America's Canyonlands Escape – Self-Launched Route
7 days · Las Vegas to the Grand Circle — Zion, Bryce, Moab, Grand Canyon
Globus charges £1,645
No-markup version: ~£960 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's classic 7-day Grand Circle road trip starting and ending in Las Vegas. Hike the epic trails of Zion and Bryce canyons, drive the scenic byways around Moab's Arches and Dead Horse Point, take a Navajo-led 4WD tour through Monument Valley, and watch sunrise spill over the Grand Canyon — all at your own pace, on your own schedule, with budget motels and a rental car instead of a full-service motorcoach. A far cheaper, far freer way to see America's greatest canyon country.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Fly into Las Vegas (LAS) and pick up a rental car at the airport. Base yourself in a budget motel on the Fremont Street / Downtown end of the Strip or a cheaper off-Strip option. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the neon of the Strip or Fremont Street Experience on foot. Skip the pricey casino shows; a wander between Bellagio, the Venetian and Caesars Palace is free and dazzling at night.
🚌Rental car pickup (~£30/day shared portion)
🛏Budget motel off-Strip or Downtown Las Vegas (~£45)
- →Collect rental car at LAS airport
- →Walk the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street
- →See Bellagio fountains
- →Budget dinner at a local diner or food court
Drive to Zion & Bryce Canyon
Zion National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Hit the road early (~2.5 hrs) to Zion National Park. Enter via the Springdale entrance and ride the free shuttle through Zion Canyon. Walk the paved Pa'rus Trail or hike the moderate Emerald Pools trail for spectacular red-rock views. Drive through the dramatic Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel on the way out. Continue to Bryce Canyon (~2 hrs) and check into budget lodge/motel accommodation at the park entrance. Enjoy the cowboy-town vibe with a diner steak dinner.
🚌Rental car driving Las Vegas→Zion→Bryce (~£45 fuel share)
🛏Budget motel at Bryce Canyon entrance (~£55)
- →Zion Canyon shuttle & scenic drive
- →Walk Emerald Pools or Pa'rus Trail
- →Drive through Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
- →Sunset viewpoint at Bryce Canyon rim
Bryce Canyon to Moab
Bryce Canyon → Moab, Utah
Spend the morning exploring Bryce Canyon's famous hoodoo amphitheatres. Take the scenic drive along the rim road stopping at Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point for jaw-dropping overlooks, or descend the Navajo Loop Trail into the hoodoos themselves. Then drive ~4 hours east to the red-rock adventure hub of Moab and check into a budget motel or hostel. In the evening wander downtown Moab's cafes and shops, and consider a stargazing night out in this International Dark Sky area.
🚌Rental car driving Bryce→Moab (~£40 fuel share)
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Moab (~£50)
- →Sunrise & viewpoints at Bryce Point, Sunset Point
- →Navajo Loop hoodoo hike (optional)
- →Scenic drive east to Moab via Route 12 & 24
- →Downtown Moab exploration & Dark Sky stargazing
Arches & Dead Horse Point
Moab, Utah
A full day around Moab. Drive into Arches National Park early (before 8am to beat crowds) for the scenic park road. Hike to the iconic Delicate Arch or the easier Windows/Double Arch section, and spot ancient petroglyphs near Wolfe Ranch on the way to Delicate Arch. In the afternoon drive the short hop to Dead Horse Point State Park for unforgettable views over the Colorado River's Gooseneck Bend and Canyonlands in the distance. Return to Moab for an easy evening.
🚌Rental car loops from Moab base (~£10 fuel)
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Moab (~£50)
- →Arches National Park scenic drive & hikes
- →Delicate Arch trail
- →Historic petroglyphs near Wolfe Ranch
- →Dead Horse Point State Park overlook
- →Moab downtown evening
Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon
Monument Valley → Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Drive ~2.5 hours south to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Join a Navajo-guided 4-wheel-drive tour (bookable on arrival or in advance, ~£45-60 per person) to reach areas closed to private vehicles inside the valley's iconic sandstone buttes — the guided cultural insight is well worth it. Stop at Goulding's Lodge and Trading Post museum, then continue ~3.5 hrs southwest to Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim. Check into one of the in-park budget lodges or a motel in nearby Tusayan. Stake out a spot for sunset on the rim.
🚌Rental car Monument Valley→Grand Canyon (~£45 fuel share)
🛏Budget lodge in Tusayan or Grand Canyon village (~£60)
- →Navajo-guided 4WD tour of Monument Valley
- →Goulding's Trading Post Museum
- →Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim
- →Grand Canyon sunset viewpoint
Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A full day to soak up the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Catch the free Hermit Road shuttle for classic rim overlooks, or walk part of the Rim Trail. For the ambitious, an early start on the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trail (even a mile down is a memorable descent) brings towering canyon views. Join a free ranger-led program for geology and wildlife insight. Optional extras range from a helicopter flightseeing tour to a simple champagne-style sunset, but a picnic on the rim at dusk is the classic budget finale.
🚌Free in-park shuttle; no driving needed
🛏Budget lodge in Tusayan or Grand Canyon village (~£60)
- →Free Hermit Road shuttle scenic rim drive
- →Rim Trail walk or Bright Angel partial descent
- →Free ranger-led geology program
- →Grand Canyon sunset & stargazing
Return to Las Vegas
Grand Canyon → Las Vegas, Nevada
A relaxed final morning — one last canyon view from Mather Point before driving the ~4.5 hours back to Las Vegas. Stop at the quirky Route 66 town of Williams or Kingman for a cheap roadside lunch. Return the rental car at LAS airport in the afternoon and either fly home or add an optional extra night to enjoy more of Las Vegas.
🚌Rental car Grand Canyon→Las Vegas (~£40 fuel share)
🛏N/A – end of tour (or optional extra Las Vegas night)
- →Final Grand Canyon viewpoint at Mather Point
- →Route 66 roadside stop en route
- →Return rental car at Las Vegas airport
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£960 | £1,645 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £685 per person (42%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£960
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 America's Canyonlands Escape – Self-Launched Route cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £960 per person for 7 days in Las Vegas to the Grand Circle — Zion, Bryce, Moab, Grand Canyon. 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £1,645 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £960 — a saving of roughly £685 (42%) per person.
How long is the Las Vegas to the Grand Circle — Zion, Bryce, Moab, Grand Canyon trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Las Vegas to the Grand Circle — Zion, Bryce, Moab, Grand Canyon.
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 Las Vegas to the Grand Circle — Zion, Bryce, Moab, Grand Canyon, 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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