Spectacular Canyons & National Parks — Self-Launched Road Trip (Las Vegas to Denver)
13 days · Western USA
Costsaver charges £2,370
No-markup version: ~£1,980 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Costsaver's 13-day coach tour through the American Southwest and Rockies. Instead of a 40-52 person coach, you'll self-drive a rented car (or use a mix of budget flights, Amtrak and Greyhound) between Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, Cody, Little Bighorn, the Black Hills and Denver. All the headline sights are the same — you just book them yourself, stay in hostels/motels/budget hotels, and stop where you want. Costs assume shared car and room among 2 travellers; solo travellers add roughly 40-50% to accommodation and car hire.
Day-by-day
Arrive Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Fly into Harry Reid International (LAS). Grab a hostel or budget room downtown rather than on the Strip — you're here for one night. Walk Fremont Street and the Strip on foot to soak up the neon; everything on the original itinerary's first day is free to do self-launched. Sort out your rental car for tomorrow morning (pick up downtown, not at the airport, to avoid surcharges).
🚌Airport shuttle or local bus to downtown, ~£3; rental car pick-up next morning
🛏Hostel/budget hotel downtown (e.g. Hostel Cat, Oasis at Gold Spike) — £40-55
- →Walk Fremont Street Experience
- →Stroll the Las Vegas Strip
- →Explore casinos and cheap eats (In-N-Out, taco stands)
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon & Flagstaff
Flagstaff, AZ
Collect your rental car and drive southeast. Stop at the Grand Canyon South Rim — park entry is per vehicle, so split it. Wander Grand Canyon Village and the Rim Trail, then continue to Flagstaff via Route 66 through Williams. This is a long driving day (approx. 5.5 hrs total) so leave early.
🚌Self-drive rental car, ~330 miles, fuel ~£30 split; Grand Canyon entry £27 per vehicle
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Flagstaff (e.g. Motel 6, Grand Canyon International Hostel) — £50-70
- →Grand Canyon National Park South Rim
- →Rim Trail walk
- →Route 66 drive via Williams
- →Optional helicopter flight over the canyon (£200+, book via GetYourGuide)
Flagstaff to Monument Valley to Page
Page, AZ
Drive north to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The original tour includes a Navajo-guided 4x4 jeep tour — you can book the exact same experience independently through the Monument Valley visitor centre or GetYourGuide. Afterwards continue west to Page on Lake Powell. Grab a diner breakfast in Flagstaff on the way out.
🚌Self-drive, ~250 miles, fuel ~£25 split; Monument Valley tribal entry ~£6
🛏Budget motel in Page (e.g. Travelodge, Lake Powell Hostel) — £60-85
- →Monument Valley Navajo-led jeep tour (~£70-85 booked direct/GetYourGuide)
- →Scenic drive through the valley
- →Lake Powell / Horseshoe Bend sunset (free, short walk)
Page to Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon, UT
Drive west into Utah. Spend the day in Zion National Park — ride the free park shuttle up the canyon and hike the Riverside Walk along the Virgin River, or the Narrows if conditions allow. The original tour lunches at Zion Park Lodge — you can just buy a coffee/sandwich there or bring your own. Continue to Bryce for the night.
🚌Self-drive, ~200 miles, fuel ~£20 split; Zion entry £27 per vehicle
🛏Budget lodge/motel near Bryce (e.g. Bryce View Lodge, camping in the park) — £55-80
- →Zion National Park shuttle & Riverside Walk
- →Narrows hike (self-guided)
- →Zion Park Lodge stop
- →Optional chuckwagon dinner near Bryce (~£30)
Bryce Canyon to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Morning in Bryce Canyon National Park — walk the Rim Trail or descend the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop among the hoodoos along the Paunsaugunt Plateau rim. In the afternoon drive north (approx. 4 hrs) to Salt Lake City. Evening is free to explore downtown restaurants and bars.
🚌Self-drive, ~270 miles, fuel ~£28 split; Bryce entry £27 per vehicle
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in SLC (e.g. Tru by Hilton Midvale equivalent, or a downtown hostel) — £60-85
- →Bryce Canyon Rim Trail & Queens Garden/Navajo Loop
- →Paunsaugunt Plateau viewpoints
- →Downtown Salt Lake City food & nightlife
Salt Lake City to Alpine / Jackson area
Alpine, WY
Spend the morning at Temple Square in SLC (free), then drive north towards the Tetons. Overnight in Alpine or Jackson (options are limited and pricey in peak season, so book early). The original tour stops at a resort with a pool — a budget motel or riverside campground gets you the same mountain views for a fraction.
