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 Alley,
These itineraries are awesome. My husband and I will be traveling with our 2 boys (ages 11 and 15) in September and we have 1 week (Sat – Sat), flying into Phoenix and returning through Phoenix. We were hoping to drive through Sedona on Day 1 (we arrive early morning), spend the night in either Sedona or Flagstaff, then hit the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley/Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend, and Zion for the rest of the week. Is this doable, or are we nuts? I realize we are at the mercy of whatever hotel accommodations are available at this point, but last minute is how we roll. 😉 We aren’t trying to cram too much in, but want to hit the best spots if we can! Thank you so much!
Hi Cassie,
You are correct in that availability — or lack thereof — of hotels in the area will be the primary determining factor as to whether your itinerary will work, and what order you will visit the various attractions on your wish list. Another consideration is whether you prefer to get the longer drives of the trip out of the way first, or if you’d rather save them for last.
With a week to work with, you should be able to hit most of the places you wish to see, but will probably need to trim back your expectations a bit. Also, when it comes to Sedona, you’re going to find that a quick overnight isn’t nearly long enough to do the place justice. You should try to free up at least another night, if not two. Believe me, lots of people stay out there for 4-5 days and still report feeling as though they’d only “scratched the surface!” So with all that in mind, here is what you could feasibly do:
Day 1 – Fly to Phoenix, drive to Sedona (~2.5 hours), overnight in Sedona
Day 2 – 2nd day in Sedona, possible activities: sunrise hot air balloon ride, Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, some easy but scenic hiking Things To Do In Sedona
Day 3 – Drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon (~3 hours), take shuttles around GC Village and to overlooks on the Hermit’s Rest/West Rim Drive, overnight at Grand Canyon
Day 4 – Drive from Grand Canyon to Page, AZ, stopping at Grand Canyon overlooks along East Rim/Desert View Drive, lunch at Cameron Trading Post, visit Horseshoe Bend (parking permitting); drive time ~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops, tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon, overnight in Page, AZ
Day 5 – Visit Horseshoe Bend that morning if you were unable to do so that afternoon. Options for this day: day trip to Monument Valley (2-hour drive each way), Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip, Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, drive to Kanab (~90 minutes) to spend the night.
Day 6 – Drive to Springdale, UT (~1 hour from Kanab), catch Zion Park Shuttle to explore the park (lots of good easy hikes in that area), spend 2nd night in Kanab, UT.
Day 7 – Drive back to Phoenix (~6 hours from Kanab), fly home
The reason I suggest doing a day trip to Monument Valley on Day 5 is because at this point, you’re highly unlikely to find rooms available there (there’s not much to work with there). If the prospect of doing all that driving doesn’t appeal, you might consider taking a scenic flight over it from the Page, AZ, Municipal Airport. Fixed wing airplanes depart daily (weather permitting) and mornings are typically the best time to fly for light and lack of wind. Monument Valley Air Tours
Zion is another area where you’ll probably come away feeling as though you didn’t have enough time. Frankly, Zion is more convenient to visit using Las Vegas as a staging city, so, push comes to shove, you might save this park for another time when you can give it the time it deserves, and visit Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, aka “Utah’s Mighty 5!”
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
This is so helpful! Thanks so much!!! My family (myself, my husband and 2 daughters, ages 11 & 12) are planning a trip for late March 2020. Anything you would add or do differently if traveling with kids? What about the Petrified Forest, any good way to add that in? Thank you, Thank you!
Hey Tracy, thank you for your compliments. Glad you like the itinerary!
Traveling with kids your daughters’ age, you should be able to do most activities suggested, but adjustments for weather are definitely warranted.
In Northern Arizona/Southern Utah, March falls into that transitional period between winter and spring, so, depending on the whims of Mother Nature, it could be snowing, especially at higher elevation parks such as the Grand Canyon (7,000′ ASL) or Bryce (8,000′ ASL). Best case scenario, it will be cold in the higher elevation areas, but pleasantly cool down lower, such as Page, AZ (4,500′ ASL) and Zion, which is at about the same elevation. Nevertheless, you’ll need to keep a close eye on the weather, and start monitoring it in the various locations you want to visit about 2 weeks before you get set to travel.
