Where to start
For us the best place to start for our 1 week road trip through Nevada, Utah and Arizona was Las Vegas, NV. The is a major hub and offers much cheaper flights than Salt Lake City, UT or Phoenix, AZ. You can however, if you find a cheaper flight to those cites, still do the same loop.
Getting around
There are so many options for a 1 week road trip through Nevada, Utah and Arizona. We went with a car rental from Fox Rentals, not the greatest cars but was the cheaper of them. I do have one tip, get a good vehicle that can do some rougher roads. You will understand why when you get to Monument Valley and I explain it all in that section. With the gas prices at this time we thought it was best to have a smaller car, however next time it is 4×4 all the way.
You can also rent a camper van or RV. If you love the outdoors and it’s not the dead of summer I would say this is a great way to go. This was my original plan of transportation, however in order for my travel partner to come with we had to stay in hotels. Which with the “unprecedented heat wave” we went through, this was a very smart choice.
If you are planning to rent an RV or camper van I would suggest looking into the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), public lands. You can find free to cheap places to pull in for the night. Some will have toilets and some will have showers. This will be your cheapest route for this road trip. I will give spots for each destination.
What to bring
If you are driving a car and renting hotels treat it as a normal trip. If you are renting an RV or camper van I would look what they come with and be sure to bring anything you use on a regular basis that they don’t have. Make sure you pack the following sunscreen, hat, hydration backpack, hiking shoes, hiking poles, first-aid kit and bug spray.
The route
Planning the route for me was my favorite part. I love to plan and organize my trips, the only thing I did not plan on this was where to eat, we will go over that. I will go over where we stayed, why I planned these certain places and where you must stop along the way.
Day 1 Flying into Las Vegas NV
Las Vegas, NV
We flew into Las Vegas, NV on the red eye flight out of Detroit. This worked for us as both of us had to work that Friday. We rented our car from Fox Rentals which is a little ways from the airport. The place I choose to stay at was just on the north end of the city and I picked this because there is no need to get caught up in morning city traffic. Now if you arrive early I would suggest staying closer to the strip and have a day there.
We also ended here and had the entire afternoon to explore but would love to go back during the night to see the city lit. I’m not a gambling person but I did play the slots and did win which is nice. We will get to this city and all the things I liked and disliked about it at the end.
Day 2 Valley of Fire/Zion National Park Sunset
Valley of Fire State Park
Our first stop on the 1 week road trip through Nevada, Utah and Arizona was the Valley of Fire in Nevada just south of the Moapa Valley. This park was a gem and I cannot wait to come back and explore it more. The Valley of Fire is just over 40 miles from Las Vegas about a hour drive. Be sure to get on the road early. If you can I would leave Vegas before morning traffic.
Ever wanted to see what it is like on Mars? The Valley of Fire State Park is just that, fire red stone and what I would think Mars looks like. This part of our journey took about 2 hours and was a little out of the way, but so worth it. This is a must on the route.
For the full tour of this, check out my blog Ultimate guide to 1 day in the Valley of Fire
La Verkin, UT
Once you leave the Valley of Fire it is time to check into your hotel and get ready for some evening activities. 121 miles north you will find the cute town of La Verkin, UT. This is a great place that is close to your next big adventure, Zion National Park.
La Verkin is only 21 miles from Zion National Park and is half the cost of hotels. If you are on a budget but still want quality I would suggest here. Now, if you have no budget and want to be at Zion’s front door I would suggest staying either in the park itself or in Springfield, UT. Want to camp? There are 3 camping sites in Springfield and a few BLM sites just outside La Verkin.
La Verkin is also a great place to head to the grocery store to get snacks and lunch stuff. Jodi was brilliant and come up with the idea to make wraps for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast we made banana and peanut butter and for lunch meat and cheese. These were great as we did a lot of hiking and driving on this trip.
Sunset View
After you check into your hotel get ready for a great drive and an amazing view. Make your way to Zion National Park for a drive through the tunnels and if you have time a short hike to Canyon Overlook Trail.
First stop is the entry gate into Zion. This where you need to get your Annual National Park Pass if you didn’t get it online prior. Make sure you get the correct one for all the National Parks. This pass will save you so much money on this trip.
Next up head straight up to the The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. This tunnel is long and dark, there are only a few open areas out to the valley so be sure if you have prescription glasses you where them here. Once you exit the tunnel you will find only a few turn around points for a while.
