The Perfect Utah National Parks Road Trip
A Utah road trip to visit the national parks is one of the best road trips in the U.S. If you’re planning your first Utah road trip, this itinerary will help you space out your trip and ensure you see all the top attractions.
Utah has five national parks—all in southern Utah—affectionately referred to as the Mighty 5. The parks from west to east are Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park.
While the parks all share similar characteristics, like the stunning orange rocks, each one is unique! We were surprised at how different the national parks were from each other.
This Utah national parks road trip itinerary has about 2-3 hours of driving each day since the parks are far apart, aside from Arches and Canyonlands. While you can see them all in seven days, I recommend budgeting at least 10 days for your Utah road trip to avoid burning yourself out.
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How To Plan A Utah Road Trip
The national parks are large and can be overwhelming! If you’re planning to see all Mighty 5 Utah National Parks in one Utah road trip, you will have limited time in each park.
Prioritize what your must-see and must-do things are in the parks to ensure you can hit them all! Limited time means being strategic about the activities you do and don’t do.
To plan a road trip, I start by creating a saved list on Google Maps and adding all the accommodations, parks, trailheads, restaurants, etc. into that list. This way when you open Google Maps, you can see each pin from that list on the map!
Google Maps
Two of my favorite features in Google Maps are the ability to download maps offline and save places into folders.
Offline maps: To ensure you have access to directions throughout your Utah road trip, download a map of the entire area you will be traveling through. You won’t be able to see things like reviews or information that requires internet access, but you will be able to search and get turn-by-turn directions even without service.
Saved folders: Create a saved folder—or multiple saved folders—to add all your accommodations, activities, sights, gas stations, and restaurants that are along your route. This way when you open Google Maps, you can see the pins for all your saved places!
In my experience, Google Maps is far superior to Apple Maps, especially for road trips and areas that are a bit more off the beaten path.
Road Trippers
We mapped out our entire trip using Road Trippers. It’s an online subscription that allows you to create your own road trip itineraries, add stops, look at other traveler reviews, and see the total distance and estimated gas usage based on your exact vehicle.
If you don’t want to create your own itinerary, you can find Utah road trip itineraries created and posted by other travelers! There are tons on there for all over the United States too.
There are different levels of memberships on Road Trippers, and they changed them in 2023 and increased prices. The Pro Membership (mid-tier) allows you to pin 50 stops, export your trip, and create 5 road trips at a time. This is the subscription I would recommend for your Utah road trip.
If you want all the features and unlimited pins, then the Premium Membership is the one for you. The Basic Membership allows you to pin 20 stops, but that isn’t quite enough if you want to save all the sights/activities along this route.
You can get $5 off your yearly membership with the code BTR5QTP.
It’s helpful when you have a big road trip and want to save the full itinerary to access later. Road Trippers has a handy app to use while you’re on the go.
Tips For a Utah National Parks Road Trip
Get The National Parks Pass
The America the Beautiful pass gives you access to all U.S. National Parks for one year from the purchase date. Most national parks cost $30 per car to enter, so if you’re planning to visit three or more, the pass will save you money!
Since this Utah road trip itinerary includes five national parks, the pass is perfect for it and will make your trip smoother (and cheaper). You can get the pass online or at select stores — I get mine from REI. Just be sure not to buy the pass too early, as it gets hole-punched for the month you purchase it.
Book Accommodations in Advance
The Utah national parks road trip route is a popular one and hotels can get booked up months in advance. I recommend booking all your accommodations as soon as you have your itinerary set to ensure you get your first choices.
I’ve included my recommended accommodations for each stop with options for every budget. If you prefer to book your own, I like to book through Booking.com or Expedia. Some places are listed on both, so you can compare and see which site has the best price.
Rent a 4WD/AWD Car or Van
While not required, you will have a much easier time on this Utah road trip if you drive a 4WD or AWD with high clearance. This will allow you to drive on the unpaved dirt roads in some of the parks and at the glamping spot in Moab (more on that later in this post!).
