Parks & Canyons Spectacular: Denver to Las Vegas (Self-Launched)
15 days · Western USA
Globus charges £3,600
No-markup version: ~£2,140 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's 15-day Denver-to-Las Vegas coach tour through the Black Hills, Yellowstone, the Tetons, Utah's canyon country and the Grand Canyon. Instead of a tour bus and tour director, you drive (or ride) yourself: a one-way rental car or camper split between a small crew is usually the cheapest and most flexible option out here, with Amtrak and Greyhound filling the long city-to-city legs. You sleep in gateway-town hostels, motels and national-park campgrounds, cook some of your own meals, and book the same experiences — Mount Rushmore, Old Faithful, Antelope Canyon, a Snake River float — direct or through GetYourGuide. Note: park entry passes, America the Beautiful annual pass and rental fuel are all included in the estimate. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Denver — LoDo and city trails
Denver, Colorado
Land at DEN and take the RTD A-Line train into Union Station (~£8, 40 mins) — no need for a taxi. Check into a hostel or budget hotel near LoDo or Capitol Hill. Spend the afternoon walking the Cherry Creek and South Platte trails, then wander LoDo's brick warehouses for happy-hour tacos and local beer. Pick up a US SIM/eSIM and top up a transit card. Watch the sunset from City Park with the Front Range behind you.
🚌RTD A-Line train from DEN to Union Station ~£8; on foot and local light rail (£2.50/ride)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near LoDo, £34–48/night
- →RTD A-Line airport train
- →LoDo walking and dining
- →Cherry Creek Trail walk
- →City Park sunset views
Denver to Rapid City via the Black Hills
Rapid City, South Dakota
Pick up a one-way rental car (book well ahead for a Denver pick-up/Vegas drop-off; expect ~£55–75/day split between travellers, or ~£18–25/day each for a crew of three). Drive north on I-25 and US-18 into the Black Hills — roughly 6.5 hours. Alternatively fly Frontier/United DEN–RAP (~£70–110 one way) and rent locally. Settle into a Rapid City motel or the Black Hills Hostel, and grab a welcome beer downtown where the City of Presidents statues line the corners.
🚌Rental car ~£65/day (shared) plus ~£45 fuel for the leg; or flight DEN–RAP ~£90
🛏Rapid City motel or hostel, £30–45/night
- →Rental car pick-up
- →Scenic Black Hills drive
- →Downtown Rapid City presidents statues
Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse
Rapid City, South Dakota
Self-drive day in the Black Hills. Start early at Mount Rushmore National Memorial (parking ~£8, entry free) and walk the 0.6-mile Presidential Trail with its 422 stairs right beneath the sculpture. Continue to the Crazy Horse Memorial (~£10 entry) — the on-site museum and Native American cultural centre earn the stop. Loop back via Iron Mountain Road's pigtail bridges and one-lane tunnels framing Rushmore. Evening in Rapid City.
🚌Self-drive ~£25 fuel for the day; parking £8
🛏Rapid City motel or hostel, £30–45/night
- →Mount Rushmore + Presidential Trail
- →Crazy Horse Memorial and museum
- →Iron Mountain Road scenic loop
Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon and into Wyoming
Sheridan, Wyoming
Drive to the gold-rush town of Deadwood and do a self-guided wander of the historic Main Street (free; guided walking tours ~£12 if you want the stories). Continue through Spearfish Canyon's limestone gorge and on over the Bighorn Mountains on US-14/14A — a spectacular, free scenic drive. Overnight in Sheridan, a classic Wyoming ranch town; eat at a family-run steakhouse or the local brewery.
