Western U.S. National Parks Loop Guide
Sample itinerary:
- Assume that Las Vegas is the starting point and the end point
- The itinerary is very tight , and it is only recommended to delete the destination or increase the travel time
- This article uses a clockwise travel , the purpose is to put the most physically demanding Zion Park in front and the most spectacular Grand Canyon in the back
Day1 Arrive in Las Vegas
> Arrive at "Las Vegas" at noon, have dinner in Chinatown, and go to Omega Mart to explore
in the afternoon > In the evening, according to your interests, you can watch a show | Eat buffet | Take a Ferris wheel or helicopter to see the night view
Accommodation: Hotel recommendations are here
Strategy: Las Vegas Strategy
Photography by Grant Cai , Stephen Leonardi
Day2 Las Vegas > Zion National Park Zion
> Leave "Las Vegas" in the morning, drive 2.5 hours ( 156 miles/251 kilometers ), and arrive at the hardcore "Zion National Park" at noon
> Use 4 hours in the afternoon to challenge the wading trail The Narrows Accommodation: Stay in the town of Springdale
next to the park entrance Strategy: Zion National Park Strategy Photography by saira ahmed , Alex Azabache Day3 Zion National Park > Bryce Canyon National Park > In the early morning, you can challenge the hiking trail Angel's Landing in Zion National Park ( you need to draw lots one day in advance ) > Drive 2 hours ( 84 miles/135 kilometers ) to Bryce Canyon National Park > Enjoy the scenery or hike at various viewpoints in the park ( the trails here are simple and beautiful ) Accommodation: Stay in Bryce Canyon City next to the park entrance Guide: Bryce Canyon National Park Guide Photography by Oleg Chursin , Pedro Lastra Note: If you have less travel time , you can take the "small loop", ignore Day 4 and Day 5, and jump directly to Day 6 Day4 Bryce Canyon National Park > Canyonlands National Park > Leave Bryce Canyon National Park early in the morning and drive for 2 hours ( 110 miles/177 kilometers ) to Capitol Reef National Park. The scenery of the park itself is average, you can stay for a while, and then take 30-40 minutes to pass through it ( but if you are driving a high-chassis SUV, you can also detour to check in at nearby niche attractions ) > Continue driving for more than 2 hours ( 136 miles/218 kilometers ) and arrive in Moab at noon Town and have a meal > In the afternoon, visit Canyonlands National Park, where you can see the canyon formed by the flood 10 million years ago Accommodation: Stay in Moab, a small town next to the entrance of Canyonlands National Park Guide: Capitol Reef National Park Guide , Canyonlands National Park Guide Photography by Intricate Explorer , Dominik Schröder Day5 Arches National Park> Monument Valley > Depart from Moab in the morning and drive 15 minutes to Arches National Park ( April to October, entry to the park requires a reservation , the earliest can be made 3 months in advance ) > Visit Arches National Park in the morning, it takes 3 hours to drive and 5 hours+ to hike > Then drive 3 hours ( 153 miles/246 kilometers ) to Monument Valley for viewing ( Note: admission stops at 5pm ) Accommodation: Stay at The View Hotel in Monument Valley ( excellent location, but low cost performance ), or Goulding's Lodge next to it Guide: Arches National Park Guide , Monument Valley Guide Photography by Ben Stiefel , Mar Bocatcat Day6 Monument Valley> Antelope Valley> Horseshoe Bend > Leave Monument Valley in the morning and drive for 2 hours ( 121 miles/195 kilometers ) to the starting point of Antelope Valley (you must book a group tour for Antelope Valley, which takes about 1.5 hours to visit, and the light conditions are best at noon) > Visit Antelope Valley and have lunch in Page Town at noon > Visit Horseshoe Bay and nearby niche attractions in the afternoon Accommodation: Stay in the nearby Page Town Guide: Antelope Valley Guide , Horseshoe Bay Guide Photography by Paulius Dragunas ,
Ulysse Pointcheval
Day7 Grand Canyon National Park
> Start from Page in the morning and drive 2.5 hours (136 miles/219 kilometers) to Grand Canyon National Park
> Spend a day to visit Grand Canyon National Park, you can hike or drive, don't miss the sunset viewTusayan, a small town
near the entrance of the park Guide:Grand Canyon National Park Guide Photography by Sam Loyd , Jason Thompson , Jad Limcaco Day8 Grand Canyon National Park > Las Vegas > Go home > Leave Grand Canyon National Park in the morning > Drive 4 hours (274 miles/441 kilometers) to Las Vegas and return to city life > Fly home the next day Accommodation:Hotel recommendations here Guide:Las Vegas Guide
Alternatives
If you don't like the extravagance of Las Vegas,
you can change your route to Sedona on Day 8 and finally fly home from Phoenix.
Day 8 Grand Canyon National Park > Red Rock Town Sedona
> Start from Grand Canyon National Park in the morning and drive for 2 hours ( 107 miles/172 kilometers ) to Sedona
> This is a paradise for hikers, with many special trails to choose from
. Accommodation: Stay in Sedona
Guide: Sedona Guide
Photography by Tyler Donaghy , Jeremy Bishop
Day 9 Sedona > Phoenix
> Continue to sweat in Sedona in the morning
> Drive 2 hours ( 117 miles/188 kilometers ) to Phoenix at noon
> Phoenix is not a tourist city, but since you are here, you can visit the Desert Botanical Garden
. Accommodation: Stay in Phoenix.
Guide: Phoenix Guide
Photography by Nichole Granja , Colin Lloyd
Day 10 Phoenix > Go home
> In the morning, you can take a hot air balloon to watch the sunrise in Phoenix
> I will fly back home in the afternoon
~ End ~
Thank you for reading, I wish you all a happy time!
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