Best of Utah & Arizona National Parks — Self-Launched Road Trip
7 days · Utah & Arizona, USA
G Adventures charges £2,000
No-markup version: ~£900 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 7-day loop from Las Vegas through Zion, Bryce Canyon, Page, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon — the same national parks and highlights as the G Adventures small-group tour, done independently by rental car (or a mix of car-share and shuttle). You'll hike The Narrows and the canyon rim trails, watch sunset over the Grand Canyon, take a Navajo-guided jeep tour in Monument Valley, and drive a stretch of Route 66, staying in budget motels, hostels and park-area lodges instead of tour hotels. Costs below are realistic backpacker/budget estimates in GBP per person for two people sharing a car and twin room; a solo traveller will pay roughly 40–60% more on accommodation and car hire.
Day-by-day
Las Vegas to Springdale (gateway to Zion)
Las Vegas / Springdale, Utah
Land at Las Vegas airport and pick up a pre-booked rental car (book well ahead — compact cars from ~£30–40/day, split between two travellers it's cheap). Stock up on water, snacks and a cooler at a supermarket on the way out (Trader Joe's or Walmart) — food in park towns is expensive. Drive ~2h45 (170 miles) on I-15 to Springdale, the walkable village at Zion's south entrance. Check into a motel or hostel, then walk the town and get an early night ahead of a full day in the park. Get a US National Park annual pass (America the Beautiful, ~£65/$80) at the Zion entrance if you don't already have one — it covers Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon and pays for itself on this trip. Note: from 2026 non-US residents pay an additional park surcharge, so budget for that too.
🚌Rental car from Las Vegas airport, ~170 miles on I-15 (~£20 fuel)
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Springdale or Hurricane (dorm ~£28–35; motel twin ~£55–75/room)
- →Pick up rental car
- →Supermarket stock-up
- →Scenic drive to Springdale
- →Buy America the Beautiful annual pass
Full day hiking Zion National Park
Zion National Park, Utah
Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center or take the free Springdale shuttle to the entrance, then ride the free park shuttle up the canyon. Start early to beat crowds and heat. Do the Riverside Walk and continue into The Narrows (free, no permit needed for day hiking from the bottom) — rent canyoneering shoes and a walking stick from a Springdale outfitter for ~£20–25, essential for the slippery riverbed. Alternatively hike the Watchman Trail or part of Angels Landing — note Angels Landing's chain section requires a permit won via the NPS lottery, so apply weeks in advance if you want it. Pack lunch and plenty of water; there's no food inside the canyon.
🚌Free park shuttle + free Springdale town shuttle; no driving in the canyon
🛏Same Springdale/Hurricane base (dorm ~£28–35; motel twin ~£55–75/room)
- →The Narrows hike
- →Riverside Walk
- →Watchman Trail
- →Shuttle through Zion Canyon
- →Optional Angels Landing (permit lottery in advance)
Zion to Bryce Canyon — hoodoos and dark skies
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Drive ~1h45 (85 miles) via Highway 9 through the Zion–Mt Carmel Tunnel and Highway 89 to Bryce Canyon. Stop at the visitor centre, then walk the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points, and hike down the Queen's Garden Trail from Sunrise Point as an out-and-back (the Navajo Loop connector is closed due to rockfall, so it can't be done as a loop). Stay for sunset at Inspiration Point — the amphitheatre of hoodoos turns orange — then stay out after dark: Bryce is an International Dark Sky Park and the stargazing is superb.
🚌Rental car, ~85 miles (~£12 fuel); free park shuttle in season
🛏Budget motel or cabin in Bryce Canyon City / Tropic (dorm ~£30–38; motel twin ~£60–80/room)
- →Rim Trail walk
- →Queen's Garden Trail hike
- →Sunset at Inspiration Point
- →Stargazing in a Dark Sky Park
Bryce to Page — Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Page, Arizona
Drive ~2h45 (150 miles) on Scenic Byway 12 and US-89 to Page, Arizona. Pre-book an Antelope Canyon tour — it's Navajo tribal land and only accessible with a Navajo guide; book direct with an authorised operator or via GetYourGuide/Viator (~£85–110 for the Upper Canyon, book weeks ahead as slots sell out). Afterwards visit Horseshoe Bend: park at the lot off US-89 (~£8 entry) and walk 15–20 minutes to the overlook of the Colorado River's famous bend. Overnight in Page — cheap motels and a hostel-style option, plus a supermarket for self-catering.
