Southwest Road Trip from Vegas

Las Vegas — one night base

Arrive, check in on the Strip, walk the casinos for the experience. This is your last night of comfort. Tomorrow the road trip starts. Load the cooler and rent the car tonight.

Evening

Activity

Fremont Street at midnight

The old Vegas experience: $5 blackjack tables, the LED canopy, and working-class energy the Strip has lost. Park on 6th Street and walk in. Last orders around 2am.

Tip

Reserve park entrance passes in advance

Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon all require timed entry reservations during peak season (May-September). Reserve at recreation.gov as soon as your dates are confirmed — they sell out weeks ahead.

Drive to Zion National Park via Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire State Park is 55 miles northeast of Vegas — fire-red sandstone formations, petroglyphs, wave rock formations. Then continue north to Zion. The approach through the canyon is stunning.

Afternoon Excursion

Half Day

Angels Landing at Zion

5.4-mile round trip to a 1,488-foot summit above the canyon floor. Chains on the final stretch — permit required for the top. One of the ten best hikes in the US.

5h~$20

Zion Narrows and overnight in Springdale

The Narrows is a 16-mile slot canyon hike through the Virgin River. Wade upstream as far as you want — no permit needed for the bottom-up approach. The walls narrow to 20 feet in places.

Bryce Canyon National Park

90 minutes north of Zion. Hoodoos: thousands of red spires rising from the canyon floor. Sunrise Point at dawn is the photograph. The Navajo Loop trail (1.3 miles) is the best short hike.

Drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim

Cross Utah into Arizona on US-89. The approach to the South Rim on AZ-64 gives you the first canyon glimpse at Desert View Watchtower. The views from Mather Point are the introduction everyone needs.

Morning Excursion

Half Day

South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge

3 miles round trip down to a saddle with 360-degree canyon views. Steep and exposed — hiking poles help. No water on this trail. The views of the Colorado River are the best on the South Rim.

3h~$0

Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Drive to Page, AZ on US-89. Upper Antelope Canyon requires a Navajo Nation guided tour — the light beam photos happen at noon in summer. Horseshoe Bend is a 1.5-mile walk from the parking lot.

Drive back to Vegas — Hoover Dam stop

Return to Vegas on US-93 through Boulder City. Hoover Dam is 30 minutes from the Strip — the tour of the dam interior is 45 minutes and worth it. Arrive back in Vegas in time for a final dinner.