Pack your hiking boots, sunscreen and selfie stick. You’re going to need all of them for what promises to be your Best. Week. Ever.
If you have seven full days to explore the star attractions of the area of the American Southwest known as the Grand Circle, you already know how lucky you are. What you may not know is which order to visit them in, how many days to spend at each place, and what you can do there. Well, grab your tablet, phone or – gasp! – pen and paper, sit back and relax and get ready to start planning the ultimate 7-day vacation to the Grand Canyon and beyond!
Before we dive into it, there are a few things to keep “front and center” in your mind:
- Since Las Vegas, NV is a popular “jumping off” point for a good majority of travelers to this area, this itinerary will be based on the assumption that you’re staging your trip from there as well.
- Buses, trains and other mass transit options are scarce to non-existent in this part of the country, therefore, this will be a self-drive itinerary. Click here if driving is not an option.
- Speaking of driving, drive times are on the long side. That’s how we roll in this part of the country, and you should be ready to do so as well. You’ll also notice that we give rather wide variations on drive time estimates. The first number is an estimate for “direct drive,” which rarely happens. You always have to factor in bathroom breaks, meal stops, and the inevitable “oh, wow, look at that!” moment.
- Grand Canyon South Rim lodging will be the most time-sensitive element of your trip plans. Hotel availability in this National Park should be the “lynchpin” around which your plans revolve, and evolve. Though this itinerary will go off the assumption that it will be the first stop on your tour, be prepared to hit these attractions in reverse order should Grand Canyon hotels be fully booked for the first part of your trip. Don’t worry, you’ll still have a great time!
- This itinerary includes several National Parks which charge anywhere from $20-$30 per vehicle to enter. Save money and time by purchasing the “America The Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.” For just $80, this handy little card grants you access to all National Parks, Monuments and other Federal Fee Areas for 1 year’s time. Exclusions: Native American Tribal Parks such as Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, the Little Colorado River Overlook, Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks. Pre-order online (allow 6-8 weeks for processing) or simply purchase it in-person at the first National Park you visit.
- Book everything in advance, and we do mean everything, especially if your visit will take place during the peak visitation times, which is typically between March and November. Hotels, tours, dinners at higher-end restaurants, all should be prearranged. You can’t just “wing it” and hope for the best. Trust us, we live here.
Here’s how we’re breaking down your week:
- Day 1 – Las Vegas to Grand Canyon
- Day 2 – Grand Canyon to Monument Valley
- Day 3 & 4 – Page/Lake Powell
- Day 5 – Bryce Canyon
- Day 6 & 7 – Zion National Park
So let’s do this!
Day 1
Morning: Drive from Las Vegas, NV to Grand Canyon South Rim: 
driving time – 4.5-6.5 hours.*
Head Southeast on US93. With an early enough start, you might stop at Hoover Dam, tour the visitor’s center and watch a short film presentation on the construction of this enormous yet elegant structure that made the West what it is today. If making good time is your first priority, proceed directly over the Pat Tillman-Mike O’Callaghan Memorial Bridge and enjoy the view of Hoover Dam from a lofty perch of 900’ above the bedrock!
Continue South to Kingman, AZ and head East on I-40. If you’re getting hungry at this point, Kingman has a good number of restaurants to choose from. Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner is a favorite in this area for its retro decor and hearty Mexican and American fare. You might also use this opportunity to stop into a grocery store, purchase a small cooler and stock up on supplies for a rimside picnic at the Grand Canyon. More on that later.
In Williams, AZ, head North on AZ64. Train, history or Route 66 buffs may also enjoy a stop in this Grand Canyon gateway community that is home base of the Grand Canyon Railway.
3 miles South of the entrance gate of Grand Canyon South Rim is the small town of Tusayan, AZ, also known as Grand Canyon Village South. Here you can stop and see the world-famous IMAX film presentation, “Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets” or do a little shopping before you head into the park.
Upon arrival at Grand Canyon South Rim, stop at the Canyon View Information Plaza located near Mather Point. Browse the informational displays to learn more about how the canyon was formed, talk with a helpful park ranger on how to make the most of your time at the South Rim, or hop on the free Village Loop Shuttle and tour the Grand Canyon Village Historic District. Don’t forget to grab that cooler and sandwich fixins you bought earlier. Park restaurants tend to get crazy at mid-day, so better to enjoy a relaxing “al fresco” lunch than to waste valuable sightseeing time waiting for a table at a restaurant.
Early afternoon: check into your Grand Canyon hotel and do a little decompressing from the day’s drive and activities. Not ready to downshift? Take in more Grand Canyon views on the free Hermit’s Rest/West Rim (Red) shuttle (or self-drive the route if you’re visiting between December 1st and February 28th), walk the easy paved Canyon Rim Trail, or get a taste of the inner canyon with a short hike on the Bright Angel Trail. If you take us up on the latter, remember to double your time down as your estimated time to hike back out. 30 minutes down = 60 minutes out. Water and sun protection must also be carried.
Sunset: be somewhere – anywhere – on the canyon rim! Try to get to your chosen spot 30 minutes prior to sunset, and remain for another 30 minutes afterward to experience the full range of light changes, and the best photo ops. Popular viewpoints for Grand Canyon sunset viewing include, but are not limited to:
- Hopi Point (accessible only by the Hermit’s Rest/Red Line shuttle bus March 1st-November 30th)
- Yavapai Point
- Mather Point
- Yaki Point (accessible only by the Kaibab/Orange shuttle bus)
- Moran Point
- Lipan Point
For dinner, choose from one of six restaurants within Grand Canyon Village, the deli at Grand Canyon Market Plaza, or the diverse array of options in Tusayan/Grand Canyon Village South.
In the course of your trip plans, you may have heard that dinner at El Tovar Hotel is a culinary don’t-miss, and you’d have heard right! Reservations are required for lunch and dinner can be made 30+ days out for guests of El Tovar and other Xanterra properties. Guests at non-Xanterra properties may book within 30 days of their stay. Click here for contact information. If the prospect of lunch or dinner here doesn’t appeal or work out, breakfast at El Tovar is just as memorable and seated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Day 2
Sunrise: If you missed sunset the night before, or even if you didn’t, greet your day in “grand” style by witnessing sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Like the sunset, there’s no such thing as a “bad” place to be for sunrise, but there’s no denying that the best views are on the Desert View/East Rim Drive, which you’ll be conveniently passing through on your way to your next destination: Monument Valley!
Morning: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Monument Valley, UT: Drive time: 3-5 hours
Note that the Navajo Indian Reservation observes Daylight Saving Time whereas the remainder of Arizona does not. You will “lose” an hour traveling from Grand Canyon South Rim to Monument Valley.
Head due East on AZ64 toward Cameron, AZ. Time permitting, stop at:
- Grandview Point (the author’s personal favorite for sunrise!)
- Navajo Point
- Zuni Point
- Moran Point
- Lipan Point
- Desert View Watchtower
Upon exiting the park, you’ll be on Navajo Indian Tribal Lands. A stop at the Little Colorado River Overlook will give you a greater appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the Colorado River ecosystem, and its spiritual significance to the native peoples of this area.
Visit the Historic Cameron Trading Post at the junction of AZ64 and US89 for a bathroom break/leg stretch, or breakfast. The Navajo Taco with an egg on top must be seen (and eaten) to be believed! Don’t be surprised, or concerned, if you end up with leftovers. Remember that cooler you bought? Grab a to-go box and enjoy your leftovers as a snack later on.
Head north on US89 for a short distance, then turn off on US160 East toward Tuba City and Kayenta. Time permitting, you might stop at the Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks just West of Tuba City. One of the largest sites of its kind in the world, you can see clearly where a three-toed dinosaur left its indelible mark in the sandstone millions of years ago.
In the mood for some hiking? Make a detour off US160 to AZ564 and visit Navajo National Monument. A 2.5-mile round-trip hike up the Sandal Trail (no, that doesn’t mean you should wear sandals on it!) rewards you with a bird’s eye view of the Betatakin/Talastima cliff dwelling complex, one of the most sophisticated and well-preserved examples of Ancestral Puebloan architecture in the Southwest.
