Self-Launched USA Road Trip: Joshua Tree & the Southwest Parks
8 days · American Southwest (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada)
G Adventures charges £1,450
No-markup version: ~£440 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched version of G Adventures' 18-to-Thirtysomethings camping road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, hitting Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon and Zion. Instead of a private van and a group CEO, you'll rent a compact car or join a hop-on shuttle, camp or hostel it, and use America the Beautiful annual park passes plus pre-booked Antelope Canyon permits. Same parks, same sunsets, roughly a third of the price. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Pick up a rental car in LA (book early — a compact from LAX or a downtown depot runs about £28–35/day; a week's rental split between two travellers is far cheaper than the tour van). Drive east on I-10 (~2.5 hrs) to Joshua Tree. Enter via the West Entrance at Joshua Town; an America the Beautiful annual pass (US$80, ~£63) covers every park on this trip and pays for itself by day three — buy it at the entrance station. Spend the afternoon on the Barker Dam and Hidden Valley loops, scramble the Hall of Horrors and photograph the Joshua trees at golden hour. Camp at Jumbo Rocks or Hidden Valley Campground (~US$15/night, book on recreation.gov well in advance — they sell out).
🚌Rental car from LA, ~140 miles / 2.5 hrs, fuel ~£12
🛏NPS campground at Jumbo Rocks/Hidden Valley (~£12) or a hostel bed in Joshua Tree town (~£30)
- →Rental car pickup in LA
- →Joshua Tree National Park (Barker Dam, Hidden Valley, Hall of Horrors)
- →Sunset photography among the Joshua trees
- →Campfire dinner at campground
Route 66 to the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
Break camp early and drive east on I-40, detouring onto the surviving stretches of Route 66 through Amboy and Oatman if you have time (the Amboy Crater and Roy's Cafe are classic photo stops). Grab lunch in Kingman. Continue to the South Rim (~5.5 hrs driving total) and arrive in time for sunset at Mather Point or Yavapai Point. Skip the tour's group pizza dinner — grab a slice from the Grand Canyon Village pizza counter or cook pasta at camp and eat it on the rim. Camp at Mather Campground (~US$18/night, book 6 months ahead) or stay in a dorm bed at the Grand Canyon International Hostel in Tusayan.
🚌Rental car, ~280 miles / 5.5 hrs, fuel ~£22; Route 66 detour optional
🛏Mather Campground (~£14) or Tusayan hostel dorm (~£35)
- →Route 66 drive (Amboy / Oatman detour)
- →Grand Canyon sunset at Mather or Yavapai Point
- →Self-catered pizza dinner on the rim
Hiking the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
A full hiking day below the rim. The Bright Angel Trail is free and self-guided — hike to the 1.5 Mile Resthouse or push to the 3 Mile Resthouse for bigger views (turn around by 11am and carry 3+ litres of water; the climb out is harder than the descent). Alternative: the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point (1.5 hrs return) for the best sunrise panorama. In the afternoon, walk the paved Rim Trail and visit the geology museum. Shuttle buses within the park are free.
🚌Free park shuttle buses; no driving needed
🛏Mather Campground (~£14) or Tusayan hostel dorm (~£35)
- →Bright Angel Trail hike (free)
- →South Kaibab to Ooh Aah Point (optional)
- →Rim Trail walk and visitor centre
Grand Canyon to Page: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Page, AZ
Drive east along Desert View Drive, stopping at the Watchtower, then on to Page (~2.5 hrs). Pre-book an Antelope Canyon tour directly with a Navajo-operated outfitter (Ken's Tours, Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours, ~US$70–110 / £55–85 for Upper or Lower Canyon) — book weeks ahead, slots sell out and prices spike in summer. Late afternoon, hike the 1.2-mile round trip to Horseshoe Bend (parking US$10 per car, or walk in from town) for sunset over the Colorado River. Camp at Wahweap or Lone Rock Beach on Lake Powell (~US$15–26) or take a motel room in Page.
🚌Rental car, ~135 miles / 2.5 hrs, fuel ~£12
🛏Wahweap/Lone Rock campground (~£15) or Page budget motel (~£48)
- →Desert View Drive stops
- →Antelope Canyon Navajo-guided tour (self-booked, ~£70)
- →Horseshoe Bend hike at sunset
Bryce Canyon hoodoos
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Long but scenic drive west via Kanab and the Cottonwood Canyon Road area (~3.5 hrs) to Bryce Canyon. Spend the afternoon hiking the Queen's Garden Trail out-and-back from Sunrise Point (the Navajo Loop is currently closed due to rockfall, so it can't be done as a loop) and walk the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points for Thor's Hammer views. Stay for sunset at Inspiration Point, then stargaze — Bryce is an International Dark Sky Park. North Campground (~US$20/night) is walkable to the rim; Ruby's Inn has hostel-style and motel rooms nearby.
🚌Rental car, ~150 miles / 3.5 hrs, fuel ~£14
🛏North Campground (~£16) or Ruby's Inn budget room (~£55)
- →Queen's Garden Trail out-and-back
- →Rim Trail and Inspiration Point sunset
- →Dark-sky stargazing
Coral Pink Sand Dunes to Zion
Springdale / Zion, UT
Drive toward Zion (~2 hrs) with a stop at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (~US$10 entry) for a short walk on the orange dunes — bring a sandboard if you're keen. Arrive in Springdale in the afternoon and get oriented; the free Zion Canyon Shuttle runs from town into the park. Camp at South Campground/Watchman Campground (~US$20–25, book early) or take a dorm bed in Springdale.
🚌Rental car, ~90 miles / 2 hrs, fuel ~£9
🛏Watchman/South Campground (~£18) or Springdale hostel dorm (~£40)
- →Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- →Springdale town wander
- →Zion shuttle orientation
Full day in Zion National Park
Zion National Park, UT
Big hiking day. Start early with the Riverside Walk and The Narrows (free, but you'll want to rent canyoneering shoes and a walking stick in Springdale, ~US$30 / £24). Alternative routes: Emerald Pools, Canyon Overlook (drive east through the tunnel) or the Pa'rus Trail. Angels Landing requires a separate permit via the NPS lottery — apply in advance and add it if you snag one. Evening back at camp with a fire and marshmallows, exactly as the tour would have it.
🚌Free Zion Canyon Shuttle; short drive for Canyon Overlook
🛏Watchman/South Campground (~£18) or Springdale hostel dorm (~£40)
- →The Narrows hike (gear rental ~£24)
- →Emerald Pools / Pa'rus Trail
- →Campfire evening
Zion to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Short scenic drive (~2.75 hrs) via I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge to Las Vegas. Drop the rental car at the airport or a Strip depot. If you're flying out the same day, book a departure after 3pm to allow buffer time; otherwise check into a budget hotel on the Strip or in downtown and celebrate with a cheap buffet or taco stop. Tour-style finish, backpacker budget.
🚌Rental car, ~170 miles / 2.75 hrs, fuel ~£16
🛏None included, or budget hotel on the Strip (~£45 if staying)
- →Virgin River Gorge drive
- →Car drop-off
- →Las Vegas Strip walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£440 | £1,450 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,010 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£440
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched USA Road Trip: Joshua Tree & the Southwest Parks cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £440 per person for 8 days in American Southwest (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £440 — a saving of roughly £1,010 (70%) per person.
How long is the American Southwest (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through American Southwest (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, road-trip, hiking trip through American Southwest (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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