Southwest Road Trip: Zion, Grand Canyon & Santa Monica Sunsets — Self-Launched
7 days · American Southwest & Los Angeles
G Adventures charges £905
No-markup version: ~£505 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Same epic American Southwest loop as the G Adventures Roamies tour — Las Vegas to Los Angeles via Bryce Canyon, Zion, Horseshoe Bend, and the Grand Canyon — but done independently. Swap the private group van for a hired car split between travel companions, trade the guided camping nights for budget campgrounds and one hostel stay, and book any optional activities (like the helicopter ride) directly. You'll cover four National Parks, hike legendary trails, and finish with a sunset on Santa Monica Pier for a fraction of the operator price. Estimated costs are approximate and per person based on a group of 4 sharing a rental car.
Day-by-day
Las Vegas → Bryce Canyon National Park
Las Vegas, NV / Bryce Canyon, UT
Pick up your rental car in Las Vegas (book in advance — split between 3–4 people it's very affordable). Head north on US-15 toward Utah, stopping in Cedar City (~2.5 hrs) for a cheap lunch at a local diner. Continue to Bryce Canyon National Park (~1 hr). Arrive mid-afternoon, set up camp at North Campground or Sunset Campground (book ahead on recreation.gov). Spend the late afternoon exploring Sunset Point and Inspiration Point for those iconic hoodoo views at golden hour. Welcome drinks around the campfire.
🚌Rental car from Las Vegas — budget ~£10–12/person/day split 4 ways including fuel
🛏North Campground or Sunset Campground, Bryce Canyon NP — ~£18/site/night (split 2–4 people)
- →Pick up rental car in Las Vegas — book via Rentalcars.com or Kayak, ~£35–45/day split 4 ways
- →Drive Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon via US-15 (~4.5 hrs including Cedar City lunch stop)
- →Enter Bryce Canyon National Park — America the Beautiful Annual Pass covers entry (~£60/pass, valid all national parks)
- →Hike Sunrise Point to Sunset Point Rim Trail (easy, 2.5 km) for panoramic hoodoo views
- →Set up camp at North Campground or Sunset Campground (book via recreation.gov, ~£18/night per site)
- →Evening campfire and stargazing — Bryce Canyon is a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park
Bryce Canyon Hikes → Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park, UT
Rise early for sunrise at Bryce Point — one of the most spectacular light shows in the American Southwest. Hike the Queen's Garden Trail from Sunrise Point (currently out-and-back due to Navajo Loop closure, ~3.5 km round trip). After lunch, drive ~1.5 hrs south to Zion National Park. Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Centre and hop on the free park shuttle — private vehicles aren't permitted on the main canyon road in peak season. Hike the Riverside Walk (easy) or tackle the lower section of the Narrows (wade through the Virgin River in a stunning slot canyon — one of the world's great hikes). Camp at Watchman Campground inside the park.
🚌Rental car Bryce to Zion (~1.5 hrs), then free NPS shuttle within Zion Canyon
🛏Watchman Campground, Zion National Park — ~£20–22/site/night
- →Sunrise hike at Bryce Point — free with park pass, depart camp by 5:30am
- →Queen's Garden Trail hike from Sunrise Point — out-and-back (~3.5 km, ~2 hrs)
- →Drive Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park via UT-89 (~1.5 hrs)
- →Free Zion Canyon Shuttle from visitor centre — runs every 7 mins in peak season
- →Riverside Walk hike to the Narrows — wade the Virgin River slot canyon (free with park pass)
- →Rent water shoes or canyoneering boots from Zion Outfitter, Springdale (~£15)
- →Camp at Watchman Campground — book via recreation.gov (~£20–22/site)
Zion to Page, AZ — Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon
Zion, UT / Page, AZ
Morning free to catch one more Zion hike — Angels Landing lower section (chains section requires permit but lower trail is stunning and free) or Emerald Pools trail. Pack up camp and drive ~2.5 hrs southeast to Page, Arizona. Stop at Horseshoe Bend — it's a short but spectacular 2.5 km round-trip hike from the car park to the canyon rim overlooking the Colorado River's famous omega-shaped meander. Arrive in Page for the evening; check into a budget motel or hostel. Optional: pre-book an Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon slot canyon tour for the following morning (book well in advance — these sell out fast).
🚌Rental car Zion to Page, AZ (~2.5 hrs)
🛏Page Boy Motel or similar budget motel in Page, AZ — ~£55–70/room (split 2 people = ~£28–35pp)
- →Optional morning hike: Emerald Pools Lower Trail, Zion (easy, 2.4 km round trip — free with park pass)
- →Drive Zion to Page, AZ via US-89 (~2.5 hrs)
- →Horseshoe Bend hike — $10 USD car park fee (~£8), 2.5 km round trip to canyon rim
- →Check into budget accommodation in Page
- →Book Antelope Canyon tour in advance via GetYourGuide or directly with Navajo-operated tour companies (~£45–65) — Lower Canyon recommended for photographers
Antelope Canyon & Grand Canyon South Rim
Page, AZ / Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
Morning Antelope Canyon slot canyon tour with a Navajo-licensed guide — the light beams through the narrow canyon walls are extraordinary. Then drive ~2.5 hrs west on US-89 to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Enter on your America the Beautiful pass (no extra charge). Spend the afternoon exploring the South Rim — walk the Rim Trail between Mather Point and Bright Angel Trailhead, descend partway into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail (go as far as the 1.5-Mile Resthouse for incredible views — allow 3–4 hrs round trip). Catch sunset from Mather Point or Yavapai Point. Optional: book a helicopter tour directly with Papillon or Maverick Helicopters (~£180–220pp) for a bird's-eye view of the canyon. Camp at Mather Campground inside the park.