If you wish to add Petrified Forest/Painted Desert to your itinerary — and March is a great time to do it! — I would suggest flying into Phoenix instead of Las Vegas. That would situate you perfectly to add Sedona to your itinerary, which is amazing! A nice one-week itinerary using Phoenix as a staging city could go something like this:
Day 1 – Fly into Phoenix, drive to Sedona (~2 hour drive), overnight in Sedona
Day 2 – Do Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour (weather permitting), 2nd night in Sedona
Day 3 – Drive to Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park (~3 hour drive), also visit Meteor Crater if desired, overnight in Holbrook, AZ, or Winslow, AZ
Day 4 – Drive to Page, AZ (~4 hour drive), have lunch at Cameron Trading Post, visit Horseshoe Bend on way into town (parking permitting), overnight in Page, AZ
Day 5 – Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise if you couldn’t get there the day before; tour Antelope Canyon, perhaps take a short boat tour on Lake Powell, spend 2nd night in Page.
Day 6 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5 hour drive factoring in stops), overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 7 – Drive to Phoenix (~5 hour drive), fly home
Naturally, that itinerary can be flip-flopped depending on availability of Grand Canyon lodging and/or Antelope Canyon tours, of if you prefer to get the longer drives of the trip out of the way first. If you prefer to experience Bryce and Zion, you’d be better off flying into/out of Las Vegas. Dropping Monument Valley would be the best way to accommodate the Painted Desert if you went that route.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
We followed this itinerary almost to the letter in July, 2019.
It was perfect! We were grateful for every one of the suggestions made here.
Hey Timm,
Thank you so much for taking the time to report back on our itinerary! Glad it worked out well for you and your family. We hope you get a chance to come back to the area, and maybe try out our 14 Days In The Grand Circle trip plan.
Take care and have a wonderful rest of your summer, fall, and Holiday Season,
Alley 🙂
Hi, wow so much information that helps make sense into how to plan each day. We are planning on arriving I Vegas on October 8th and would like to travel starting in Zion from October 10th for 7 days. I saw your plan starts from GC, would that be preferable?
My very rough plan:
10/10 Vegas – Zion
10/11 Zion
10/12 Bryce
10/13 Bryce-Paige
10/14 lake powell
10/15 lower antelope and shoe bend driving to south rim GC (can we fit something in GC here?)
10/16 GC and drive back to Vegas with Hoover dam on the way. (Is it too much?).
Is mid October recommended? Less crowded? or is the weather too unexpected?
I am concerned that things are too tight. Should we try and fit in another day and where? Or else how would you plan out the days if we plan on leaving Vegas to NY in the night of October 17th? Are there specific activities that we should not plan on (like a boat tour in lake Powell) or will that still be happening at that time?
Hi Sharon,
Mid-October is a great time to be here, my favorite, in fact, so good decision there! Weather is usually pleasant and quite stable.. note, “usually.” It can actually vary widely from place to place, due to the difference in altitudes. Las Vegas, for example, is only 2000′ above sea level. Grand Canyon South Rim is ~7,000′, Page and Zion are between 4,500′-5,000′, and Bryce goes all the way up to 8,000.’ While snow is unlikely at that time of year, you might encounter an occasional rainstorm, and you’ll definitely want to pack at least a light jacket for cold nights. Of course, it’s too soon to tell how the weather will actually be right now, but start monitoring the weather about 2 weeks before you get set to travel. Check it in all places you plan to visit. That will give you the best idea of how to pack.
As for whether you start your trip in Grand Canyon or Zion will depend largely on lodging availability in either place. If availability in Zion (Springdale, UT, or Kanab, UT) is more conducive to beginning your trip there, then by all means, do so! And if you can free up an extra day, you won’t have any trouble finding things to see and do. I’d recommend giving it to Zion or the Grand Canyon if you’re able to swing it.
Since Springdale, UT, is the central departure point for the Zion Canyon Shuttle System, that is where you should try to obtain lodging for the Zion portion of your trip. If that area is booked up, then Kanab, UT, is your next best option. In fact, you could even use Kanab, UT, as a “base camp” from which to explore both Zion and Bryce. It takes ~1 hour to drive from Kanab to Springdale, then ~90 minutes to drive from Kanab to Bryce (figures are one-way). Devote at least 2 days to Zion, and 1 to Bryce.