Continue East-Northeast to Kayenta, AZ, then proceed due North on US163 toward Monument Valley. Time permitting, and/or if you’re craving a Whopper®, stop at the Kayenta Burger King and learn more about the Navajo Code Talkers, a group of 29 soldiers who used their native language to help the U.S. transmit coded messages that were virtually indecipherable to Japanese and German radio operators during World War II. Featuring authentic artifacts and first-hand accounts, the Navajo Code Talkers’ Exhibit is regarded as one of the best and most comprehensive exhibits on the subject matter in Northern Arizona – and it’s free, how cool is that? Other local restaurants include but are not limited to:
- Amigo Cafe
- Reuben Heflin (in the Hampton Inn)
- Blue Coffee Pot
- Pizza Edge
Early afternoon: arrive in Monument Valley. **Note that effective 2022, entrance tickets for self-driving the 17-mile scenic loop drive must be purchased in advance*** Stop at the Tribal Park Visitor’s Center and take in the iconic views of Merrick Butte and the Mittens. One look at this dramatic panorama and you’ll know why movie producers fell in love with this area! The displays here will inform you about how these formations were made, and acquaint you with the traditional “Blessing Way” lifestyle observed by many residents of this area. If you’ve followed our advice at the beginning of this article, you’ll have purchased a Tribal Park Entrance Ticket (link provided above) OR made advance reservations for a guided tour of Monument Valley. If not, the staff at the Visitors Center can advise you about available options and make bookings for you.
Monument Valley Guided Tours:
- Monument Valley Safari, LLC ph. 435-220-0539
- Three Sister Navajo Guided Tours ph. 602-327-2472
- Blackwater Tours ph. 928-429-1479
- Monumental Tours ph. 435-444-9529
- Tinhorn Tours ph. 928-383-0783
- MV Dineh Bekeyah Tours ph. 928-409-0088
- MV Twin Warriors Tours ph. 928-429-8628
- Sandstone Tours ph. 435-200-5450
- Monument Valley Rain God Mesa Tours ph. 928-606-9422
Check into your Monument Valley hotel, relax or enjoy dinner at your hotel’s on-site restaurant, or one of the local spots in Mexican Hat, UT or Kayenta, AZ.
Day 3
Morning: rise early, eat a good breakfast, and enjoy a guided tour of Monument Valley. The valley interior can only be accessed by a 17-mile dirt road. Though private vehicles are allowed to drive on this road by advance purchase of an entrance ticket, the practice is discouraged, especially for those driving rental cars. Car rental contracts expressly forbid off-road driving and any damage sustained by disobeying this rule will be your responsibility. A guided tour is not only safer, but will be more informative and memorable since they are conducted by local Navajo guides.
Depending on your traveling party, personal preference, physical fitness, interests and budget, you can choose from:
- Guided jeep or 4×4 tours
- Horseback rides
- Guided hikes
Tour durations vary from 2 hours to all day. Horseback tours are typically conducted on gentle trail horses walking nose-to-tail; age and weight requirements may apply. Hiking tours may require previous desert hiking experience and may not be suitable for younger children. Click here for more information on guided Monument Valley Tours.
Late morning/early afternoon: Drive from Monument Valley, UT to Page, AZ – Drive time: 2-3 hours.
Note: Page, Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time. You will “gain” an hour as you pass from the Navajo Reservation to Page, AZ. Even though Antelope Canyon is situated on Navajo Indian Tribal Land, most Antelope Canyon tour operators go by Mountain Standard Time for the convenience of Page visitors.
From Monument Valley, UT, head South on US163, West on US160, then Northwest on US98. Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on your point of view – this stretch of road doesn’t offer much in the way of points of interest to stop at, until you hit Antelope Canyon Navajo Tribal Park just outside of Page, AZ. This world-famous slot canyon is on the “must-do” list for 99.99999% of travelers to Northern Arizona. Consequently, it’s become very popular. Advance reservations for tours is a must!
From the Tribal Park Entrance gate on US98, you can tour Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon, or both. Lower is the more physical of the two, requiring some stair climbing and mild boulder scrambling. Upper is mostly a cakewalk, 100 yards of flat, easy trail, punctuated by some areas of deep sugar sand depending on weather conditions at the time of your visit. ***Effective July 2021, all passengers are required to walk a 1/4-mile long network of metal walkways from the exit of the canyon back to the tour vehicle parking area. Video***
Though mid-day is considered “prime time” to tour these canyons, there is no such thing as a bad time to visit. Touring Antelope Canyon during the later afternoon or earlier in the morning has several advantages. The shapes and colors of the canyon walls are still beautiful, morphing into richer, deeper hues as the sun sinks lower in the sky. The biggest plus is not paying “prime time” ticket prices.
Allow 90-minutes to 2 hours to experience each side of Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon Tour Reservations
If all that walking has made you hungry, take a late lunch or early dinner at the Sandbar, a lakeside restaurant in the Antelope Point Marina complex, or pick up some hand-made sandwiches for another “al fresco” picnic lunch from the Deli at Big Lake Trading Post.
Late afternoon: After touring Antelope Canyon, head West on US98 to US89 and turn left. Between mile markers 544 and 545 you’ll see signage for the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, another natural wonder that has helped put this corner of Northern Arizona “on the map.”
A .6 mile walk on a dirt trail will take you to a stunning view of a hairpin turn of the Colorado River, or an “entrenched meander” in geologist-speak. Be sure to allow 60-90 minutes to enjoy the view, maybe even take in the sunset (or a few bites of your sandwiches from Big Lake), but be sure to keep children and pets under control at all times. There are no guardrails here and it’s a long drop to the river! Also, remember to pack out your trash. “Leave no trace” is your M.O. for this trip.
Though manageable for most people in good physical condition, the uphill incline at the beginning of the Horseshoe Bend Overlook trail may be a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. Tips for those unable to walk to Horseshoe Bend. This area is also completely exposed to the elements, so water, hats and sunscreen should be carried with you.
Evening: Check in at your hotel in Page, AZ, get a good night’s rest, or a good dinner at one of many quality Page, AZ restaurants.
Day 4
Sunrise (optional): Does your day back home usually start with a brisk walk or jog to get the motor running? Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you have to take a vacation from your fitness regimen. Here, you can get some exercise and do a little sightseeing on the Page Rim View Trail. Popular with local walkers, runners and cyclists, this unpaved trail makes a 10-mile circuit around Manson Mesa, Page’s original townsite. Most adults and children who are at least moderately fit report enjoying this walk that offers beautiful views of Lake Powell (but no lake access). Springtime visitors are treated to a visual bonus of desert wildflowers in bloom. Once on the trail, you aren’t committed to doing the full 10 miles! There are several paths back to “civilization” you can take if you wish. Keep in mind it is completely exposed to the elements, so bring water, wear sunscreen, and of course, appropriate walking or running shoes.
Your day is going to be busy, and a good breakfast will keep your energy up. Select Page, AZ hotel room rates include continental or cooked-to-order breakfast. Guests at vacation homes or repurposed apartments can do their own cooking. Groceries can be purchased at Super Wal-Mart or Safeway. Hot & Sweet Coffee & Donuts, the Ranch House Grille, and Canyon Crepes are among Page’s most popular breakfast stand-bys.
Option 1 – 6.30 AM: Check in for the Glen Canyon Half-Day Float Trip. This scenic raft trip travels 15 miles down a flat stretch of the Colorado River, through Glen Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Suitable for children 4 and up, rafts launch from the base of the mighty Glen Canyon Dam. At Petroglyph Beach, you can take a cool dip in the river, and ponder the meanings of carvings in the canyon walls left by Ancestral Puebloan people thousands of years ago. This is also the perfect time to enjoy a snack or bag lunch from one of the local grocery stores or restaurants. After disembarking from the your river raft, a motorcoach will pick you up at Historic Lees Ferry, and bring you back to Page at approximately 11:30 AM.
After lunch, or a quick bite, drive to the Glen Canyon Dam & Steel Arch Bridge to peer 700′ down to the base of the dam. Then head over to the Hanging Garden Trail for an easy and scenic hike to a stalwart colony of plants and flowers, eking out a life off the precious drops of water provided by a nearby underground seep.
Option 2 – 7:00 AM: Check in for the Antelope Canyon Waterside Kayak or Paddleboard Tour at Antelope Point Marina. This 4.5-hour excursion will take you to where Antelope Canyon joins with Lake Powell. Paddle and hike with a knowledgeable local guide as you explore beautiful sandstone canyon walls on sapphire blue water.
**This tour is open to both kayakers and paddleboarders. It covers approximately 2.5 miles (5 miles round trip) to the waterline, from there you hike through the NPS section of Antelope Canyon (approximately 2 miles round trip). Due to the distance and physical requirements, this tour is not for beginner paddleboarders. Kayak experience is helpful but not necessary.***
Afterwards, everything from light appetizers and custom coffee beverages to gourmet entrees with a world-class wine list can be had at Antelope Point Marina, in the town of Page, AZ, or one of five on-site dining outlets at Lake Powell Marina. Wherever you decide to go, the food is bound to be delicious, and the view might be pretty tasty as well!
