May 7–10 · 2026 · Vegas trip

Four days on the road

Thursday · Drive in 6 people · 1 minivan

Thursday · Roll out

420 miles, 6 hours of I-15 South. One real lunch stop in Beaver, UT (the natural midpoint), one quick gas stop in St. George if needed, and you're at the rental by 7:30 PM. 75°F clear — easy driving weather.

12:30
PM
Departure · 6 people, all bags loaded
Depart North Salt Lake
Last bathroom stop before highway. Top off gas at Costco/Sam's so you don't need to fill up until Beaver. Snacks + water in the front cooler bag.
Pre-flight check Phone chargers plugged in · sunscreen accessible · meds for parents in front · kids' tablets charged · paper towels in the car (you will spill something)
12:45
PM
Drive segment · 3 hours · 200 mi
Onto I-15 South
North SLC → Beaver UT
  1. I-215 W to I-15 S merge
  2. Through Salt Lake → Provo (~45 min)
  3. Past Nephi, Fillmore, Cove Fort
  4. Speed limit 80 mph in most stretches
  5. Exit 109 / 112 for Beaver
~200 mi · 3 hr Scenic: Wasatch Range
Open in Maps
3:30
PM
Lunch + gas · 45 min
Arshel's Cafe · Beaver UT
711 N Main St, Beaver, UT · 4.5 ★ (415)
Local burger joint, hand-cut fries, real diner vibe. Open Wed–Sat 11–7. Better than fast food, only marginally slower. Good coffee for the next leg.
Backup plan If Arshel's is closed or crowded, Timberline Restaurant (next door) and Maverik for clean restrooms + gas are reliable.
Distance done
200 mi · 47%
Gas
Refuel here
Map Call
4:30
PM
Drive segment · 3 hours · 220 mi
Beaver → Las Vegas
Continue I-15 S
  1. Past Cedar City (5:00 PM)
  2. Through Virgin River Gorge — most scenic 30 min of the drive (5:45 PM)
  3. Cross into Arizona briefly, then Nevada at Mesquite (6:30 PM)
  4. I-15 S into Las Vegas
  5. Exit Flamingo Rd → Maryland Pkwy → rental
~220 mi · 3 hr Time zone: stays MT
Stretch break St. George has clean rest stops if anyone needs to stretch. Don't stop in Mesquite — it's a tourist trap.
Open in Maps
7:30
PM
Arrival · home base for 3 nights
3906 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Unload, find the kitchen, claim beds. Check the AC — set to 72°F minimum or it won't keep up with 100°F days. Confirm Wi-Fi password works.
Open Map
8:00
PM
Grocery run · 30 min
Smith's Supermarket
2540 S Maryland Pkwy · 5 min drive
Stock the rental kitchen. With 6 people for 3 days you'll save $200+ vs eating out every meal.
Shopping list for the trip Eggs · milk · cereal · bread · sandwich fixings · fruit · yogurt · pasta · sauce · veggies · chai/coffee · large water bottles · ice for coolers · breakfast bars for car · sunscreen · advil
Drive Call
9:00
PM
Wind down
Light dinner · early to bed
Pasta + salad from groceries. Lay out kids' clothes for Spy Ninjas tomorrow. Check Sphere ticket QR codes work and screenshot them for offline access. Set alarm for 8:30 AM Friday.

Group A · Spy Ninjas mission

Take the minivan — way cheaper than UberXL with car seats. ~22 min to Spy Ninjas, free parking on site. Wife is the driver. Leave Spy Ninjas by 12:30 PM sharp to make Sphere by 1:30 PM.

9:00
AM
Home base
Breakfast at rental
3906 Maryland Pkwy
Quick breakfast — cereal, fruit, eggs from the kitchen. Pack water bottles & light snacks. Apply sunscreen now, even though kids will be indoors.
Pack list Grip socks for kids (Spy Ninjas requires them — buy on-site $4 or BYO), water bottles, snacks for car, hand sanitizer.
9:35
AM
Drive · 22 min · 13 mi
Rental → Spy Ninjas
Driving directions
  1. North on Maryland Pkwy
  2. Right on E Flamingo Rd (1.2 mi)
  3. Merge I-15 N via Flamingo ramp (5 mi)
  4. Exit 41B for US-95 N / Summerlin Pkwy
  5. Exit at N Buffalo Dr, turn left/south (3 mi)
  6. Right on W Sahara Ave — destination on left
Free parking Light traffic 9–10 AM
Open in Maps Uber XL
10:00
AM
Spy Ninjas HQ
Stop 1 · 2.5 hours
Spy Ninjas HQ
7980 W Sahara Ave · 4.7 ★ (1,980)
Obstacle courses, ziplines, axe throwing, escape rooms, mini-ninja section for younger kids, arcade. Mom can sit at the retro lounge bar in AC while kids run.
Pass
Action × 6
Cost
~$40 each
Insider tip Buy passes online before arriving — bypass front-desk queue. Mini-Ninja section is for ages 2–7.
Map Call Site
12:30
PM
Lunch on the go · 15 min
In-N-Out drive-thru
4888 Industrial Rd
On the route from Spy Ninjas to Sphere. Eat in the minivan. Kids love it. Get extra napkins.
Order ahead Use the In-N-Out app to skip the line. Order at 12:15 from Spy Ninjas, pick up at the window.
Open in Maps
1:30
PM
Sphere
Meet point · regroup
Sphere — main entrance plaza
255 Sands Ave
Park at Sphere garage ($25 prepaid). Walk to security ~5 min. Meet at the giant LED orb on south side. Show begins 2 PM, doors close 1:50 PM.
Drive to Sphere

