Visit Grand Canyon NP, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP & Las Vegas.
Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park and then beyond to visit magical Monument Valley and Utah’s epic Mighty 5 National Parks. You’ll explore some of America’s most staggering desert scenery on this two-week road trip adventure. Start by watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon and finish the road trip watching the sunset over the Vegas Strip, as the lights turn on to reveal the real Las Vegas!
Key road trip highlights:
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We’ll suggest properties to match your preferred budget, be it low-cost, mid-range or high-end luxury that you’re looking for. We can also mix it up so you’ll experience a range of standards and experiences along your road trip.
All of our American road trips can be tailored to meet your requirements. Do you have more or less than 14 days for your road trip? No problem, we can bolt on extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
Collect your car and head out of Las Vegas on the 30-minute drive to Boulder City and the Hoover Dam. Don’t worry; you’ll be back in Vegas before too long once your body clock has adjusted to local time. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the incredible nightlife that Vegas is famous for while enjoying epic sunrises with ease at the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley during the first few days of the road trip.
The world’s largest canyon is an awe-inspiring natural wonder that is hard to get your head around when you first arrive. Two billion years in the making, the Colorado River has forged a mile deep, 18 mile wide and 277 mile long gauge into Arizona. The South Rim is the most popular area to visit, as it’s open year-round due to its lower elevation. If you’re visiting in the summer months however, then we recommend the quieter North Rim over the busier South Rim area.
Arizona is blessed with many natural wonders, and the area around Page has more than a few. Lake Powell, for instance, is an 186-mile stretch of water encircling beautiful rock formations, sandstone cliffs and even beaches. Lake Powell differs from the area’s other wonders in that it’s man-made; consider taking a boat trip or renting a kayak to explore the waterways. After dinner, head over to arguably America’s best free attraction – a sunset at Horseshoe Bend (pictured) is an incredible experience you’ll never forget.
Just east of Page on Native American land lies Antelope Canyon. It’s the most-visited slot canyon in the American Southwest. Antelope Canyon includes two separate slot canyon sections: Upper Antelope Canyon, or The Crack and Lower Antelope Canyon, or The Corkscrew. Make sure your camera or phone has plenty of room for photos – this is one of the most photographed places in the Southwest.
Today, you’ll cross the Arizona & Utah state line, passing through the magnificent Monument Valley along the way. Stay the night in a cabin overlooking the majestic 3 Mittens, made famous in many a Cowboy film, rising early to watch the sunrise from behind them.
Enter Utah, and drive north to outdoorsy Moab. The main highlight here is the famous Arches National Park, with its iconic red-rock landscape. The Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. Arches really is a wonderland of geological proportions not found anywhere else in the world.
Enjoy another day in Moab. You may prefer to relax today, or perhaps you’ll want to take in another breathtaking National Park. If the latter, then Canyonlands is Utah’s biggest park and is crammed with a colourful terrain eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado and the Green Rivers. Nearby Dead Horse Point is a State Park made famous for being the filming location of the iconic final scene in the Oscar-winning film Thelma and Louise.
Utah is home to five, yes five, of America’s very best National Parks. Known worldwide as the Mighty Five, which will be your favourite, I wonder? After a short 2.5-hour scenic drive, you’ll spend the afternoon exploring the quietest of the Mighty Five – Capital Reef National Park.
Take the short drive west to Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its unique geology consisting of horseshoe-shaped amphitheatres carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The erosional force of frost-wedging and the dissolving power of rainwater have shaped the colourful limestone rock into bizarre shapes, including slot canyons, windows, fins, and spires called “hoodoos”.
Another short drive today, over to the fifth of Utah’s Mighty 5, Zion National Park. Arguably the best of the lot, Zion National Park is stunningly beautiful. Emerald-coloured pools, lush green trees, and rust-red canyon walls are all on show in this picturesque valley. This combination of colours is a visual delight, and the Park’s trails offer the chance to explore nature at its best.
A second full day to wander along the trails and take in the geological wonders of Zion National Park. The brave and athletic among you may wish to tackle the epic Angel’s Landing trail, culminating at a lofty perch boasting magnificent 360-degree views over the valley below. Alternatively, walk the famous ‘Narrows’, often knee-deep in water. Tonight, enjoy a meal at Zion Lodge or in the neighbouring town of Springdale, which has plenty of local options to choose from.
Today, you’ll leave the National Parks of Utah and Arizona and head back to the bright lights of Las Vegas. However, your personalised Road Trip Pack will advise you to take in one last area of outstanding beauty en route. Valley of Fire State Park offers a super scenic loop drive off the I-15 interstate, so if you can cope with yet more beautiful landscapes, then this is well worth the detour on your way to Las Vegas. Try to arrive in Vegas after the sun has set and the lights of the world-famous Strip are turned on. This will be a break-taking moment after the numerous dark-sky places you’ve visited during the last eleven nights.
It’s glitzy, tacky and wrong on so many levels… but we love it! Firstly, it’s unique, and secondly, it’s indulgence at its very finest. First-class hotels, classy and generous restaurants and show-stopping entertainment are all located in the middle of a desert landscape, miles from anywhere. Oh, and if you like a gamble, then Las Vegas is the place to be. Finally, if Las Vegas doesn’t appeal, then we can shorten your stay here or have you start and finish in Scottsdale, Phoenix instead.
If your head hurts from the night before, then simply relax by one of the giant pools that adorn every hotel. If not, walk the legendary Strip, book tickets to one of the world-class shows or shop till you drop – the choice is yours. As for food, we recommend visiting one of the mega buffets available. Make sure you are hungry when you go; you won’t need to eat again for a week! The following day, you’ll fly home; we usually try to book a late flight back to give you more time to explore or relax.
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You’ll find answers to most of your questions right here. If you still need assistance, Feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be sure to get back to you promptly!
Not a problem. If you are lucky enough to have extra time to explore more places or add more rest days, then just let us know and we’ll adjust your trip to match your preferred timescale.
We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.
Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is not a problem. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.
No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.
The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.
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Not quite what you’re looking for? Get in touch to discuss your Bespoke Road Trip plans, or check out these similar road trip itineraries…
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