One-Week Road Trip: Vegas, Utah’s Parks & the Grand Canyon
In just one week and approximately 1,100 miles, you can experience many of the Southwest’s most famous attractions on a road trip. If you have more time, it’s well worth adding another day to each of the main stops. Mileage and driving times in this itinerary are approximate.
Day 1
Las Vegas
After you fly in, check in and leave your bags at Aria or Mandalay Bay, then head out to explore the Strip. Go for steak at N9NE at The Palms or gastropub fare at Culinary Dropout at the Hard Rock Casino, then catch a showing of Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio. Don’t stay out too late—you’ll be rising early and hitting the road.
Day 2
Zion and Bryce
165 miles / 3 hours
Get an early start for the 165-mile, three-hour drive to Zion National Park. Leave by 8am to arrive by 10:30am. Explore Zion for about three hours, having lunch at Zion Lodge and hiking the Riverside Walk.
After lunch, drive 70 miles (1.5 hours), to Bryce Canyon National Park. Explore the rim at spots like Inspiration Point, take a short hike below the rim on the Queen’s Garden Trail, and watch the sunset over the canyon. Stay and eat in the park’s Lodge at Bryce Canyon or in nearby Tropic.
- Flexible Itineraries: Unique and adventure-packed ideas ranging from one day in each park to a week-long road trip covering all of them, designed for outdoor adventurers, road-trippers, families, and more
- The Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks: Individual trail maps, mileage and elevation gains, and backpacking options for Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Grand Staircase-Escalante
- Experience the Outdoors: Trek between the thousand-foot walls of the Narrows, hike Angels Landing to unbelievable canyon views, and marvel at hoodoos in Bryce. Soak up the serenity of winter on cross-country skis or take a week-long road trip to hit every park on your list. Contemplate ancient Indigenous rock art throughout the parks, mountain-bike through the desert in Moab, and stay late to spot constellations in the dark sky
- How to Get There: Up-to-date information on gateway towns like Moab, park entrances, park fees, and tours
- Where to Stay: Campgrounds, resorts, and more both inside and outside the parks
- Planning Tips: When to go, what to pack, safety information, and how to avoid the crowds, with full-color photos and easy-to-use maps throughout
- Expertise and Know-How: Utah-based outdoorswoman Maya Silver shares her tips for travelers who want to backpack, mountain bike, raft, rock climb, hike, and more
Visiting more of North America’s incredible national parks? Try Moon USA National Parks, Moon Yellowstone & Grand Teton, or Moon Best of Grand Canyon. Hitting the road? Try Moon Southwest Road Trip.
About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can’t wait to share their favorite places with you.
For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
Day 3
Capitol Reef
120 miles / 2.5 hours
Get up early and head out for the 120-mile, 2.5-hour drive to Capitol Reef National Park. Leave by 8am to arrive by 10:30am. Bring a picnic lunch with you and take the 21-mile scenic drive (1.5 hours), then hike the 2.5-mile Fremont River Trail to Miners Mountain viewpoint.
Onward to Moab
145 miles / 2.5 hours
Drive 145 miles (2.5 hours) to Moab. Stay at the Best Western Canyonlands Inn or the Gonzo Inn and have dinner at the Desert Bistro or Eddie McStiff’s.
Day 4
Arches and Canyonlands
Drive five miles (10 minutes) to Arches National Park. Stop and see The Windows and hike three miles round-trip to Delicate Arch.
Drive 25 miles (40 minutes) to the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park and explore viewpoints like Shafer Canyon Overlook. Hike the short Grand View Trail, then head back to Moab for a relaxing night.
Day 5
Moab to South Rim Grand Canyon
330 miles / 6 hours
It’s a 330-mile, six-hour drive on US 191, US 163, then US 160 from Moab to Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim. The route crosses much of the western Navajo Nation and passes right through Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Take a few hours to explore the park. Time your trip to have lunch at the Blue Coffee Pot Café in Kayenta, about 30 miles south of Monument Valley.
From Kayenta, take US 160 West to US 89 South, then AZ-64 West to the Desert View entrance of the Grand Canyon. Spend the night at El Tovar or the Bright Angel Lodge.
Day 6
South Rim Grand Canyon
Walk along the park’s Rim Trail for outstanding, accessible views of the canyon. In Grand Canyon Village, stop into the Hopi House to see Native American art and the Lookout Studio, where you can use telescopes set up on the outdoor terrace to get better views of canyon features. Get a meal at the El Tovar Dining Room or The Arizona Room.
Day 7
Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
280 miles / 4.5 hours
The 280-mile, 4.5-hour drive from Grand Canyon back to Vegas moves along I-40 between Williams and Kingman.
To follow Historic Route 66, exit the interstate at Ash Fork, about 15 miles (20 minutes) west of Williams. (This will add 20 miles and 30 minutes to the drive.)
In Kingman, stop at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner for lunch. Afterward, jump back on the road for the 110-mile, two-hour drive back to Las Vegas.
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