Now there’s a parking lot just after the tunnel exit, so if you have time, a headlamp and there are parking spaces this is where you will go to do the Canyon Overlook Trail. Silly me I forgot the headlamps and with the sun going down we didn’t have time to do it in daylight.
There are so many outlooks on the way back down. Stop at them all if you can. Each one has a spectacular view. My favs were the Zion Scenic Drive Viewpoint 2 (above picture) and just after the Canyon Junction Bridge on the right side is a small pullout (below picture)
As you head out of the park, this is a great time to get your gear for tomorrow. Head to Zion Outfitters and get your boots, socks and stick for tomorrow. You will need these and there is no extra charge to pick them up the night before. There are lots in supply but if you feel more comfortable you can rent them online prior and still pick them up early.
Time to head back to the hotel and get some much needed sleep. You will need all the rest you can get as it will be an early morning and a awesome long hike in the morning.
Day 3 The Narrows/Bryce Canyon Sunset
Good morning!!! Time to get up at 5am and be at the park by 6:15am no later than 6:30am. You will need to be on the first shuttle to get to The Narrows. During busy times you will want to be there even by 5am just to get parking. If not you will have to park outside of Zion National Park, most likely having to pay.
The shuttle up to the Narrows is scenic and if you get the right driver, very informative. For everything you need to know before you hike The Narrows check out my post The Narrows, what you should know before you go.
Hiking The Narrows
This is a great way to wake you up first thing in the morning, the mile hike to the river. Getting into the river, now that’s a wake up! The water will be cold, even with your neoprene socks and boots. I loved this hike and it really should be on everyone’s list. The stunning slot canyon and fresh air was amazing. This hike can be 2 hours up to 8 hours depending how far you want to go.
Next stop on our road trip, Bryce Canyon. You will head out on Hwy 9 through Zion National Park to highway 89 and turning down 12 to Bryce. A couple things to look out for either on the way there or out are the Red Canyon Arches that go over the road.
Bryce Canyon Resort
We stayed at the Bryce Canyon Resort, it is 4 miles from the visitor center at Bryce Canyon and 9 minutes from the sunrise and sunsets.
By the time you get here, after your hike at The Narrows, you will have enough time check in and and get ready for your sunset at Bryce Canyon. The best time to get there is at least 45 min to an hour before sunset. This will give you amazing views as the sun sets over the hoodoos.
You can head to sunset point or even sunrise to get get the amazing views of the canyon below. The rim trail is also a great hike if you still have some stamina in your legs after the earlier hike. If not this a night to get to bed early because you are coming right back here for sunrise.
Day 4 Bryce Canyon and Butch Cassidy Childhood Home
Today the journey heads back to Bryce Canyon National Park for the sunrise and for a great hike. After that we make our way north stopping at the childhood home of Butch Cassidy. So lets go!
Read this blog for everything you need to know before you go to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Sunrise Inspiration point
Early bird gets the worm!! Or a great morning drive to see some wildlife on the way to your sunrise. The sunrise is best seen from Upper Inspiration Point, however if your legs are sore from the day before, you will still get amazing views from Lower Inspiration Point.
Once you are done taking in the stunning scenery around you, jump back in your car and head to sunset point road to get some hiking in.
Navajo Loop Trail
I know you just did a long hike yesterday and I promise you this is worth it!
I would say the first part of the trail is easy, because it is downhill no matter which way you start to go on your hike. The last part is up hill but like I said before, so worth it. This is a shorter trail and will only take about an hour, depending how many breaks to take.
If you are feeling more adventurous there are more trails leading off this one. I would say since there is not much to do on this day as the next thing is driving to your next destination, it would be good if you packed in 1 more trail. Or you can make a few stops at the scenic turnouts in Red Canyon on the way out. Here are some of the ones you shouldn’t miss
- Butch Cassidy Draw, well since you heading to his home why not stop at another landmark with his name on it. At this same spot you can get a great picture of the next one.
- Red Canyon Arch, another site to see and as I said before you can do both at this turnout
- Birds Eye Trail, I loved this stop and if you have some energy there are 3 trails you can go here. If not it’s still a great stop (picture below)
Butch Cassidy’s childhood home
Now that you have put in a good morning sunrise and hike time to start making your way to Richfield Utah. On the way though you should make plans for this one stop.