Relax and reflect on your day’s discoveries back at your hotel, shop for mementos of your visit, or check out your options for dinner. Those with energy to burn later might take the short drive off the mesa to the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook, also known as the “White House” overlook, or put on your dancing shoes and cut a rug to some great local bands at Gone West Family Restaurant (formerly Ken’s Old West), the Dam Bar, or State 48 Tavern before hitting the hay.
Day 5
Early morning: Drive from Page, AZ to Bryce Canyon National Park, UT – Drive time: 2.5-4.5 hours
Note: Utah does observe Daylight Saving Time, whereas Arizona does not. You will “lose” an hour traveling from Arizona to Utah during DST.
Grab a breakfast burrito or bagel and cream cheese from your hotel’s continental breakfast spread and hit the road for Bryce Canyon. A straight-through drive is unlikely to happen as there are several points of interest to stop at along the way, including, but not limited to:
- The “New Wave:” just past the Glen Canyon Dam and opposite the Lake Powell Resort turn-off on US89 is an unmarked road to a small cluster of rock formations that bear an uncanny resemblance to “The Wave.” Unlike the “Old” Wave, the “New Wave” doesn’t require a permit, or charge admission. Because the road is not regularly maintained, it does wash out occasionally. If signage states “no admittance,” you’ll have to skip it.
- The Big Water Visitor Center: 15 miles Northwest of Page, AZ and just over the Utah border on US89, this unassuming facility offers up some impressive surprises, such as dinosaur bones excavated locally, a topographical relief map of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and paleontology and geology displays kids and adults will love.
- The Paria Rimrocks-Toadstools Trail: Between Page, AZ and Kanab, UT on US89 between mile markers 18 and 19 is a 1.5 mile round-trip trail leading to an unearthly rock garden where bizarre hoodoos, balanced rocks and other geological oddities grow. A moderate walk, don’t stop at what appears to be the end of the trail; the main hoodoo area is located up a short rock scramble.
- Kanab, Utah: a charming small town with a star-crossed path of a different sort, Kanab was once a popular site for Western movies and television shows. These days, tourism gets top billing on the economic marquee. A good stop for shopping or dining, the Rocking V Cafe and Houston’s Trail’s End Restaurant are popular among locals and visitors.
Option 1 – 1:30 PM UTAH TIME (12:30 PM Arizona Time): Check in at the Bryce Canyon Lodge for your horseback ride to the very bottom of Bryce Canyon! From Sunrise Point, well-trained trail horses will descend into the canyon as local cowboys orient you to the compelling history and fascinating geology of Bryce Canyon. Go ahead and bring your cameras, because you will be able to take pictures and experience the Canyon at your fingertips on this ride that is safe for people of all riding experience levels, even none at all! Bryce Canyon Horseback Riding Reservations
Option 2 – 1:30 PM UTAH TIME (12:30 PM Arizona Time): Take the free National Park Service tour to Rainbow Point. From Rainbow Point and its “neighbor” Yovimpa Point, you can see a good portion of Bryce Canyon to the North as well as some impressive cliff formations and hoodoo structures in the distance. You can board the buses at any one of six shuttle stops:
- Ruby’s Inn
- Ruby’s Campground
- Shuttle Parking and Boarding Area (across the street from Ruby’s Inn)
- Bryce Canyon Lodge
- North Campground
- Sunset Campground
The tour consists of approximately eight stops at scenic viewpoints in the southern section of the park. Visitors are advised to dress appropriately for the weather and bring lunch, snacks, water, etc. Reservations are required and can be made in advance by calling 435-834-5290 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM local time.
Option 3 – 2:30 PM UTAH TIME (1:30 PM Arizona Time): Check in at the Bryce Canyon Car Care Center (Sinclair Station) for a guided ATV ride. In just one hour, you’ll experience the lesser known areas of Bryce Canyon in a manner that’s fun, exciting and best of all, very safe. This guided ride on well-maintained ATV’s will get your blood pumping, while providing you with views of a primeval alpine landscape, and Bryce Canyon itself. Bryce Canyon ATV Tour information
Enjoy dinner at Bryce Canyon Lodge or one of the dining establishments at Ruby’s Inn, Bryce Canyon City, or nearby Tropic, Utah before retiring for the night and getting a good rest before the next day’s adventures!
IMPORTANT: PLEASE TAKE THE ROUTE FROM PAGE TO BRYCE CANYON MARKED IN BLUE! THE ROUTE MARKED IN GRAY IS AN UNPAVED, INCONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED ROAD THAT IS PRONE TO WASH-OUTS, ROCK FALLS AND OTHER WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE. TAKING A RENTAL CAR ON THIS ROUTE WILL VOID YOUR RENTAL INSURANCE AND YOU COULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE SUSTAINED.
Day 6
After breakfast, explore Bryce Canyon a bit more before going on to Zion National Park.
Option 1 – Ride the free hop-on/hop-off park shuttle to some of the viewpoints you might have missed on your first day here. The voluntary shuttle can be picked up at the shuttle station north of the park, or at Ruby’s Inn and the Grand Hotel. It then stops at:
- Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
- Sunset Campground (Southbound/does not enter campground)
- Bryce Point
- Inspiration Point
- Sunset Campground (Northbound/on main road/does not enter campground)
- Sunset Point
- Bryce Canyon Lodge
- Sunrise Point (General Store & High Plateau Inst. are nearby)
- Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
Option 2 – Take one of several easy but spectacular hikes along the canyon rim, such as:
- Mossy Cave (.8 mi / 1.3 km round trip) – a streamside walk up to a mossy overhang and small waterfall
- Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Trail (1 mi / 1.6 km round trip) – see the amphitheater and its hoodoos via a paved and fairly level trail
- Bristlecone Loop (1.0 mi / 1.6 km round trip) – a hike through a spruce-fir forests to bristlecone pine-adorned cliffs and canyon vistas
- Queens Garden (1.8 mi / 2.9 km round trip) – the least difficult trail into the canyon, featuring ‘Queen Victoria’ (use your imagination) at the end of a short spur trail
Option 3 – Take one of several moderate scenic hikes into the canyon:
- Navajo Trail (1.3 mi / 2.2 km round trip) – this trail begins at Sunset Point and goes through a slot canyon where tall Douglas Firs reach skyward in a quest for sunlight and water, ending down in Bryce Amphitheater
- Tower Bridge (3 mi / 4.8 km round trip) – ancient Bristlecone Pines and the China Wall whet your appetite for the 1/4-mile shaded spur trail leading to the Tower Bridge formation
- Hat Shop (4 mi / 6.4 km round trip) – observe a cluster of balanced-rock hoodoos after the descent to the Under-the-Rim Trail; not for visitors with bad knees
Note: what goes down must come up! Remember to double your hiking down time in order to calculate your hiking out time (1 hour down = 2 hours out) if you venture onto inner canyon trails. Adequate footwear, sun protection and water must be brought on any of the listed hikes.
Grab lunch to go (remember, you have that cooler!), then drive to Springdale, Utah: 2-3.5 hours
Afternoon: check into your Springdale, UT, hotel, take the free Springdale shuttle, then transfer to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Shuttle (mandatory for those not staying at in-park lodging) to the Zion Human History Museum. Here, you can get an excellent “pre-trip briefing” on the scenery and sanctuary that have made Zion National Park so famous. A free 20-minute video provides an overview of activities and park facilities, plus rangers are on hand to answer any questions you might have.
Get back on the shuttle and head up to Zion Lodge. Even those that are not staying at the historic hotel are welcome to stroll the grounds, dine at the on-site restaurants, or rent bikes for one hour or a full day from Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the authorized in-park concessioner. But as they say, the best things in life are free, and one of the best things about Zions is that the most fun can be had without spending a penny, in the form of hikes ranging in difficulty from “easy-peasy” to “are-you-kidding-me?” One of our favorites is the Upper Emerald Pools trail, a 3-mile round-trip hike requiring some uphilll walking, leads to a picturesque waterfall and pond. Swimming is not allowed, but generations of families have enjoyed this iconic Zion Canyon trail for many years. The Riverside Walk, also known as the “Gateway to the Narrows,” is an easy, scenic walk from the Temple of Sinawava to the shores of the Virgin River. Wear Tevas, Chacos or other footwear that hold up to water, but are still good for hiking. You’ll definitely want to get your feet wet! Easy Zion National Park Hikes
Head back to Springdale, UT for dinner. Restaurants are plentiful here, so choosing might be hard, but enjoying your meal won’t be. Get some sleep, and be down for some serious adventure in the morning!
