The Grand Circle Road Trip: 12 Days in America’s Southwest
The Grand Circle road trip is one of America’s most impressive destinations, showcasing some of the southwest’s most iconic sights along its 1,500 miles. Some of the places you’ll see along the way include Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, but that list is just touching the surface.
With everything there is to see, you may be wondering if 12 days are really enough time to do the Grand Circle road trip. This guide will show you that it is not only possible but also a good amount of time to see everything. At the end, I’ve included some changes you can consider if you want to spend more or less time at any stop to tailor this itinerary to your exact interests and time.
Updated September 2024
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Grand Circle Road Trip Day #1 – Arrival in Las Vegas
We used Las Vegas as our starting point for our Grand Circle road trip. Other common starting points are Salt Lake City and Phoenix, but Las Vegas is a little more direct than both. It’s also a nice way to have a little fun and relaxation before all the outdoor adventures you’re about to have.
Try to arrive at least by mid-afternoon so you have time to rest on the first day, especially if you have a time zone change. I also recommend staying somewhere in the middle of the Strip. Since your stay here is brief, being in the Strip makes it easy to get around.
Use this day mostly to rest from traveling. You can explore your hotel and do a little gambling if you’re into that. Another good option for today would be to check out a show at a venue close to your hotel.
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #2 – Las Vegas
Today is your day to relax, have your favorite adult beverages and just have some fun.
If you were able to find a hotel near the center of the Strip, you should have more than enough time to check out some of Las Vegas’ top attractions. Just make sure you don’t get too wild because we’ll be leaving early tomorrow to start the Grand Circle road trip in earnest!
Things to Know for Today
Today is really your day to do whatever you enjoy doing, so I don’t really have any major tips for you. Spend your day exploring the Strip and bopping around all the different casinos.
Unless you really love gambling, I wouldn’t spend too much time at the slots. There’s much more to Las Vegas than blowing your money. We enjoyed just walking around some of the nicer casinos and people watching on the Strip.
Be sure to set aside time to watch the Fountains of Bellagio. A great spot to watch the show from is the Paris Casino’s outdoor cafe while sipping on some wine.
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Walk around Caesar’s Palace. If you’re a sports fan, place a couple sports bets on whatever is going on that day. |
| Noon: | Visit the Venetian and consider a gondola ride. |
| Afternoon: | Relax at the outdoor cafe with some wine at the Paris Casino while watching the Bellagio Fountains. |
| Evening: | Have dinner somewhere with a view of the Bellagio Fountains. Spend the rest of the evening either seeing a show or bar hopping around the Strip. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #3 – Zion National Park
My favorite stop on our Grand Circle road trip also happened to be our first: Zion National Park. I’m not alone as Zion is one of the nation’s most visited national parks.
The park is filled with stunning sights and equally exciting hikes. One of America’s most thrilling hikes can be found here. Angel’s Landing takes you up a steep, narrow rock formation assisted by chains to help prevent accidents. While we didn’t do that, those of you brave enough will definitely want to consider it.
Another fun hike is the Narrows. This hike takes you down into the canyon as you hike along and through the Virgin River. It gives you a chance to admire the evocative canyons from a wholly different perspective than you can at most other places
Besides the hikes, Zion National Park is just a beautiful park. The sandstone cliffs reflect the sun’s lights to create an artist’s palate’s worth of colors over the course of a day. You’ll find yourself stopping in awe more than once during your time here.
Things to Know for Today
Try to pick up your rental vehicle as early as possible so you can maximize your time in Zion National Park. Also, keep in mind that once you enter Utah you will lose an hour of the day due to a time zone change.
If you’re RVing for the rest of your trip, you should purchase groceries while in or near Las Vegas. We waited till we arrived in Zion National Park which was a big mistake. Groceries inside the parks are much more expensive and you have less variety.