🚌Self-drive ~£30 fuel; optional Deadwood guided walk £12
🛏Sheridan motel or guesthouse, £32–48/night
- →Deadwood historic Main Street
- →Spearfish Canyon drive
- →Bighorn Mountains scenic byway
Little Bighorn Battlefield to Cody
Cody, Wyoming
Head north to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana (~1.5 hrs) — entry ~£18 with museum and battlefield loop drive; rangers give free talks in summer. Then swing south through the Bighorns on the Cloud Peak Skyway to Cody (~3 hrs). Cody is the Buffalo Bill town: catch the nightly Irma Hotel gunfight (free) or the rodeo if in season (~£20).
🚌Self-drive ~£35 fuel; Little Bighorn entry £18
🛏Cody motel, hostel cabin or campground, £28–45/night
- →Little Bighorn Battlefield and museum
- →Cloud Peak Skyway drive
- →Cody Irma Hotel gunfight or rodeo
Buffalo Bill Center and into Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park (West Yellowstone or Gardiner)
Morning at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody (~£18) — five museums in one, allow 2–3 hours. Then drive the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway through Shoshone National Forest to Yellowstone's East Entrance (park entry covered by the America the Beautiful annual pass, ~£65 — buy it at the first gate and it pays for everything else this trip). Stop at Sylvan Pass and Yellowstone Lake viewpoints. Base yourself in West Yellowstone or Gardiner for two nights.
🚌Self-drive ~£30 fuel; America the Beautiful pass £65 (one-off, covers all parks)
🛏West Yellowstone motel or Gardiner hostel/campground, £35–55/night
- →Buffalo Bill Center of the West
- →Shoshone National Forest scenic drive
- →Yellowstone Lake overlooks
Yellowstone's Grand Loop
Yellowstone National Park
Full day on the Grand Loop Road: Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks, Fountain Paint Pot, then the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls at Artist Point. If you have energy left, drive up to Mammoth Hot Springs and walk the limestone terraces. Bring a cooler with lunch — park food is expensive. Keep an eye out for bison jams and elk around Mammoth.
🚌Self-drive ~£25 fuel inside the park
🛏West Yellowstone motel or Gardiner hostel/campground, £35–55/night
- →Old Faithful and geyser basins
- →Fountain Paint Pot
- →Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone / Lower Falls
- →Mammoth Hot Springs terraces
Grand Teton and Jenny Lake to Jackson
Jackson, Wyoming
Exit south into Grand Teton National Park — the Teton Range rises straight out of the plain. Walk the Jenny Lake shoreline trail (or take the shuttle boat ~£12 and hike to Hidden Falls). Stop at Jackson Lake and Oxbow Bend for photos. Book a Bar T-5 Chuckwagon Cookout and Wild West Show direct (about £55–65 with Dutch-oven dinner) for a cheap taste of the original itinerary's dinner. Overnight in Jackson — book hostel beds or the hostel in nearby Teton Village early, Jackson is pricey.
🚌Self-drive ~£25 fuel; Jenny Lake shuttle boat £12
🛏Jackson hostel or budget motel, £40–60/night
- →Jenny Lake shoreline or Hidden Falls hike
- →Oxbow Bend and Teton viewpoints
- →Bar T-5 Chuckwagon Cookout and Wild West Show
Snake River and Jackson rest day
Jackson, Wyoming
Morning guided scenic float on the Snake River through GetYourGuide or a local outfitter (~£55–70, 3 hours, Class I–II, suitable for beginners). Afternoon free: browse the Town Square antler arches and galleries, ride the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram (~£35) for summit trails, or find huckleberry ice cream. Drinks at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Low-key day to recharge before the long drive south.
🚌On foot in town; outfitter shuttle included with float
🛏Jackson hostel or budget motel, £40–60/night
- →Snake River scenic float trip
- →Jackson Town Square and galleries
- →Optional Aerial Tram summit hike
Jackson to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Long drive day south on US-89/I-80 (~4.5–5 hrs) through the Star Valley and Wasatch Range. In Salt Lake City, do a free self-guided walk of Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol and the Bonneville Salt Flats if you detour. Stay in a downtown hostel (there's a good one near the convention centre) and eat at a casual Mexican or Thai spot. Alternatively, swap the car for the Salt Lake Express shuttle or Greyhound if you're travelling without wheels.
