5-Day Southwest Road Trip Itinerary: Grand Canyon, Page, Bryce & Zion

The American Southwest is a dream destination for outdoor lovers. What makes it so unique is how close its world-famous national parks are to one another. In just a few hours of driving, you can go from standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, to wandering through the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, to hiking the red rock cliffs of Zion, and even exploring the hidden gems around Page, Arizona. When we realized how close all of these places were, we knew we had to combine them into one unforgettable road trip.

Are you planning a road trip to one (or a few!) of these national parks and wondering what to bring, what to see, and how much it’s going to cost? Well, here are all our best tips to help make your adventure magical.

How to get there?

For this national park road trip, we suggest flying into Las Vegas. You can spend half a day to a full day (like we did) checking out the city, enjoying your hotel pool, and taking a nice, long shower before hitting the road. The best way to do this trip is either by renting a car and camping or by renting a camper. We chose the car because it was much cheaper — and it worked perfectly! 

Tip: You’ll be driving close to 1,000 miles on this loop, and while most of the roads are very well-paved and easy to drive, gas expenses can add up quickly. If possible, rent a fuel-efficient car instead of a large SUV — you’ll save a good chunk of money while still being perfectly comfortable on the road.

How long should I stay? 

That really depends on how much time you have. We suggest at least 5 days for this loop, which gives you enough time to visit all three national parks, go on daily hikes, stop at scenic viewpoints and amazing rock formations along the way, and even squeeze in some kayaking in Antelope Canyon. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, have extra time, or just want to take things slow, add one or two days in one of the parks to enjoy the hikes without rushing. 

What to do each day ?

Below we gathered a map highlighting all the stops we made along the route.

If you are wandering what to pack for a road trip like this, don’t worry — we’ve put together a separate article with all our must-have gear and tips.

Day One : Las Vegas -> Grand Canyon

🎰Arrive in Las Vegas, pick up your car, and take some time to enjoy the city. We recommend staying near the airport on the Strip (the main boulevard with all the hotels, restaurants, and casinos). If you only have a few hours, walk around, check out the famous hotels, and grab a bite before hitting the road. If you are staying overnight, visit the Strip at night since it will be very hot during the day.

🍔While you’re in Vegas, it’s a good idea to stock up on groceries for the next two days, since food is more expensive near the Grand Canyon. The next cheap grocery option (like Walmart) isn’t until you get to Page. Surprisingly, there were some restaurants in the national parks

🚘Around midday, start driving so you can reach the Grand Canyon by sunset. It takes about 4 to 4.5 hours to get to the South Entrance, which is the area we recommend.  

📸Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon (South Rim) enjoy the stunning viewpoints — our favorites are Mather Point and Yavapai Point. You can easily walk between them on the Rim Trail (a paved, accessible trail), which takes about 20 minutes (0.8 mile). 

⛺Where to stay: Mather Campground inside Grand Canyon National Park (about 6 minutes from Mather Point). It costs $30 USD per night and books up fast, so reserve early! 

💲Fees : Entrance fee: $35 USD per car. 

Tip If you’re visiting multiple national parks, get the "America the Beautiful" annual pass, you can buy it at the entrance of any national park. It costs $80 USD for the year and covers entrance fees for everyone in your car (up to 4 adults). It gives access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites and will save you money on your road trip! 

Day Two: Grand Canyon -> Page 

☀️If you’re visiting in summer, be careful of the extreme heat inside the Canyon. Check for heat warnings, and if possible, start your hike at sunrise (around 5 am) to enjoy cooler temps (it can reach 100–110°F / 37–43°C later). The views in the early light are amazing! 

🥾We recommend the Bright Angel Trail, just 6 minutes from the campground. The full trail is 12 miles roundtrip, but most people (like us) turn around at the 1.5-mile Resthouse (3 miles total) or the 3-mile resthouse (6 miles total). 

📸After your hike, take Route 64 towards Arizona and stop at the many viewpoints along the way. Our favorite: Desert View Watchtower — a 70-foot tower built in 1932 with incredible views. 

🥾Next, make a detour to Cathedral Wash in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area — one of our favorite hidden gems. This 3.3-mile canyon out-and-back hike leads you to a private beach on the Colorado River, perfect for a refreshing swim. The trail involves some scrambling down rocks, so be careful! 

📍Then head to Page, where there’s lots to explore :  

• The New Wave (free), a quick 15-minute stop at a cool rock formation near the Beehive Trail. 

• Biidi The Arch (free), a hidden cave behind the Shell gas station. Park behind the station and walk 5 minutes through the sand. 

  

• Horseshoe Bend ($ for parking), a must-see at sunset. Arrive early for parking and the best views. It’s a 1.5-mile roundtrip walk to the overlook. 

  

⛺Where to stay: We stayed at Beehive Campground ($14 USD/night, first-come, first-serve). There are also plenty of hotel options if you want a comfy night indoors. 