Once you arrive in Zion, you should pick up an e-bike to help get around the park quickly and easily. Besides that, it’s just a lot of fun to zip through the canyon on an e-bike. If you’re unable to ride a bike, Zion National Park also has a shuttle system to get you to the main attractions.
We used Zion Adventure Company for our e-bike rentals. You can visit their website to look at their offerings and reserve a bike for your stay.
When planning your trip to Zion National Park, it’s required to have a permit to hike Angel’s Landing. Visit Recreation.gov for more information and to enter the lottery for a permit.
Where to Stay: Zion Canyon Campground
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Pick up your rental vehicle and groceries. Drive to Zion National Park. |
| Noon: | Check into your campsite or hotel. |
| Afternoon: | Hike West Rim Trail from the Grotto up to at least Scout’s Lookout. |
| Evening: | Sit outside of your RV or hotel and watch the stars come out. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #4 – Zion National Park
Today’s your first full day in any of the parks and your only full day in Zion National Park. Make the most of it by going down into the park’s slot canyons to hike The Narrows. This hike is one of the most unique in the world, taking you through the Virgin River while the walls of Zion National Park rise up above you. It’s sure to be one of your highlights of the whole trip.
The rest of the day can be filled with whatever hikes you choose. We decided to do the Emerald Pools Loop, a hike that goes around three different water basins supplied by waterfalls, and then Watchman Trail near the entrance to the park.
Things to Know for Today
Wake up early! The main thing you’re doing today is hiking the Narrows. Due to how unique of a hike the Narrows is, it is very popular. We woke up around 6:00 a.m. to beat the crowds, and it was so worth it! Hiking through the canyon on our way in with barely anyone else was a vastly different experience compared to when we returned later in the morning as the area was getting crowded.
Keep in mind that hiking the Narrows is dependent on the weather. If there’s even a hint of storms anywhere nearby, this hike will be closed for safety purposes. Because of the geography of the Narrows, it’s prone to flash flooding.
Plan ahead and reserve hiking gear for the Narrows at Zion Outfitter. The one item I definitely recommend is a walking stick. Other than that, it depends on the time of year you’re visiting. If the weather is cold, you should consider renting waterproof pants and shoes. Otherwise, you can probably make do with just the walking stick.
Our next hike was the Emerald Pools Loop. It was a pleasant hike, but you may want to skip it during the dry season. The pools were more like puddles in most spots. Pictures of the hike during wetter parts of the year look impressive, though.
I recommend hiking Watchman Trail at the end of the day to watch the sunset. I think that trail is way underrated. However, part of our decision to do this hike was because other popular trails like Hidden Canyon, Weeping Rock and Observation Point were all closed due to trail damage. If those hikes are open, you may want to change my itinerary around a bit for this day.
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Wake early to hike the Narrows. |
| Noon: | Lunch at Zion Brewery. Try to get a seat outside if the weather is nice. |
| Afternoon: | Hike the entire Emerald Pools loop. If it’s been dry recently, you may want to do another hike. |
| Evening: | Hike Watchman Trail and watch the sunset. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #5 – Bryce Canyon National Park
If Zion National Park was my favorite park during our Grand Circle road trip, Bryce Canyon was probably the most unique (Goblin Valley State Park is a pretty close second, but more on that in a bit).
Bryce Canyon National Park is filled with fascinating rock formations called hoodoos that create an otherworldly setting. To experience these hoodoos, the park has plenty of viewpoints and several different hikes to get you up close and personal with these formations.
What’s nice about Bryce Canyon is that it’s relatively small, so it’s easy to see a lot of it if you only have a day here. That said, it is a bit out of the way, but it’s definitely worth making the effort to visit.
Things to Know for Today
In what is a common theme for this whole trip: Wake up early to get on the road! Bryce Canyon is only 90 minutes away from Zion and easy to experience in a day, but you do need to get there by 10:00 a.m. to get the most out of your time.