Day 7
Option 1 – Hike the Narrows. This is the hike to take in Zion National Park for the ultimate bragging rights. Traversing a cool riverbed through a narrow slot canyon, a hike in the Narrows can be virtually whatever you want to make of it: a quick hour’s jaunt to get your feet wet (pardon the pun), or a 10-mile round-trip all day slog. Doing the hike from the “bottom up” (from the Temple of Sinawava as far as Big Spring) does not require a permit and is therefore the easier way to go; the “top down” approach (from Chamberlain Ranch to TOS) does require a permit, and more in the way of advanced planning. Don’t want to do any planning at all? Hire a licensed guide to hike the Narrows and let them do all that for you! Caution: The Narrows are subject to flash flood dangers, especially during the monsoon season of late July – early September. It may be closed to hikers during this or any other timeframe, or in weather conditions determined to be dangerous.
Option 2 – Hike to Angel’s Landing. This is the grand-daddy of all Zion National Park hikes, which effective 04/01/22, will require a permit obtained 3 months in advance through an online lottery held on Recreation.gov. It’s not for the faint of heart, out-of-shape, or terrified of heights. Don’t believe us? A few people have fallen off the trail. We’ll just leave that there. Named for a terminus that evoked images of an angel landing on the head of a pin, Angel’s Landing is not a super-long hike (5 miles round-trip), but it’s a strenuous one on a steep uphill grade. Chains are placed on either side of the trail to aid those who might need extra leverage on the section between the Hogsback to the Landing. For those who initially think they might be able to handle it, but change their minds midway, Walter’s Wiggles makes for a good turn-around point. The trail begins and ends at the Grotto in Zion Canyon. Do your research, watch YouTube videos, and do more research before you commit to this hike. As with all hikes in the Southwest U.S., water and snacks should be brought, and appropriate broken-in footwear worn.
Option 3 – Take a spa day. Prefer an activity for your last day of touring that’s a little more kickback and relax-y and a little less huffy and puffy? Book a massage, rejuvenating facial, aromatherapy, or any number of therapeutic indulgences at one of several day spas in Springdale, UT. Your hotel may even have a spa right on the property!
Option 4 – Go horseback riding. Rides of one and three hours in length show you natural wonders of Zion National Park both out in the open, and behind the scenes such as the Three Patriarchs, the Beehives, and beautiful cactus gardens. The 1 hour ride (open to children 7 and up) follows the Virgin River to the Court of the Patriarchs and back to the loading corral. For those more adventurous (and at least 10 years old) the three-hour trip will take you around the Sandbench Trail, gradually ascending 500,’ culminating with a breath-taking view of the Southern portion of Zion National Park. Advance reservations strongly recommended. Book a Zion National Park Horseback Ride.
Go back to your hotel, and if it has a hot tub, enjoy a nice long soak, order in for dinner, then rest up for the 2.5 hour drive back to Las Vegas.
Like the sound of this, or did we leave anything out? Feel free to leave us a comment below. And remember, your experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly – will always be of help to future travelers in the area. Travel-related sites like TripAdvisor, Frommer’s, Fodors, even Facebook and Instagram love trip reports. Don’t forget to post one when you get back home!
413 Responses
Hi! I’d love your opinion on an itinerary that I’ve begun drafting for June 2020. We are coming from Ohio so will fly and rent a car. We are a family of 4 with 2 teens. We want to see as much as we can yet not be so pushed for time we can’t make impromptu changes or have any time to relax and rest from driving and hiking. We like to hike but easy to moderate day trails. We do NOT want to fly in and out of the same city and prefer to see as many different areas as we can. I sort of prefer not to sleep somewhere different EVERY night but unsure how else to approach. We are not campers.
What are your thoughts about this? Same order or reverse it? Too much for 8 days? Would leave Saturday and return the following Sunday.
Day 1- Phoenix to Sedona, stay over in Sedona
Day 2- Sedona, drive to South Rim and stay in Grand Canyon village or somewhere near on the way
Day 3- Grand Canyon, take Hwy 64 out after sunset and stay in upon entering Cameron on Hwy 89
Day 4- Drive to Monument Valley and then back to Page, AZ for the night (or do we skip Monument and go straight to Page?)
Day 5- Spend the day at Lake Powell, Glen Canyon NRA, stay in Kanab, UT
Day 6- See Grand Staircase NP, Drive to Bryce Canyon NP and spend the night there
Day 7- Drive to Zion NP, stay over
Day 8- Drive to Las Vegas and fly home
Feels like I’m trying to do too much but don’t know what to cut or where to trim. My husband can only take off one week. Would be fun to have a night in Vegas to relax and introduce our kids to the city that never sleeps.
Another idea pending airfares would be to fly into Flagstaff on Frontier and then to Sedona or skip Sedona entirely if able to start at Flagstaff. SUPER APPRECIATE your time and response when you are able to.
Hi Vikki, we’re glad you found us!
So when you say at the end of your inquiry, “skip Sedona,” I take it you are traveling from the U.S. and are in a position to visit Sedona another time? If that is the case, you may indeed want to skip it regardless of where you fly into this time around. The reason I suggest this is because Sedona is the kind of place you can spend 4-5 days at and still feel as though you only “scratched the surface.”
I would also suggest not using Flagstaff, AZ, as your “staging city” simply because there are no direct flights into there, you always have to connect through Phoenix, no matter what. After all’s said and done, you’d probably find that you didn’t save any time going to Flagstaff, and you certainly won’t save any money. I’ll put it this way: most people who fly into Flagstaff report that they would have “bitten the bullet” and done the longer drive out of Phoenix or Vegas if they had it to do over again.
RE: Monument Valley, whether or not you visit it depends largely on lodging availability, or lack thereof. At this point in time, you may be looking at “lack thereof.” Monument Valley does not have that many lodging options to work with in the first place, and the better hotels, generally regarded as The View and Goulding’s, tend to sell out a year or more in advance. Alternate locations for lodging are also few and far between, namely Kayenta, AZ, and Tuba City, AZ. So, for practicality’s sake, you’ll probably end up dropping MV from the “wish list,” but there still might be a way to work it in. More on that in a minute…
So, with all that said, here’s what I’d recommend:
Day 1 – Arrive in Phoenix, overnight in Phoenix
Day 2 – Start early, drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hour drive, 6 with frequent stops [it’s a very scenic drive]), take free shuttles in afternoon to overlooks on Hermit’s Rest/West Rim Drive, overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 3 – Early start (that’s how we roll around here!), drive to Page, AZ, stopping at overlooks along East Rim/Desert View Drive en route. Breakfast/brunch at Cameron Trading Post. Stop at Horseshoe Bend Overlook on way into town (parking permitting), overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 4 – Morning fixed wing airplane tour over Monument Valley (~90 minutes), tour Antelope Canyon in afternoon, 2nd night in Page, AZ
Day 5 – Hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise if you couldn’t get there in days prior, drive to Bryce Canyon (~2.5-3 hour drive), overnight in Bryce Canyon area
Day 6 – Drive to Springdale, UT, take Zion Canyon Shuttle to explore park, overnight in Springdale, UT
Day 7 – 2nd day in Zion, lots of good hikes to do in varying degrees of difficulty, if you’re up for a challenge, try Angel’s Landing, 2nd night in Springdale
Day 8 – Drive to Las Vegas (~3.5-4.5 hours depending on whether Virgin River Gorge construction project is complete), fly home
Notice I didn’t build an overnight in Vegas into your itinerary. For one, summertime is not my favorite time of year there by a long shot. It gets SUPER hot there, and another consideration is that if your kids aren’t 21 yet, you’ll be somewhat limited on places they can go, not to mention there are Vegas “purists” who insist that their town is not a family destination and never should have been marketed that way. Take that information how you wish, but I’ll add my personal perspective here: I got married in Reno, NV (more years ago than we’re going to discuss LOL) and my then-teenage brother was constantly getting yelled at not to go here, not to go there, stay behind that line, etc. Frankly, a family trip to Las Vegas is a trip I’d save for when the kids are 21+ and for a cooler time of year so you can visit Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, and maybe Death Valley.
Anyway, hope that helps. Wishing you good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you very much for your time!!
You’re welcome. Best wishes for a safe and memorable journey! 🙂
hello
At last after doing lots of googling i came across your site which i have found extremely useful. We are a family of 4 (Mum, Dad and 2 adult children) looking to do a mini tour of USA next year. We arrive in Vegas in 21st July 2020 and plan to have a couple of nights there before doing a sightseeing self drive to Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon and then Zion NP before heading back to Vegas. Can we fit in Horseshoe anything else on route? I did think doing it the opposite way around, but it seems you prefer this way. My question is would you recommend motor home/V hire or car hire and hotels? Also we ideally would like to do it over 4 nights / 5 days. Is this possible? We are not big hikers, but like a walk. Also we plan to do the arranged tours of the parks as opposed to doing it ourselves.
Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated.
Once we have done this area we will be flying onto San Francisco, LA, New Orleans, Nashville and New York. Cant wait 🙂
Thanks
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
It’s good that you’re planning your summer 2020 vacation well in advance. You’ll be glad you did, trust me!
First off, if you are serious about doing this in an RV, don’t expect to save all that much vs. conventional hotels. At the time of year you’re visiting, it’s HOT, and you will want to have access to reliable air conditioning. That means staying in developed RV parks with electrical hook-ups, which, unbelievably, can be just as expensive as regular hotels depending on where you stay. Just wanted to put that out there.
4 nights/5 days may sound like a lot of time, but it really isn’t. To see all the places on your “wish list,” and allow enough time to fully enjoy them, you really need 7-10 days. If this is not an option, you’ll need to sacrifice a destination or two to make it happen, and the destination that makes the most sense to drop is Monument Valley. Not that it isn’t beautiful (it is), but for one, there isn’t much there in the way of lodging, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s sold out already.
RE: Horseshoe Bend, yes, you can fit it in as well as Antelope Canyon. Both attractions are located in Page, Arizona, which you pretty much have to pass through anyway to get from Grand Canyon South Rim to Bryce and Zion.
As for doing “arranged tours,” vs. self-touring, there are some parks where this is feasible, if not required (Antelope Canyon falls into the latter category), but others where self-touring kind of comes naturally. Traveling from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, for example, the most logical route takes you along the East Rim/Desert View Drive of the park, where there are over half a dozen named viewpoints you can stop at, as well as the Tusayan Ruins and Museum. Upon exiting the park, and entering the Navajo Reservation, there’s even more to see. Plan on getting an early start on that drive so you can enjoy breakfast/brunch at the Cameron Trading Post. The Navajo Tacos are awesome!
All that said, here’s what I recommend:
Day 1 – Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim with stopover at Hoover Dam. 5-6 hour drive. Overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 2 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ. ~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops. Visit Horseshoe Bend and tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page.
Day 3 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Bryce Canyon National Park, ~3.5 hour drive, take free shuttle around the scenic rim drive, overnight in Bryce Canyon.
Day 4 – Drive from Bryce to Springdale, UT, ~2.5 hour drive, take Zion Canyon Shuttle into park, overnight in Springdale, UT.
Day 5 – Further exploration of Zion if desired, drive back to Las Vegas, ~3.5-4.5 hour drive depending on whether construction project in Virgin River Gorge is completed
If you still feel as though your vacation would somehow be incomplete without seeing Monument Valley, there’s still a way you might work it in without actually going there: fly over it. Fixed wing airplanes depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily. Scenic air tours of Monument Valley are about 90 minutes in length, and morning is the best time to fly for better light and less wind.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi
Thanks for your response. We really feel MV is a must and so far there is availability in accommodation there. We are definitely rethinking the RV and feel car / hotel may be best. Thinking possibly Bryce and Zion same day with overnight at Zion or adding 1 extra night. So much to do and see, so little time!!! Thanks for your help really appreciate it.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
If push came to shove, you could do a quick “pop-in” to Bryce, seeing as though it’s the smallest National Park in Utah, square-mileage wise. Zion, on the other hand, is huge and deserves at least 2 days to explore and enjoy.
It will take you 2.5 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Bryce, then another 2 hours to drive from Bryce to Zion.
If you are able to find lodging at Monument Valley, terrific, just slide that in between the Grand Canyon South Rim and Page, AZ, if at all possible.
I know it’s a hard choice. Best wishes for a safe and memorable journey!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Wow – I am in Australia & have never been to America before, so trying to work out an itinerary around the Grand Canyon was so difficult ……. until I found your site. It is pretty much exactly what we plan to do now – so thankyou !!
I’ve listed below the slightly tweaked itinerary (we had 1 less day) & wondered if you could take a look, The main questions I have is finding accommodation to suit ( we are 2 adults & 3 kids 17/15/13). And also ideas on what we do to fill our jam packed days – we do not want to spoil things by over doing it, but def want to make the most of the amazing surrounds. We have 3 boys & we are all fit & active:
Day 1; Vegas to GC south Rim – Hoover Dam lookout, Mr D’s diner, Tusayan for Imax film, Check into Yapavai Lodge (If avail). Shuttle to GC view, possibly Bright Angels hike. Sunset
Day 2: Sunrise Desert View, Little Colorado River Outlook, B’fast at Historic Cameron Trading Post, Moenkopi Dinosaur track, Najavo National Monument hike to cliff dwellings, Lunch at Kayenta. Arrive MV – Tribal Park Visitor Centre – Merrick Butte. Looking at The View Camproung in cabins
Day 3: Early guided tour of MV – either 4×4, Horse or Mule , Lunch & then drive to Page – afternoon Antelope Canyon Tour & Horseshoe Bend for sunset. Check in to Page – maybe Lake Powell Resort
Day 4: Lake Powell & Rainbow Bridge boat tour. After lunch drive to Bryce Canyon via The New Wave, Paria Rimrocks Toadstools & Hoodoos. Check in at Bryce Canyon Lodge (if avail)
Day 5: Guided ATV tour of Bryce Canyon, then maybe a hop on, hop off tour & hikes. Late afternoon head to Zion – possibly Ponderosa Resort in Wagons
Day 6: Full day in Zion today – so hikes to Upper Emerald pool trail, or Riverside walk, Tubing on Virgin River, Horseriding ?? Not sure how much we can fit in here.
Day 7: Leave early to have almost a full day in Vegas.
Hopefully this looks doable – please let me know if it is not in a good order, or if I have included or missed out any highlights. And in particular, any info on accommodation would be much appreciated. It does not need to be anything too flash , as we will barley be in our rooms – most of our time will be out exploring the amazing sites. I know accomm books out fast, so will plan to get onto that asap.
Again, thanks so much for the brilliant info you have given already – & hey, if you ever plan a trip to Australia , I would happily return the favour 🙂
Thanks,
Sue
Hey, Sue!
We’re glad you found us and that our advice has proven helpful so far.
Your itinerary looks pretty fun. Still, I do have an immediate concern that you seem to be trying to schedule every. single. second. of your days out here. Believe me, I totally understand the desire to see as much as possible, especially coming from such a long way! But try to allow for some “downtime” in your schedule, and be open to letting some moments just happen. Oftentimes, those are the most memorable parts of a vacation 😉
With a family of two adults and three young adults, trying to cram everybody into one hotel room is probably less than desirable. A “family-style” room at Yavapai would be a good bet for the Grand Canyon, and hopefully it’s still available. In other areas, you might want to consider Air B&B’s or vacation rental homes, as well as conventional hotels. If you go the hotel/motel route, you’ll probably want to get two rooms for everyone’s comfort and sanity! LOL
A few items that call for a “reality check:”
On Day 1 where you say you might do a “Bright Angel trail hike,” by the time you drive over from Las Vegas, see IMAX, check into your hotel and ride the shuttles, you may be too knackered to even think about anything resembling a hike! The easy, paved rim trail may be more realistic at this point. If you are still feeling energetic enough to attempt a short hike on the Bright Angel Trail, going as far as the “first tunnel” will give you enough of a sense for how different the inner canyon feels from the rimside. Always remember when it comes to hiking below the rim that 1 hour down = 2 hours out and that food and water should be carried by each member of your party! You might also want to carry flashlights or headlamps if you find yourselves “burning daylight” as John Wayne used to say. Once the sun goes down, it gets really dark out here.
On Day 2, the “hike to the cliff dwellings at Navajo National Monument” probably won’t happen. For Keet Seel, an advance permit is required; for Betatakin, it’s first-come/first-serve, but those slots are usually snatched up pretty early in the morning. Another consideration, if you’re traveling in the summertime, is that these hikes are frequently getting cancelled due to extreme heat warnings. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t stop and visit Navajo National Monument, you definitely should, but you’ll probably want to stick to the Sandal Trail (no, don’t wear sandals!), which is a 1-mile paved trail where you can see the Betatakin Ruins from. After lunch in Kayenta, be sure to pop by the WWII Navajo Code Talkers’ exhibit in the local Burger King Restaurant!
On Day 3, where you indicate wanting to “visit Horseshoe Bend at sunset,” be aware that tons of people are going to have the same thing in mind, and you may have trouble finding a parking space. If that’s the case, you might try visiting the ‘Bend at sunrise the next morning.