The drive from Kanab, UT, to Page, AZ, takes ~1 hour. The two towns are on different time zones, so keep that in the back of your mind. Utah is 1 hour ahead of Arizona, so you’ll “gain” an hour traveling from Kanab to Page, or “lose” it if you were to travel from Arizona to Utah. On your Bryce-Page transition day, you could tour Antelope Canyon the afternoon of your arrival, save that 2nd full day for a water-based activity such as the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour or the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip, then hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise on the way down to the Grand Canyon. As for “fitting something at GC in” on the day you travel from Page to GC, the drive will naturally take you along the scenic East Rim/Desert View Drive of Grand Canyon National Park. There are over half-a-dozen named viewpoints of the Grand Canyon along this route, all with different perspectives and features to marvel at! Prior to arriving at the Grand Canyon, you’ll be on Navajo land, which also has many beautiful features that will no doubt pique your curiosity. The Cameron Trading Post makes a good breakfast/brunch stop. The Navajo tacos there are legendary!
Whatever you decide, a couple things to keep in mind:
1. There is a major construction project taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge. This will affect your drive time between Las Vegas and Zion, typically tacking on an extra 30-60 minutes.
2. Everything — lodging, tours, reservations at fancier restaurants, etc. — should be booked in advance. Do not leave anything to chance!
3. You should plan on buying 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. The only areas it won’t work are State Parks (such as Valley of Fire, a short but stunning detour you should try to make on the drive from Las Vegas to Zion!), and Native American Tribal Parks (Antelope Canyon is one of these), but it will still pay for itself on the trip you’re planning to take. Just pick it up at the first National Park you visit on your tour.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley
Thank you so much, we have not yet booked our tickets flying in to Vegas so things may still move around. We may loose a day on the parks route so will have to figure things around.
If we book our flight out of Vegas on a red eye to NYC (11:45 pm) do you think on the last day we can start in GC travel a bit there and on the way and take the drive back to Vegas straight to the airport? Will that be too risky if we need to be there by 9pm?
Thanks
Hey Sharon!
The drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Las Vegas typically takes ~5 hours with minimal stops, so with an early enough start out of GC, you should be able to make it back to Las Vegas by 9:00 PM without much difficulty. If you wish, you might take the opportunity to visit Seligman, AZ, a Route 66 mainstay, and Hoover Dam, along the way.
Have a wonderful time!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley
Thanks for your insight. It makes planning much easier 😃.
Hi Alley
Looking for some help in planning a trip from Las Vegas, touring most of the above places and then to depart from Phoenix. We arrive in Las Vegas on Friday Sep 20th at 12.45 PM. We leave from Phoenix on Saturday Sep 28th at 9.55 AM. We plan to rent a car in Vegas and drop it off in Phoenix. We would like to see Zion, Grand Canyon and Sedona. Rest everything is add on.
If we have time we do not mind staying on the evening of arrival on Friday in Vegas and start the trip in the morning on Saturday Sep 21 or we can start afternoon Sep 20th. We have not booked anything so far. I am hoping I can start booking them today once I get some in put from you.
Sep 20- ? Stay overnight in Vegas and leave on Sep 21st or Leave at 3 PM after getting the car towards Zion and stay in Zion?
Sep 21- Explore Zion – Stay overnight
Sep 22- Explore Zion and drive in the afternoon to Bryce, stay in Bryce. Or stay in Zion overnight?
Sep 23- Either drive to Bryce in the am or spend the day in Bryce [after having stayed the night before] and drive to Page in the evening, stay in Page?
Sep 24- Page and surrounding, stay in Page.
Sep 25- Drive to GC. Stay in GC.
Sep 26- Drive to Sedona, stay in Sedona.
Sep 27- Stay Sedona. Drive to Phoenix in the evening or early morning Sep 28 to catch the flight at 9.55?
Sep 28- Leave from Phoenix at 9.55 AM.
Thanks in advance.
Hi David,
So sorry for the delay in response to your inquiry.
Your plan looks pretty fun, whether or not it materializes the way you envision it will depend largely on availability of lodging – or lack thereof, maybe – in the various locations you wish to visit.