Pack Non-Perishable Food
Load up on protein bars, snacks, and other food that will stay good throughout your Utah road trip. There are long stretches of road where there aren’t any places to get food or drinks, so having bars and snacks really saved us!
We brought a giant cooler with perishable food and ice, which we had to replenish daily. It was a pain, the ice melting caused all the packaging of the food to get soggy, and it became gross. It wasn’t worth it!
I do recommend bringing a small travel cooler where you can store drinks or a few snacks that do need to stay cold. It’s just not ideal to use a cooler for food you want to keep cold for days throughout the Utah road trip.
Get Out Early to Avoid Crowds
Starting your day before sunrise is the best way to enjoy the parks! The weather will be cooler, the light will be beautiful, and far fewer people will be up and about.
We found it easy to get up early because we were exhausted by 7 or 8pm every night after a day of driving and exploring national parks. Get those full eight hours of sleep in if you can!
Follow Guidelines For Pets
If you are planning to bring your pet(s) on a Utah road trip, follow all rules and guidelines, as they are put in place to protect the parks and visitors. Each park has its own rules and restrictions for pets (specifically dogs) and where they are allowed to be.
For the majority of the Utah National Parks, pets are allowed on some developed trails and in certain campsites but are restricted from other areas. You cannot leave pets in your car while you hike and cannot leave your car/van idling or use the generator while in parking lots. If you want to hike unpaved trails or visit areas where pets are now allowed, leave them at home for this Utah road trip.
However, Service Dogs who perform specific tasks for someone with a disability are allowed in all areas. Emotional Support Animals are not.
For more details about the pet policy in each park, visit the NPS Pet page.
Best Time To Go on a Utah Road Trip
Utah has real seasons (unlike California), which means cold winters and hot summers. Spring and fall are the ideal seasons for a Utah road trip weather-wise! They are also the most popular times to take a Utah road trip and parks will be more crowded, especially in spring.
In winter, many roads will be closed due to snow and poor road conditions. You likely won’t get to see as much if you visit in the colder, snowy months and it will be a trickier drive to navigate with snow and ice.
In summer, temperatures get blazing hot, and can become unsafe to hike during peak hours of the day. If you visit in summer, bring plenty of sun protection and twice as much water as you think you’ll need.
Spring is the ideal time to visit, as the temperature is starting to warm up and the snow is melting. Our trip in April got hit with an unusual cold snap, so we got some fresh snowfall!
Fall is also a great time to visit and there may be fewer people also doing a Utah road trip at the same time, unless you visit during Thanksgiving break.
What To Pack For a Utah Road Trip
How Long To Spend on a Utah Road Trip
Ideally, you should allocate at least 10 days for your Utah road trip. Any shorter and you will spend most of your days driving from one place to another, without much time in each park.
A full 10 days will give you one full day in each park, with time to explore a few extra areas like Monument Valley and Page, Arizona (Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon).
The Perfect 10-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
Total distance: ~1,100 miles
Day 1: Las Vegas to Zion NP (~2.5 hours / 152 miles [201 km])
Day 2: Explore Zion NP
Day 3: Zion NP to Bryce Canyon NP (~1.75 hours / 108 miles [174 km])
Day 4: Bryce Canyon NP to Capitol Reef NP (~2 hours / 112 miles [180 km])
Day 5: Capitol Reef NP to Moab (~2.5 hours / 151 miles [243 km])
Day 6: Explore Arches NP and Canyonlands NP
Day 7: Moab to Monument Valley (~3 hours / 160 miles [257 km])
Day 8: Explore Monument Valley
Day 9: Monument Valley to Page, AZ (~2.5 hours / 136 miles [219 km])
Day 10: Page, AZ to Las Vegas (~4.5 hours / 273 miles [439 km])
Day 1-2: Zion National Park
~2.5 hours / 152 miles [201 km]
Start your Utah road trip with a drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park. Driving there without stops will take about 2.5 hours, but I highly recommend you stop in Valley of Fire State Park on the way. It’s one of the best state parks I’ve ever visited and just 45 minutes from Las Vegas!