🚌Rental car, ~150 miles (~£20 fuel)
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Page, AZ (dorm ~£30–38; motel twin ~£55–70/room)
- →Antelope Canyon guided tour (~£90)
- →Horseshoe Bend hike and viewpoint
- →Lake Powell shoreline wander
Monument Valley jeep tour, then on to the Grand Canyon
Monument Valley / Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona
Drive ~2h to Monument Valley (Navajo Tribal Park). Do a Navajo-guided jeep tour — 2.5–3 hours into the backcountry among the buttes and arches, ~£75–95pp, bookable direct with operators like those based at The View or via GetYourGuide. Pay the tribal park entry (~£6). Then drive ~3h to the Grand Canyon South Rim, stopping for lunch or a browse at Cameron Trading Post on US-89. Arrive in time for sunset along Mather Point or Yavapai Point — one of the great travel moments. Overnight in Tusayan or inside the park.
🚌Rental car, ~200 miles (~£26 fuel)
🛏Budget motel in Tusayan or Maswik/Bright Angel Lodge inside the park (dorm ~£35–45; twin room ~£75–95/room; park lodges book out months ahead)
- →Monument Valley Navajo jeep tour (~£85)
- →Tribal park entry
- →Cameron Trading Post stop
- →Grand Canyon sunset at Mather or Yavapai Point
Full day hiking the Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A full day on the South Rim using the free park shuttle. Hike a section of the Bright Angel Trail (free) — go early, turn around before you think you need to, and carry 3+ litres of water per person; descending is easy, climbing back up in the heat is not. Alternatively walk the Rim Trail between viewpoints or take the Hermits Rest shuttle to catch quieter overlooks. Optional splurge: a Grand Canyon helicopter flight over the canyon (~£300+ if booked direct with Papillon or Maverick — literally skip it and put the money toward the rest of your trip instead). Evening: ranger talk or sunset on the rim.
🚌Free park shuttle; no driving needed on the rim
🛏Same Tusayan or in-park base (dorm ~£35–45; twin ~£75–95/room)
- →Bright Angel Trail hike
- →Rim Trail viewpoints
- →Hermits Rest shuttle loop
- →Optional helicopter flight (expensive, optional)
Route 66 back to Las Vegas
Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, Nevada
Drive out of the park via the South Entrance and head west on I-40, detouring onto the original Route 66 alignment through Seligman — the inspirations for Radiator Springs in Cars — for diners, neon and kitsch photo stops. Continue via Kingman and Hoover Dam (free to walk across; dam tours ~£12 if you want one) and back into Las Vegas, ~4h30–5h driving total. Drop the car at the airport, allowing fuel-up time and at least 2–3 hours before a flight. If you have a late flight, stash bags and wander the Strip first.
🚌Rental car, ~280 miles (~£35 fuel); optional Hoover Dam tour
🛏None (or a cheap Las Vegas hostel/motel if you stay the night, ~£30–50)
- →Route 66 drive via Seligman and Kingman
- →Hoover Dam viewpoint
- →Return rental car
- →Optional Las Vegas Strip wander
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£900 | £2,000 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,100 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£900
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 Best of Utah & Arizona National Parks — Self-Launched Road Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £900 per person for 7 days in Utah & Arizona, USA. 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 £2,000 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £900 — a saving of roughly £1,100 (55%) per person.
How long is the Utah & Arizona, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Utah & Arizona, USA.
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, hiking, road-trip trip through Utah & Arizona, USA, 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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