10 Days in the American Southwest: Itinerary

The American Southwest packs some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet into a relatively compact driving loop. Las Vegas makes a logical base for the first couple of nights — cheap flights, easy car rental, and a useful staging point before the parks. This 10-day itinerary covers the major stops without rushing, with an overall driving distance of roughly 1,200 miles.

Driving and Park Notes

Car: A standard sedan works for all paved roads on this route. An AWD or high-clearance vehicle opens additional dirt road options (Coyote Buttes North for The Wave, parts of Monument Valley’s dirt loop).

America the Beautiful Pass: Costs approximately $80 as of 2026 and covers entrance fees for all National Parks and federal recreation areas. It pays for itself after 2–3 park entries on this route (Grand Canyon alone is $35/vehicle). Buy online at store.usgs.gov or at the first park entrance.

Distances:

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim: ~280 miles (4–4.5 hours)
Grand Canyon to Zion National Park: ~155 miles (2.5–3 hours)
Zion to Bryce Canyon: ~86 miles (1.5 hours)
Bryce to Monument Valley: ~175 miles (2.5–3 hours)
Monument Valley to Las Vegas: ~305 miles (4.5 hours)

Budget Tiers

Budget: LINQ Hotel Las Vegas ~$50–$90/night. Bright Angel Lodge Grand Canyon ~$120–$160/night (shared bath options). Under Canvas Zion (glamping, 7 miles from park entrance) ~$200–$280/night. Ruby’s Inn Bryce Canyon ~$130–$160/night.

Mid-range: Wynn Las Vegas ~$220–$350/night. El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon ~$220–$350/night. Springdale’s Desert Pearl Inn (Zion adjacent) ~$180–$240/night. The Lodge at Bryce Canyon ~$220–$280/night.

Luxury: Bellagio Las Vegas ~$300–$500/night. The Canyon Suites at The Rim (Grand Canyon Village) ~$350–$500/night. Amangiri (Canyon Point, near Lake Powell) ~$2,000–$3,500/night — the most expensive and most extraordinary hotel in the Southwest. The View Hotel Monument Valley ~$280–$380/night.

Days 1–2: Las Vegas

Las Vegas requires only 2 days unless you plan to gamble or see multiple shows. The architecture of the Strip — a sequence of themed mega-resorts — is worth seeing without spending money inside.

Day 1: Walk the Strip from the Luxor pyramid in the south to the Wynn and Encore in the north, approximately 4 miles. Key stops: the Bellagio fountains (free, on the hour and half-hour evenings), the interior of the Venetian (the Grand Canal mall is bizarrely impressive), and the Sphere (exterior visible for free, immersive show tickets from approximately $99). The High Roller observation wheel costs approximately $37 at peak times.

Dinner: Cosmopolitan’s The Wicked Spoon buffet has been replaced — good mid-range options now include Pronto by Giada (approximately $20–$35 mains) or Yardbird Southern Table (approximately $25–$40 mains). For a serious dinner, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand (approximately $200+ per person) is one of the finest restaurants in the country.

Day 2: Hoover Dam is 35 miles from the Strip (~45 minutes). The dam tour costs approximately $30; the powerplant tour adds another $15. The views from the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge above the dam are free. Return to Las Vegas by afternoon. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is 15 miles west of the Strip (approximately $20/vehicle) — a 13-mile scenic drive through red sandstone formations.

Day 3: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim (280 miles, ~4 hours)

Drive east on US-93 and I-40, then north on AZ-64 to the South Rim. Stop at Williams, Arizona (the last Route 66 town before the canyon) for lunch — Cruiser’s Café 66 on Route 66 serves good burgers for approximately $14–$18.

Arrive at Grand Canyon by early afternoon. Walk the Rim Trail from Grand Canyon Village west to Hermit’s Rest (7 miles one way — take the free park shuttle back). Sunset from Mather Point or Yavapai Point. The canyon is roughly 6,000 feet deep and 18 miles wide at its widest — photographs cannot prepare you for the actual scale.

Sleep in the park at Bright Angel Lodge or El Tovar, or in Tusayan (1 mile south of the park entrance) for slightly lower prices.

Day 4: Grand Canyon

Morning: Rim Trail east to Desert View Watchtower (25 miles east of the Village, approximately 30 minutes by car). The watchtower was designed by Mary Colter in 1932 and gives the best elevated view of the canyon along the entire South Rim.

Afternoon: Hike partway down the Bright Angel Trail. The 3-mile Resthouse is a good turnaround point for a day hike (approximately 3 hours round trip, gaining about 1,100 feet on the return). Do not attempt the full descent to the Colorado River as a day hike — the park advises against it, and the return climb in heat causes numerous rescues annually.

Rangers run free talks and walks from the Verkamp’s Visitor Center throughout the day — check the schedule at the park entrance.

Evening: Dinner at El Tovar Dining Room — approximately $30–$55 for mains as of 2026. Book in advance.

Day 5: Grand Canyon to Zion National Park (155 miles, ~2.5 hours)

Drive north on AZ-89 through the Navajo Nation, passing the Vermilion Cliffs and the Echo Cliffs. The road passes House Rock Valley and the Kaibab Plateau before crossing into Utah at Kanab.