Zion National Park is often rated as one of the best National Parks in the United States. While we only allocated half a day for it on our trip, I’ve given it almost two full days in this itinerary so you can truly experience the park.
This was Utah’s first national park! It is also one of the most visited national parks in the country, with over four million visitors each year. Visiting Zion on your Utah road trip requires a bit more planning than the other parks since you need to take the shuttle to visit certain areas and get a permit for certain hikes.
Zion Shuttles
Because of its popularity, the best way to enter the park is via the free shuttle which picks you up in town just a couple of miles from the South Entrance.
You do not need to reserve the shuttle ahead of time and can hop on and off freely. Let the driver know which stop you want to get off at, as they don’t just stop at every single one.
This shuttle is the only way to see some areas of the park during “shuttle season,” when the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to personal cars. The shuttle season/schedule changes slightly each year. It is typically March through November, and during the holidays in December (so, most of the year).
Things To Do in Zion National Park
Hiking
The Narrows and Angel’s Landing are Zion's two main and most popular hikes. We opted to do neither during our trip, mostly because we were short on time and we aren’t big hikers.
For this itinerary, pick one hike and start early!! Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks/lunch, and wear appropriate hiking gear.
The Narrows is a 10-mile loop that requires trudging through water, sometimes up to your waist (you may have seen photos from this hike before!), and going through narrow canyons. It closes often in spring due to flooding and unsafe conditions, so check the official NPS website to see current closures before heading out.
Angel’s Landing is a strenuous hike, ideally for more experienced hikers. A permit is required and must be obtained ahead of time — you cannot get it the day of. There are sections at the top that make my stomach drop just by looking at photos because of the chains you have to hold onto just not to fall, but many say the view is worth it! If this hike interests you, ensure you look at photos of the trail and read all NPS info before you go.
Highway 9 Drive
This is the drive you will do on your way to Bryce Canyon National Park by way of Zion National Park! It’s a nice drive through incredible rock formations and gives you a taste of the park.
We only had a half day in Zion, which meant we only had time to drive through the park and stop at a few parking areas along the way. It was fun but didn’t give us the full experience of what makes Zion one of the top U.S. National Parks.
Directions: Enter from the South Entrance and follow Highway 9 (Mount Carmel Highway) through Zion National Park until you reach Mt. Carmel Junction. From here, hop onto Highway 89 and continue to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Top sights along this route:
Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
Checkerboard Mesa
Mountain Goats
NOTE: Personal cars cannot drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during shuttle season. This road is an offshoot of Highway 9 — you can drive Highway 9 year-round, conditions permitting.
Where To Stay in Zion National Park
The town just outside of the South Entrance, Springdale, is one of the cutest towns I’ve visited. I wish we stayed here longer! There are some great restaurants, a small but incredibly well-stocked grocery store, and adorable hotels.
We stayed at the Bumbleberry Inn in Springdale, UT, and loved it! There was plenty of parking and the views from our room were stunning. It was a comfortable and clean room — no frills, but none were needed.
There is a shuttle that stops throughout Springdale and takes you to the Visitors’ Center. From there, you can take the Zion Canyon shuttle to spots throughout the park!
Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park
~1.75 hours / 108 miles [174 km]
On day three of your Utah road trip, drive through Zion National Park and straight to Bryce Canyon National Park. It will take just under two hours without stops or traffic. I recommend leaving early in the morning and spending the day in Bryce Canyon National Park.
The most notable sights in Bryce Canyon National Park are the hoodoos — a column of rock formed by weathering over a long period. Hoodoos start as plateaus that become windows or arches through erosion, then columns (hoodoos) when the archway erodes and falls.
You can see all the stages of erosion throughout Bryce Canyon, including a window and many hoodoos! If you visit early spring or late fall, you may even catch some bright white snow on the orange rocks.
Bryce Canyon National Park is pretty small; you can see most of it in just one day on a Utah road trip. We actually only spent a couple of hours in the park as it was one of three we were visiting that day — don’t be like us, budget enough time for each stop!
If you want to hike, give this park one full day so you can both drive through it and stop for a hike or two.