On your arrival day in Las Vegas, you might simply plan on spending the night there, especially if you’re traveling from the East Coast or overseas. You’re bound to be pretty whooped by the time you get to Vegas, and the logistics of collecting your luggage and sorting out your rental car is bound to take ~2 hours. You might feel a bit better making that drive when you’ve had a good night’s rest. The drive time from Las Vegas to Springdale, UT, where you have to go to catch the Zion Park Shuttle, normally takes ~3 hours, but these days, it’s taking 4-4.5 hours due to a long-term construction project taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge (another compelling reason not to make that drive during the afternoon rush hour!). Get as early a start as possible on the trip; sunrise occurs about 6:30 AM. If possible, try to book your lodging in Springdale, UT, for convenience. If nothing is available in that area, try Kanab, UT, on the Eastern border of the park. In fact, you can use that area as a “base camp” for exploring Bryce Canyon, too, if lodging in the immediate area is sold out. The drive from Kanab to Springdale is ~1 hour; Kanab to Bryce is ~90 minutes, then Kanab to Page, AZ, is ~1 hour.
The main thing you want to avoid once you get out of Las Vegas and into Southern Utah and Northern Arizona is driving at night. Roads in this part of the U.S. are very dimly lit, which is a deliberate move to preserve the natural quality of the night sky. Another possible hazard is deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses have a tendency to come out at night and graze on the shoulder, which ratchets up the chance of your having an accident. That can definitely put a damper on your vacation in an area where cell service is spotty (or non-existent) and a tow truck will be a long time coming, not to mention very expensive. So where you say “drive to Page, AZ, in the evening,” I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You want to be sure you’re at your final destination for each day, well before sunset, which in Page, AZ, occurs at ~6:15 PM; in Utah, that’s 7:15 PM since they are 1 hour ahead of Arizona.
In Page, AZ, Antelope Canyon tours are one of the most popular activities. Be sure you make reservations for these ASAP, along with all lodging on the various legs of your trip. Plan on hitting Horseshoe Bend on your way out of town just after sunrise. That’s the best time to be there for cooler temperatures and thinner crowds!
A word of warning about Sedona: it’s amazing. OK, that’s not really a “warning,” but a word of caution: one night’s stay will leave you wishing you had more time. People spend 4-5 days there and report feeling as though they’d only “scratched the surface,” so don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning a return trip, which isn’t such a bad thing 😉
Since your flight is at 10:00 AM, and you’ll probably need to check in at least 1 hour prior to departure, I’d recommend spending the night prior in Phoenix. The drive from Sedona, AZ, only takes ~2 hours, but then you hit Phoenix at rush hour, which may delay you at the worst possible time.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I have revised my trip based on some of the suggestions. Please advise if this will work.
[Fri] Sep 20: Arrive at Las Vegas at 1 PM. Collect rental car by 3 PM. If time permits drive to Hoover dam and then stay in Vegas or just simply stay in Vegas for the night based on when I get the rental car.
[Sat] Sep 21: Drive to Springdale UT. Start around 7 and reach Springdale by 12 PM [TIme change]. Perhaps try the Narrows in the afternoon. Rest in the evening in Springdale.
[Sun] Sep 22: “Angel Landing”, start at 6ish. Hopefully return by 1 PM. Then drive to Bryce. Drive time 3 hours. Arrive between 4-5 PM. Stay in Bryce.
[Mon] Sep 23: Morning sunrise and spend time in Bryce, then drive to Page at around 2-3 PM. Stay in Page. Drive time 4 Hours.
[Tue] Sep 24: Drive to Monument valley, return and stay in Page. [No hotels in MV]. 3 Hours each way.
[Wed] Sep 25: Leave page at 7 AM to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon. Then drive to Grand Canyon. Stay in Tusayan. Drive time 3 Hrs.
[Thu] Sep 26: Explore Grand Canyon. Then drive to Sedona for the night. Drive time 3 Hrs.
[Fri] Sep 27: Explore Sedona – and leave to Phoenix at 5-6 PM. Stay in Phoenix. Drive time 2-3 hours.
[Sat] Sep 28: Return rental and arrive at airport at 8 AM, flight leaves at 9.55AM.
Hi again, David,
That looks like a great trip, and it’s good that you’re “overestimating” drive times. Just about every mile of blacktop out here is very scenic, and you rarely get from point A to point B without stopping to take a picture!
The Narrows in Zion might be a little too ambitious by the time you arrive in Zion. If for some reason water flows are over 150 CFS, Park Service will close the area off, but there is no shortage of beautiful and relatively easy hikes you can do in Zion. Ditto if you determine that Angel’s Landing is too much, or the heights get to you.
