Self-Launched: America's National Parks Road Trip (Las Vegas Loop)
15 days · Western USA — National Parks of the Southwest & Rockies
Cosmos charges £2,560
No-markup version: ~£1,520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Cosmos's 15-day coach circuit from Las Vegas through the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches, the Black Hills, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Salt Lake City, Bryce and Zion. Instead of a 42-50 person coach and fixed hotels, you drive a shared rental car (or use a mix of rental car and Greyhound/Amtrak for the long legs), sleep in hostels, park lodges and budget motels, and book the same Navajo jeep tours, ranger walks and scenic drives directly. You'll cover roughly 3,200 miles — this is a road-trip itinerary, so split driving between travel companions or budget for a solo-driver surcharge. Costs are per person, approximate, based on budget/backpacker rates sharing a car and twin/dorm rooms.
Day-by-day
Arrive Las Vegas — strip wander
Las Vegas, Nevada
Land at Harry Reid International (LAS) and take the local bus (Route 109/108 to the Deuce, ~£3.50) or a shared shuttle (~£9) instead of a taxi. Check into a hostel or budget motel near the Strip, then walk the Strip in the evening — Bellagio fountains, the Venetian canals, Fremont Street for cheap eats. Pick up your rental car this evening or first thing tomorrow (booking 2-3 months ahead gets rates around £28-38/day for a compact, split between travellers).
🚌Local bus or shared shuttle from airport ~£9; walk the Strip
🛏Hostel dorm or budget motel near the Strip (e.g. hostel on Las Vegas Blvd / Motel 6-style, £25-35 pp)
- →Walk the Las Vegas Strip
- →Fremont Street Experience
- →Bellagio fountains (free)
Drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Collect the rental car and drive US-93/I-40 to the South Rim (~4.5 hrs, 280 miles). Stop at Williams on Route 66 for a coffee. Buy the America the Beautiful annual pass (~£63) at the entrance — it pays for itself within four parks. Check into a park lodge or the hostel/budget rooms in Tusayan, then catch sunset at Mather Point or Hopi Point on the Rim Trail (free).
🚌Rental car ~280 miles; fuel ~£20 split
🛏Yavapai Lodge budget room or Tusayan motel/hostel (£45-60 pp sharing)
- →Grand Canyon South Rim sunset
- →Rim Trail walk
- →Route 66 stop in Williams
- →Buy America the Beautiful annual pass
Grand Canyon morning hike, then Monument Valley
Monument Valley / Kayenta, Arizona
Early start for the Bright Angel Trail (hike 1.5-2 hrs down to the first tunnel and back — free, bring water). Drive east on Desert View Drive stopping at the watchtower, then on to Monument Valley (~3 hrs). Book a Navajo-guided 4x4 tour into the valley floor directly with a Navajo operator (about £65-80 pp for 2.5 hrs) — this is the same excursion the coach tour includes. Sleep in Kayenta.
🚌Rental car ~200 miles; fuel ~£18 split
🛏Kayenta motel (e.g. Kayenta Monument Valley Inn, £35-45 pp sharing)
- →Bright Angel Trail hike (free)
- →Desert View watchtower
- →Navajo-guided Monument Valley 4x4 tour (~£70)
- →Navajo cookout dinner (optional ~£25)
Arches National Park and Moab
Moab / Grand Junction, Colorado
Drive north to Moab (~3 hrs), then into Arches National Park. Do the Devils Garden loop to Landscape Arch and the short walks to Delicate Arch viewpoint and Balanced Rock — all free with your annual pass. Note: Arches now requires a timed-entry reservation in peak season (book on recreation.gov, ~£1.50). Optional £60-80 off-road Hummer tour in Moab. Push on to Grand Junction for the night (~1.5 hrs).
🚌Rental car ~230 miles; fuel ~£20 split
🛏Budget hotel in Grand Junction (£30-40 pp sharing)
- →Arches NP timed entry (recreation.gov)
- →Devils Garden / Landscape Arch hike
- →Delicate Arch viewpoint
- →Moab town wander
Colorado National Monument and Denver
Denver, Colorado
Morning drive through Colorado National Monument's Rim Rock Drive — 23 miles of canyon-edge road with free pull-offs. Then I-70 east to Denver (~4 hrs). Denver has good hostels and a walkable downtown; hit the 16th Street Mall and a brewery taproom in RiNo for dinner.
🚌Rental car ~270 miles; fuel ~£22 split
🛏Denver hostel dorm or budget hotel (£30-40 pp)
- →Rim Rock Drive, Colorado National Monument
- →Denver downtown walk
- →RiNo brewery taproom
Long drive to the Black Hills
Custer, South Dakota
The big driving day: Denver to Custer via I-25 and US-16/385 (~6.5 hrs, 400 miles) through Wyoming and into the Black Hills. Break the drive in Cheyenne or Hot Springs. Arrive in Custer in the evening — budget motels and a couple of hostels/cabins are the options here. Craft-beer taproom in Custer for dinner.
🚌Rental car ~400 miles; fuel ~£30 split
🛏Custer budget motel or cabin (£35-45 pp sharing)
- →Scenic drive across Wyoming and the Black Hills
- →Custer taproom evening
Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
Custer, South Dakota
Drive the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park early (bison, pronghorn; park entry ~£15 per vehicle). Then Mount Rushmore (~£8 parking only, memorial free) and the Crazy Horse Memorial (~£9 entry) with its Indian Museum of North America. Consider the Iron Mountain Road / Needles Highway loop for the best driving in the region. Second night in Custer.