I love me a good old country western bad boy ha ha ha. Butch Cassidy was a name I heard when I was a kid. So when I seen one of his childhood homes was on the way I had to stop.
Once you get back on to 89, about an hour north of Bryce Canyon, you will find this gem. Can we talk about how this home from the 1800’s is still standing? I love looking into history. These open concept single room homes are amazing. Butch lived here with his family from 1880 to 1884, where is moved out at the age of 18. Butch Cassidy was a ranch hand, miner, adventurer (which is why I’m so fascinated by him) turned outlaw.
Richfield, Utah
Time to keep on movin on and head to Richfield Utah for a much need night of sleep. Richfield Utah for us was a relaxation point of our adventure. Here was stayed at the Quality Inn, a cute low key hotel in the center of town. This is a great place to restock your lunch bag.
We really liked the service here and the hotel was really clean. The only complaint that we had was the pool area. Honestly in the winter it would be lovely, it is a covered pool with a small porch area off it. Unfortunately is the summer it is a sweaty greenhouse with stifling area.
With all that said it was the perfect place to relax our feet and get some shuteye. Now, if you have some energy here is one thing we missed doing.
Just outside of Richfield in the town of Monroe you will find some hot springs. There is the paid Mystic Hot Springs, which is lovely and a cute place even to spend the night. They have a tent area or converted buses and more to sleep in. If you want to relax in a hot spring for free the head to Red Hill Hot Springs.
Day 5 Moab, Corona Arch and sunset at Delicate Arch
Rise and shine, get prepared for the best drive of this whole trip. It’s time to head to Moab and the scenery on the portion is amazing. We ended up getting to Corona Arch to late in the day to hike the whole thing, mainly because we kept pulling over to check out all the amazing places.
To get from Richfield to Moab you will take Hwy 70 to the 191. It is 2.5 hours non stop, so plan for 4 hours with all of these.
Sand Beach View Area
This stop was so lovely and the views were incredible. This pull off has pit washrooms, no running water but some stunning views and a great place to stretch your legs while over looking Castle Valley.
Now if you missed this one or it was too soon for you to stop I would suggest Devil’s Canyon. I missed this one as it was close to Sand Beach View, but the drive by was amazing and it was too late for us to stop at the point.
Ghost Rock View Point
Now the name is a bit spooky and I thought this was going to be a haunted place lol it was not. The name Ghost rock comes from some cowboys going through this area on a foggy day and came across 2 towering white rocks which they said looked like ghost.
I was a little disappointed with the graffiti, but that seems to be the norm these day. It is a nice spot to stop and get a little history lesson but I would suggest Devil’s Canyon.
Spotted Wolf Canyon View Area
If you only want to make one stop on your way to Moab, this is it!!! This breathtaking view area is a spot you will want to take 20 min at least to take it all in. The moment we pulled off we knew this was going to be amazing. Not to mention we ran into some fellow Canadians here, always fun running into our fellow country people.
The engineering it took to carve out this area for the I-70 to run through is amazing. Now you can hear the trucks as they make their way down the road through Spotted Wolf Canyon. This is also an amazing place for hikers and rock climbers. The water here sculpted incredible slot canyons, definitely a place I would like to explore more.
Corona Arch
Next stop is Corona Arch. Now if you are doing this road trip in the summer you will want to be here by 10am, which means you want to leave Richfield by not later than 6am. This is not a hike that should be done mid-day like we tried. We got here around 12pm and by the time we could just see Corona Arch it was too hot to get close. I will be back here to master this hike.
There is only a couple shade spots here and it is very hot. You need to make sure you have lots of water and sun protection. Best to do this trail early morning. The trail is marked well enough with blue markers. There is also a chain area that if you have any mobility issues this may hinder your hike. But just so you know that is as far as we got and still had a great view of Corona Arch.
The great thing about Corona Arch is it’s not busy. As you can see from the picture above, there was no one there. I’m not sure if the couple we met on this trail will ever see this, but thank you. You made the crazy trail and good laugh and your words of wisdom meant a lot.
Checking into Moab
I’m going to start off by saying I love this little city. You could spend a month here and not get to see everything this little area brings you. We stayed at the River Canyon Lodge and this place was so comfortable and cozy. The cost was on the lower end of some of the places here but had great service. It was nice to take a dip in the pool while we waited for our time to get in to Arches National Park.