Things To Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
The Scenic Drive
The main road through Bryce Canyon National Park is Highway 63. This is the road you will drive as you navigate through the park and stop at various outlooks. This road is just 19 miles long and spans the full length of this small national park.
Plan to spend about two hours driving this road and pulling over to check out each viewpoint. I recommend stopping at all of them if you have time! Each one is unique and gives you a different perspective of the park.
The best time to do this drive is a couple of hours after sunrise once the sun has peeked over the canyon walls. This way you’ll get nice light on the hoodoos and some cool shadows.
If you are hiking, you will also drive this road to reach the trailheads!
Navajo Loop Trail
The Navajo Loop Trail is one of the most photographed trails in Bryce Canyon National Park due to the iconic switchbacks that create a zigzag pattern on the ground between the tall canyon walls.
The trail starts and ends at Sunset Point — park in the parking lot here! It’s a 1.3-mile loop with less than 1,000 feet in elevation gain and takes about 1-2 hours, depending on how fast you walk (or how often you stop to take photos!).
There are two sides to this hike, with the one called Wall Street closing in the winter. Wall Street is the trail with the famous photo spot. If you visit in winter, you can instead hike the out-and-back side called Two-Bridges.
You can also combine the Navajo Loop Trail with other connected trails for an even longer hike: Queen’s Loop, Peekaboo Loop, or Figure-8, which combines all three trails.
Where To Stay in Bryce Canyon National Park
Accommodations are limited in and around Bryce Canyon National Park, which is part of the reason we opted to continue on our Utah road trip instead of staying the night.
That being said, I wish we had spent more time in this gorgeous park! If you want to stay in the actual park, there are a couple of campgrounds and one lodge.
If you don’t mind being outside the park, but still close to the entrance, then stay in Bryce Canyon City. The accommodations are a bit overpriced for what they are, but that is to be expected since you pay for the convenience of proximity to a national park.
Luxury:
Luxe Holiday Home (best for groups of up to 10)
Mid-range: Best Western PLUS Ruby's Inn
Budget: Bryce View Lodge
Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park
~2 hours / 112 miles [180 km]
After a night in Bryce Canyon National Park, you can either:
Leave early and head right to Capitol Reef National Park.
Spend the morning in Bryce Canyon National Park and head to Capitol Reef in the afternoon.
I recommend the second option since there is more to see/do in Bryce Canyon National Park than Capitol Reef National Park.
This is the smallest of the Mighty 5 Utah National Parks you will visit on this Utah road trip! The drive through the park is just 9 miles long, which makes it a short stop if you don’t do any hikes/off-roading. You can see the main areas of the park in just a couple of hours.
There are a few short hikes, petroglyphs, and beautiful orchards. Just driving around to look at the sights is my favorite part!
Things To Do in Capitol Reef National Park
The Scenic Drive
Highway 24 will take you from Torrey (where I recommend staying) through Capitol Reef National Park on your way to the next destination. There are a few great stops along this route:
Panorama Point
Goosenecks Overlook
The Fluted Wall
Petroglyphs Panels
Off-Roading
Capitol Reef National Park has a 70-mile loop—Cathedral Valley Loop—in the backcountry for those with a 4WD and high-clearance vehicle. This drive is not for the faint of heart as it requires a river crossing (no bridge), areas of soft sand, and overall bumpy road conditions.
Be sure you budget plenty of time, as 70 miles takes much longer when you can only go a few miles an hour in some areas! Plus, you will want to stop often to take in the sights, which can add a significant amount of time.
Hikes
There are a few different hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, with one of the most popular ones being the Cassidy Arch Trail. This hike takes you to the famous Cassidy Arch, a giant arch of deep orange rock that you can walk across! It makes for some great photos.
The hike is just over 3 miles out and back with some steeper areas, which makes it a moderately strenuous hike. I recommend getting out early during hotter months to beat the heat and bring plenty of water!
Orchards
In the 1880s, the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) planted fruit trees in an area now called Fruita. These fruit tree orchards still exist today with about 1,900 trees.