From Kanab, drive west on UT-9 into Zion. Springdale (just outside the park entrance) has the best accommodation and food near Zion.

Afternoon in Zion: The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles from April through November — use the free park shuttle from the Visitor Center. Walk the Pa’rus Trail along the Virgin River (3.5 miles round trip, paved) to get your bearings.

Day 6: Zion National Park

Morning: Angels Landing is the park’s most famous hike — the final section to the summit requires holding chains bolted into the cliff. A permit is required for the chains section (approximately $6 per person, obtained via lottery at recreation.gov; apply well ahead). The West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout (4.4 miles round trip) is accessible without the permit and gives similar views.

Afternoon: The Narrows — a slot canyon hike through the Virgin River. The bottom-up route starts at the Temple of Sinawava (end of the shuttle line) and follows the river upstream. Waterproof shoes or rental neoprene boots (approximately $35–$45 from outfitters in Springdale) are essential outside summer. You can walk as far as you like — most visitors go 1–2 miles into the narrows.

Dinner: Oscars Cafe in Springdale for a relaxed dinner — approximately $18–$28 for mains.

Day 7: Zion to Bryce Canyon (86 miles, ~1.5 hours)

A short drive north. Stop at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (approximately $15/vehicle, 30 miles off the main route via US-89) if you have time.

Afternoon at Bryce: Bryce Canyon is not actually a canyon — it’s an amphitheater of hoodoos (spire-shaped rock formations) eroded from the rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The main viewpoints — Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Points — are all within a short drive or walk of each other along the Rim Road.

Evening: The Queens Garden Trail (2.9 miles round trip from Sunrise Point) descends into the hoodoos for ground-level views. Combined with the Navajo Loop Trail (2.9 miles from Sunset Point), you can make a loop of approximately 6 miles with stunning variation in scenery.

Day 8: Bryce Canyon

Sunrise at Bryce Point is among the best in the national park system — arrive by 6:30am in summer. The pink and orange hoodoos glow intensely in the first light.

Drive the full 17-mile park road to Rainbow Point (the highest overlook at 9,105 feet) and walk back north along the Riggs Spring Loop (8.8 miles, strenuous) or drive back with stops at each overlook. The Mossy Cave Trail (0.8 miles from UT-12 outside the park, free) leads to a natural arch and a small waterfall.

Evening: drive southeast on UT-12 toward Escalante — one of the most scenic highways in the country, crossing Calf Creek and traversing the slickrock of the Grand Staircase.

Day 9: Monument Valley (175 miles from Bryce, ~2.5–3 hours)

Drive south through Kanab on US-89, then east on US-160 and south on US-163 into Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The park is operated by the Navajo Nation, not the National Park Service — the America the Beautiful Pass does not apply. Entrance costs approximately $20/vehicle as of 2026.

The 17-mile Valley Drive is a dirt loop accessible to standard vehicles (slowly). The three Mittens and Merrick Butte are the most recognizable formations. Guided tours by Navajo-owned operators (starting from approximately $40 per person) provide access to areas closed to self-drive visitors including Mystery Valley and Hunt’s Mesa.

The View Hotel inside the park has rooms with direct views of the Mittens from the balcony — approximately $280–$380/night, book months ahead for peak season.

Sunset and sunrise at Monument Valley are among the most photographed scenes in America.

Day 10: Monument Valley to Las Vegas (305 miles, ~4.5 hours)

Drive northwest on US-160 and US-89 through Page, Arizona. Optional stops:

Antelope Canyon: Upper Antelope Canyon near Page is a slot canyon on Navajo land — guided tours only, approximately $75–$100 per person as of 2026. Book months ahead; tours sell out. Lower Antelope Canyon tours run approximately $60–$85. Both are extraordinary light beam photographs at midday in summer.

Horseshoe Bend: A free overlook (approximately $10 parking) above a 270-degree bend in the Colorado River, 4 miles from Page. The 1.5-mile round-trip walk takes about 45 minutes. Go before 9am to avoid crowds.

Continue west on US-89 and I-15 to Las Vegas for departure.

What to Skip

Grand Canyon helicopter tours: Expensive (approximately $200–$300+ per person) and loud enough to disturb the experience for others. The view from the rim is better for longer.

Las Vegas nightclubs: Unless this is your primary reason for including Vegas, they are expensive and not relevant to a parks trip.

The Wave (Coyote Buttes North): One of the most beautiful formations in the Southwest, but the permit system is extremely competitive (lottery, approximately 16 walk-in permits and 16 advance permits per day for 20,000+ applications). Include it if you win the lottery; don’t plan the trip around it.

Booking Tips

Grand Canyon South Rim: reserve lodging inside the park 6–12 months ahead for peak season (May–September). Bright Angel Lodge and El Tovar both book out months in advance.
Zion Angels Landing permit: apply via lottery at recreation.gov. The seasonal lottery opens several months ahead.
Antelope Canyon: book 2–4 months ahead for summer, especially for midday tours.
The best seasons are April–May and September–October: comfortable temperatures, good visibility, fewer crowds than peak summer.
July–August brings monsoon thunderstorms (mostly afternoon) across Arizona and Utah — dramatic skies but flash flood risk in slot canyons.