🚌Rental car Page to Grand Canyon (~2.5 hrs); free Grand Canyon Village shuttle
🛏Mather Campground, Grand Canyon South Rim — book via recreation.gov (~£18/site/night)
- →Antelope Canyon guided slot canyon tour — book directly with Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours or via GetYourGuide (~£45–65pp)
- →Drive Page to Grand Canyon South Rim via US-89 (~2.5 hrs)
- →Grand Canyon South Rim entry — covered by America the Beautiful pass
- →Rim Trail walk: Mather Point to Bright Angel Trailhead (~3 km, easy, flat)
- →Bright Angel Trail descent to 1.5-Mile Resthouse and back (~5 km round trip, ~3–4 hrs)
- →Optional: Grand Canyon helicopter tour with Papillon or Maverick Helicopters (~£180–220pp, book direct for best price)
- →Sunset at Mather Point or Yavapai Geology Museum viewpoint
Grand Canyon → Route 66 → Laughlin/Needles
Grand Canyon, AZ / Route 66 / Needles, CA
Early morning on the Grand Canyon South Rim — sunrise from Yaki Point is breathtaking and far less crowded than Mather Point. Pack up camp and head west on Historic Route 66 — stop in Williams, AZ for classic American diner breakfast. Drive through the Mojave Desert, passing through Seligman (birthplace of Route 66 preservation — great photo stop). Overnight in Needles, CA or Laughlin, NV — both have inexpensive motels and mark your crossing into California. Grab dinner and drinks at a local spot.
🚌Rental car, Grand Canyon to Needles via Route 66 and I-40 (~3.5–4 hrs)
🛏Budget motel in Needles, CA (Needles Highway Inn) or Laughlin, NV (~£50–65/room, split 2 = ~£25–33pp)
- →Sunrise at Yaki Point, Grand Canyon South Rim (accessible by free shuttle from Grand Canyon Visitor Centre)
- →Drive west along Historic Route 66 from Williams, AZ
- →Coffee and breakfast at a Route 66 diner in Williams or Seligman
- →Photo stops in Seligman — original Route 66 roadside Americana and murals
- →Drive through Mojave Desert to Needles, CA or Laughlin, NV (~3.5–4 hrs)
Mojave Desert Drive → Joshua Tree → Los Angeles
Needles, CA / Joshua Tree NP / Los Angeles, CA
Drive west through the Mojave, stopping for a couple of hours in Joshua Tree National Park — the surreal landscape of giant boulders and spiky Joshua Trees is unlike anywhere else. Walk the Cholla Cactus Garden nature trail and Skull Rock Trail. Continue ~2.5 hrs west to Los Angeles. Check into a hostel in Venice Beach or Santa Monica — you're within walking distance of the famous pier. Spend the evening on Santa Monica Pier, stroll the Third Street Promenade, and watch the Pacific sunset. Celebrate the end of the road trip.
🚌Rental car Needles to Los Angeles via Joshua Tree (~4 hrs total); return rental car at LAX or Santa Monica
🛏HI Los Angeles — Santa Monica Hostel or Samesun Venice Beach — dorm from ~£35–45pp/night
- →Drive Needles to Joshua Tree National Park (~1.5 hrs) — entry covered by America the Beautiful pass
- →Cholla Cactus Garden nature trail (0.4 km, easy — be careful not to touch the cacti!)
- →Skull Rock Nature Trail (~2.7 km loop, easy)
- →Drive Joshua Tree to Los Angeles/Santa Monica (~2.5 hrs via I-10 W)
- →Check into hostel in Venice Beach or Santa Monica
- →Santa Monica Pier — iconic end-of-Route 66 marker, free to visit
- →Sunset drinks on Venice Beach boardwalk
Los Angeles — Venice Beach, Hollywood & Departure
Los Angeles, CA
Final day in LA — make the most of it. Morning stroll along Venice Beach Boardwalk, people-watching the skaters, street artists and muscle beach regulars. Head up to the Griffith Observatory for free panoramic views over the Hollywood sign and the LA Basin. Grab a classic LA lunch (tacos al pastor from a food truck on Sunset Blvd, ~£8). Explore the Walk of Fame, or take a self-guided walking tour of Hollywood. Head to the airport for your departing flight — allow at least 2–3 hrs for LAX check-in.
🚌DASH bus or rideshare within LA; FlyAway bus to LAX (~£7)
🛏Check out from hostel — late checkout or luggage storage usually available (~£5)
- →Morning Venice Beach Boardwalk walk — free
- →Griffith Observatory — free entry, paid parking or take DASH bus (~£2)
- →Views of the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Park (free)
- →Hollywood Walk of Fame self-guided walk — free
- →Taco truck lunch on Sunset Blvd or Grand Central Market downtown (~£8–12)
- →Transfer to LAX — FlyAway Bus from Santa Monica or Hollywood (~£7), or rideshare (~£25–40)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£505 | £905 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £400 per person (44%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£505
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Southwest Road Trip: Zion, Grand Canyon & Santa Monica Sunsets — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £505 per person for 7 days in American Southwest & Los Angeles. 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 £905 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £505 — a saving of roughly £400 (44%) per person.
How long is the American Southwest & Los Angeles trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through American Southwest & Los Angeles.
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 road-trip, adventure, hiking trip through American Southwest & Los Angeles, 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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