You can visit these orchards today and even harvest and eat some of the fruit! Check with the visitor center when you arrive to see which orchards are available to pick from. Just ensure you pay at the self-pay station for whatever fruit you pick. If an orchard is unlocked, it means it’s open for you to walk through!
Where To Stay in Capitol Reef National Park
We loved staying at The Rim Rock Inn in Torrey, UT! The location was great with incredible views out the window. We woke up to fresh snowfall, which dusted their vintage neon sign out front.
There is also an on-site restaurant that serves delicious food with lovely views of rock formations. We had a hard time finding many restaurants and places to eat during our trip that weren’t just drive-thrus, so having a restaurant at our accommodation was incredibly convenient and a little luxury.
The Rim Rock Inn is just a couple of miles away from one of the entrances to Capitol Reef National Park and right down the street from a gas station.
Torrey is a cute town and somewhere I would happily stay again. It’s also just a couple of miles from Capitol Reef National Park.
Luxury: Cougar Ridge
Mid-range:
Budget: Casitas at Capitol Reef
Day 5-6: Moab
~2.5 hours / 151 miles [243 km]
After spending the morning in Capitol Reef National Park, continue on your Utah road trip to Moab and visit one of the national parks. Moab has both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park!
You’ll have a half day to spend an afternoon and watch the sunset at one of the national parks, then a full day on the second day to explore one or both of the national parks. On the third day, you can either head to the next destination early in the morning or spend the morning/early afternoon in one of the national parks.
This was one of my favorite areas we visited on our Utah road trip. I kept remarking about how much it looked like Cars Land in California Adventure, though of course Cars Land was modeled after real rock formations like this!
With two national parks and many other activities outside the parks, two days is barely enough to see it all. A full week would be ideal to see both of the parks and do the non-national park activities.
We only spent one night in Moab and I was near tears as we left, realizing there was still so much we didn’t see. In other words, this magical area in the desert has been added to my “visit again” list.
Things To Do in Moab
Arches National Park
I was blown away by the beauty of Arches National Park and it was my favorite national park we visited on our Utah road trip.
Arches National Park truly lives up to its name with many different arches to see throughout the park — over 2,000! While there are many, a few are more popular than others.
The most famous and probably most photographed arch is Delicate Arch. It’s about a 3-mile hike to reach the arch itself, but you can see it from the parking lot if you don’t want to hike!
Double Arch is a pair of arches both extending from the same stone. It’s incredibly grand, with one of the arches being the tallest in the park at 112 feet. The parking lot is right next to the Double Arch, which makes the walk to it just 0.3 miles, or 0.6 miles round trip.
North Window and South Window Arches are easily spotted from far away. During the high seasons, you will also likely see a stream of people walking up to them and perching at the base of the arches. They look smaller from far away, but once you reach them they are magnificent!
Turret Arch is one of my favorites. It’s in the same area as North Window and South Window Arches, and just on the other side of the parking lot from Double Arch. I recommend walking through it and to the other side for the best photos!
Canyonlands National Park
There are four districts in Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky, Needles, The Maze, and The River. It is not possible to see them all in one day, so choose which one you want to explore before you visit.
There are a few dozen hiking trails throughout Canyonlands National Park of all different types, so there’s something for everyone. The Shafer Canyon Overlook trail is a great one in the Island in the Sky district, though it’s not much of a hike since it only takes about 5-minutes of walking to see the epic views.
If you aren’t up for hiking, take a scenic drive through the park and stop at the outlooks along the way. We drove through the Island in the Sky district down Grand View Point Road and it was beautiful! The Shafer Trail Viewpoint has some of the best views — it almost looks like the Grand Canyon. There is an area you can pull over and get out to admire the sights.
Activities Outside of the National Parks
In addition to the national parks, Moab also has other fun activities and sights, like ATV and Jeep tours, horseback riding, and even boat tours on the Colorado River. There is also a state park called Dead Horse State Park which is a popular spot for photographers.
I recommend browsing through the tours on Get Your Guide to see what piques your interest — they have a ton of fun things to book!