On Day 4, I’m assuming that you’ll be taking the morning departure of the Rainbow Bridge boat tour, which wraps up at 2:30 PM, which leads me to the conclusion that you’re traveling during the summer months. Keep in mind that depending on the level of Lake Powell, which is higher than it has been in years past, a 2-3 mile round-trip hike could be required to get to Rainbow Bridge from the boat dock. Although the rest of the tour is not strenuous, don’t be surprised if afterward, you’re in no mood to do anything else but go back to a hotel room and crash, or at most, go find a meal and some cocktails! Around here, we refer to this state of mind as being “sun drunk.” Being on the water out in the sun can zap the energy out of you pretty quick, so here, you might consider spending a 2nd night in Page, then visit Bryce the following morning as a “day trip” before heading to Zion Ponderosa (a cool place, by the way!).
On Day 6, whether or not you do the tubing on will be highly dependent on the water level of the Virgin River. Sometimes it cooperates, other times it doesn’t, so you’ll want to check with the tour outfitters on this. Right now, for example, one of the river tubing companies states on their website that “tubing season has ended as of July 18th due to low water levels.” Horseback riding would probably be a safer bet, and you can do that right at Zion Ponderosa. If you do opt for a trail ride, as with all labor-intensive activities, try to do it in the morning when it’s cooler.
One more thing: no matter what you decide to do, keep an eye on the time, and be sure to time all your drives for daylight hours. You do not want to do any driving at night in this part of the U.S. due to lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the tendency of deer, elk, free range cattle and sometimes even wild horses to congregate around them. Also: remember that whilst Arizona DOES NOT observe Daylight Savings Time, Utah and the Navajo Reservation DO. Therefore, if you’re traveling between March and November, Las Vegas will be on the same time as the Grand Canyon; Monument Valley will be one hour “ahead” of the Grand Canyon; Page, AZ, will be one hour “behind” Monument Valley, then Utah will be one hour “ahead” of Page; finally, you’ll “regain” an hour traveling from Utah back to Las Vegas.
*whew* Hope that doesn’t leave your head spinning! Please don’t hesitate to hit us up again if you need further guidance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Thanks so much for your reply – being that you do this all the time, I’m guessing you know how amazingly helpful it is to have someone with so much local knowledge, to help with finer details – particularly when I am on the other side of the world.
I really appreciate you advising on some changes to make the trip a little less hectic – you are right that I don’t want to over schedule , but don’t want to miss out either!!
So in saying that, I wondered if I could ask one more question – I have juggled our itinerary a bit further down & pinched an extra day for this part of the trip. So with an extra day/night, I am keen to know where you would spend it ? We are planning to be there in mid April.
Thanks again – your info has been invaluable..
Sue 🙂
Hi again, Sue!
Thanks so much for writing back.
With an extra day to work with, I would recommend giving that to Zion National Park. It’s a huge park with a lot to see and do. While one day there is certainly better than none, a second day will allow you to explore areas you might have missed that first day. If you’re up for a challenge, you might consider taking on something like Angel’s Landing, which is considered the “Grand-Daddy” of all Zion hikes. Fair warning that lacking a fear of heights is strongly recommended before you attempt it.
Another option? You can simply use the time to “wind down,” “chill out,” or however you’d say “intense relaxation” in your part of the world! The Zion Ponderosa Ranch has a nice pool and jacuzzi area for that, or you might simply watch for wildlife on your cabin deck.
Also, knowing that your visit is scheduled for mid-April helps put things into context a bit better. For some reason, I thought you were traveling in the summer months. April is in the “transitional” period between winter and spring in this part of the U.S., so in areas at high altitude like the Grand Canyon (7,000′ ASL [Above Sea Level]) and Bryce Canyon (8,000′ ASL), you might run into a late season snowstorm. Be sure to pack a couple of items of warmer clothing, but you needn’t stuff your suitcases with sweaters, by any means! Start monitoring the weather at your various trip destinations about 2 weeks before you get set to travel to get the clearest picture of how you need to pack. The upside? Temperatures will not get so ghastly hot at lower altitudes (such as Page, AZ, Monument Valley, Zion), so the concern about having to get all your high-impact activities done during the morning isn’t as crucial as it would be if you were traveling in June or July.
Since I had (wrongly) assumed that your trip would be taking place during the summer, one suggestion I omitted was on your way back to Las Vegas, you might make a bit of a detour to the stunning Valley of Fire State Park. The scenery in this area is simply breath-taking, many say reminiscent of “The Wave,” only no advance permit required! Plus it won’t take you too far out of the way on the trip back to Las Vegas.
Hope that helps! Thanks again for your compliments 🙂 By the way, we’d love to know how your trip went afterwards. Feel free to let us know how you got on!
Alley
Thanks so much Alley – once again your info has been brilliant. I am counting down the days until our trip & will def let you know how we go. Have a great day 🙂
🙂
This is so unbelievably helpful! I’ve also read through many of the comments and wondered if you’d mind taking a look at our itinerary. At this point in planning the trip is kind of a hypothetical, but I want to prepared to be able to start booking campgrounds in the parks as soon I’m able. We’re looking to drive from Michigan to the GC in June of 2020! Crazy, I know. We are a family of 5, (two 10 year olds and one 7 year old at time of trip) and we’re planning to haul an ~17-20 ft. camper. We’re planning 4 days to get to Holbrook, AZ, via some stops along the old Rte. 66. My list includes the south rim, north rim, Page, Zion, Bryce, and up to Rocky (hopefully a stopover at Arches otw) to head back east to home. We have a little wiggle room over 2 weeks, and I know this list includes A LOT, but I’m not sure when/if we’ll make it back so I’d like to see as much as we can!
Days 1-4 Drive to Holbrook, AZ
– Petrified Forest
Day 5
Travel to S GC
Day 6
Explore S GC
Day 7
Travel to Page, AZ
Spend afternoon exploring
Day 8
Spend morning exploring
Travel N GC
Day 9
Explore N GC
Day 10
Travel to Zion
Explore in afternoon
Day 11
Zion
Day 12
Travel to Bryce
Explore
Day 13
Travel to Arches
Day 14 Travel to Rocky
Day 15
Rocky Mountain NP
Days 16-18
Travel back to MI
I’ve also considered staying in Kanab between Page, NGC, Zion and Bryce, but I don’t know whether I want to give up doing all the things at each of those that is suggested first thing in the morning. Just wondered what your thoughts may be. Thanks so much!
Hi Beth,
First off, it’s good that you’re planning your 2020 vacation well in advance. You’ll definitely be glad you did!
Second, as I’m sure you’re aware, pulling a trailer, you’ll have to be a bit more conscious than the average visitor of what constitutes realistic travel times. A drive that may take someone a couple of hours in a Ford Taurus is more likely to take you 3 hours. Also, be aware that many roads around here are two-laners, so be especially careful about passing and making U-turns, if you do it at all. You might indeed want to use Kanab, UT, as a “base camp” for exploring Zion and Bryce, especially Zion since the Mt. Carmel Tunnel requires buses, motorhomes, and larger vehicles to have an escort, which is a pain.
Having a tow vehicle that can be unhooked and hooked back up as needed is definitely advantageous over a large motorhome in some ways for sightseeing, but at the time of year you’re traveling, you’ll definitely want to stay in developed RV parks with electrical hook-ups. Our area is HOT at that time of year, so having access to air conditioning is a convenience you’ll be eternally grateful for!
The one area where I have a bit of a problem with your itinerary is when you get to Arches. The Moab, Utah area is absolutely stunning and requires at least 3-4 days to fully enjoy. To accomplish this, as much as I hate to say it, I’d suggest dropping the North Rim from your itinerary. Yes, it is beautiful, but the South Rim definitely has more to offer in the way of visitor facilities, and square mileage of the Grand Canyon that is driveable. However, there still may be a way for you to work it in. More on that in a minute… Also, I suggest reducing your time at Grand Canyon South Rim to just one night since you’ll do a good chunk of your Grand Canyon sightseeing on the drive to Page, AZ.
