Self-Launched Highlights of the Canyonlands: Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley & Bryce Canyon

Fly into Harry Reid International Airport and make your own way to your accommodation — grab an Uber/Lyft (~£15) or take the airport shuttle. Las Vegas has a handful of budget-friendly hostels in and around the Strip. Spend the evening exploring Fremont Street or the Strip to shake off any jet lag. Pick up your rental car today or first thing tomorrow morning — booking in advance via Kayak or Rentalcars.com will save money. An America the Beautiful Annual Pass (~£60) is essential: it covers entry to Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and all other national parks for 12 months.

🚌Uber/Lyft from airport (~£15). Car rental from Day 2.

🛏Lucky Club Hostel or Sin City Hostel (dorm ~£25–35/night) or budget motels like Motel 6 Las Vegas (~£50–70/night private)

• →Arrive at Harry Reid International Airport and transfer to accommodation
• →Purchase an America the Beautiful Annual Pass online or at first park entry (~£60) — covers all national parks on this route
• →Pre-book rental car pickup for Day 2 (compact SUV recommended for Monument Valley roads)
• →Explore the Las Vegas Strip or Fremont Street Experience in the evening

Pick up your rental car and head east on US-93 and then I-40/AZ-64 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon — approximately 4.5 hours driving. Stop in Williams, AZ (a charming Route 66 town) for lunch. Arrive at the South Rim in the afternoon with plenty of time for sunset views from Mather Point or Yavapai Point — the classic first-timer viewpoint. Entry is covered by your America the Beautiful Pass. Book a room at the Canyon Motel & RV Park in Williams or a budget lodge in Tusayan just outside the park if camping isn't your thing.

🚌Rental car (~£45–60/day all-in including fuel split). Self-drive.

🛏Yavapai Lodge inside the park (book well in advance, ~£90–120/night) or budget motel in Tusayan (~£70–90/night)

• →Drive Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim via US-93 and I-40 (~4.5 hrs, ~270 miles)
• →Stop in Williams, AZ — historic Route 66 town for lunch (~£12)
• →Enter Grand Canyon National Park (covered by America the Beautiful Pass)
• →Sunset at Mather Point or Yavapai Point — iconic first views of the canyon
• →Walk the Rim Trail between viewpoints (paved, easy, stunning)

Rise early for sunrise at the Grand Canyon — Mather Point at dawn is unforgettable with far fewer crowds. Then drive east along the canyon rim via Desert View Watchtower before dropping down to Cameron, a historic Navajo trading post worth a browse. Continue north to Page, AZ — your base for Antelope Canyon. Book an Upper Antelope Canyon guided tour in advance (required — you cannot enter without a Navajo guide). Tours run throughout the day and last ~1.5 hours. If budget allows, the optional Lake Powell sunset cruise or helicopter flightseeing are spectacular extras.

🚌Self-drive rental car. Grand Canyon to Page ~1.5–2 hrs via AZ-89.

🛏Page Boy Motel or Bashful Bob's Hostel/Budget Inn in Page (~£50–80/night)

• →Sunrise at Mather Point or Yavapai Point (set your alarm!)
• →Drive east along the South Rim to Desert View Watchtower (~30 min)
• →Stop at Cameron Trading Post — Navajo art, jewellery, and fry bread
• →Drive to Page, AZ (~1.5 hrs from Grand Canyon East Entrance)
• →Upper Antelope Canyon guided tour — book in advance via Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours or GetYourGuide (~£55–70pp, mandatory guided entry)
• →Optional: Lake Powell evening boat cruise (~£40–60pp via GetYourGuide)

Head northeast to Navajo National Monument — a free site (covered by America the Beautiful Pass) with a visitor centre and stunning views over ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. Then continue to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, one of the most iconic landscapes on Earth. Entry fee is ~$20/vehicle (not covered by America the Beautiful Pass as it's a tribal park). The 17-mile Valley Drive loop is self-drivable in a standard car (~1.5 hrs). For a deeper experience, book a 4WD jeep tour with a Navajo guide — these depart from The View Hotel and go into restricted backcountry areas (~£60–90pp, book via the park website or Klook).

