Western USA National Parks Loop — Self-Launched
6 days · Western USA (Nevada, Utah & Arizona)
Intrepid Travel charges £1,590
No-markup version: ~£1,040 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 6-day self-launched road trip through the American Southwest's greatest hits — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon — starting and ending in Las Vegas. Instead of Intrepid's guided group van, you'll hire a car (or use a mix of shared shuttles and tour operators) and book everything yourself. Budget estimates assume a share of a rental car split between 2-3 travellers, budget motels/hostels and self-booked guided activities. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Las Vegas — the Strip on your own terms
Las Vegas, NV
Arrive at Harry Reid International Airport and check into a budget hotel or hostel just off the Strip (base yourself downtown or near the Strip for easy transport). Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the Strip at your own pace — walk the Fremont Street Experience, watch the free Bellagio fountains and street performers, or catch a discounted same-day show via the Tix4Tonight booths on the Strip. Grab a cheap dinner at a Chinatown or off-Strip eatery — the Strip's casino restaurants are pricey. Sort out your rental car tonight or first thing tomorrow from the airport depots (Alamo, Enterprise and Budget are cheapest booked in advance).
🚌Airport shuttle or Uber to accommodation (~£10-15); rental car pickup ready for Day 2
🛏Budget hotel/hostel near the Strip (e.g. hostel dorm or budget motel chain)
- →Walk the Las Vegas Strip
- →Bellagio fountains (free)
- →Fremont Street Experience
- →Optional: discounted show via Tix4Tonight
Las Vegas to Zion National Park
Zion National Park / Springdale, UT
Pick up your rental car early and drive 2.5-3 hours northeast to Zion National Park via I-15 (roughly 165 miles). Pay the $35-per-vehicle park entry (valid 7 days) at the gate, then park in Springdale and use the free Zion Canyon Shuttle to access the scenic drive (the shuttle runs seasonally, March-November; check current dates). Hike the iconic Riverside Walk or Angels Landing (permit required for Angels Landing via the lottery on recreation.gov — apply in advance), or the easier Emerald Pools Trail. Stay overnight in Springdale or the cheaper town of Hurricane/La Verkin, ~30-40 min drive from the park.
🚌Self-drive rental car, 165 miles (~£15 fuel); free Zion shuttle inside park
🛏Motel/hostel in Springdale or Hurricane (~£60-90/room)
- →Scenic drive to Zion
- →Guided hike options: Emerald Pools, Riverside Walk
- →Optional: Angels Landing (advance permit lottery required)
Zion to Bryce Canyon, then on to Page
Bryce Canyon National Park / Page, AZ
Drive ~1.5 hours to Bryce Canyon National Park and hike the classic Navajo Loop / Queen's Garden Trail combination (2.5-3 miles, arguably the best half-day hike in the Southwest with its hoodoos). Grab lunch in Bryce Canyon City, then continue ~2.5 hours south to Page, Arizona, arriving in the late afternoon/evening. Stay overnight in Page — it's the base for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend tomorrow. Note: this is a long drive day, so start early.
🚌Self-drive: Zion to Bryce ~75 miles, Bryce to Page ~150 miles (~£20 fuel)
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Page (~£55-85/room)
- →Bryce Canyon rim drive and viewpoints
- →Navajo Loop / Queen's Garden hike
- →Overnight in Page
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, Page
Page, AZ
Book your Lower Antelope Canyon guided tour in advance (mandatory — only Navajo guides can lead tours here; book directly with Ken's Tours or Dixie Ellis', ~$50-60 per person). Morning slots offer the best light. After lunch, visit Horseshoe Bend at the edge of town — pay the $10 per-vehicle Glen Canyon NRA fee and walk the short 15-minute trail to the famous horseshoe viewpoint. Optionally, drive to Lake Powell or take a boat tour. Overnight again in Page.
🚌Local driving within Page (~£5 fuel); tours include meet-up at office
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Page (~£55-85/room)
- →Lower Antelope Canyon guided tour with Navajo guide (book ahead)
- →Horseshoe Bend viewpoint
- →Optional: Lake Powell boat trip or kayak
Page to Monument Valley to Grand Canyon
Monument Valley / Grand Canyon South Rim
Drive ~2 hours east to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and take a Navajo-guided 4WD tour of the valley floor (book ahead with Navajo Spirit Tours or Monument Valley Safari, ~$90-140 pp), or self-drive the 17-mile Valley Drive loop if you have a suitable vehicle (~$8 pp entry). Have a traditional Navajo frybread lunch at the View Hotel or a local eatery. Then drive ~3.5 hours south to the Grand Canyon South Rim, arriving in time for sunset at Mather Point or Yavapai Point — one of the highlights of the trip. Overnight inside the park (book far ahead via grandcanyonlodges.com) or in Tusayan just outside the gate.
🚌Self-drive: Page to Monument Valley ~120 miles, Monument Valley to Grand Canyon ~180 miles (~£25 fuel)
🛏Budget lodge/motel in Grand Canyon Village or Tusayan (~£90-130/room)
- →Monument Valley Navajo-guided 4WD tour
- →Traditional Navajo lunch
- →Grand Canyon South Rim sunset viewpoints
Grand Canyon sunrise, Route 66, return to Las Vegas
Grand Canyon / Route 66 / Las Vegas, NV
Wake early for sunrise over the Grand Canyon (a must — Yavapai or Mather Point), then walk part of the Rim Trail before checking out. Drive back west along I-40 and detour onto the Historic Route 66 through Williams or Seligman for a nostalgic slice of Americana and a diner lunch. Return to Las Vegas (~4.5 hours total drive) and drop off your rental car. If your flight is late, add a night in Vegas or a side trip to the Hoover Dam (short guided tours run from Vegas, ~$50-70).
🚌Self-drive Grand Canyon to Las Vegas ~280 miles (~£30 fuel)
🛏Optional extra night in Las Vegas if flying out next day
- →Grand Canyon sunrise and Rim Trail walk
- →Historic Route 66 stops (Williams/Seligman)
- →Optional: Hoover Dam day trip from Las Vegas
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,040 | £1,590 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £550 per person (35%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,040
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 Western USA National Parks Loop — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,040 per person for 6 days in Western USA (Nevada, Utah & Arizona). 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 Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £1,590 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,040 — a saving of roughly £550 (35%) per person.
How long is the Western USA (Nevada, Utah & Arizona) trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Western USA (Nevada, Utah & Arizona).
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, road-trip, hiking trip through Western USA (Nevada, Utah & Arizona), 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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