After three days in Las Vegas, we were supposed to continue on to the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, the weather threw a spanner in the works and we had to reschedule our route. Something like that can always happen on a longer trip. It wasn't to be the last time.
The weather in the USA is always a surprise and can vary greatly from region to region. It can freeze at night well into May and some mountain passes are still closed in June due to snowfall. You should definitely be prepared for these conditions if you are planning a road trip through the United States, especially if you are traveling in a motorhome like we were.
We were complete novices in this respect and were not only literally "caught cold" by the weather fluctuations. It's not just the great distances that are all too often underestimated in North America, the climate is also always good for a surprise. But why did that bother us in the first place?
Motorhome trips are different
If you are traveling with an RV, you should plan your road trip more carefully than with a normal car. Firstly, US motorhomes are usually larger than their European brothers (beware of tunnels and underpasses) and secondly, they are less well equipped for low temperatures. Although there are vehicles in which the water tanks and pipes are protected with electric heat pads, these are the absolute exception, especially among rental vehicles. It makes sense to always keep an eye on the weather with a suitable app, as frozen pipes can interrupt the journey at short notice and repairs are not included in the scope of insurance and can be very expensive. That's what we learned on this trip.
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Unfortunately no Grand Canyon
When we arrived in Las Vegas on May 3, it was already over 30 degrees Celsius. Especially the first day in the "Sin City" was really hot after the moderate to cooler temperatures in California. It was also the only day in seven weeks of RV travel on which we had to use the air conditioning - otherwise it would have been unbearable. You should definitely bear in mind the possible heatwaves in the USA when planning your trip, for example, it can get over 50 degrees Celsius in Death Valley (i.e. over 122 degrees Fahrenheit) - that's no walk in the park, even with air conditioning in the motorhome. It can quickly turn your vacation into torture.
However, we faced a different problem in May. After Las Vegas, we wanted to spend a few nights at the Grand Canyon - we were really looking forward to it. The campsite was already booked, but the weather forecast gave us a stomach ache: the nights were supposed to be below zero degrees Celsius (less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit). They even announced that it would fall quickly. We were faced with a difficult decision and had two options.
First: Empty all the tanks and hope that nothing would happen (which is not recommended if you haven't booked a full hookup and have to make do without water).
Secondly: rebook the route and postpone the Grand Canyon to the next trip.
With a heavy heart, we opted for option 2. The breathtaking 450-kilometre-long canyon in the north of the US state of Arizona will have to wait a few more months for us.
Rescheduling a route is no fun
Anyone who has ever taken a road trip and had to change a detailed route knows how tedious it can be. Our main problem was the time frame and non-cancellable campsites. We didn't want to change the whole route and weren't willing to pay for something we couldn't use. We were basically forced to split the relatively short distance between Las Vegas and our next big destination - Zion National Park - several times. We had four days and nights for a 280-kilometer (174-mile) route that we had to re-plan. It wasn't that easy, but we wanted to make the best of it. In the end, we planned three new stopovers.
From Las Vegas to the Palm Creek RV Park
In our search for new stopovers, we came across the relatively unknown Palm Creek RV Park. This campground is difficult to find on the Internet as it doesn't have its own website. The campground itself is an oasis in the middle of the Moapa Valley desert in Nevada. Located on Warm Springs Road just 20 minutes from Exit 90 of Interstate 15, this campground is surrounded by a tropical palm grove on the Muddy River. The park's main attractions are its quiet location, the river water, which is at a pleasant temperature all year round and is ideal for swimming, and the numerous barbecue areas.
Palm Creek RV Park is not cheap, but a dip in the pleasantly warm river is a wonderful change of pace in the middle of the desert.
Unfortunately, the park is also open to the public and, as a recreational area for people from Las Vegas, is regularly overcrowded, especially at weekends. However, if you don't mind parties by the water, you'll feel right at home here. We only spent one night here and were delighted when the day visitors had disappeared. With a full hookup fee of 95 dollars, the Palm Creek RV Park is still quite overpriced in our opinion.
KOA Sam's Town Las Vegas - Palm Creek Resort (Warm Springs)
Distance: 65 miles / 105 kilometers
Travel time: around 1 hour 10 minutes
From Palm Creek RV Park to Sand Hollow State Park
The drive towards St. George leads back onto Interstate 15 and along the Virgin River. The scenic route invites you to stop several times - there are several viewpoints and recreation areas along the way. We pulled off at the Virgin River Recreation Area and stopped there for a coffee break and a short walk. The place would also make an inexpensive and extremely scenic place to spend the night. If we had known that, we could have saved ourselves a few dollars.
The route from Moapa Valley to Sandy Hollow State Park is beautiful. We recommend taking a short detour to the Virgin River Recreation Area.
The town of St. George, with a population of 95,000, is also worth a visit. It is home to the oldest temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") still in operation today and the small town is perfect for a quick stop to refuel and shop before the next campsite. St. George and its surroundings have been the backdrop for several Hollywood productions - most recently for Kevin Costner's extremely successful western saga "Horizon".