Group B · Slow Strip morning

Take Uber for parents — saves the casino-garage walk and parking hassle. Three indoor, AC-cooled stops on the Strip. Bring cardigans for the parents (Sphere keeps venue at 68°F).

9:30
AM
Home base · relaxed start
Breakfast with parents
3906 Maryland Pkwy
Slower start than the kids' group. Eat properly, pack a small bag with: meds, water bottles, light cardigans for Sphere AC, sunglasses.
10:15
AM
Ride · 10 min · 3 mi
Rental → Bellagio
Best option: Uber X
  1. Open Uber, set drop-off: Bellagio main entrance
  2. UberX (4 seats fits 3)
  3. Driver drops at porte cochère — no garage walk
  4. Estimated $12–15
Self-park: $0 first hour Valet $30+
Open Uber If driving
10:30
AM
Bellagio Conservatory
Stop 1 · ~1 hour · FREE
Bellagio Conservatory
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd · 4.8 ★ (40,738)
Massive indoor floral installations that change seasonally. Spring display likely still up. Fully accessible — no stairs, plenty of benches.
Why parents will love it Open 24 hours, free, indoor AC, beautiful for photos, lots of seating, easy walking.
Map Call
11:45
AM
Forum Shops
Stop 2 · ~45 min · FREE
Forum Shops at Caesars
3500 Las Vegas Blvd S · 4.6 ★ (24,456)
Roman-themed mall — painted "sky" ceilings, marble columns, fountain plazas. Free Fall of Atlantis show with talking statues every hour. AC throughout.
If parents have knee issues Skip the Bellagio→Caesars walk. Just Uber 5 min — $8–10.
Uber 5 min Walk
12:30
PM
Eataly
Stop 3 · Lunch · ~1 hour
Eataly at Park MGM
3770 S Las Vegas Blvd · 4.3 ★ (10,371)
Italian food market — multiple counter restaurants under one roof. Vegetarian-friendly, sit-down options. ~$18–25/person.
Vegetarian alternative Saravanaa Bhavan (4505 S Maryland Pkwy) — authentic South Indian veg, on the way back to your rental.
Uber to Eataly Veg alt
1:30
PM
Meet point · regroup
Sphere — main entrance
255 Sands Ave
Best from Eataly: Uber to Sphere ($12, 8 min). Driving = lose 15 min moving the car. Designated rideshare drop on east side.
Uber to Sphere

Together · Sphere & evening

2 PM Wizard of Oz at Sphere. After: pool break at the rental, then optional evening on the Strip — Circus Circus, High Roller, Bellagio fountains.

2:00
PM
Sphere
~90 minutes
Sphere — Wizard of Oz
255 Sands Ave · Booked ✓
Immersive Oz experience on the giant 16K LED dome. Phones allowed but no filming during immersive segments. No re-entry once seated.
Doors close
1:50 PM
Indoor temp
68°F
Before the show Bathroom stop · drinks/snacks before going in · cardigans for parents.
4:00
PM
Recovery · 2.5 hours
Pool & rest at rental
Drive back from Sphere ~10 min. Kids in pool, parents nap, you recharge. Light dinner from kitchen. Evening Strip is optional.
Drive home
8:00
PM
Optional evening · kids
Circus Circus Midway
2880 S Las Vegas Blvd
Free circus acts every 30 min on the Midway. Kids will love it. Skip if grandparents are tired.
Drive
9:00
PM
Optional · 30 min ride
High Roller Ferris wheel
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd · The LINQ
Best at night. Spacious pods with seating. Buy tickets online via Caesars or Vegas.com (~$35/person night).
Drive
10:00
PM
Free · grand finale
Bellagio Fountains
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Every 15 min after 8 PM. Watch from the front of Bellagio on the Strip side. Perfect way to end Friday.
Map

Saturday · Bucket list day

Long day — 250 miles round trip, but this is the unforgettable one. Glass bridge over the Grand Canyon, 4,000 ft straight down. Leave early to beat the heat AND the crowds. Plan for ~10 hours total. 100°F in Vegas, slightly cooler at the canyon.

