Utah's Mighty Five National Parks – Self-Launched

Fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT). Pick up your pre-booked rental car — a compact SUV or 4WD is ideal for unpaved park roads and costs around £35–50/day from Enterprise or Budget. Check into a budget motel on Horizon Drive and grab dinner at a local spot on Main Street. Tomorrow is a big day, so rest up.

🚌Fly into GJT. Self-drive rental car from here for the full trip — budget ~£40/day all-in.

🛏Motel 6 Grand Junction or Clarion Inn — budget motels on Horizon Drive (~£60–80/night)

• →Pick up rental car at Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)
• →Stroll downtown Grand Junction's Main Street
• →Grab dinner at a local restaurant — try Bin 707 Foodbar or Rockslide Brewery

Drive south from Grand Junction to Moab (~1.5 hrs via US-191). First stop: Dead Horse Point State Park, where the Colorado River makes a dramatic 2,000-ft-below horseshoe bend — entry costs around £8. Then head into Canyonlands National Park — Island in the Sky district. Walk to Grand View Point Overlook (2-mile trail) and Green River Overlook. Entry is covered by the America the Beautiful annual pass (~£60), which pays for itself across multiple parks on this trip. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Moab for two nights.

🚌Self-drive from Grand Junction to Moab (~1.5 hrs, ~90 miles via US-191).

🛏Lazy Lizard Hostel Moab (dorm ~£25) or The Gonzo Inn (budget double ~£90/night)

• →Dead Horse Point State Park — Colorado River overlook (~£8 entry)
• →Canyonlands National Park — Island in the Sky mesa
• →Walk to Grand View Point Overlook (2-mile out-and-back trail)
• →Green River Overlook viewpoint
• →Buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass at the first park entry booth (~£60) — valid for all national parks on this trip

Spend a full day exploring Arches National Park, just 5 miles north of Moab — entry covered by your America the Beautiful pass. The park is famous for over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Start early (gates can get busy — timed entry reservations are sometimes required in peak season, book at recreation.gov for free). Walk to Landscape Arch (easy 1.6-mile trail), Double Arch, and Turret Arch in the Windows Section. The Delicate Arch viewpoint trail is moderate (3-mile round trip). In the afternoon, explore downtown Moab — great gear shops, cafes, and a lively traveller scene.

🚌Self-drive from Moab to Arches National Park entrance (~5 miles, 10 mins).

🛏Lazy Lizard Hostel Moab (dorm ~£25) or The Gonzo Inn (~£90/night)

• →Arches National Park — timed entry reservation via recreation.gov (free to book, pass covers entry)
• →Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail (3-mile moderate hike)
• →Landscape Arch — easy 1.6-mile round trip
• →Double Arch and Turret Arch — Windows Section loop
• →Explore Moab town — grab lunch at Moab Diner or Love Muffin Cafe

Drive west from Moab through some of Utah's most otherworldly scenery (~2.5 hrs). Stop at Goblin Valley State Park (~£8 entry) — a surreal landscape of mushroom-shaped hoodoos you can wander freely among. Then continue to Capitol Reef National Park (covered by your pass). Visit the Gifford Homestead, a working pioneer-era farm where you can buy fresh-baked pies — a local institution. Explore the Fruita orchard and canyon drives. Check into accommodation near Torrey.

🚌Self-drive Moab to Capitol Reef via UT-24 (~2.5 hrs, ~145 miles). Stop at Goblin Valley en route via UT-24/Temple Mountain Rd.

🛏Torrey is the nearest town — try Austin's Chuckwagon Motel (~£70/night) or Capitol Reef Resort if budget allows (~£120/night)

• →Goblin Valley State Park — free-roam among hoodoos (~£8 entry)
• →Capitol Reef National Park — Fruita Historic District and Gifford Homestead pies
• →Scenic Drive through Capitol Reef's painted cliffs (~8-mile toll road, ~£4)
• →Chimney Rock trailhead viewpoint (easy walk)

Today you drive one of America's most celebrated scenic roads — Highway 12, an All-American Road that winds through red rock canyons, over narrow ridge-top roads, and past sweeping vistas. Stop at Grand Staircase-Escalante overlooks, then drop into Kodachrome Basin State Park (~£8 entry) — famous for its fossilised geysers ('sand pipes') rising from the canyon floor. Arrive near Bryce Canyon and check in for two nights at Ruby's Inn area.

🚌Self-drive from Capitol Reef/Torrey along UT-12 to Bryce Canyon (~2.5 hrs, ~115 miles). Highway 12 is the route — do not shortcut.

🛏Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn (~£90/night) or Bryce Canyon Pines Motel (~£70/night)

• →Scenic drive along Highway 12 All-American Road — stop at Calf Creek Falls overlook and Grand Staircase-Escalante viewpoints
• →Kodachrome Basin State Park — walk among sand pipe formations (~£8 entry)
• →Panorama Trail at Kodachrome Basin (3-mile loop, easy-moderate)
• →Arrive Bryce Canyon area — dinner at Ebenezer's Barn & Grill or Ruby's Inn Cowboy's Buffet

Spend a full day at Bryce Canyon National Park — entry covered by your America the Beautiful pass. Bryce is unlike any other park: its amphitheatre of orange, red, and white hoodoos is best seen at sunrise. Walk the Rim Trail for sweeping views, then descend into the canyon on the Navajo Loop Trail (easy-moderate, 1.3 miles) or the Queens Garden Trail (2.5 miles). For something special, book a 1-hour horseback ride in Dixie National Forest through Canyon Trail Rides directly at the lodge (~£75–90/person).