So a revised version of your itinerary would look something like this:
Days 1-4 Drive to Holbrook, AZ – Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, overnight in Holbrook, AZ, on Day 4
Day 5 – Travel to South GC (~3-4 hours from Holbrook), overnight at Grand Canyon (either Trailer Village inside the park or GC Camper Village in Tusayan)
Day 6 – Take morning helicopter flight over GC North Rim (see what I did there? LOL), then travel to Page, AZ (~4-5 hours factoring in stops), overnight in Page, AZ (Wahweap RV Park near Lake Powell or Page/Lake Powell Campground in Page [RV and Camping Options in Page])
Day 7 – Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, tour Antelope Canyon, 2nd night in Page, AZ
Day 8 – Drive to Kanab, UT (~2 hours from Page, AZ), park RV for 3 nights (Kanab, UT, RV parks)
Day 9 – Day trip to Zion NP. Drive to Springdale, UT (~1 hour away), catch Zion Canyon Park Shuttle, hike in main visitor area of park. Possible hikes include Canyon Overlook Trail, Emerald Pools Trail, Riverside Walk, Watchman Trail
Day 10 – Day trip to Bryce, drive Scenic Loop Drive or do some light hiking (Top Hikes in Bryce Canyon)
Day 11 – Drive from Kanab, UT, to Moab, UT (~7 hour drive), park RV for 3 nights (Moab, UT RV Parks)
Day 12 – Explore Arches NP 2nd night in Moab
Day 13 – Explore Canyonlands NP 3rd night in Moab
Day 14 – Drive to Rocky Mountain National Park (~7 hours), park RV in Estes Park, CO for 2 nights
Day 15 – Explore Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 16-18 – Head back to Michigan
Hope this helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
We are planning a trip from Denver to CO/UT/AZ area flying back from Phoenix to NJ. We want to venture out to places we have not been to and those we love to go back to (Bryce, Zion, GC both North & South rims, MV, CO Nat’l Mon). Here is my tentative itinerary, please give you feedback/suggestions. Thank you!
8/29: Denver to GC, drive through CO Nat’l Mon (don’t remember how long but it’s a very narrow and curly drive, you have to slow down) , then to Arches Nat’l Park (Stay at Moab)
8/30: Canyonland, Deadhorse Point, Cedar Mesa (maybe) (Stay at Monticello)
8/31: National Bridges Nat’l Mon, Valley of Gods, Mon Valley (Stay at Page?)
9/1: Upper Antelope and maybe Lower Antelope (Stay at Page)
9/2: Bryce & Zion (Stay at Kanab)
9/3: GC North & South Rim (Stay at GC Village)
9/4: South Rim to Phoenix, fly home late evening
Hi Maria,
Sorry, I can’t endorse this itinerary at all, for the following reasons.
1. It requires WAY too much driving. With all due respect, you need to look at a map and get a truer sense for the distances you’ll need to travel.
2. It doesn’t allow for hardly ANY downtime, which is what vacations are all about anyway, right?
3. In some areas, it’s a complete pipe dream (unrealistic).
4. You’re traveling over Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S., and if you haven’t made lodging reservations already, you’re going to have a hard time finding places to say in some areas.
For starters, traveling from Denver to Moab, UT is going to take 7 hours minimum, whether you go through Colorado National Monument or not. It’s a drive best broken up into two days, but seeing as though Phoenix is your final destination, I’d suggest starting to make your way South a lot sooner. As much as I hate to say it, this will mean skipping Arches/Canyonlands. Where should you go instead? Mesa Verde. It’s a wonderful park, featuring an unusually large number very well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cities, complimented by some beautiful natural scenery. Like the drive to Moab, UT, it’s 7 hours minimum if you were to try and drive out all the way from Denver, which I don’t recommend. I’d recommend instead breaking up the drive in Gunnison or Montrose, CO.
Monument Valley is going to be next to impossible to find lodging in, but you can still realistically see that area as a “drive by” between Mesa Verde and Page, AZ.
Unfortunately, I’m also going to recommend cutting out Bryce and Zion, too. If your final destination was Las Vegas, it would be easier to pull off, but since you’re ending your trip in Phoenix, these parks will be too far out of your way to give sufficient time to. Zion itself deserves at least 3-4 days. Instead, substitute Sedona. Here again, this is an absolutely stunning area with striking red rock formations, easy but scenic hiking, and some opportunities to swim if you want. Plus at just 2 hours from Phoenix, it makes for a good place to end your vacation in a more relaxed frame of mind. Grand Canyon North Rim also doesn’t make the cut as far as driving there, but there’s still a way you might be able to see it. More on that in a minute…
So, here’s a revised trip plan for you.
08/29 – Drive from Denver, CO, to Gunnison or Montrose, 4-5 hour drive depending on which place you choose to overnight, maybe swing through the Curecanti National Recreation Area along the way.
08/30 – Drive from Gunnison or Montrose to Mesa Verde National Park 4-5 hour drive depending on previous night’s lodging location, overnight in Mancos, Durango, or Cortez, CO.
08/31 – Drive to Page, AZ, via Monument Valley (~4.5 hours), overnight in Page, AZ.
09/01 – Tour Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, 2nd night in Page, AZ
09/02 – Drive from Page to Grand Canyon South Rim (~4 hours factoring in stops), visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, have lunch at Cameron Trading Post, overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim.
09/03 – First thing in the morning, take a helicopter flight over Grand Canyon North Rim, then drive to Sedona, ~3 hour drive
09/04 – Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour or hot air balloon ride, drive to Phoenix for flight home (~2 hour drive). You might go through Jerome, a really cool little artist’s colony, which will only add about 1 hour to your drive time.
I hope you will give this revised itinerary its due consideration. I think it would make for a much more relaxed pace, and a better quality vacation for you and your traveling party.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I just wanted to give you a huge thank you for the recommendations. We used your guide for our first anniversary trip June 20-29. It was amazing! We did a few things different and were able to add a day in Moab (Arches and Canyonland) then split Bryce with Capitol Reef in one day (which was not enough time for either really). Just for other readers a few things we did/ thoughts. In Monument Valley we stayed in a hogan at Firetree ($220 one night but room for 6). It was a neat experience but I wouldn’t do it again the View seemed like it would have been a better pick. The tour guides for Monument Valley are right at the reservation and we were able to have a private tour since it wasn’t really busy. Page was as amazing as everyone is saying! We stayed in Hanksville, Utah at Dukes Slickrock campground in the cabins. It was the cleanest and nicest place we stayed the entire trip. There is a nice little diner right there for breakfast. It probably would have been good for dinner if we had made it in time. The Narrows had just opened in Zion and were busy but 100% worth it and one of my favorite things. We stayed at Zion Ponderosa Resort in covered wagons which was so neat. They have a restaurant onsite that provides a buffet breakfast as part of your room fee. It is good stuff not just chain hotel level. We went to Red Rock which is right outside Las Vegas before returning our rental then spent the next two nights in Vegas. After a week in the parks Vegas seemed ultra commercial but we don’t regret it.
Thanks again for all your wonderful recommendations. It may the trip amazing!
Hi Erica!
Wow, thank you for taking the time to report back on your trip, and for sharing your vacation “finds” with us. We’re glad you had a good trip and anniversary, and hope you get the chance to return to the area in the future.
Have a wonderful summer,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Thank you so much for this awesome itinerary and guide! We are mapping out a trip for the beginning of August, as we cannot travel in the off-season, and your advice has been so helpful in our planning. I am hoping to get your input regarding our tentative plan, as we are two 22 year olds hoping to stick to a tight budget! If there is anything we could cut out without missing too much, that would be great to know. Here is what we are thinking:
Day 1: Arrive in Vegas at night (around 10:00-11:30pm) and stay overnight
Day 2: Spend the day in Vegas and stay overnight
Day 3: Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim, tour Grand Canyon, overnight in Tusayan
Day 4: Drive to Antelope Canyon, tour Antelope Canyon, lunch in marina, sunset at Horseshoe bend, overnight in Page
Day 5: Floating tour Glen Canyon, tour and lunch in Lake Powell, dinner in Page, night at Glen Canyon overlook, overnight in Page
Day 6: Drive to Bryce Canyon, Rainbow Point free tour, ATV tour, dinner and overnight in Bryce Canyon
Day 7: Drive to Springdale, tour Zion Park, dinner and overnight in Springdale
Day 8: Virgin River tubing, drive back to Vegas for nighttime flight home
We are estimating $1000 total for hotels based on some research, $200-400 for a car rental with gas, $80 for a national park pass, and some extra for tours based on your advice. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much.
Hi Lauren,
Your trip looks very well-planned, and really fun! The biggest obstacle I can see you running up against, however, is with a car rental. Many rental car outlets require that you be at least 25 to rent a vehicle. Those who do rent to individuals younger than 25 may tack a pretty hefty “young driver charge” onto their fees, so do check into that thoroughly before you commit.
A few other observations: August typically falls within what’s known as “monsoon season” in the American Southwest. Therefore, any tours you do in the Page, AZ, area should be scheduled for earlier morning hours. Afternoon tours are often cancelled due to heightened flash flood danger, excessive heat warnings, or both. It looks as though you have planned accordingly for that, so again, high five!