Bryce Canyon is small as far as national parks go. It packs a lot of beauty in its small area, though. You’ll want to have plenty of time to just sit and admire what’s there.
Where to Stay: Ruby’s Inn RV Park & Campground
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Leave Zion early. Hike the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trail. |
| Noon: | Have lunch and get some rest for the rest of the day. |
| Afternoon: | Hike Fairyland Loop. Take the spur for Tower Bridge. |
| Evening: | Head to Inspiration Point to watch the sunset. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #6 – Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Canyonlands and Moab
Today is a busy day of driving, but it still has a few stops, as well as some nice scenery to drive through. You’re driving 270 miles from Bryce Canyon all the way to Moab, the home base for Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Along the way, you have the option to add a couple interesting detours: Capitol Reef National Park and Goblin Valley State Park. I say “option,” but really, you should definitely stop at these two parks.
Capitol Reef is the least visited national park on the Grand Circle, which is one of the main reasons you should visit. If you’re out here looking for a park that feels like the desert, Capitol Reef is for you. It has the isolated, almost eerie quality of what I imagine when I think of the desert. Don’t make the mistake of skipping it.
Farther down the road is Goblin Valley State Park. Like Bryce Canyon, this state park offers visitors a chance to explore an alien landscape that feels like you’re walking on the surface of Mars. It’s filled with hoodoos undergoing various states of erosion that you can explore at your own leisure. Again, take the extra time to fit this into your itinerary.
Besides these two stops, as you get closer to Moab, you can make a detour to Canyonlands National Park. You should be arriving around sunset, so while you can’t see much of the park, you should be able to catch one of the best sunsets on your Grand Circle road trip at Grand View Point Overlook.
Things to Know for Today
I won’t sugarcoat it: Today is a ton of driving. Even if you decide to skip the detours, it’s still a lot of driving.
That said, there are three stops if you follow this itinerary and you’ll pass through lots of superb desert landscapes to keep the drive interesting. You should try to eat your breakfast and lunch while driving to save whatever time you can to allow for more time at the parks along the way.
If you visit Goblin Valley, keep in mind that this is one of the stops on my Grand Circle road trip that the National Park Pass doesn’t cover.
Where to Stay: Sun Outdoors Moab Downtown
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Either do a short hike (Hickman Bridge is a good one) or the scenic drive on Highway 24 at Capitol Reef. |
| Noon: | Have lunch while driving. |
| Afternoon: | Plan for around an hour to visit Goblin Valley State Park. |
| Evening: | Drive to Grand View Point Overlook in Canyonlands National Park to watch the sunset. Afterwards, drive to Moab. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #7 – Arches National Park and Moab
The seventh day of my Grand Circle road trip includes visiting Arches National Park for one of my favorite hikes ever followed by an afternoon wandering around the small town of Moab.
Arches National Park is located just outside of town and contains over 2,000 natural rock arches. In fact, the arch you’ve likely noticed on Utah license plates by now is found here. Delicate Arch is perhaps the most iconic sight in Utah, and the hike to see it makes a visit into the park worth it even if you don’t do anything else.
After your time in Arches National Park, it’s time to head back to Moab to spend the rest of your day exploring town. It’s filled with cafes, boutique shops and art exhibits for people looking for a rest from hiking to check out.
Things to Know for Today
If you’re in decent shape, you can do all of the hikes I recommend at Arches in just a few hours. You could skip exploring the town of Moab to spend more time in the park if you like.
Personally, we were exhausted from doing so much hiking at this point that we welcomed the rest. I expect you’ll be ready to relax for a bit, too.
A couple places worth checking out for food and drinks are Moab Brewery and The Spoke on Center.
Keep in mind that from April through October, Arches National Park requires reservations to prevent overcrowding. Since it’s a popular park, make sure you book your reservation as early as possible.