🚌Ruby's Inn is a 1-mile drive to the park entrance. Use the free Bryce Canyon Shuttle in peak season to avoid parking issues.

🛏Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn (~£90/night) or Bryce Canyon Pines Motel (~£70/night)

• →Bryce Canyon National Park — sunrise at Bryce Point or Sunrise Point (entry covered by pass)
• →Navajo Loop Trail into the canyon (1.3-mile loop, moderate)
• →Queens Garden Trail (2.5-mile round trip, moderate)
• →Rim Trail walk between viewpoints (easy, any length)
• →Optional: 1-hour horseback ride with Canyon Trail Rides (~£75/person, book direct at canyonrides.com)

A big driving day with three unmissable stops. First, detour to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab (~£8 entry) — pastel-pink dunes perfect for a morning wander. Then drive south to Page, AZ. Walk the short trail to Horseshoe Bend — one of the USA's most photographed viewpoints (~£6 parking fee). In the afternoon, book a guided tour of Lower Antelope Canyon with Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours (~£50–65/person, bookable via their direct website or GetYourGuide) — Navajo guides explain the slot canyon geology and light beams. Check into a motel in Page for two nights.

🚌Self-drive from Bryce Canyon area to Page, AZ via US-89 South (~2.5 hrs, ~130 miles). Coral Pink Sands is a ~20-min detour near Kanab.

🛏Courtyard by Marriott Page (~£100/night) or Motel 6 Page (~£55/night) for budget option

• →Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park — walk and explore (~£8 entry)
• →Horseshoe Bend overlook trail — short 1.5-mile round trip (~£6 parking)
• →Lower Antelope Canyon guided Navajo tour (~£55/person — book via antelopecanyontours.com or GetYourGuide)
• →Dinner in Page — try Big Lake Trading Post or Bonkers Restaurant

Spend a relaxed day around Lake Powell — one of the USA's largest reservoirs with stunning red rock canyon walls dropping into turquoise water. Visit the Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam (free). Take a self-guided walk over the dam and enjoy views over the lake. For adventure, book a Colorado River Float Trip (~£70/person) through Wilderness River Adventures, or opt for a kayak rental on the lake. For a splurge, helicopter tours to Tower Butte can be booked via Papillon (~£180/person). Dinner at Sunset 89 restaurant is a great independent splurge — book direct for lake views.

🚌Stay based in Page — all attractions within 10 miles. Self-drive.

🛏Courtyard by Marriott Page (~£100/night) or Motel 6 Page (~£55/night)

• →Glen Canyon Dam and Carl Hayden Visitor Center (free)
• →Wahweap Marina — lake views, optional kayak rental (~£35/half day)
• →Optional: Colorado River Float Trip with Wilderness River Adventures (~£70/person, book direct)
• →Optional: Helicopter ride to Tower Butte with Papillon (~£180/person)
• →Dinner at Sunset 89 — splurge option with Lake Powell views (~£35–50/person)

Drive north-west from Page along US-89 through the dramatic Vermillion Cliffs — a jaw-dropping 200-mile stretch of red and orange canyon walls. Stop at the Navajo Bridge overlook (free) for views of the Colorado River gorge far below. Arrive at Zion National Park — entry covered by your pass. The park operates a free shuttle system in peak season (no private cars in main canyon). Ride the shuttle to Zion Lodge for lunch (budget option: Zion Canyon Brew Pub in Springdale). Afternoon walks: Riverside Walk (easy, 2 miles), Weeping Rock Trail (easy, 0.5 miles), or the start of the Emerald Pools Trail. Check into Springdale for the night.

🚌Self-drive Page to Springdale via US-89 North then UT-9 (~2.5 hrs, ~140 miles). Park shuttle replaces car inside canyon.

🛏Cable Mountain Lodge Springdale (~£110/night) or Zion Canyon Campground (~£25/person) for budget

• →Scenic drive along Vermillion Cliffs — stop at Navajo Bridge overlook (free)
• →Zion National Park — free shuttle from Springdale visitor centre (entry covered by pass)
• →Riverside Walk along the Virgin River (2-mile easy flat trail)
• →Weeping Rock Trail (0.5-mile easy, natural spring dripping from cliff)
• →Lower Emerald Pools Trail (1.2-mile easy loop)
• →Lunch in Springdale or Zion Lodge dining room (~£15–20/person)

Rise early for sunrise in Springdale — the canyon walls glow amber and gold at dawn. Enjoy a quiet morning walk along the Virgin River before hitting the road. Drive west to Las Vegas (~2.5 hrs via I-15). Return your rental car at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) or downtown. The Strip is right there if you want to extend your trip — or fly home from LAS with direct routes back to the UK.

🚌Self-drive Springdale to Las Vegas via UT-9 West then I-15 South (~2.5 hrs, ~160 miles). Return rental car at LAS.

🛏N/A — end of tour. Budget Las Vegas options: LINQ Hotel (~£60/night) or Circus Circus (~£35/night) if extending.

• →Sunrise walk along Virgin River in Springdale — free and spectacular
• →Optional: Angel's Landing permit hike (strenuous, permit required via recreation.gov ~£5) for early risers
• →Drive to Las Vegas via UT-9 and I-15 (~2.5 hrs, ~160 miles)
• →Return rental car at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
• →Optional: Explore the Las Vegas Strip on arrival