Where To Stay in Moab
We spent a night glamping in Moab and it was such a cool, unique experience! This was the only night we camped, but it felt so luxurious it hardly counted as camping. The campsite has two large glamping tents, one with two queen beds and the other with one queen bed. We woke up to the most stunning canyon views and enjoyed the outdoor shower.
My only complaint is that the site takes a while to get to on bumpy—and sometimes narrow—dirt roads. The host said he has all kinds of cars make it there, but I wouldn’t recommend it without 4WD or AWD.
Luxury:
Entrada at Moab (multiple units to choose from)
Mid-range: Moab Flats #5 (multiple flats to choose from)
Budget:
Luxury Glamping 1 Bed Tent (sleeps 2)
Luxury Glamping 2 Bed Tent (sleeps 4)
Day 7-8: Monument Valley
~3 hours / 160 miles [257 km]
Whether you decide to spend the morning in Moab or leave early to reach Monument Valley sooner, the drive is about two and a half hours without stops or traffic. As you get closer to the park, the giant sandstone buttes come into view.
I recommend pulling over along the way to take some photos! Just be safe and stay out of the road.
Monument Valley was the most stunning place we stopped on our Utah road trip. While it is not technically in Utah and is not a national park, I couldn’t leave it off of this itinerary because it is such an exceptional place.
Monument Valley is in Navajo Nation, which is a self-governing Native American reservation that extends between Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The Navajo people, also called the Diné, live on this reservation and run the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is not covered under the Americal the Beautiful pass. You will need to pay an entrance fee to visit the park.
Note: Navajo Nation does observe daylight savings time and Arizona does not. There may be a time difference of one hour between Navajo Nation and Arizona, depending on the time of year you visit.
Things To Do in Monument Valley
Tour With Navajo Guide
The best way to see the park is by taking one of the official tours with a Navajo Guide. They are incredibly knowledgeable and happy to share the history of and information about Monument Valley with you.
There are multiple tours to choose from, so you can pick how long you want to spend in the park. Many of the roads in Monument Valley are only accessible if you take a tour with a Navajo Guide and cannot be accessed by personal vehicles.
A tour is a nice, hassle-free way to explore the park. It also gives you a break from all the driving you will have done thus far during your Utah road trip.
Self-Guided Tour
The Valley Drive is a 17-mile loop that you can drive with your personal car. You need a 4WD/AWD vehicle with high clearance since the roads are unpaved and incredibly bumpy in most areas. The cars without high clearance seemed to struggle more compared to the ones with higher clearance.
Taking a self-guided tour will allow you to go at your own pace and stop at all the outlooks you want. There are multiple areas to park and get out to take in the views!
Some of the notable spots/rock formations along the self-guided loop are:
Three Sisters Viewpoint
The Thumb
North Window Overlook
Artist’s Point
John Ford Point
One of my favorites was John Ford Point It’s also one of the most popular spots, so expect other people.
Note: Please follow all posted signs. Some turnoffs are ONLY for tours with Navajo Guides.
Where To Stay in Monument Valley
Goulding’s Lodge
One of the only places to stay near Monument Valley is Gouldings Lodge. They have a few different types of accommodations: hotel rooms, villas (tiny homes), and a campground. We chose a villa and loved it!
It’s located on the Utah side of Navajo Nation and is just a couple of minutes from the entrance to Monument Valley, which makes it incredibly convenient. Nearby there is a grocery store, laundromat, gas station, and a restaurant.
The View Hotel
The other option is The View Hotel, which is inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. As the name suggests, it offers incredible views of Monument Valley!
Mexican Hat
They have hotel rooms, cabins, and a campground.
If you don’t mind staying a bit further away (about 30 minutes), the town of Mexican Hat has a couple of accommodations: Hat Rock Inn and San Juan Inn.
Day 9: Page, Arizona
~2.5 hours / 136 miles [219 km]
I recommend spending the morning of day nine in Monument Valley to catch the sunrise over the buttes and rock formations. After a morning in Monument Valley, hop back on the road to continue your Utah road trip into Arizona.
