Las Vegas & Grand Canyon 2019

We decided to take a long weekend birthday trip to Las Vegas in October 2019.

Rather than spend all that time on the Strip, we decided to take an overnight Saturday side trip to Grand Canyon National Park with a bit of Route 66 and some other stuff thrown in, as I had a free hotel night voucher to use. 

I also decided this would be an ideal opportunity to rent a convertible Mustang, so arranged one in advance for pick up at our hotel, Cosmopolitan.

Day 1  Vegas to Tusayan

We were ready and waiting for the Hertz desk to open at 7am. I had already looked in the stalls and noticed that my ‘guaranteed’ Mustang had metamorphosised into a not guaranteed Chevy Camaro…the only convertible on show! 

As I did not want to wait for another vehicle to arrive, I just accepted the change, although it was a very good job we had a very limited amount of luggage!

We made a quick drive to Boulder City and had an excellent breakfast in the busy Coffee Cup, and a little damage inflicted to the skirt on the Camaro due to combination of the echelon parking, high kerb and low clearance! Nothing a bit of duct tape could not sort out later!

Then to Hoover Dam and the free parking locations on the east side. We spent about an hour there, until it started to get busy and the tour groups arrived.

Then south on US93, with a quick divert to Chloride, then to Kingman and a short stop at both the Route 66 museum and Walmart for supplies…. well snacks, beer and duct tape!

We then drove the Kingman to Seligman Route 66 section, top down, wind in hair, sunburn on neck! Followed by a short run along I-40 and north on Az64 to Tusayan, and our free stay at the BW Squire Inn, arriving about 3pm.

We decided to have an early dinner around all the Halloween decorations, then drive to the canyon rim for sunset.

It was very busy, Mather Point etc. was packed so we drove back along Desert View drive for a quieter viewpoint.

There was no dramatic sky and sunset was not that spectacular as a result. 

Then back in the gathering gloom of dusk looking out or elk and deer.

Day 2 - Tusayan to Vegas

We had debated going back for sunrise and then stopping for breakfast on the way back but decided to beat the crowds and do breakfast first. It was very good for a free one and the sun had not risen far once we got back to the rim. We drove Desert View Drive, but this morning it was very windy and cold with it.

Then back south on Az64, a sprint along I-40 back to Kingman and then onto Route 66 again to drive Sitgreaves Pass, again top down as the day warmed up. Oatman was busy and the Burros were in town, one in particular putting its head into the car looking for carrots...it was sadly disappointed!

Then back to Vegas via the west side of the Colorado River and Searchlight. I decided the Camaro and Christmas Tree Pass were not a good combination and stuck to the blacktop.

We gassed the car up and dropped the car back before the Hertz desk shut and headed back on to the strip for our last night in Vegas.