Southwest trip planning

For a first time visit I'd suggest the South Rim of Grand Canyon. We enjoy the North Rim for the quietness but we've been to the South Rim often. There's lots to do there. Try for a site in Trailer Village near the rim. The free shuttle stops just outside the campground. If you don't need hookups your 28' would fit in Mather, a very nice shaded campground near Trailer Village. There are showers available.

I certainly would not try to do day trips from one park. It's a lot of wasted time and miles and how many trips would you really make? These parks deserve more than a few hours. It's not difficult to move from one area to the next.

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Based upon stated goals, I'd stay at Jacob Lake and do the N rim. You can actually do day trips from there to n rim, zion and bryce. And Jacob lake is 15 to 20 degrees cooler. We have done that trip numerous times different routes. Head 70 west to UTAH 128 past Grand Junction and head to Moab. Do 128. You will question your choice for the first few miles then be so grateful. You can stop there for a week all by itself. Dont get me started. Then take 191 south to 163 by Mexican Hat to Jacob Lake. Beeutiful. Durango, mesa verde, devils canyon campground, monument valley, arches, canyon lands. Fantastic, and you aren't even to your destination... Be sure and take the run across the OK panhandle. It is the MOST boring drive in the United States... jus kiddin on the last, avoid like the plague.

I would highly suggest you read the above poster, Tragusa3, 'Southwest Trip 2014' thread as he mentions. He did an awesome trip with his boys to the same places.

We will be gone for two-three weeks first three weeks of July. We like to hike, fish, kayak and horseback riding. Wondering which rim of the Grand Canyon to visit. Thanks for you alls help. We want to get out west the fastest so we will probably drive mostly interstate to get there but if there is any highways that we should see we can easily do that also. We can usually drive 15-18 hours the first day.

First, you are going to have an AMAZING trip! We did most of those parks in 2014 with our two 9 year old boys.

You may find reading my thread on the trip to be helpful in your planning. The link is below in my signature.

What do you like to do?

Will you be gone the whole month of July 2017, a week, 3 weeks, you are very tight lipped about a trip you want us to help plan.

Do you fish? Hike? Bike? Kayak? Do you enjoy US highways or do you prefer interstate?

Grand Canyon deserver several days even if you don't hike. (With two kids, you ought to do at least some hiking. I would avoid Bright Angel Trail -- too crowded and too much mule poop. North Kaibab trail will have few people. Don't go so far that you have trouble on the way back up!)

There is a bus to Hermit's Rest that takes most of a day, and to round trip to Desert View takes a day.

Perhaps the average visit of is three hours because so many (maybe most?) go there on day trip busses from Las Vegas.

Take a look at Adventure Caravans Tour of the Great Western Parks to see where they went and how long they stayed there.
Take you hiking boots and use them to get a better idea of what you will be seeing.
For example, the average length of time tourists stay at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is less than three hours. However, if you hike some of the trails you could be there for days.