Not surprised to find that there are no rooms available in Monument Valley. You might check back for cancellations periodically, or, if the prospect of driving 5-6 hours in one day doesn’t appeal as time gets closer, another option you might consider is to fly over it. Fixed wing airplanes depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily. Overflights of Monument Valley typically last ~90 minutes, or you can choose a 1/2-day air/ground tour. Mornings are generally the best time to fly for best light and lack of wind. For more information, visit Westwind Air Service Page, AZ.
One thing I just wanted to clarify when you say “drive to Antelope Canyon,” Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo Indian Tribal Lands and therefore requires a tour to visit, which must be reserved in advance. How to book a tour for Antelope Canyon
Have fun!
Alley 🙂
Alley
Truly appreciate your time. Will look up the links you provided.
Hi Alley! Loved your website. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed itinerary.. It has been very helpful.
We are a group of 3 adults travelling this Sept. We land in Vegas on 21st morning, rent a car and head to GC south rim.
Below is the brief outline itinerary. Not sure if its doable. Please could you have a look and let me know.
Its our 1st time in the US and I really wanted to spend sometime in the Canyons, but never have enough time to do everything!!!
Day 1 – hoover dam & GC south rim, stay the night there
Day 2 – monument valley, antelope Canyon & horseshoe bend, stay the night at Page
Day 3 – glen Canyon – rafting & late evening Bryce Canyon, Stay the night at Bryce
Day 4 – bryce Canyon – ATV ride, explore some sites on our way back to Vegas. Reach Vegas by late evening.
Day 5 & 6 – 2 days and 1 night in Vegas, fly out to San jose on 26th night.
Unfortunately, our flights into and out of Vegas are booked so don’t t want to change that.
Will appreciate it if you could let me know your thoughts.
Many thanks.
Anvi
Hi Anvi, thank you for visiting us!
Your itinerary looks OK, still warrants a couple small reality checks and one big one. More on the latter in a minute.
On Day 2, you are looking at a long drive: ~4-5 hours from Grand Canyon South Rim to Monument Valley, factoring in stops, and another 2 hours to Page, AZ. If you have your heart set on touring Antelope Canyon that afternoon, you’ll need to either a. get a very early start out of the Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, or b. drop Monument Valley from the itinerary. Not that it isn’t lovely – believe me, it is! It’s just a long way to get there and you have limited time as it is. Another thing you’re up against at the time of year you’re visiting is daylength that is rapidly shortening. Sunrise occurs at ~6:15 AM, sunset at around 6:30 PM. You want to avoid doing any driving in the dark in this part of the U.S. due to the lack of artificial lighting on local roads, and the possibility of encountering large animals such as deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses. That can be quite a disconcerting experience in an area where cell service is spotty and a tow truck might be long in coming, not to mention very expensive!
If you prefer not to drop Monument Valley, you might be better off doing all your Page, AZ, activities on Day 3 as follows:
– Just after sunrise: visit Horseshoe Bend
– Sometime that morning: tour Antelope Canyon
– 12:00 PM – Check in for the 1:00 PM Glen Canyon Float Trip
– Spend a 2nd night in Page, AZ
On Day 4, drive to Bryce, explore and stay the night in that area (if nothing is available, check out Kanab, UT)
Day 5, head back to Las Vegas via Zion National Park. This is where the “big” reality check comes in: you haven’t built any time at all in your itinerary for Zion, which is a real shame. It’s a beautiful park with a lot to see and do. It really deserves at least 3-4 days time to do it justice, but unfortunately, you don’t have that kind of time. 1 night, maybe 2 would be all you could squeeze in, and here again, this could be accomplished by dropping Monument Valley. However, there still might be a way you can work it in… more on that in a minute 😉
A revised itinerary, without changing your flights, would be as follows:
Day 1 – Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon South Rim, overnight at the South Rim
Day 2 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, visit Horseshoe Bend (parking permitting), tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon
Day 3 – Hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise if you couldn’t manage it the day prior, take 90-minute scenic flight over Rainbow Bridge and Monument Valley first thing in the AM, do Glen Canyon Rafting Trip in afternoon, drive to Kanab, UT, to spend the night
Day 4 – Drive to Bryce, explore that area, then drive back to Kanab, UT for a second night
Day 5 – Drive to Springdale, UT, get on shuttle to explore Zion National Park, spend the night in Springdale
Day 6 – Drive back to Las Vegas, fly home
Whatever you decide, be sure to get your lodging and guided tours reserved ASAP. Good luck, I know it’s a hard choice.