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Hike Delicate Arch and then hike to Landscape Arch via the Devil’s Garden Trailhead. |
| Noon: | Hike around the Windows Section of the park. |
| Afternoon: | Late lunch or appetizers in Moab. |
| Evening: | Explore Moab’s downtown. Drinks at Moab Brewery. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #8 – Drive Through Monument Valley to Page, AZ
Day 8 on my Grand Circle road trip is another long one. It’s not as long as day 6, but it feels longer because it doesn’t have any real stops.
The highlight of the drive is the road through Monument Valley as you cross over into Arizona. If you’ve ever watched a Western or just about anything with a desert scene, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Monument Valley. Either way, you’re in for a treat.
It adds a bit to your drive, but it’s worth it. Monument Valley is the quintessential American southwest desert landscape. It features several buttes rising into the sky in the middle of nowhere. If you have extra time, you can do tours offered by the local Navajo Nation. These weren’t being offered when we visited due to Covid, nor do they fit in with the itinerary presented here.
Asides from Monument Valley, the rest of the drive is largely devoid of any specific highlights or really much of anything at all till you reach Page.
Once you get here, the main thing to do is check out Horseshoe Bend. Horseshoe Bend is a picturesque U-bend (technically it’s an entrenched meander) of the Colorado River in the surrounding sandstone rock 1,000 feet below the overlook.
After Horeshoe Bend, if you’re up for it, you can either do a hike around Page or visit the Glen Canyon National Reservation Area (which we’ll be doing tomorrow on my itinerary) before exploring town.
Things to Know for Today
Today is the second longest day of driving you’ll have on the trip. It’s a little tougher than the drive across Utah, too, because there aren’t any stops until you get just outside of Page. You’ll stop briefly at Monument Valley to take pictures, but it shouldn’t take you much more than several minutes. Be prepared for a long day.
The only real stop of the drive is Horseshoe Bend. This stop on my Grand Circle road trip is one of only two that does not accept the National Park Pass. Parking here will cost a typical vehicle $10.
Once you get to Page, I recommend hiking the Hanging Gardens Trail near town. It doesn’t have any grand scenery like many of the things you will have seen so far. Nevertheless, what it lacks in grandeur it makes up for in its solitude.
If you’d rather not hike, you could visit Glen Canyon Dam or else do some boating in Lake Powell. Otherwise, there isn’t much to do in Page beyond having some drinks and food.
Where to Stay: Antelope Point RV Park
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Drive to Monument Valley via Scenic Byway 163. |
| Noon: | Pass through Monument Valley on your way to Page, AZ. |
| Afternoon: | Visit Horseshoe Bend. Hike Hanging Gardens Trail. Explore Page. |
| Evening: | Dinner at El Tapatio (some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had). |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #9 – Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon
You can’t miss out on getting out on the waters of Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Fortunately, Page is a great jumping off point for any type of recreational activity on the lake.
You have a variety of options ranging from kayaking, boating, fishing and more. It’s definitely worth taking the time to do one of these before leaving for the Grand Canyon.
For my money, a kayak tour of the lake and some of its canyons is the way to go. I find kayak tours like this to be a much more intimate experience than bigger boat tours, plus it gets you some physical activity, too.
Once you’re done on the lake, you can start making your way towards the Grand Canyon. This is one America’s most renowned national parks and for good reason. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people miss out on truly experiencing it by making it a quick stop as they drive by. My Grand Circle itinerary avoids that mistake, giving you about a day and a half to spend here.
Since you’ll likely be arriving a bit later in the day by the time you leave Page, your first experience with the Grand Canyon should be walking along the South Rim Trail to take in the views.
Things to Know for Today
To make the most of your time at the Grand Canyon, whatever you end up doing at Lake Powell should be done as early as possible. We took a 3-hour kayak tour of Lower Antelope Canyon with Hidden Canyon Kayak.
If you enjoy kayaking, I highly recommend this tour. It takes you into one of the evocative canyons of the lake and lets you get out of the kayak to walk around a bit. It’s a lovely way to spend the morning.