7:00
AM
Early start · light breakfast
Breakfast + load car
3906 Maryland Pkwy
Cereal, fruit, toast. Don't eat heavy — long car ride ahead. Pack a cooler bag with water, snacks, sandwiches for the road. Skywalk has food but it's pricey.
Critical packing Sunscreen · hats · refillable water bottles (1 per person min) · camera (NOT for the bridge) · cash for tips · meds for parents · snacks for kids · phone chargers + car USB
7:30
AM
Drive · 2 hours · 70 mi
Vegas → Pat Tillman Bridge
Out of Vegas, into the desert
  1. South on I-515 / US-93 S (Boulder Hwy)
  2. Through Henderson and Boulder City
  3. Cross Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Bridge over Hoover Dam
  4. Pull into the parking area on the AZ side for photos
Speed limit 65Dawn light is gorgeous
Open in Maps
8:30
AM
Photo stop · 15 min
Pat Tillman Bridge — Hoover Dam view
Boulder City, NV · 4.8 ★ (1,701)
Park, climb the short ramp/stairs to the pedestrian walkway. The bridge spans the Colorado River with the Hoover Dam directly below — most iconic Hoover Dam photo you can get. Restrooms in lot.
Hold onto hats Wind on the bridge is no joke. Reviewers literally lose hats here. Phones in pockets, cameras with wrist straps.
Map
9:00
AM
Drive · 1.5 hours · 55 mi
Bridge → Grand Canyon West
Into Hualapai tribal land
  1. Continue US-93 S into Arizona (~45 mi)
  2. Dolan Springs — last gas station before the canyon
  3. Left on Pierce Ferry Rd
  4. ~7 miles, then right on Diamond Bar Rd
  5. Last 14 mi paved tribal road — slower, scenic
NO cell service last 30 mi Top off gas in Dolan Springs
Download offline maps Cell signal disappears past Dolan Springs. Pre-download Google Maps offline area for Arizona West Rim before leaving Vegas.
Open in Maps
10:30
AM
Grand Canyon Skywalk
Arrival · check in
Grand Canyon West Welcome Center
808 Eagle Point Rd · 4.1 ★ (25,250)
Park, get tickets at counter (or skip to will-call if pre-booked online — recommended). Personal vehicles can't drive to Skywalk; you'll take the included hop-on hop-off shuttle to viewpoints.
All Access × 6
~$594
Includes
Skywalk + zip + meal
No phones on the bridge Lockers provided (free). Pro photographers shoot you on the Skywalk; prints $17 / digital pack $69. Tell kids beforehand so it's not a meltdown.
Map Call Site
11:00
AM
Stop 1 · Eagle Point · 90 min
The Skywalk
Shuttle to Eagle Point. Stow phones/bags in free lockers, put on foot booties (provided), step onto the glass. 4,000 ft straight down to the Colorado River. The bridge holds 70 fully-loaded 747s — completely safe, just unforgettable.
Photo strategy One person stays off the bridge with a phone/camera and shoots the rest of the family on it. Then swap. That way you get free photos and skip the $69 print package.
Eagle Point bonus The cliff itself looks like an eagle (you can see it from the Sky View Restaurant). At 11 AM Fri/Sat/Sun there are Hualapai Bird Singers performances — included with admission.
12:30
PM
Lunch · included in pass
Sky View Restaurant
At Eagle Point with canyon-edge windows. Buffet-style with Hualapai-influenced dishes. Vegetarian options usually available. Meal credit comes with the All Access pass — no extra cost for what you booked.
1:30
PM
Stop 2 · Guano Point · 60 min
Guano Point lookouts
Shuttle ride from Eagle Point. Different angle of the canyon, panoramic views, old guano mining tram remnants. Light hiking — short trail, manageable for parents but skip if anyone is tired.
Heat check Mid-day this is exposed and hot. Take water. If parents are flagging, head back to AC at the Welcome Center.
3:00
PM
Drive · 2.5 hours · 125 mi
Skywalk → Vegas
Reverse the route
  1. Diamond Bar Rd → Pierce Ferry Rd
  2. Right on US-93 N at Dolan Springs
  3. Through Boulder City
  4. I-515 N back into Vegas
  5. Exit Flamingo Rd → Maryland Pkwy → home
Heaviest traffic 4–6 PMPlan for 2.5–3 hr
Open in Maps
5:30
PM
Recovery · home
Pool · dinner · early night
3906 Maryland Pkwy
Everyone will be exhausted. Light dinner from groceries. Kids in pool to wash off the day. Early bed — Sunday is another driving day.
Optional add-on If anyone has energy: drive to Fremont Street Experience (15 min from rental) for the canopy light show. Otherwise, no shame in calling it.