🚌Self-drive ~£40 fuel; or Salt Lake Express shuttle ~£25
🛏Salt Lake City hostel, £28–40/night
- →Wasatch Range scenic drive
- →Temple Square and State Capitol walk
- →Bonneville Salt Flats detour
Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Drive south on I-15 to Bryce Canyon (~4 hrs). Use the afternoon for the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop combination (2.9 miles, ~2 hrs) — descending among the hoodoos is the whole point. Sunset from Sunrise or Sunset Point is unbeatable. Sleep cheap in Bryce Canyon City or camp in the park; lodging inside the park books out months ahead.
🚌Self-drive ~£45 fuel
🛏Bryce Canyon City motel, hostel cabin or campground, £30–50/night
- →Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop hike
- →Hoodoo photography
- →Sunset Point viewpoint
Zion National Park to Page
Page, Arizona
Early start for Zion (~1.5 hrs). Park at the visitor centre and use the free shuttle up the canyon. Walk the Riverside Walk or wade into the Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava (rental gear not needed in summer for the first stretch), and picnic near Zion Lodge. Then drive east through the Carmel Tunnel to Page, Arizona (~2.5 hrs). Overnight in Page — cheap motels and a decent hostel scene.
🚌Self-drive ~£35 fuel; free park shuttle
🛏Page motel or hostel, £32–50/night
- →Zion Canyon shuttle and riverside walk
- →Optional Narrows wade
- →Carmel Highway scenic drive
Antelope Canyon, Painted Desert and Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona
Book Antelope Canyon direct or via GetYourGuide in advance (~£70–90 for Upper, ~£55 for Lower — the lower canyon is easier walking out). Then drive west on US-89/AZ-64 across the Painted Desert, stopping at Horseshoe Bend (free, ~£8 parking) and the Little Colorado River Gorge. Arrive at the South Rim for sunset over the canyon. Camp at Mather Campground or stay in Tusayan.
🚌Self-drive ~£35 fuel; Antelope Canyon entry £55–90
🛏Mather Campground (tent ~£14) or Tusayan motel, £25–50/night
- →Antelope Canyon guided tour
- →Horseshoe Bend
- →Painted Desert drive
- →Grand Canyon South Rim sunset
Grand Canyon rim to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sunrise at Mather or Yavapai Point, then walk a stretch of the Rim Trail before driving south on AZ-64/I-40/US-93 to Las Vegas (~4.5 hrs). Drop the rental car at the airport or downtown. Check into a budget Strip or downtown hotel (midweek rates can be surprisingly low, ~£30–50). Finish with a walk down Fremont Street, a cheap buffet and a view from a rooftop bar.
🚌Self-drive ~£45 fuel; car drop-off fees may apply for one-way rentals
🛏Budget hotel on the Strip or downtown, £30–50/night
- →Grand Canyon sunrise and Rim Trail
- →Route 66 stop in Seligman (optional)
- →Fremont Street and downtown Las Vegas
Las Vegas — depart or extend
Las Vegas, Nevada
Breakfast, then a final wander of the Strip or a pool morning. Public buses and the Vegas Loop get you to the airport cheaply; rideshares are ~£15–20. If you have time, add a day for Red Rock Canyon (30 mins west) or a Grand Canyon helicopter flightseeing trip (~£180+) booked through GetYourGuide before you fly home.
🚌Airport bus/rideshare ~£5–18
🛏Departure day (or extra night £30–50)
- →Strip walk
- →Optional Red Rock Canyon
- →Optional helicopter flightseeing
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,140 | £3,600 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,460 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,140
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 Parks & Canyons Spectacular: Denver to Las Vegas (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,140 per person for 15 days in Western 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £3,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,140 — a saving of roughly £1,460 (41%) per person.
How long is the Western USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Western 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, road-trip, hiking trip through Western 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?
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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