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Road trip

The Great Southwest

The classic loop through the most famous national parks, from and back to Las Vegas.

Duration12 to 14 days
Distance1,120 mi (1,800 km)
Stages7
Best time to visitspring and autumn

If you only travel to the Southwest once, this is the loop almost everyone drives, and for good reason. From Las Vegas it runs in a wide arc through the most famous parks and back again. Each stop is a highlight on its own, together they are unforgettable.

Why start in Las Vegas

Vegas has the cheapest airport in the region and often the cheapest rental cars, an ideal start and finish. One night to arrive is enough.

The right pace

Don't plan too tightly. Better one stop fewer and time to take it in. The drives between the parks are an experience in themselves, with constantly changing landscapes.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal. In high summer the lower areas get very hot, in winter the higher parks are partly under snow and some roads are closed.

The route

The stages in order, along the real roads.

Loading the map transfers data (including your IP address) to OpenStreetMap.

Driving time only: around 23 hours over 6 stages.

Open route in Google Maps ↗

Stage by stage

The stops of the loop, in the recommended order.

  1. 1

    Las Vegas 1 night

    Arrive, pick up the rental car and see the Strip once in the evening. That's all you need to start.

    Stay On the Strip, right in the thick of it

    See the destination ›
    Las Vegas
  2. 2

    Grand Canyon, South Rim 2 nights

    Drive here: 275 mi (442 km) · approx. 5.4 hrs

    The first big wow moment of the trip. Stay at the rim until after sunset.

    Stay El Tovar Hotel, in the park, right at the rim

    See the destination ›
    Grand Canyon, South Rim
  3. 3

    Page, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend 2 nights

    Drive here: 140 mi (222 km) · approx. 3.2 hrs

    The light beams in the slot canyon and the famous river bend, just minutes apart.

    Stay Page, 10 minutes away

    See the destination ›
    Page, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
  4. 4

    Monument Valley 1 night

    Drive here: 125 mi (203 km) · approx. 2.7 hrs

    The red rock spires from a thousand films, most striking at sunrise.

    Stay The View Hotel, right in the park

    See the destination ›
    Monument Valley
  5. 5

    Bryce Canyon 1 night

    Drive here: 280 mi (449 km) · approx. 6 hrs

    A whole forest of orange hoodoos, a complete contrast to the Grand Canyon.

    Stay Bryce Canyon Lodge, in the park

    See the destination ›
    Bryce Canyon
  6. 6

    Zion National Park 2 nights

    Drive here: 110 mi (174 km) · approx. 2.9 hrs

    Sheer rock walls and the river running through them. Wonderful for hiking, served by a shuttle bus.

    Stay Zion Lodge, in the park

    See the destination ›
    Zion National Park
  7. 7

    Back to Las Vegas Departure

    Drive here: 170 mi (270 km) · approx. 3.3 hrs

    From Zion it's only about two and a half hours back to the airport. A clean end to the loop.

    Stay On the Strip, right in the thick of it

    See the destination ›
    Back to Las Vegas

Want more: side trips

With time to spare, add one of these stops.

Valley of Fire (near Las Vegas)

Glowing red sandstone formations, barely an hour from Vegas. Ideal for half a day before or after the city.

Arches and Canyonlands (detour via Moab)

With more time, add a detour to Moab between Monument Valley and Bryce, for two more major national parks.

The Zion Narrows

The famous river hike through the narrow gorge, the highlight of Zion. Special gear can be rented locally.

Tips for this route

The essentials for planning, short and honest.

What does the trip cost?

A rough guide for two people, flights per person.

Itemrough cost
Flights, round tripdepends on your origin
Rental car (2 weeks, incl. insurance)700 to 1,000 USD
Fuel (about 1,100 miles)150 to 220 USD
Accommodation (13 nights, double room)1,500 to 3,000 USD
National park pass (non-residents)from 250 USD
Food and activitiesindividual

Just a rough guide. Prices change, especially flights and park fees. Check current costs before booking.

From the forum

Real voices from USA-TALK.DE about this loop.

We wanted to be on the move, not spend several days in one place. Las Vegas, for example, is enough for two nights.

from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Two nights in Zion or two nights in Page, both stops have enough to see for two nights.

from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Las Vegas to Bryce via Zion can be done in a day if you must, but it's pretty rushed. Reckon about three and a half hours from Vegas alone.

from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Download and print

The route for your sat-nav, the park maps as PDF, or print the whole plan.

GPXRoute as GPXsat-nav, Komoot, Google Earth PDFPark mapGrand Canyon PDFPark mapBryce Canyon

Frequently asked questions

How long should I plan?

Twelve to fourteen days is comfortable. Ten works too, but then it gets sporty and you sit in the car a lot.

Which direction should I drive the loop?

Either way works. Many drive to the Grand Canyon first, because it makes the strongest first impression.

Do I need the national park pass?

On this loop you visit several parks, so the annual pass can pay off. Note that non-residents have paid significantly more since 2026.

Is a normal car enough?

Yes, the whole route is on paved roads. An SUV is comfort, not a must.

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