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, thank you for for taking the time and writing back to me.
The revised itinerary looks perfect.. Except that I don’t think we can manage to do Zion. We have booked the show ‘o’ for 25th evening and want to spend sometime in Vegas as well.
And since Zion anyways needs 3-4days, to do it justice, I’ll leave it for the next time.. Till then we’ll make do with the national parks back home in Kenya 😉
I was actually thinking about dropping Monument Valley after looking at the maps.. Great idea of taking the flight. Will check if its available.
Many thanks again!
Cheers.
Anvi
Hey again, Anvi!
If you have “O” tickets for the 25th, I agree that a “drive-by” of Zion isn’t such a good idea. It sounds like you’re well aware of the fact that your time is limited and there’s no avoiding leaving something out. Hope you get a chance to return to the area and maybe do the “Mighty 5” of Utah: Zion (3-4 days), Bryce (1-2), Capitol Reef (1-2), Arches & Canyonlands (4-5 days).
As for the National Parks of Kenya, that sounds amazing, I may hit you up for advice if I am ever lucky enough to make it out that way! 😉
Take care and have a wonderful trip,
Alley 🙂
Hi, Alley! Your website has been so helpful in trying to plan our trip. Thank you for taking the time to answer so many questions. I would like to get any advice or suggestions on our itinerary. We leave in two weeks. I am really excited and hoping we have jammed packed our trip with too much to do. There is just so much to see and explore. I wish we had a month to visit!
August 15th – Flying into Salt Lake City (evening)
August 16th – Exploring Salt Lake City (My son lives here so he has several places he wants us to visit. We will be making trips in the future to visit him to see more.)
August 17th – Leave for Bryce. Explore Bryce. Spend the evening near Bryce (still haven’t found a place so we may have to go on to Springdale)
August 18th – Leave for Zion. Explore Zion. We will be glamping at Zion Ponderosa Ranch.
August 19th – Leave for Page, AZ. Spend the day in Page. Explore Horseshoe Bend. Afternoon tour of Lower Antelope Canyon. Staying in Page
August 20th – Travel to Grand Canyon South Rim. Explore Canyon and Staying in Williams.
August 21st – Travel to Las Vegas. Stop at Hoover Dam.
August 22nd – Spend the day in Las Vegas. Show that evening.
August 23rd – Afternoon Flight home.
Hey Julie!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun.
Not surprised that the Bryce area is full. I did a cursory check of hotels in that area myself for that date and came up with the same result. Keep checking back as cancellations do happen, but instead of schlepping all the way to Springdale that afternoon, you might see if you can get another night at Zion Ponderosa. That frees up another hour for sightseeing at Bryce, which you’ll probably appreciate after a 4+ hour drive from Salt Lake. You would end up having to go to Springdale the next morning to get on the Zion Park shuttle, though, so it’s 6 of one/half a dozen of another, but I would at least book something somewhere as a back-up plan so you’re not left hanging.
Hopefully you already have reservations in place for an Antelope Canyon tour. If not, book a tour ASAP.
I would recommend hitting Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise on your way out of town en route to Grand Canyon South Rim. That way, you can take advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer people to contend with. If you try to visit the afternoon of your arrival, you’ll be jockeying for a parking space with hundreds of other people with the same idea as you. Not fun, IMO.
A couple of other things: be sure to pick up 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. The only areas it won’t work are State Parks and Native American Tribal Parks; Antelope Canyon falls in the latter category. Still, the card will pay for itself on the trip you’re proposing to take, plus it’d good for 1 year, so if/when you come back to SLC in the next few months, you can use it to hit Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and maybe Yellowstone and Grand Tetons as well.
Another thing: keep an eye on the time, and be sure that you’re at each day’s final destination by nightfall. You want to avoid driving at night in this part of the U.S. due to the lack of ambient lighting on local roads (a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night skies), and the strong possibility of deer, elk, and other large wildlife to be about. You don’t want to have a collision with one in an area where cell phone service is spotty and a tow truck may be a long time coming, not to mention really expensive. Sunrise in Utah takes place at ~6:45 AM; sunset occurs at around 8:30 AM. At the Grand Canyon and Page, AZ, the sun comes up at ~5:45 AM and goes down at about 7:15 PM.