💲Fees: $10 USD for parking at Horseshoe Bend. We used our America the Beautiful Pass to enter Glen Canyon. 

Day Three: Page -> Bryce

🛶You want to visit Antelope Canyon in Page but don’t feel like paying $100 USD per person for a crowded one-hour tour? Kayaking there is an amazing alternative! Check out our blog post (Kayaking Antelope Canyon) for all the details and tips on how to do it. But here’s a sneak peek: kayaking to the canyon is a five-hour adventure that feels way more personal and unforgettable. 

🚘After exploring Antelope Canyon, hit the road toward Bryce Canyon National Park (about a three-hour drive). On the way, stop in Kanab — there are some epic little adventures here: 

• Sand Caves: Park near the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and walk about 1/4 mile uphill to reach these caves. It’s a super chill spot with hardly any crowds and awesome photo ops. 

  

  

  Sand Cave, Kanab

  

  

  Sand Cave, Kanab

• Belly of the Dragon: A bit further down the road, you’ll find this cool man-made tunnel — fun and quick to explore. 

  

🥾The goal is to arrive at Bryce Canyon before sunset. If you have time, we recommend a quick hike like Mossy Cave Trail (0.85 miles round-trip) to stretch your legs and get a first look at the famous hoodoos. Then, head to Sunset Point to catch an epic sunset over the canyon. 

⛺Where to stay: Camping at Bryce Canyon National park in Sunset Campground (30$ USD per night). Just remember to bring some layers, Bryce Canyon is at 3000m altitude, so the temperature can drop very quickly (5 C). Reserve here.

💲Fees: Around $90 USD per day (including taxes and fees) for a double kayak. There’s no entrance fee at the Antelope Canyon launch point or at Bryce Canyon if you have the America the Beautiful Pass. 

Day Four: Bryce Canyon -> Zion 

🥾Wake up early to hike the Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon — we did it at sunrise, and it was absolutely stunning with the golden light hitting the orange hoodoos. We chose the shorter Navajo Loop (1.5 miles roundtrip) since we wanted to head to Zion early, but the Navajo Loop + Queen’s Garden combo is also highly recommended. Both hikes start at Sunrise Point and are perfect to do early in the morning when it’s cooler and less crowded.

🥾After the hike, we hit the road toward Zion — we were lucky enough to get a permit for Angel’s Landing that day! This is a challenging hike: 5.4 miles round-trip with a 1,488-foot elevation gain. The final stretch (about a mile) includes steep drop-offs, narrow paths, and chains to help you reach the summit at 1,765 meters. It’s not for the faint of heart, and it’s definitely one of the more technical hikes in the park. Bring lots of water — there’s very little shade. Take the shuttle to Stop #6: The Grotto to start the trail. 

🥾After Angel’s Landing, you’ll probably be pretty tired — but if you’re up for a more relaxed walk, the Riverside Walk is a great option. It’s an easy, mostly flat trail that’s about 2 miles roundtrip (roughly 1.5 hours) and follows a beautiful river through a scenic canyon. You can find the trailhead at Stop #9: Temple of Sinawava on the shuttle route. 

📇How does the permit work? Angel’s Landing uses a day-before lottery system. You apply the day before your hike on recreation.gov, choosing either a departure before 9 am or after 9 am. 

• Lottery opens at 12:01 am and closes at 3 pm (Mountain Time). 

• It costs $6 USD to apply (non-refundable). If selected, it’s $3 per person. 

• You’ll receive an email around 4 pm letting you know if you got a permit.  

🅿️Parking in Zion National Park 

To access hikes in Zion, you’ll need to park and take the free shuttle from the Visitor Center. The lot fills up quickly, so arrive early — ideally before 7–8 am. If the lot is full, you’ll need to park in Springdale, which costs $15–25 per day depending on how close you are to the entrance, then take a free shuttle to the Visitor Center, and another to your trail. 

TIP: If you’re camping in Zion, you can park directly at your campsite from check-in at 12 pm to check-out at 11 am. We stayed at Watchman's campground, it’s right next to the Visitor Center, which makes things super convenient! 

💲Fees: No entrance fee for Zion National Park if you have the America the Beautiful Pass. For Angel’s Landing, it’s $6 USD to apply for the permit, plus $3 per person if you’re selected. 

Day Five: Back to Las Vegas 

🚘On our last day, we drove back to Las Vegas — the drive takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, so we left early in the morning to make it in time for our flight. We had a relaxed lunch in the city and soaked up one last afternoon in this wild, unforgettable place.

Conclusion

This road trip through the Grand Canyon, Page, Bryce, and Zion turned out to be one of our favorite adventures ever. Every day felt different — from watching the sunrise over Bryce’s hoodoos, to kayaking into Antelope Canyon, to pushing ourselves on Angel’s Landing. What made it even more special was how close all these parks are, yet each has its own magic. We left tired, dusty, and a little sunburned — but mostly grateful and already dreaming about coming back to the Southwest.