Arches National Park and Delicate Arch Sunset
There is so much to talk about with Arches National Park. For everything you need to know about what to expect here, check out Arches National Park in one day. We came here after 6pm as that is when you don’t need an allotted time spot to enter. We stopped at a few of the landmarks in the park and then made our way for the sunset at Delicate Arch.
Delicate Arch is the most famous in Utah, you will even see it on the license plates for the vehicles in Utah. This hike however is no joke. You need to come prepared. Hiking shoes, water is a must, sun protection and if doing a sunrise or sunset here you will need a flashlight. Do not rely I your phone as the battery may die. There is no shade until you get to the top and even then there is not much. This is not an easy hike but if you take your time and pace yourself it is worth every aching muscle.
Now to head back to town and enjoy the scenic view on the way out. There are so many amazing spots to check out in Arches National Park, make sure you check out the full blog on that.
Day 6 Canyonlands National Park, Forrest Gump point, Monument Valley and Page AZ
Be prepared for the longest day of the road trip and I promise the following days you will get a little break. Early morning wake up!!! We are now heading to Canyonlands National Park to Mesa Arch. Now we did not make it here for sunrise but I would highly suggest you do. This is one of the most photographed places in Utah for sunrise, so there will be lots of people and cameras here. If you get there for around 9am you will meet even bigger crowds. Best to just get there, watch the sunrise and when the crowds disperse get your shot.
Canyonlands is such a beautiful place to drive to and has amazing view spots around every corner. For everything about this place check out Canyonlands National Park in one day.
Dead Horse Point State Park
The next stop on our road trip was a little hard to get to but worth the detour. I explain this in the blog for Canyonlands National Park in one day. It has a sad backstory but make you respect and reflect on this spot even more.
There are some great Instagram worthy spots here and amazing trails. Try to spend at least an hour taking in the scenery and stretching out those legs.
Forrest Gump Point
Yup, not going to lie, this was one stop is was really looking forward to and if you are a movie buff you will love it too. Next stop on this road trip is the famous Forrest Gump Point “I’m pretty tired, I think I’ll go home now”. Yes this is the stop where Forrest finishes his run and heads home.
This is a real highway, with lots of traffic! You need to be cautious and courteous when trying to get that famous shot. The area is busy, even mid day there were plenty of cars driving through. It is worth the wait for the cars to pass. Plus the scenery around here is stunning, so take it all in and look around.
It is time to cross the state line! We are now heading into Arizona.
Monument Valley
This road trip just got, well a little off road. Monument Valley was another stop I was really interested in seeing. However we did not have the proper vehicle for this portion of the trip and didn’t plan for time on a tour.
Here is my tip for this spot on your road trip, book ahead. They offer tours at the visitor center but if it’s busy you will be out of luck or waiting a while for a spot. The road here is rough and if you have a small rental car it may not make it out in one piece. For the fun facts on this and Forrest Gump point check out Monument Valley and Forrest Gump Point
It is now time for the longer portion of the trip, the drive to Page Arizona. This is not a visually stunning drive, however so worth the 2 relaxing nights in Page Arizona. Be prepared the roads going to Page are a little annoying.
Page Arizona
It is time to get something to eat and put up your feet. We stayed at Lake Powell Resort and I would highly recommend it. Located just outside of Page, within the Wahweap Recreation Area you will find this gem. Amazing sunrises and sunsets overlooking Wahweap Bay. Get some dinner at the restaurant, I would suggest the burger and make your way to bed for a well deserved sleep.
Day 6 Sunrises, Antelope Canyon, BBQ and Sunset at Horseshoe
Get ready for a slow paced yet delicious day! Time to get up head to the main lobby and treat yourself to a Starbucks. I’m not a fancy coffee drinker but the decaf espresso mocha is amazing!! Yes, I said decaf.
Canyon X
There are so many things to do in Page, Utah. The biggest adventure here is the slot canyons, but picking the right one well that will depend on your physical abilities and your wallet. We went with Canyon X, it is in Antelope Canyon but just a different part of it. This is for those on a budget, however, will admit I do want to go back and do the lower canyon.