Sand Hollow State Park: A recommendation
Still a little sad about the change of route, we finally arrived at Sand Hollow State Park. State parks are the little siblings of national parks and are operated by the respective states. There are a total of 3,729 state parks in the United States, with 11 states having more than 100 state parks each. We learned to love these places, which almost always have wonderful (and often inexpensive) campgrounds and great hiking trails, on our trip. The Sand Hollow State surprised us positively in every respect and proved to be a wonderful alternative to the Grand Canyon.
Sand Hollow State Park was one of the biggest surprises of our entire trip. We will definitely be coming here again.
With its warm, blue waters and red sandstone landscape, one of Utah's newer state parks is also one of its most popular. Here you can go boating, fishing, scuba diving or relax on the beautiful dune beach of Sand Hollow Reservoir. You can jump over the dunes of Sand Mountain in rented off-road vehicles and the two campsites by the lake are among the most beautiful of our entire trip. We definitely want to come back here, but beware: it can also get very hot here in midsummer. We spent two wonderful nights at Sand Hollow State Park.
Palm Creek Resort (Warm Springs) - Sand Hollow State Park
Distance: 92 miles / 148 kilometers
Travel time: approx. 1 hour 40 minutes
From Sand Hollow State Park to La Verkin
We were also very lucky with our next stop. When we booked the Gateway Luxury Resort online at short notice, it hadn't even opened yet. We were only too happy to be guinea pigs for the brand new and luxurious campsite - especially as we were able to book the night at a special price. Thank you fate!
Newly opened in May 2024, the campground is located in La Verkin, home to the southernmost highway junction to Zion National Park at the intersection of Utah SR-9. The town is also home to Pah Tempe Hot Springs, a historic volcanic sulfur spring on the edge of the Virgin River and there is also a famous 1908 pony truss style bridge that towers about 61 meters over the river and is over 23 meters long - a beautiful photo opportunity. La Verkin is only a few minutes' walk from its neighboring town of Hurricane.
The Gateway Luxury Resort is brand new and true 5-star camping. Great!
The brand new Gateway Luxury Resort was a welcome change for us. The choice of differently equipped campgrounds in the USA is really impressive - there's a lid for every pot. All the pitches are concrete, full-hookup and have a small meadow area. The best thing, however, was the pool area with a heated pool and even warmer hot tube. In the evening, we warmed our feet at the spacious gas fire pit. If you come without an RV, you can rent one of several cabins here. A fine thing, this resort! We'd love to come again.
Sand Hollow State Park - Gateway Luxury RV Resort
Distance: 13 miles / 21 kilometers
Travel time: approx. 25 minutes
From La Verkin to Zion National Park
The next stretch was only a stone's throw away. After just over 10 minutes' drive, we were able to check into our next campground. Fortunately, our pre-reserved pitch was already free. The Zion River Resort is located directly on the Virgin River and offers direct access to the river. Here too, as almost everywhere, we met very nice and helpful people. Americans are usually very open and approachable people, even if some Europeans can't believe it (mostly those who have never been there themselves).
Gateway Luxury RV Resort - Zion River Resort
Distance: 7 miles / 11 kilometers
Travel time: 10 minutes
The Zion River Resort is a larger place with a well-stocked store, a small pool and, again, a hot tube. We have already become very fond of the small heated bubble pools and use them almost every day when they are available. From the campground, it's a 20-minute drive to the park entrance of Zion National Park.
We drove to Springdale in our camper van on the day we arrived, but it was already late morning and the parking lots in the national park were all full. Fortunately, we found a paid parking space in the town and were able to take our first walk to the visitor center. Even there, the scenery is breathtaking. The view of Zion's cliffs is something you'll never forget. The little town of Springdale, which borders directly on the national park, is also enchanting. The architecture there has been beautifully adapted to the landscape. If you want to spend the night near the park entrance, you will also find several hotels and lodges here.
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Camping in Zion National Park
If you are looking for a campground in the immediate vicinity of the park, you will find it at Watchmen Campground. This is by far one of the best RV sites in Zion National Park due to its convenient location. Located right in the park, you're only a quarter mile from the south entrance, near a shuttle stop that can take you through the park, and right on the banks of the Virgin River. The site is equipped with restrooms, cold drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits and grills. However, there are no full hookups and generators are not permitted on site.
Another option is the South Campground. This site is half a mile from the southern entrance to the park. There is drinking water and a waste disposal station. Generators are also allowed at certain times. Although the South Campground doesn't have many amenities, it's the perfect place for those who want to get up close and personal with nature in Zion National Park! When we were there in 2024, this site was closed for work.
Our tip: All the pitches should be reserved in advance!
Start early in the national park
At Zion National Park, we learned the best way to approach the parks in an RV. The RV sites in the parks are particularly limited and the general rule is: first come, first served. Even the caravan sites are full by 9 a.m. at the latest.