Sunday · Wrap up & head north

Reverse of Thursday. Eat the leftover groceries, pack methodically, depart by 11 AM. Lunch in St. George, gas in Beaver, home by 6 PM. Mostly downhill from Vegas to SLC (gravity helps).

8:00
AM
Last morning
Breakfast at rental
Eat up the leftover groceries — eggs, bread, milk, cereal. Anything left goes in a cooler bag for the car or in the trash. Don't bring perishables home.
9:00
AM
Pack up · 1 hour
Pack the car
Strategy: put luggage in first, then activity bags on top, then snack/cooler bag last (most accessible). Charge all phones to 100%. Re-fold maps, dispose of trash, wipe surfaces.
Don't forget Phone chargers in outlets · kids' tablets · sunscreen (you'll need it next trip) · meds for parents · grip socks · receipts for expense tracking
10:00
AM
Last hurrah · 1 hour
Final pool dip
Kids will want to swim once more. Let them — it tires them out for the long drive. Adults can use the time for final clean-up walkthrough.
11:00
AM
Departure · checkout
Leave Vegas
Final walkthrough · check out
Bathrooms before getting in the car (kids). Top off gas at Smith's gas station ($) on Maryland Pkwy. Onto I-15 North.
Full route home
11:30
AM
Drive segment · 2 hours · 120 mi
Vegas → St. George
I-15 North
  1. I-15 N out of Vegas
  2. Mesquite at the NV/AZ line
  3. Through the Virgin River Gorge — scenic
  4. Cross into Utah, exit at St. George
~120 mi · 2 hrTime zone shift: NV → UT
1:30
PM
Lunch · 45 min
Black Bear Diner · St. George
1245 S Main St · 4.4 ★ (6,425)
Family-friendly, big portions, decent prices, kid menu. Solid breakfast-for-lunch. Clean restrooms. Strong reviews from road-trippers.
Vegetarian alternative India Palace at 50 N River Rd, St. George — authentic Indian buffet, ~$15/person, perfect midpoint stop if parents prefer veg.
Map Call Veg alt
2:30
PM
Drive segment · 1.5 hours · 110 mi
St. George → Beaver
Continue I-15 N
  1. Past Cedar City — scenic mountain views
  2. Climb in elevation toward Cove Fort
  3. Exit at Beaver UT for gas/bathroom
~110 mi · 1.5 hr
4:00
PM
Pit stop · 15 min
Beaver UT — gas + bathroom
Quick stop only. Maverik or Holiday gas station. Kids run around for a few minutes. Don't get sucked into shopping or eating again.
4:15
PM
Final segment · 1.5 hours · 200 mi
Beaver → home
Past Fillmore, Nephi, into Provo. Wasatch Range on your right. Salt Lake skyline at sunset. North Salt Lake home around 6 PM.
6:00
PM
Home · trip complete
North Salt Lake
Unload only essentials tonight. Order pizza. Everyone showers. Trip photos can wait until tomorrow. Return rental car within 24 hours per agreement (drop off Monday morning).
Don't forget Refuel rental to full before drop-off (cheapest at Costco) · take photos of car condition · check trunk one more time · keep the receipt
Trip at a glance
Thursday — Roll out May 7
12:30 PM depart · Beaver UT lunch · arrive Vegas 7:30 PM · Smith's grocery · settle in
Friday — Sphere day May 8
Group A: Spy Ninjas · Group B: Bellagio + Forum + Eataly · regroup 1:30 PM · Sphere 2 PM · evening Strip optional
Saturday — Bucket list May 9
7:30 AM depart · Hoover Dam bridge stop · Grand Canyon Skywalk 11 AM · lunch on the rim · home 5:30 PM · early bed
Sunday — Head home May 10
Pack · 11 AM depart · St. George lunch · Beaver pit stop · home by 6 PM · pizza for dinner
Pre-trip checklist

Things to book / buy before Thursday

Backup plan

If something goes sideways

Quick contacts
Spy Ninjas HQ
Friday · +1 (702) 444-4800
Sphere
Friday · +1 (725) 258-6724
Grand Canyon West
Saturday · +1 (888) 868-9378
Arshel's Cafe · Beaver
Thu lunch · +1 (435) 438-2977
Black Bear Diner · St. George
Sun lunch · +1 (435) 656-2327
Smith's Grocery
Vegas · +1 (702) 735-8928
Trip plan · 4 days · 6 people · 1 minivan
Today's route