Southwest Canyons Grand Circle Road Trip

Day 1-2 — Las Vegas to Zion National Park

Leave the strip behind and follow the Virgin River into canyon country. Red walls close in as you reach Springdale, the park’s gateway, where shuttles run up-canyon and trailheads are minutes away. If daylight allows, stretch your legs on the Pa’rus Trail or the short Canyon Overlook walk for a first taste of the sandstone drama.

Spend the day inside Zion Canyon. Do the Riverside Walk into the mouth of the Narrows or hike to Scout Lookout for high views without committing to the exposed chains of Angel’s Landing (permit required for the full route). Late afternoon light warms the cliffs; end at Watchman Viewpoint.

Drive: Las Vegas → Springdale (Zion), ~2.5 hrs (260 km / 160 mi).
Overnight: Springdale — a small but lively town with shuttles into the park, plenty of lodges, and a few good cafés and brewpubs.

Day 3 — Zion to Bryce Canyon

Climb through the checkerboard mesas of east Zion, where cross-hatched sandstone and pine forest signal the transition to high country. The road rolls across plateaus and open meadows before suddenly reaching the edge of Bryce Canyon, where the land drops away into a maze of hoodoos — spires glowing pink and orange at sunrise and sunset. The park compact: you can drive the rim from Sunrise to Inspiration Point in an hour, stopping at overlooks, then drop below the rim on the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden trail to wander among the spires themselves before resurfacing at Sunset Point.

Drive: Springdale → Bryce Canyon, ~2 hrs (135 km / 85 mi).
Overnight: Bryce Canyon City or nearby Tropic — small lodges and cabins, with stargazing right outside your door. A single night is usually enough here.

Day 4 — Bryce to Capitol Reef via Scenic Byway 12

Follow Scenic Byway 12 over high country and slickrock, one of the great drives of the West. The road winds past pine forests, open ridges, and sandstone domes before descending into the quiet of Capitol Reef. This park feels less crowded: historic orchards in Fruita, a mellow scenic drive, and short trails to natural bridges and viewpoints. The Waterpocket Fold stretches away like a stone wave, hinting at days of geological drama.

The Waterpocket Fold is a 100-mile (160 km) long wrinkle in the earth’s crust — technically a monocline — where ancient rock layers were uplifted on one side. It looks like a giant stone spine running through Capitol Reef, creating cliffs, canyons, and “pockets” that collect water (hence the name).

Drive: Bryce → Torrey, ~2.5 hrs (190 km / 120 mi).
Overnight: Torrey — a quiet western town with a handful of inns and surprisingly good dining. One night lets you drive the Scenic Drive and sample a short trail.

Day 5-6 — Capitol Reef to Moab

Continue east through open desert, passing buttes—an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a flat top—and empty roads before dropping into Moab. The afternoon is perfect for Arches National Park: start with the Windows Section for an easy introduction, then, if time and energy allow, make the trek to Delicate Arch to catch it glowing orange against the setting sun.

Spend the next morning in Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky district, where viewpoints perch on the edge of sheer cliffs. See Mesa Arch at sunrise, then work your way to Grand View Point and the Green River Overlook. Return to Moab for a relaxed afternoon or a second sunset inside Arches.

Drive: Torrey → Moab, ~2.5 hrs (255 km / 160 mi).
Two nights: Moab — the busiest town on the loop, with everything from campgrounds to boutique hotels. Two nights lets you catch both parks and still have time for a sunset or two.

Day 7 — Moab to Monument Valley

Head south through red rock country, passing Mexican Hat before the road opens onto the cinematic silhouettes of Monument Valley. Drive the 17-mile Valley Loop or join a Navajo-led backcountry tour to see hidden arches and rock formations. Sunset here is unforgettable — the mesas turn a deep crimson as the desert cools.

Drive: Moab → Monument Valley, ~3 hrs (240 km / 150 mi).
Overnight: The View Hotel (inside the Park) for sunrise/sunset right from your balcony, or Kayenta/Mexican Hat if you need more options. One night is enough unless you book a deep-dive Navajo tour.

Day 8 — Monument Valley to Page

Continue west to Page, Arizona — gateway to slot canyons and Lake Powell. Take a guided tour into Antelope Canyon, where shafts of light cut through sculpted sandstone walls. Later, walk to Horseshoe Bend for the iconic view of the Colorado River looping below.

Drive: Monument Valley → Page, ~2 hrs (200 km / 125 mi).
Overnight: Page — a service town with chain hotels and outfitters for Antelope Canyon tours. Horseshoe Bend is just outside town. One night gives you time for a canyon tour and sunset at the Bend.

Day 9 — Page to Grand Canyon (South Rim)

Climb onto the Coconino Plateau and enter Grand Canyon National Park via the quieter Desert View entrance. Stop at the Watchtower for your first sweeping view, then work west along Desert View Drive, pausing at Lipan, Moran, and Grandview before reaching Grand Canyon Village. As sunset approaches, head to Hopi or Mohave Point for that first rim-top moment when the canyon glows red and gold.

Drive: Page → Grand Canyon, ~2.5 hrs (215 km / 135 mi).
Overnight: Stay inside the park if possible — it lets you catch both sunset and the next morning’s sunrise without extra driving. Tusayan, just outside the park gates, is the fallback if park lodging is full.

Day 10 — Grand Canyon Sunrise & Rim Walk

Wake early for sunrise at Mather Point or Yaki Point while you’re still based at the rim. Spend the morning walking part of the Rim Trail or hiking below the rim to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse on Bright Angel (turn around as needed). After lunch, begin the southbound drive toward Route 66 country — Williams makes an easy overnight stop and gives you a head start toward Hoover Dam and Las Vegas the next day.

Drive: Grand Canyon Village → Williams, ~1 hr (100 km / 60 mi).
Overnight: Williams — classic Route 66 town with diners, neon, and a short main street stroll.

Day 11 — Route 66 & Hoover Dam Return

Follow Route 66 through Seligman for a slice of Americana, then continue across the desert to Hoover Dam. Walk the bridge for sweeping views of the dam and the Colorado River before returning to Las Vegas and closing the loop.

Drive: Williams → Hoover Dam ~3 hrs (305 km / 190 mi); Hoover → Las Vegas ~45 min.
Overnight: Las Vegas (or depart).