🚌Self-drive, ~280 miles, fuel ~£30 split
🛏Budget motel in Alpine/Jackson (e.g. The Flying Saddle Resort equivalent) or campground — £70-110
- →Temple Square (free guided tours)
- →Snake River scenic drive
- →Teton viewpoints en route
Grand Teton National Park & Jackson
Jackson, WY
Full day in Grand Teton National Park. Drive the Teton Park Road, walk around Jackson Town Square with its antler arches, and hike a short trail (Jenny Lake or Taggart Lake are easy and beautiful). Wyoming's Jackson Hole is pricier than most of the route — consider a hostel or the Gros Ventre campground.
🚌Self-drive within the park; Grand Teton entry £27 per vehicle
🛏Budget motel/hostel or campground in Jackson (e.g. The Hostel, Brandin' Iron equivalent) — £70-110
- →Grand Teton National Park scenic drive
- →Jackson Town Square
- →Jenny Lake / Taggart Lake hike
- →Optional wildlife safari tour (~£70)
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone, WY
Cross into Yellowstone via the South Entrance. See Old Faithful erupt, then explore the geyser basins, hot springs and Grand Prismatic. Wildlife (bison, elk, occasionally bears and wolves) is everywhere — drive slowly and pull over. Same base for tonight.
🚌Self-drive; Yellowstone entry £27 per vehicle
🛏Budget motel in West Yellowstone or Jackson (Brandin' Iron Inn equivalent) — £75-115
- →Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin
- →Grand Prismatic Spring & Midway Geyser Basin
- →Wildlife viewing (bison, elk, bears, wolves)
- →Ranger-led walks (free)
Yellowstone to Cody via Mammoth Hot Springs
Cody, WY
Loop through the park's northern side — Mammoth Hot Springs terraces and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with the Artist Point overlook. Exit via the East Entrance down to Cody. Cody is a classic western town; the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is well worth the entry fee either tonight or tomorrow morning.
🚌Self-drive, ~180 miles, fuel ~£22 split
🛏Budget motel in Cody (e.g. The Cody equivalent) — £65-95
- →Mammoth Hot Springs
- →Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone / Artist Point
- →Buffalo Bill Center of the West (~£20)
Cody to Little Bighorn to Buffalo
Buffalo, WY
Drive east across the Bighorn Mountains to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana — self-guided with the free audio/marker trail. Continue to Buffalo, Wyoming for the night. A long but scenic driving day.
🚌Self-drive, ~290 miles, fuel ~£30 split; Little Bighorn entry ~£15 per vehicle
🛏Budget motel in Buffalo, WY (e.g. SureStay Plus equivalent) — £60-85
- →Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
- →Bighorn National Forest scenic drive
- →Buffalo town stroll
Buffalo to Rapid City via the Black Hills
Rapid City, SD
Head east into South Dakota's Black Hills. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial and the attached Indian Museum of North America, then continue to Mount Rushmore. Overnight in Rapid City. The Badlands are close enough to tack on tonight or tomorrow.
🚌Self-drive, ~290 miles, fuel ~£30 split
🛏Budget hotel in Rapid City (e.g. Elevation Inn equivalent, or a hostel) — £55-80
- →Crazy Horse Memorial (~£10)
- →Indian Museum of North America
- →Mount Rushmore National Memorial (parking ~£8)
- →Evening ranger talk at Mount Rushmore (free, seasonal)
Badlands & Rapid City
Rapid City, SD
Day-trip west to Badlands National Park for the loop road, prairie dog towns and dramatic eroded spires — easy to do self-launched with your own car. Back in Rapid City, explore the City of Presidents statues downtown. Pack up tonight for the drive to Denver.
🚌Self-drive, ~120 miles, fuel ~£15 split; Badlands entry £27 per vehicle
🛏Budget hotel in Rapid City — £55-80
- →Badlands National Park loop road & Fossil Exhibit Trail
- →City of Presidents walking tour (free)
- →Downtown Rapid City food & bars
Rapid City to Denver — Departure
Denver, CO
Long final drive south to Denver (approx. 6 hrs, 350 miles) — leave early. Alternatively, save a day and fly Rapid City to Denver if the price is right. Drop the rental car at Denver airport and fly home. If you have time, Colorado's capital has good food and a lively downtown to end the trip.
🚌Self-drive, ~350 miles, fuel ~£35 split; or one-way flight Rapid City–Denver from ~£80
🛏None (departure day) — optional airport-area hotel £70-90 if you need a night
- →Scenic drive through Wyoming/Colorado
- →Denver downtown (if time allows)
- →Rental car drop-off & departure
Self-launched vs. Costsaver
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Costsaver | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,980 | £2,370 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £390 per person (16%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Costsaver-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,980
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 Spectacular Canyons & National Parks — Self-Launched Road Trip (Las Vegas to Denver) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,980 per person for 13 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 Costsaver?+
Yes — Costsaver charges around £2,370 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,980 — a saving of roughly £390 (16%) per person.
How long is the Western USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 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 road-trip, adventure, 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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