The drive to the Grand Canyon will take about three hours, so plan to leave Page as soon as your tour is done. If you’re staying at the Trailer Village RV Park, you can walk from here to the South Rim pretty easily.
My top tip for the South Rim is to immediately walk in either direction away from the crowds that gather near the parking lot. Most people seem to just stay in that spot before retreating back to their cars, making it easy get away to spots that are quieter and more serene.
You should also make it a point to stay long enough to see the sunset. It’s pretty impressive seeing the Grand Canyon’s many folds and turrets aglow in the sun’s dying embers.
Where to Stay: Trailer Village RV Park
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Kayak tour of Lake Powell with Hidden Canyon Kayak. |
| Noon: | Drive to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. |
| Afternoon: | Arrive at your lodging and then walk to the South Rim Trail. |
| Evening: | Find a quiet place to watch the sunset from the South Rim Trail. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #10 – Grand Canyon National Park
Today’s the day to take advantage of your time in the Grand Canyon. In my opinion, the only way to truly experience the Grand Canyon is by hiking at least part of the way into it.
The two most popular trails to do this trek are Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail. My itinerary goes along Bright Angel Trail, but you could do either one depending on your preference.
Once your hike is over, the rest of your day in the Grand Canyon can be spent resting and just generally taking it easy. You could spend more time along the South Rim, or you can do what we did, which was to head back to the RV park, have a few beers, and relax with the park’s local elk.
Things to Know for Today
Like everything on my Grand Circle road trip, plan to get started with your hike early. The farther into the canyon you plan on going, the earlier you should be ready to go to try to avoid the hotter parts of the day.
Bright Angel Trail has water stations, but you can’t rely on these to be working during your hike. That said, make sure you bring plenty of water and snacks to stay hydrated and nourished.
There’s no mistaking it: This is a tough hike. It’s very rewarding, though. The farther you get into the canyon, the more special it becomes. We hiked about 4.5 miles down into the canyon via Bright Angel Trail before turning around. You can go as far as you like into the canyon, but it is not recommended to do the entire hike in one day.
After your hike, pick up some pizza from the Village Market near the RV park. Maybe it’s just because I was hot and exhausted from hiking all morning, but this pizza was shockingly delicious.
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Hike Bright Angel Trail. |
| Noon: | Return from your hike sometime around early afternoon. |
| Afternoon: | Get pizza from the Village Market for a late lunch and return to where you’re staying to relax. |
| Evening: | Relax and watch the night sky. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #11 – Drive to Lake Mead
Our penultimate day of the Grand Circle road is mostly set aside for relaxing, but that leaves you plenty of time to plan your own activities around the Lake Mead National Recreation Area if you’re looking for more to do.
The only sight to see today is the Hoover Dam, which you can easily see by adding a bit of drive time on the way from the Grand Canyon to Lake Mead. While I was personally a bit underwhelmed by the Hoover Dam – it’s kind of just a big dam – it is interesting to see from a historical and engineering perspective. If you’re more interested in those things, especially engineering, you have plenty of time today to schedule a tour.
If you’re driving an RV, I highly recommend staying at Lake Mead RV Village. You won’t find much to do here, and that’s kind of the point. This spot is a great place to rest on your last full day while appreciating the scenery, especially if you can get a spot overlooking the lake.
Still, you can find a beach and marina nearby. So, you can find some things to do here if you’re so inclined.
Things to Know for Today
Unless you have a lot of outdoor activities planned for Lake Mead, you can take your time today. Today is really just for rest and relaxation before you have to go back home tomorrow.
The time and distance noted above is the most optimal route. However, you could take Route 66 which, if you don’t stop anywhere, adds about an hour to the drive. That’s what we did. The towns you pass through were relatively unremarkable, but there are some pretty landscapes you’ll pass along the way.