Another thing (last one, I promise! LOL): time zones — they’re wonky. Nevada is on Pacific DAYLIGHT Time. Utah is on Mountain DAYLIGHT Time. Arizona, however, is on Mountain STANDARD Time (except for the Navajo reservation, which you don’t have to sweat too hard this time around). Therefore, you’ll “gain” an hour traveling from Utah to Arizona, “lose” it for a short time traveling between Page and Grand Canyon South Rim (Navajo reservation), “regain” it as you enter Grand Canyon National Park, then remain on the same time as you wrap up your trip in Las Vegas.
Hope that all helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley,
I just wanted to thank you for your advice on our itinerary. We had an awesome trip and I have to say your site helped very much in the planning process! The National Park pass was a great recommendation. We hope to go back within the year and maybe hit another couple of parks so we will be able to use it then as well. Also, I thought I would let you know that we did find a very nice Bed & Breakfast near Bryce. I highly recommend The Panguitch House. Our rooms were very private, clean and nicely decorated. Owner was very nice and served a great breakfast. Thanks again for all your insight to visiting this area. We hope to go back again in the future as there is so much more to visit and explore!
Hey Julie,
What a pleasant surprise to hear from you! Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know how your trip went, and for the recommendation for the Panguitch House. That property will certainly be “on our radar” from here on out. If you have time, you might post reviews of the property on TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google, TrustPilot, or whatever consumer review site you prefer. Hoteliers are always grateful to hear what they got right, and about areas where they might improve.
Hope you get a chance to come back soon. Have a good rest of your summer, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Take care,
Alley 🙂
Hi I wish I had come across your website sooner before I started planning and booking for my trip in September. I would like to share with you a basic outline of my schedule.
Sept 12th. Land in Vegas. Visit seven magic mountains and visit the strip
Sept13th-17th. Stay in Washington Utah. On the way stop at Death Valley state park. Plan to visit Bryce Canyon and Zion national, sand hollow state park as well as yant flat and snow canyon.
17th-18th drive to orderville. Do rock climbing in a slot canyon and visit pink coral sands
18th-20th. Page Arizona.. paddle lake Powell, horseshoe bend and upper antelope. Also possibly thinking of going to the arches national park.
20-21at Las Vegas and fly out.
Does this seem reasonable?
Thank you
Hi Elizabeth,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I can’t fully endorse this itinerary. It seems as though you haven’t looked at a map and familiarized yourself with where things are, not to mention the realistic driving distances between places.
On your arrival day, for example, you indicate you want to try and hit the Seven Magic Mountains art installation, but depending on when your flight arrives, and how long you have to wait to collect your rental car and check into your hotel, you might be too exhausted to even think about doing this by the time you’ve gotten your “Vegas legs.” If you are wanting to see this attraction, as well as visit Death Valley, I would recommend booking an extra night in Las Vegas in order to accomplish this. 7 Magic Mountains can be visited as a short “detour” en route to Death Valley.
I am not certain if you are committed to staying Washington, UT, on the next leg of your trip, but if you aren’t, I would recommend cancelling the last two nights at those accommodations and moving to either Springdale, UT, or Kanab, UT. Washington is an OK place to use as a base from which to explore Sand Hollow, Yant Flat, and Snow Canyon, but it’s a bit far afield for Zion and Bryce if you’re doing day trips to those locations. The main concern is re: nighttime driving. You want to avoid it in this part of the U.S. due to the lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the possibility of encountering deer, elk, and other wildlife. A collision with a large animal in an area where cell service is spotty and help will be a long time coming (and very expensive) is a sure way to ruin a vacation. If you wish, you could extend your stay in Kanab or Springdale to encompass slot canyon exploration and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
RE: Arches National Park, take it off the list. Again, it’s too far removed from the main points on your itinerary (~6 hours from Page), plus it’s an area that needs at least 3-4 days to fully enjoy and explore. Save it for another trip when you can give it the time it deserves.