For the complete rundown of this read Page Arizona, things to do
Smoked BBQ
I love BBQ and the night we drove into Page there was one place we had to try. Now this was only our 3rd dining out experience and was so worth it. Normally on vacation I would eat out all the time but for this one we made our lunches and dinners each day to save money. This place is a must stop at as the food was on my top 10 places to eat around the world, I would even say it met my top 5.
I know we are not in Texas and should have tried local food but this place was as good as the smell from the street. Big John’s Texas BBQ!!!! So of the best pulled pork and sauce I have ever had in my life.
Now that you are in a food coma time to to hike it off with a short hike to Horseshoe Bend for sunset
Horseshoe Bend
Your last hike of the road trip will be to the famous Horseshoe Bend. This trail is 1.5 miles out and back with very little shade. Make sure you bring lots of water and sunscreen. There are a couple shelters but with that dry air and sun it is a little brutal.
This spot is great to visit anytime of the day. Sunrise is really pretty and so is sunset but to capture that amazing river below make sure you are there when the sun hits it. This area is crowded and has very steep drop offs, so make sure you are careful on the edge and keep an eye on your children.
Note: If you are planning to take kids or older people on this trail note there is very little shade and it is very hot in the sun.
So tomorrow you will be heading back to Las Vegas, NV. However if you have lots of energy or maybe an extra day planned here, there is still so much to do here. Here are a couple things to think about.
- Rainbow Bridge Arch – you will need to book a boat tour or do a couple day hike for this one.
- Hike trails – there are a few trails short and long that can be done here
- Skylight Arch – another great arch to visit and a shorter trail
- The Wave – now this is not in Page but you can do it on your way back to Las Vegas NV. There is lottery to get into here, if you are feeling lucky you should try it.
All of these and more can be found in the blog Page Arizona, things to do
Day 7 Vegas slots and flying home
Ughhhhh, the time has come to head back to Las Vegas NV. As I mentioned before, if you have time to do The Wave hike, this would be the time to do it. It is on your way home and will take a few hours, however if you want to git the city and some gambling you will want to head out and straight to Vegas.
I didn’t get to see the Vegas Strip at night either on the way there or home but even during the day it is really nice.
So another joy for me is people watching, what better place to do that then Las Vegas! Oh there are some interesting ducks in Vegas, I’m sure even more at night.
One of the things I really enjoy was walking up and down the Vegas Strip. The buildings and architecture here are something to be amazed by. Was it what I expected? Yes and no. I really thought the casinos would be classier. I found them small and the layout very strange, even back home ours is bigger. I also was not expecting the hotels to have promenade’s that looked like streets, very cool to see. It was like walking outside but inside, where it was cool and no sun. What did not surprise me was the people and I wish I was there at night to see the real characters come out, one day!
Check out the water show at The Bellagio. This display is amazing to see and the shows are always different, so you can see it many times while you are there.
Monday – Friday
Fountain display is every 30 minutes from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Fountain display is every 15 minutes from 8:00 PM to Midnight
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
Fountain display is every 30 minutes from noon to 8:00 PM
Fountain display is every 15 minutes from 8:00 PM to midnight
There is so much to see and do in this city, I just wished we had more time. It just means I need to go back and really explore the people and places. I’m not much of a gambling person but did win so money, just don’t come here thinking you will go home rich. Take only what you can afford and leave your cards in the car.
*gamble responsibly
It is time to return the car and head to the airport. When you do this trip remember to stop and take it all in. Do just jump place to place taking pictures, really look around you, you may be surprised what you see out there and in you.
Final Thoughts
This road trip was about nature and the terrain. It was also about bringing someone along and showing them a new way to travel. Jodi, my road trip and vacation buddy, is not an outdoors person. However I wanted to see if I could change her mind and views on the great outdoors. I’m so happy to report we are still friends HA HA HA and she really loved it. So much that we will be doing another outdoor adventure this November. This time instead of the extreme heat we will be heading to Iceland for the cold winter. Jodi I’m so proud of you and what you accomplished on this trip. I should mention Jodi did each trail we planned for and received all her medals.
Remember this is not a race, take your time and really see what nature has given us. Utah is one of the prettiest places I have ever been and cannot wait to go back. Las Vegas is a strange city and cannot wait to see the night time madness it beings. Arizona, fix your roads lol and I will come back. Jokes aside AZ you have same amazing scenery and cannot wait to explore your southern parts!
Drive safe and try to leave the roads and take the trails more!