Kayenta in Navajo Nation is the best town to grab lunch since there are not many places to eat or stop for bathrooms between there and Page, AZ. It also has a couple of gas stations so you can fuel up as needed.
Page, AZ is a small town surrounded by a whole lot of nothing except land and the Colorado River. Many of the people who visit this area are tourists on road trips stopping to check out the top attractions that draw visitors from all over the world.
I added this stop since it breaks up the drive nicely, but you can cut this out of your Utah road trip itinerary and add an extra day to one of the national parks instead. If you do choose to visit Page, the two main sights to see are Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.
Things To Do in Page, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend
The Colorado River that runs through this town has a hard curve in it just south of Page. It has become known as Horseshoe Bend due to its shape which closely resembles, you guessed it, a horseshoe!
This bend in the Colorado River has become a top attraction and highly photographed spot. The popularity has resulted in the parks department requiring a $30 fee to visit and park in the lot.
Once you park, it’s about a half-mile walk to reach the horseshoe bend. The trail is easy to follow and you will likely be doing it with dozens of other people, depending on which season you visit. It can get hot in the warmer months, so bring water with you.
Please be cautious when taking photos — tons of people get way too close to the edge to get the shot. It’s not worth risking your life for, I promise. And that’s coming from me, a photographer whose top priority is getting the shot during trips!
Antelope Canyon
Another top attraction near Page is Antelope Canyon. It’s famous for the undulating, wave-like patterns on the narrow, slot canyon walls. There are two parts of the canyon, each miles apart: Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. The upper canyon is the most famous one!
The main town area of Page, AZ is just outside of Navajo Nation, but Antelope Canyon is part of Navajo Nation. If you book a guided tour of Antelope Canyon, be mindful of the time since Navajo Nation observes daylight savings time and Arizona does not. Antelope Canyon may be one hour different than Page, AZ, depending on the time of year you visit.
Note: You cannot visit Antelope Canyon on your own. You must book a tour and go with an official Navajo Guide. The Navajo Parks and Recreation protects Antelope Canyon.
Where To Stay in Page, Arizona
Many of the accommodations in Page, AZ, are typical chain hotels. There are also a few homes and apartments if you want something a bit more private and homey.
Luxury: Vermillion Cliffs House (3 bedrooms w/washer & dryer)
Mid-range: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
Budget: Tail Wind Life (King Studio)
Day 10: Las Vegas
~4.5 hours / 273 miles [439 km]
On the last day, you will head back to your original starting point of Las Vegas. This will be the longest driving day and the route will take you in and out of Utah and Arizona before crossing into Nevada.
You can choose if you want to leave early from Page or spend the morning visiting Horseshoe Bend or taking an early tour of Antelope Canyon. If you leave early from Page or don’t mind a longer day of travel, you can visit Valley of Fire State Park before you reach Las Vegas!
Where To Stay in Las Vegas
If you plan to stay the night in Las Vegas before flying/driving home, I recommend trying to schedule your itinerary so you are in Las Vegas on a weekday. Hotels can be 4-5x more expensive on weekends in Las Vegas compared to weekdays — it will save you hundreds of dollars to go on a weekday!
I’ve stayed at a few different hotels in Las Vegas, all of which were nice. The hotels in Las Vegas are all pretty unique experiences and you have some fun ones to choose from!
You can stay in the heart of the action on The Strip or choose one of the hotels a block or two away if you want a bit less noise and activity. Whether you want something more fancy or novelty, Las Vegas has tons of options.
Note: These hotels are organized based on weekday prices. They may not be considered “budget” on weekends.
Luxury: Bellagio (on The Strip)
Mid-range: Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (off The Strip - loved this hotel!)
Budget:
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (on The Strip)
Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (on The Strip)
New York-New York (on The Strip)
Other Utah Road Trip Itineraries and Routes
Looking for other itineraries? These are a few alternatives for shorter or longer trips with different starting and ending points!
Round Trip From Las Vegas in 7 Days
If you’re short on time, it is possible to do this loop in seven days, but it will be a rush and some long days of driving. I don’t necessarily recommend it — those three extra days in the 10-day itinerary make a big difference!
