Day 1
Fly to Las Vegas
Arrive into Las Vegas and transfer independently to your hotel for an evening in Vegas.
Overnight: Luxor Resort & Casino or similar
Day 2
Las Vegas – Springdale Zion National Park (159 miles)
Pick up your hire car and head north east out of Vegas towards the Valley of Fire State Park. Continue on, driving through the very top corner of Arizona then into Utah. Your home for the next two nights will be the town of Springdale – gateway to Zion National Park. There are lots of bars and restaurants to chose from, so park up and head out for a beer and a bite, and perhaps pop into the Visitor Centre to get your bearings.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Express Springdale – Zion National Park or similar
Day 3
Zion National Park
Today you’ll be exploring one of America’s most beautiful parks – Zion. There are countless trails which are graded for those who want a simple stroll and a gorgeous view to those which are very strenuous but you’re rewarded with truly stunning scenery. The best way into Zion is to take the free shuttle from town to the pedestrian entrance which is where you’ll find the Zion Canyon Visitor Centre. Here you can then pick up the park shuttle and choose from 9 different drop off points to help get the most from this beautiful place.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Express Springdale – Zion National Park or similar
Day 4
Springdale – Lake Powell - Monument Valley (238 miles)
Drive east through the rugged landscape of Utah, skirting the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to Lake Powell – a beautiful reservoir on the Colorado River. Here you can stop to admire the views and enjoy a leisurely lunch. Or you can enjoy some watersports, take a boat trip or have a swim. Continue onto Monument Valley where you’ll be staying for the night.
Overnight: Desert Rose Resort & Cabins or Gouldings Lodge
Day 5
Monument Valley – Natural Bridges National Monument – Moab (188 miles)
You have the morning to explore iconic Monument Valley – its dramatic landscape characterised by towering sandstone buttes. Take the 17-mile Valley Drive to really soak in the views which were the backdrop to many a Western. There are some great off-road tours you can enjoy in this area, so you might want to think about spending another night in this location – just let us know and we can add one more night for you at the Desert Rose Resort or Gouldings Lodge.
Leave Monument Valley and drive for an hour and a half to the Natural Bridges National Monument. Here the amazing force of water has cut three spectacular natural bridges into the landscape. There is a 9-mile scenic drive through this area and if you have time, then its worth parking up to take a stroll to get closer to one of the bridges or discover the ancient Puebloan ruins. Then continue onto Moab for a two-night stay.
Overnight: River Canyon Lodge Moab or similar
Day 6
Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park
A full day to explore two glorious national parks. It’s worth getting up early to catch the sunrise, and a suggestion is that you drive to Dead Horse Point State Park. Here you will find astonishing view across the Colorado River and the canyons. Then it’s just a short drive to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, where there are trails to many of the most spectacular views in the park – a must-visit is Mesa Arch.
Visit Arches National Park in the afternoon to see the most incredible natural standstone arches. Double Arch, so-called because its made up of two arches that share the same stone as a foundation for both of their outer legs, can be reached by just a short stroll from the car park. Landscape Arch is the longest natural arch in the world with a span of nearly 300 feet. If you have the stamina to stay until sunset, then head over to Delicate Arch at the end of the day, and you’ll be rewarded with some remarkable photo opportunities.
Overnight: River Canyon Lodge or similar
Day 7
Moab – Torrey (156 miles)
It’s not a long drive today, so you can have a leisurely start before driving over to the town of Torrey. Or perhaps you could have another early start and watch the sunrise over Arches National Park - Turret Arch is reputably one of the best places to enjoy the sunrise and well worth the effort. En route to Torrey, take the short detour to Goblin Valley State Park for a picnic lunch and wander among the goblin-shaped rock formations. Enjoy an evening in Torrey and plan your next day ahead at the beautiful Capitol Reef National Park.
Overnight: Days Inn by Wyndham Torrey Capitol Reef or similar
Day 8
Capitol Reef National Park
You have a full day to enjoy the hidden treasure of Capitol Reef, in the heart of red rock country. This park was created along the 100 mile “Waterpocket Fold” – also known as a geologic monocline or a wrinkle on the earth. Here you will find wonderful trails to discover the natural stone domes, bridges, canyons and cliffs.
Overnight: Days Inn by Wyndham Torrey Capital Reef or similar
Day 9
Torrey – Bryce (110 miles)
The journey to Bryce is just a couple of hours, but you will want to take your time to enjoy one of Utah’s most scenic drives – the All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12. You’ll travel through some of the most diverse and ruggedly beautiful landscapes in the USA including slickrock canyons, red rock cliffs, pine and aspen forests, and quaint rural towns. Make a stop at Anasazi Indian Village State Park, Calf Creek Recreation Area or Dixie National Forest. Once you’ve checked into your hotel for the next two nights, you might want to visit the Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Centre to help plan the following day.
Overnight: Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn or similar
Day 10
Bryce Canyon
Bryce is not a single canyon but a series of natural amphitheatres, and it is known for it’s crimson coloured hoodoos – spire shaped rock formations. The park’s main road leads past the stunning Bryce Amphitheatre, and there are amazing viewpoints at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. There are multiple hiking trails for you to discover the forests of the plateau, walk among the famous hoodoos and reach spectacular viewpoints
Overnight: Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn or similar
Day 11
Bryce – Las Vegas – fly home (263 miles)
Sadly your holiday is now drawing to a close. It’s a four hour drive back to Las Vegas airport, where you will drop off your hire car and fly home.