On Day 4 – plan on hitting Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise. Sunset at Horseshoe Bend is terribly crowded, and you may have troubles finding a place to park. In August, sunrise occurs at about 5:30 AM. I know that sounds awfully early, especially when you’re on vacation, but trust me, you’ll enjoy cooler temperatures and fewer people competing for that perfect photo op!
If you have the option to add another day onto the end of your trip, I’d recommend doing so. Otherwise, you may want to skip the Virgin River tubing on your 8th day. Activities like that, though not particularly dangerous (usually), tend to leave a person in a state we refer to as “sun drunk.” Afterwards, all you’ll probably be in the mood to do is relax with a cocktail and have an early night, not make a 3.5+ hour drive to the airport and a red-eye flight home! Whatever you decide, keep in mind that there will be construction taking place on I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that could delay your arrival into Las Vegas by 30-60 minutes.
Hope that helps. Please feel free to hit us up again if we can offer further suggestions!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much for the suggestions! We really appreciate it and we are looking forward to our first time in Arizona!
You’re welcome, Lauren! Let us know how you get on.
Have a wonderful visit,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
I am so glad that I found your plan and followed it last week to a perfect trip including food. I really appreciate your time and efforts 🙂
Sanzeeda
Hi Sanzeeda,
Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know how your trip went! We’re glad that our itinerary helped. If you ever have a chance to return to the area, check out our 14-day Grand Circle Tour itinerary for even suggestions on cool places to go and fun things to do.
Take care,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
I have an itinerary planned for September that I am now having ‘cold feet’ about! I have 6 nights arriving into Vegas at 10.30am Sunday and departing 9am Saturday current plan is…..
Sunday: arrive Vegas 10.30am and drive to Bryce. I have a cabin booked at Bryce Lodge…this is a long drive I know and hopefully we can get there before sunset….am I being too optimistic?
Monday: sunrise at Bryce then do a short hike maybe Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trails approx 3 hours for the hike. Then drive to Zion staying at Cable Mountain Lodge
Tuesday: planning on spending until 2pm in Zion NP. I know this is not enough! I am Interested in smaller trails and not Angels Landing or the Narrows as they would be too much for my son. 2pm leave for Page where I have 2 nights booked.
Wednesday: A slot tour, Horseshoe Bend and Glen Canyon Dam?
Thursday: Have the day to drive to South Rim accomodation booked at Kachina lodge
Friday: Sun rise at the rim and walk around then drive to Vegas via Hoover Dam…..not planning on doing a tour. Accommodation is booked near the airport as have a 9am flight
Saturday: 9am flight
Bryce is more important than Zion….Am I trying to do too much or is this doable? Any suggestions to tweak. Traveling with my husband and son who is 12.
Thanks so much
Cheers, Jenny
Hey Jenny,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, and well-planned. Most visitors doing a trip such as yours hit Zion first, since it’s closer to Las Vegas, then Bryce, then Page, AZ. Since you already have your lodging reservations made, though, I’d recommend keeping everything as is. Changing them at this point will be next to impossible.
Hopefully your flight to Las Vegas will arrive on time and you’ll experience minimal disruptions in picking up your rental car. Even if all goes according to plan, expect to take at least 60-90 minutes after landing to get underway from McCarran Airport. Then, you’re looking at ~5 hours’ drive from Las Vegas to Bryce. The reason for the longish estimate is because there is construction taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that is very likely to hold you up. The key is to make sure that you get to your final destination well before sunset. Driving at night in this part of the U.S. is strongly discouraged due to the lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the tendency of deer, elk, free range cattle and feral horses to congregate around them at night. Sunset at Bryce in September occurs at ~7:30 PM. Keep in mind that Nevada is on Pacific Time and Utah is on Mountain Time, which means that LAS is 1 hour behind Bryce. You’ll “lose” an hour traveling from one state to the other.
In Zion, if you don’t wish to take on anything as labor-intensive as Angel’s Landing, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of easy hikes you can enjoy. When you leave Utah, you’ll “gain” an hour traveling to Page, AZ, since Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
On Wednesday, plan on visiting Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise. The mid-day hours get very crowded, and hot. A sunrise visit offers the advantages of cooler temperatures and fewer people to contend with. Sunrise in Page, AZ, in September occurs at approximately 6:00 AM. Be sure to make your Antelope Canyon tour reservations ASAP if you haven’t done so already.
As for whether you’re trying to do too much, I don’t think so. But if some of the plans don’t materialize as you’ve made them, try not to fret too much about it. Oftentimes, the best memories of vacations are the moments that unfold unexpectedly. RE: Zion, you are correct in that more time there would be preferable. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be pining for a return trip after you get home!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley, thank you so much for your words of wisdom…you are amazing! Great to know it is better to head to Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise to avoid the crowds! All things considered it might be wise to head to Zion first and then head to Bryce on Monday…..It looks like there will be the same road works going to Zion…how long do you think it will take to get to Zion??? I have checked and luckily I am able to change my Zion Accom to the Sunday night and it looks like I can get a room no problem at Ruby’s and will look out for a cancellation at Bryce Lodge 🙏 I know the drive from Ruby’s into Bryce but is it advisable for to do this before sunrise? Thanks again 😊
Hi again, Jenny!
I’m pleasantly surprised to hear that you are able to change your reservations at Zion. If you end up doing that, expect the drive from Las Vegas to take 3-3.5 hours with the construction.
As for whether you make the trip into Bryce from Ruby’s before sunrise, I would at least wait until it is somewhat light out so you can see what’s on the road ahead of you. However, getting an early start on your sightseeing is always a good idea during peak travel season so you can avoid the crowds that descend on the parks during the mid-day/early afternoon hours!
One thing I didn’t mention in my previous reply was to purchase an America The Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass. For $80, this card grants you access to all the National Parks, Monuments, and Federal Fee Areas in the U.S. for 1 year’s time. It won’t work in areas like Native American Tribal Parks (Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon) or State Parks, but it will still pay for itself on the trip you’re planning to take. Just request it at the entrance station of the first National Park you visit.
Have a great trip!
Alley 🙂
Thanks again Alley for your help 😊 we will definitely get an America The Beautiful Pass! Luckily I have now found a cancellation at Bryce Canyon Lodge for the Monday night so that will make things a lot easier for sunrise and sunset there! Looking forward to our trip which has been so much easier to organise with all your information and tips!
Hi again Jenny,
Good job on scoring a cancellation at Bryce Canyon Lodge! Have a wonderful trip 🙂
Alley
Wow- so much great information!! I’ve been trying to map out the “perfect vacation” to see the Utah loop and have heard that the North Rim is a must see. I am now trying to see what I can do to make it all work. Here are the details- Leave the Black Hills area early on June 29…had planned a stop somewhere between there and Moab but have not reserved yet. We will have a pull camper and I realize we may be in for some long drives (pretty unavoidable). So I have two nights reserved in Moab (June 30 and July 1), then I had planned a night in Monument Valley, a night in Springdale, and then a night in Torrey before heading home (either straight through or staying in CO somewhere)… Could I just change the following: Monument Valley to somewhere near North Rim and add a night there? What do you suggest?? Thank you so much!!
Hi Krista (that’s my sister’s name!),
You are correct in that you’re looking at some long drives, and pulling a camper, you may be slightly restricted on what roads you use. Be sure to verify the feasibility of any routes you propose to travel before you setting out. Utah Scenic Byway 12 for example is an amazingly beautiful road, but some advise against traveling it with a camper in tow. Then again, others have done it and lived to tell the story, so do some research and decide for yourself.
You’re looking at a 12+ hour drive from the Black Hills of SD to Moab, UT. A good place to break up the drive would be Ft. Collins or Boulder, CO. On the drive back from Torrey, UT, you might stop over in Ouray or Montrose, CO.
RE: adding Grand Canyon North Rim to your itinerary, you are correct in that the most logical way to accomplish this would be to drop Monument Valley from your wish list. Unfortunately, it’s going to be darn near impossible to find lodging at the North Rim on this short of notice, so here’s what I’d recommend you do: cancel your reservations in Springdale, UT, and book 2-3 nights in Kanab, UT. Kanab is on the Western edge of Zion, so it only takes about 30 minutes one way to drive to Zion — assuming you can unhook your tow vehicle from your camper easily enough — then the following day, visit the North Rim as a day trip. It takes ~90 minutes, each way, to drive from Kanab, UT, to Grand Canyon North Rim. In late June, you have long daylengths working in your favor. Keep an eye on the clock and make sure you time your return trip so you are back to Kanab by sunset. In late June, sunrise in Kanab, UT, occurs at 6:15 AM, sunset shortly before 9:00 PM.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