🚌Rental car ~90 miles; fuel ~£8 split
🛏Custer budget motel or cabin (£35-45 pp sharing)
- →Wildlife Loop Road, Custer State Park
- →Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- →Crazy Horse Memorial & Indian Museum
- →Iron Mountain Road drive
Devils Tower to Cody
Cody, Wyoming
Drive to Devils Tower National Monument (~2.5 hrs) — walk the 1.3-mile Tower Trail loop (free with your annual pass). Continue west through the Bighorn Mountains or via Buffalo to Cody (~5 hrs). Budget motels and a handful of guesthouses in Cody; catch the evening gunfight re-enactment on the main square in summer (free).
🚌Rental car ~360 miles; fuel ~£28 split
🛏Cody budget motel (£35-45 pp sharing)
- →Devils Tower Tower Trail
- →Bighorn Mountains scenic drive
- →Cody historic downtown
Buffalo Bill Center, then into Yellowstone
West Yellowstone, Montana
Morning at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody (~£18, excellent Plains Indian and firearms museums). Then the spectacular Chief Joseph Scenic Byway / Beartooth route or the direct route into Yellowstone's East Entrance, settling in West Yellowstone for three nights. Book West Yellowstone lodges 2-3 months ahead — summer prices spike.
🚌Rental car ~120 miles; fuel ~£12 split
🛏West Yellowstone motel or cabin (£45-60 pp sharing)
- →Buffalo Bill Center of the West (~£18)
- →Scenic byway into Yellowstone East Entrance
Yellowstone full day — geysers and hot springs
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Full self-drive loop of the lower geyser basins: Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks, Grand Prismatic Spring from the Fairy Falls overlook, Fountain Paint Pots and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Artist Point). Free with your annual pass — no guide needed, the boardwalks are self-explanatory. Pack a picnic to keep food costs down.
🚌Rental car ~120 miles within park; fuel ~£12 split
🛏West Yellowstone motel or cabin (£45-60 pp sharing)
- →Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin
- →Grand Prismatic Spring overlook
- →Fountain Paint Pots
- →Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone / Artist Point
Mammoth Hot Springs, Grand Teton and Jenny Lake
Alpine, Wyoming
Exit north to Mammoth Hot Springs terraces, then south through Grand Teton National Park. Stroll the Jenny Lake loop or take the shuttle boat (~£14 return) to the Hidden Falls trailhead. Optional scenic float on the Snake River (~£55-70, book direct with a Jackson outfitter). Sleep in Alpine, a cheaper base than Jackson.
🚌Rental car ~200 miles; fuel ~£18 split
🛏Alpine budget lodge/motel (£35-45 pp sharing)
- →Mammoth Hot Springs terraces
- →Jenny Lake stroll or boat + Hidden Falls hike (~£14)
- →Jackson town stop
- →Optional Snake River float (~£60)
Alpine to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Drive south through the Snake River Canyon and into Utah (~4.5 hrs). Self-guided wander of Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol and downtown — all free. Salt Lake City has proper hostels, which brings the cost down. Try a local diner for dinner.
🚌Rental car ~280 miles; fuel ~£22 split
🛏Salt Lake City hostel dorm or budget inn (£25-35 pp)
- →Temple Square
- →Utah State Capitol
- →Downtown SLC wander
Drive to Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon City, Utah
Drive south (~4 hrs) via Provo and Beaver. Afternoon in Bryce Canyon: walk the Rim Trail and descend the Navajo Loop + Queens Garden combination (~3 miles, the best short hike in the park). Free with your annual pass. Sunset from Sunrise or Sunset Point. Budget lodges and a hostel in Bryce Canyon City.
🚌Rental car ~270 miles; fuel ~£22 split
🛏Bryce Canyon City budget lodge/hostel (£30-40 pp sharing)
- →Navajo Loop / Queens Garden hike
- →Sunset Point at sunset
Zion National Park and back to Las Vegas
Zion National Park → Las Vegas, Nevada
Drive to Zion (~2 hrs). Park in Springdale and use the free park shuttle up the canyon — walk the Riverside Walk and, if you're up for it, wade the Narrows (rent canyoneering shoes/gear in Springdale ~£20). Angels Landing now needs a lottery permit (apply on recreation.gov, ~£5). Bagged lunch to save money, then drive ~2.5 hrs back to Las Vegas and drop the car.
🚌Rental car ~200 miles; fuel ~£16 split; free Zion shuttle
🛏Las Vegas hostel or budget motel (£25-35 pp)
- →Zion Canyon free shuttle
- →Riverside Walk / The Narrows wade (gear ~£20)
- →Angels Landing permit lottery (optional)
- →Dinner on Fremont Street
Departure or extra Vegas nights
Las Vegas, Nevada
Breakfast, then local bus or shared shuttle to the airport. If your flight is later, leave bags at the hostel and do a final Strip walk or visit the free Bellagio Conservatory. Extra nights in Vegas are cheap midweek — hostels from ~£25 pp.
🚌Local bus or shared shuttle to LAS ~£9
🛏None (departure) or optional extra night (£25-35 pp)
- →Bellagio Conservatory (free)
- →Last Strip wander
Self-launched vs. Cosmos
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Cosmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,520 | £2,560 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,040 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Cosmos-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,520
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 Self-Launched: America's National Parks Road Trip (Las Vegas Loop) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,520 per person for 15 days in Western USA — National Parks of the Southwest & Rockies. 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 Cosmos?+
Yes — Cosmos charges around £2,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,520 — a saving of roughly £1,040 (41%) per person.
How long is the Western USA — National Parks of the Southwest & Rockies trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Western USA — National Parks of the Southwest & Rockies.
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 Western USA — National Parks of the Southwest & Rockies, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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