in Springdale at the park entrance.
If you are going through Monument Valley, you may want to drive (dirt road) through Valley of the Gods, which is east of Monument Valley. Goosenecks State Park is also close by with an incredible view. Or, you could drive up to the southern entrance of Canyonlands past Newspaper Rock and choose a hike in that part of the park. There is a lot to see but the driving distances are sometimes great.

In the Grand Canyon, I would recommend you stay in Bright Angel Cabins. It was a terrific location; located on the Rim Trail; partial view of the canyon; beautiful sunrise. They book up early, so you need to start checking now. When I first researched places, they were fully booked, so I checked every day until one opened up. Be sure you book the cabin NOT the lodge, because the lodge has shared bathrooms down the hall. We did have to spend one night at the Thunderbird Lodge. Good location, but the room was dingy and overpriced. Our cabin was in close proximity to the hop on/hop off shuttle which gives a great overview of the park with good photo opportunities. The shuttle will also take you to various hiking trails. Purchase snacks before you enter the park, because those for sale inside are pricy. You may want to avoid the South Kaibab Trail if your husband does not like sheer drop offs. The Bright Angel Trailhead was beautiful and not difficult.

We opted to stay at Zion Canyon B&B, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Easy walk to the park, or take the shuttle. https://zioncanyonbedandbreakfast.com/ We did a day trip from Zion to Bryce, and that was a big mistake. I would spend at least two nights near Bryce if I had it to do again. Bryce is very close to the Dixie National Forest and that provides easy hiking and the beautiful hoodoos. Bryce and Arches are my two favorites of the "Mighty Five" parks.

I am unable to recommend anything for Upper Antelope Canyon, because we toured the Lower Canyon with Dixie's Tours (which was awesome) Do be aware of the time you book your tour, because you need to factor where the sun is at that time. (you want it high in the sky) We had to reschedule our tour due to the original day being cloudy. Dixie's was great about moving us to the next day which was perfect, sunny weather. https://www.antelopelowercanyon.com/ Our guide was a wealth of information on the Navajo culture which made the tour even better.

Depending on your route, there is a wonderful little state park in Nevada called the "Valley of Fire". The petroglyphs on the "Mouse Tank Trail" are well worth your time,

For Bryce look at Ruby's Inn right at the entrance to the park. There are actually two Best Westerns across the road from each other. The free shuttle bus stops right out front. Don't drive the 23 miles to Panguitch.

Thank you for all of the specific information and links. In looking at flights and availability in the lodges as well as weather and activity options, I've decided on September. Bright Angel Lodge actually has better availability in September than October. I love the look of Zion Canyon B & B and am really considering this over the lodge. The lodge booking is really glitchy. It shows availability for 3 consecutrive nights several times but when you actually choos the dates, they get rejected. Does anyone have any recommendations for self-catering options in Sedona or Page? I would like for at least part of the trip to have the ability to eat in. We get really sick of eating all our meals in restaurants.

We loved Bryce Canyon, and I would love to go back to see it in the winter. We stayed in the park at the Sunrise Hotel on the Bryce Canyon Lodge property, making it super easy to participate in the night sky ranger program (highly recommended).

We decided not to spend time in Monument Valley but went to the Valley of the Gods a BLM property in southern Utah instead. This a hidden gem. It is 17 miles of dirt roads with scenery similar to Monument Valley but no one is there and it is free. A SUV or high-clearance vehicle is needed. We drove down Highway 261, through Moki Dugway (look that up!), to the Valley of the Gods, and spent the night in Mexican Hat (definitely off the beaten track!). This was one of the most memorable days of our trip. Might not fit with your 2025 trip, but make a note of this for when you go back for Monument Valley and Arches.

Boulder Dam Hotel is a great hotel in Boulder City.

In Bryce, there is no Park Lodge inside the park. We stayed at the
Best Western in Canyon City.

There absolutely is a lodge inside the park, and it's part of the Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District that was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The architecture style is "National Park Service Rustic" - meant to harmonize with the landscape, and using material indigenous to the areas when possible - that you'll see in a number of NPs and monuments. Here's the info if you're interested:
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/bryce-canyon-lodge.htm
https://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/lodging.htm
https://www.visitbrycecanyon.com/lodging/the-lodge-at-bryce-canyon/
https://www.visitbrycecanyon.com

No TVs, wifi or air conditioning

I'll second Mary Jane Colter's historic Bright Angel Lodge at GC South Rim; we've stayed there twice. As already recommended, book a cabin versus a room at the main lodge, While not all standard rooms in the lodge have shared baths, they don't have TVs: nice to have if it's pouring rain some night and you've exhausted your reading material. Our first stay coincided with 9/11, back in 2001, so it was a plus to have TV to stay informed. No air conditioning in any cabin or room but you won't need it in October. Colter designed many other structures for the park, and was quite a lady (I'll use that term loosely: she was a chain-smoking, hard-drinking taskmaster who could cuss with the best of 'em) at a time when there were few women working in the architecture field.

You're going to have a great trip!!!!

Book early, I tried to book some national parks in S. Dakota, Montana and Wyoming and had to book a group tour instead. In fact, Gate 1 Travel has some great tours of National Parks.

I so appreciate the input and specific links. Unfortunately I can't get into either Bryce or Zion lodges. I keep checking back as I understand that there are frequent cancelations because people book super early and plans change. I have booked at Bright Angel at Grand Canyon. I have my dates and route, and am now narrowing down lodging. So if any of you lovely people have first hand experience or input with the below thank you.

Boulder City: Planning on Boulder Dam Hotel - 1 night

Sedona: Looking at Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek, but only at 50%. I'm not sure I want to commit to an all inclusive and not have the opportunitiy to try some of the dining options in the area. Suggestions welcome for 3 nights in Sedona

Grand Canyon: Booked Bright Angel Cabin. 2 nights - will upgrade to Rim view if it becomes available.

Page: Looking at Grandview Inn B &B 2 nights

Bryce Canyon: Lodge isn't available for 2 nights. Looking at Stone Canyon Inn or Under Canvas Glampling

Zion National Park: Very limited availability. Would need to change rooms every night of 3 nights. Will Keep checking. Looking at Zion Canyon B&B and Cable Mountain Lodge

• Return Car, stay overnight LV and fly out next day.

The beauty of sedona is the view. You wont see that at oak creek. Imho, oak creek is too far north with no view. The 8 mile slow drive to and from sedona is wasted time. Find something in sedona that has a view.

I'll second Derek's vote for Matterhorn Inn in Sedona. We've done that one too and our room had a nice view.