Day 1: Las Vegas to Zion NP
Day 2: Zion NP to Bryce Canyon NP
Day 3: Bryce Canyon NP to Capitol Reef NP
Day 4: Capitol Reef NP to Moab
Day 5: Explore Arches NP and Canyonlands NP
Day 6: Moab to Monument Valley
Day 7: Monument Valley to Las Vegas
Round Trip From San Francisco in 20 Days
Either of these itineraries (15-day or 20-day) will involve a lot of driving and will be more of a travel adventure than a leisurely road trip. Both itineraries are about the same driving distance.
We did a similar route, starting in the Bay Area and driving through California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Our trip was 10 days long and included a stop in Phoenix, AZ. It was far too short and we didn’t spend as much time in each area as we would have liked.
The itineraries below are still a bit tight and rushed, but you will see EVERYTHING. It also ties in another road trip in each itinerary: Santa Barbara to San Francisco and Highway 395 in Eastern California.
15-Day Utah Road Trip Itinerary
Distance: ~2,415 miles
Day 1: San Francisco to Death Valley
Day 2: Death Valley to Las Vegas or Valley of Fire
Day 3: Las Vegas or Valley of Fire to Zion NP
Day 4: Spend the day in Zion NP
Day 5: Zion NP to Bryce Canyon NP
Day 6: Bryce Canyon NP to Capitol Reef NP
Day 7: Capitol Reef NP to Moab
Day 8: Explore Arches NP
Day 9: Explore Canyonlands NP
Day 10: Moab to Monument Valley
Day 11: Explore Monument Valley
Day 12: Monument Valley to Las Vegas
Day 13: Las Vegas to Santa Barbara
Day 14: Explore Santa Barbara
Day 15: Santa Barbara to San Francisco
20-Day Utah Road Trip Itinerary
Distance: ~2,450 miles
Days 1-11: Same as above
Day 12: Monument Valley to Grand Canyon NP
Day 13: Explore Grand Canyon NP
Day 14: Grand Canyon NP to Las Vegas or Valley of Fire
Day 15: Las Vegas or Valley of Fire to Lone Pine, CA
Day 16: Lone Pine, CA to Mammoth Lakes
Day 17: Explore Mammoth Lakes
Day 18: Mammoth Lakes to Lake Tahoe
Day 19: Explore Lake Tahoe
Day 20: Lake Tahoe to San Francisco
Round Trip From Phoenix
Another 10-day Utah road trip itinerary starts and ends in Phoenix, AZ. You will see almost all the same sights as the 10-day round trip from Las Vegas, but it will just be Utah and Arizona sights.
10-Day Utah Road Trip Itinerary
Distance: ~1,400 miles
Day 1: Phoenix, AZ to Grand Canyon NP
Day 2: Grand Canyon NP to Monument Valley
Day 3: Day in Monument Valley
Day 4: Monument Valley to Moab, UT
Day 5: Day in Arches NP and Canyonlands NP
Day 6: Moab to Capitol Reef NP
Day 7: Capitol Reef NP to Bryce Canyon NP
Day 8: Bryce Canyon NP to Zion NP
Day 9: Zion NP to Grand Canyon NP
Day 10: Grand Canyon NP to Phoenix, AZ
Round Trip From Salt Lake City
This 10-day Utah road trip is mostly contained within Utah, with one stop in Arizona. It gives you about one day in each Utah national park and you can easily fly in and out of the Salt Lake City airport.
10-Day Utah Road Trip Itinerary
Distance: ~1,200 miles
Day 1: Salt Lake City to Zion National Park
Day 2: Explore Zion NP
Day 3: Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 4: Bryce Canyon NP to Page, AZ
Day 5: Page, AZ to Monument Valley
Day 6: Explore Monument Valley
Day 7: Monument Valley to Moab
Day 8: Explore Arches NP and Canyonlands NP
Day 9: Moab to Capitol Reef NP
Day 10: Capitol Reef NP to Salt Lake City
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