We got into the habit of getting up at 6 a.m. on these days and looking for a free parking space in the park. We then had a leisurely breakfast in the motorhome and were still in the park comparatively early without being stressed. The early bird catches the worm.
Zion National Park is a great nature experience and should be on every traveler's itinerary.
Is a visit to Zion National Park worthwhile?
YES! Zion National Park is one of the highlights of our trip. Starting from the visitor center, you can hike the short Pa'rus Trail, which leaves nothing to be desired. The 3.2-mile trail (just over 5 kilometers) is one of the best and often overlooked hiking trails in Zion National Park. The well-maintained trail starts not far from the Visitor Center and follows the river for just under 2 miles - ending at Canyon Junction. It's a great way to avoid the crowds and the views along this trail are beautiful. We were able to spot several deer there in the morning hours.
If you want to go deeper into Zion National Park, it is best to take the shuttle bus included in the entrance fee. The road into the canyon is closed to private vehicles relatively early on - if you don't want to cycle or walk, you will have to rely on this bus.
What is there to experience in Zion National Park?
In and around Zion National Park, you can camp, canyoneer, hike, climb, stargaze, wildlife watch, take ranger tours, river trips and guided horseback rides. In addition to this extensive list of activities, there are also the following options:
Pa'rus Trail: Easy trail, as already mentioned, 3.2 miles (5 km) long. Highly recommended!
Zion Nature Center: The Zion Nature Center is located next to the South Campground. The shuttle does not stop there, but can be reached via the Pa'rus Trail. There is limited parking available for visitors to the Zion Nature Center. Young visitors in particular get their money's worth here (or their parents' money's worth). Children can dress up as park rangers, go on a scavenger hunt, learn about skulls and dinosaur tracks and much more. Daily ranger-led programs include games, painting, crafts and other activities. Very nicely done.
Zion Human History Museum: The Zion Human History Museum is located a half-mile north of the south entrance on the park's main road, or eleven miles west of the east entrance. Be sure to check the current hours of operation. The Zion Human History Museum displays artifacts and archival materials from the permanent collections of Zion National Park. Exhibits include topics such as geology, plants, animals, survival and human community issues.
Court of the Patriarchs Viewpoint: Considered the shortest trail in Zion National Park, Court of the Patriarchs is actually barely a hike. From the Court of the Patriarchs shuttle stop, head east up the paved trail to the viewpoint. The hike takes one minute and is about 40 feet (13 meters) to a short rise at the bottom of Zion Canyon. The spot is just high enough to have a view over the trees of the surrounding mountains and canyon walls. Wow included! Emerald Pools Trailhead: Several hiking options are available here, from short and easy to strenuous and steep. All hikes lead to waterfalls and picturesque pools. The views of Lady Mountain, the Great White Throne, Red Arch Mountain and the numerous cliffs are definitely worth the effort. The lower trail is well suited for families with small children, baby carriages and wheelchair users (with some assistance).
Angels Landing: Angels Landing in Zion National Park is one of the most spectacular day hikes. The trail to the summit was carved out of its steep, rocky ridge in 1926 and continues to thrill hikers to this day. The hike climbs about 1,500 vertical feet along the narrow stone rib that reaches a summit elevation of 5,790 feet (1764 meters). A chain railing provides additional safety, but if the exposed heights lead to weak knees, a double dose of courage is required to climb to the summit. However, you must obtain a paid permit from the park administration for this trail, as 14 people have had fatal accidents on the Angels Landing Trail since 2000. Not for the faint-hearted or unathletic!
East Mesa Trailhead: Beautiful trail! About 6.7 miles (10.8 kilometers) long hike with hardly any incline, some with spectacular views, but otherwise flat. Caution: There is little to no shade here - be sure to bring plenty of water or electrolyte-containing drinks.
Temple of Sinawava to "The Narrows": The Sinawava Temple is a natural amphitheater formed by the incredible power and persistence of the Virgin River. The start is also the terminus of the shuttle bus. The easy walk leads along the Virgin River and there are several access points to the riverbank. The end of the paved Riverside Walk marks the beginning of The Narrows: Zion's famous Virgin River hike. Conditions are constantly changing. So before you begin your hike in The Narrows, be aware of the day's weather forecast and the risk of flash flooding.
Conclusion
Anyone traveling through the USA in a motorhome should be aware that the route can change at any time due to changing weather and road conditions. It is therefore advisable to pack enough flexibility in your luggage. The trip from Las Vegas to Zion National Park and the stopovers were the result of such a change. Unfortunately, we skipped the Grand Canyon due to the cold nights. Nevertheless, there is so much to see in the USA, so many wonderful places, that even a change of route always leads to places that are breathtaking and that you would probably never have seen in this way. The Grand Canyon is already on our next travel list!
Steffi and Max wish you lots of fun with our blog and even more fun traveling yourself. If you want to find out more, just follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
All our trips and excursions are self-paid - we do not give paid recommendations! Exception: Affiliate links. Most of the links in our blog are affiliate links, i.e. advertising. We try to recoup some of the costs of our blog and ask for your understanding.
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