So, all that said, a revised itinerary would look something like this:
09/12 – Arrive in Las Vegas, overnight in Las Vegas
09/13 – Day trip to 7 Magic Mountains, Death Valley National Monument, 2nd night in Las Vegas
09/14 – Drive to Washington, UT (~3 hour drive taking into account construction taking place on I-5 through the Virgin River Gorge), visit Sand Hollow State Park, overnight in Washington
09/15 – Explore Yant Flat and Snow Canyon, 2nd night in Washington
09/16 – Drive to Springdale, UT (~1 hour from Washington) or Kanab, UT (~2 hours from Washington), get on Zion Canyon park shuttle to explore park, overnight in Springdale or Kanab
09/17 – Day trip to Bryce, overnight in Springdale or Kanab
09/18 – Day trip to local slot canyon and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, overnight in Springdale or Kanab
09/19 – Drive to Page, AZ (~2.5 hours from Springdale, 90 minutes from Kanab), do Antelope Canyon hiking tour and Lake Powell kayak tour, overnight in Page, AZ
09/20 – Visit Horseshoe Bend, drive back to Las Vegas, overnight in Las Veags
09/21 – Fly home
Another couple of things to keep in mind: time zones. Las Vegas is on Pacific Daylight Time, and Utah is on Mountain Daylight Time, BUT – Arizona is on Mountain STANDARD Time. This means that you’ll “lose” an hour traveling from Las Vegas to Utah, “gain” the hour back traveling from Utah to Arizona, then stay on the same time as you drive from Arizona back to Las Vegas.
Hope that makes more sense. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
We just did this itinerary in June. We flew into Vegas on Wednesday June 19th, then headed for the Grand Canyon the next morning. We finished up the following Thursday and flew home to Maryland. It was, in a word, fantastic. One of our best ever vacations. The only thing I would do differently is that I would’ve added a 2nd night at the Grand Canyon. By the time we stopped at Hoover Dam, we didn’t get there until 6pm on Thursday the 20th, and we have to be on our way to Monument Valley by 10am the following day. That said, now we just have an excuse to go back to the Grand Canyon in the not too distant future so we can spend more time checking it out. Anyway, thanks for posting, this was fantastic.
Hey Bill,
Thank you for reporting back on our itinerary! Hope you get a chance to return to our area sooner rather than later 😉
Take care and have a wonderful summer,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!! Your posts are AMAZING. I am so overwhelmed and was really hoping I could get your help and advice. My mom and I are planning a last minute trip to Vegas and are wanting to see the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and antelope canyon. We arrive on Monday 8/5, have an antelope canyon tour on 8/7 at 11:30 AM, and leave from Vegas on either 8/10 or 8/11. We really want to see all of the parks and also potentially the SkyWalk at the Grand Canyon. I just don’t know how to plan our trip efficiently with our antelope canyon tour on 8/7. Do you have any recommendations on an itinerary with our dates and wanting to get a taste of each place? Thank you SOOO much for being so helpful to all of us and allowing us to better see the beauty of the west!!
Hi Tara and thank you for your compliments!
At the time of year you’re visiting, I’d recommend skipping the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty cool attraction, and there are other things you can do there that you can’t do anywhere else, but during the summer months, GC West is GHASTLY hot, as in 120 degrees in the shade hot. The South Rim, what with being 7,000′ above sea level, will be cooler, plus offer the iconic “picture postcard” views you’re expecting to see.
That said, the order in which you visit the different parks on your wish list will depend now on availability of lodging at Grand Canyon South Rim. Since you’ve already got your Antelope Canyon tour booked (at prime time, too — SWEET!), here’s what I’d recommend:
08/05 – Arrive in Las Vegas, overnight in Las Vegas
08/06 – Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim with stop at Hoover Dam if desired. Approximate drive time, ~4.5-6 hours (latter with frequent stops), overnight at the Grand Canyon
08/07 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, ~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops at Grand Canyon viewpoints, the Cameron Trading Post and other points of interest along this very scenic drive, tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon, overnight in Page, AZ
08/08 – Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, head to Bryce Canyon (~3 hour drive), overnight in Bryce Canyon
08/09 – Drive to Springdale, UT (~90 minutes from Bryce), take Zion Canyon Shuttle into park, overnight in Springdale, UT
08/10 – 2nd day in Zion, all kinds of easy scenic hikes to do, or hike Angel’s Landing if you prefer a challenge! 2nd night in Zion
08/11 – Drive from Springdale, UT, back to Las Vegas — this drive could take anywhere from 3.5-4.5 hours because of construction taking place in the Virgin River Gorge — fly home
Now, if you find that lodging at the Grand Canyon is not available on 08/06 but you can find availability on 08/09 or 08/10, you can flip flop this itinerary easily enough, but you’d end up sacrificing a day in Zion. Zion really deserves at least 2 days to explore and enjoy.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