🚌Self-drive rental car. Page to Monument Valley ~1.5 hrs via US-160 and US-163.

🛏The View Hotel at Monument Valley (iconic views, ~£100–130/night) or Goulding's Lodge (~£90–120/night). Book well in advance.

• →Morning visit to Navajo National Monument visitor centre and Betatakin viewpoint (free with pass)
• →Drive to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (~1.5 hrs)
• →Self-drive the 17-Mile Valley Drive loop (~£14/vehicle entry fee)
• →Optional: Navajo-guided 4WD backcountry jeep tour (~£60–90pp) — highly recommended for the full experience
• →Sunset at John Ford's Point — unmissable

If you didn't visit Glen Canyon Dam yesterday, stop for a quick look on the way north — the dam wall overlook is free and impressive. Then make your way up to Bryce Canyon National Park, one of Utah's most magical parks. Arrive in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day at Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Points along the Rim Trail. The hoodoo formations (orange limestone spires) are unlike anything else on Earth. Sunrise here the next morning is spectacular if you can manage it — but today's late afternoon light is stunning too.

🚌Self-drive rental car. Page to Bryce Canyon ~2.5 hrs via US-89 N.

🛏Bryce Canyon Inn in Tropic (~£70–100/night) or Ruby's Inn Budget Rooms (~£80–110/night) just outside the park

• →Glen Canyon Dam viewpoint stop (free overlook from the bridge) en route if bypassing Page
• →Drive north to Bryce Canyon National Park via UT-89 (~2.5 hrs from Page)
• →Entry covered by America the Beautiful Annual Pass
• →Rim Trail walk: Sunrise Point → Sunset Point → Inspiration Point → Bryce Point (~5.5 miles, easy-moderate)
• →Optional: Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden Trail descent into the hoodoos (~3 miles, moderate — highly recommended)

Optional: catch sunrise at Bryce Point before packing up — worth every early alarm. Then drive the scenic UT-12 and US-89 south to Zion National Park, one of America's most beloved parks. Private vehicles cannot drive the main canyon road in season — you must use the free Zion Canyon Shuttle (runs frequently from the visitor centre). Ride it to the end and hike the Riverside Walk (easy, 2 miles return) or attempt Angels Landing if you have a permit (book via recreation.gov months ahead). End the day in St. George, Utah — a relaxed small city with good food options and easy highway access.

🚌Self-drive rental car. Free Zion Canyon Shuttle within the park.

🛏Chalet Motel or Bluebell Motel in St. George (~£60–85/night). Also budget chain options like Motel 6 (~£55–75/night).

• →Optional sunrise at Bryce Point before departure
• →Drive to Zion National Park (~1.5 hrs via UT-12 and US-9)
• →Entry covered by America the Beautiful Annual Pass
• →Take the free Zion Canyon Shuttle from Visitor Centre to Temple of Sinawava
• →Riverside Walk hike — flat, paved, spectacular canyon narrows views (2 miles return, easy)
• →Optional: Angels Landing hike — requires advance permit via recreation.gov (~£5 permit, strenuous)
• →Drive to St. George for overnight (~45 min from Zion South Entrance)
• →Explore downtown St. George and grab dinner on Ancestor Square

It's a short 1.5-hour drive back to Las Vegas on I-15 — one of the most straightforward drives of the whole trip. If time permits, make a quick detour to Snow Canyon State Park just outside St. George (entry ~£7) — red sandstone canyon formations without the crowds. Drop your rental car at Harry Reid International Airport (allow extra time for return queues) and depart. You've done the Canyonlands your way.

🚌Self-drive rental car back to Las Vegas. Return car at airport.

🛏None (departure day)

• →Optional morning detour to Snow Canyon State Park (~20 min from St. George, ~£7 entry)
• →Drive from St. George to Las Vegas (~1.5 hrs via I-15 S
• →Return rental car at Harry Reid International Airport
• →Depart Las Vegas