You can also stop at the Hoover Dam for a quick detour before getting to Lake Mead. Unless you are really into engineering and have a lot of time on your hands, it’s probably enough to check it out from the bridge. Head to the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge for some good views of the dam. This stop should only take around 30 minutes including parking and walking to the bridge.
Where to Stay: Lake Mead RV Village
Planning Your Day
| Morning: | Relax a bit around the Grand Canyon RV park before packing up to drive towards Lake Mead. |
| Noon: | Visit the Hoover Dam. |
| Afternoon: | Arrive at Lake Mead RV Village. Relax. |
| Evening: | Relax by a fire while you watch the sunset. |
Grand Circle Road Trip Day #12 – Return to Las Vegas and Depart
This is the end of your trip. Take some time today to reflect on all of the amazing things you’ve seen during your Grand Circle road trip.
It doesn’t take long to get back into Vegas. Spend some time in the morning just relaxing by Lake Mead to get some last moments with the American southwest.
There’s not much more to consider for today. Enjoy your morning before you return to Las Vegas. Once you return your RV or car, get a taxi to take you to the airport. There are slot machines in the airport for you to play if you want some mindless entertainment while you wait for your flight.
Changes to Consider for Your Grand Circle Road Trip
We both absolutely loved this trip and the itinerary we laid out. That said, there are some changes you could make if you wanted to spend more time in certain locations.
So, what are those locations that are worth spending more time in? Here are several I would have liked to see more of had we had more time:
- an extra night in Zion to see more of the park
- drive through and do some hiking in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada
- hike all the way down to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon and camp for the night
- another night in Moab so we could do some hiking in Canyonlands
- stay a night near Capitol Reef to see more of the park
To make more time to do any one of those activities there are two main changes you could reasonably make and not miss out on too much. First, skip the full day in Las Vegas, especially if you have already visited there before. Neither of us had ever been to Vegas so we figured this trip would be a good way to spend at least a day there. We had a lot of fun, but if we ever do this trip again, I’d just want to get out to the parks as soon as possible.
Second, pass straight through Page on your way to the Grand Canyon. Like Las Vegas, we enjoyed Page, but it was a little lackluster compared with everything else. You could still see Horseshoe Bend and possibly even do some kayaking without staying for a whole night to save nearly a full day’s worth of time that could be spent at one of the parks.
What You’ll Need for Your Grand Circle Road Trip
National Park Pass
The National Park Pass isn’t necessary, but it will make your Grand Circle road trip so, so much easier – and affordable.
Most of the stops on this itinerary require entrance fees of around $30. This $80 pass will grant you entry to most of the stops on this route except for Goblin Valley State Park and Horseshoe Bend. Since all six national parks on this itinerary require fees, you can easily see how the National Park Pass is an excellent value!
Further, these passes last for a year from the date of purchase granting you access to over 2,000 federally managed sites during that time.
An RV or Car
Of course, it doesn’t matter if you have a National Park Pass or not if you don’t have a way to get around. I recommend looking into renting an RV for your Grand Circle road trip.
Having an RV is convenient for two main reasons. First, staying in RV campgrounds for most places will get you closer to the park and the great outdoors you came to see. Second, you’ll save money since you won’t have to pay for hotels or as many meals.
GPS and Maps
When you’re driving around the Grand Circle, there are many areas that don’t have reliable cell service. It’s critical to have a separate GPS unit and/or paper maps on hand in case you get lost.
Most car and RV rental companies offer GPS rental options. No matter how expensive it is, don’t overlook this add-on.
Hiking Gear
This one might go without saying considering the places you’ll be visiting, but you should bring gear appropriate for hiking. That includes a good, lightweight backpack; a first aid kit; shoes with good tread; and reusable water bottles.
You should also bring some warm clothes if you are traveling in fall or early spring. Much of this itinerary is at high elevation so you need to be prepared in case you encounter any cold weather while traveling.
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Resources to Book Your Grand Circle Road Trip
Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your trip to the Grand Circle!
Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator!
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