Epic Road Trip: The Unmissable National Parks of Utah and Arizona

July 3, 2024 Juan Pablo Gonzalez

General recommendations:

Rent a 4x4 SUV
Travel during the month of May: April is already very cold and you can find closed trails, June is already very hot, all prices go up and there are too many people.
Have an internet data plan because there are very remote places for emergencies.
Buy good hiking shoes and socks, very cool clothing with sun protection. Keep good hydration and snacks in the car.
Do not let the car's fuel tank reach ¼ (half a tank is recommended) because there are very long stretches where there are no fuel stations.
Buy a one-year pass to make the entrance cheaper if you are going to visit more than 2 national parks. This can be purchased at the entrance of any national park, we recommend buying it at the first one you enter.

Day 1: Las Vegas

Arriving in Las Vegas: Depending on your arrival time, sleep in Las Vegas or leave for the first park.

Recommendations: Buy everything you need for camping if you plan to go camping. (beach chairs, rechargeable gas stove, candle, quick-start campfire, sleeping bags, tent, food)

Day 2: Zion National Park

Travel to Zion National Park : Approximately 2:30 hours by car. If you are camping, find the camping site, set up everything and then explore the park. Minimum of two days to enjoy it.

Parking: If the park parking lot is full, park in Springdale and take the shuttle bus to the visitor center (free) and from there take the park buses that drop you off at the trailheads.
Camping sites: Free options (37°13'21.3"N 113°09'41.1"W). link more sites
Hotels/Airbnb: Hotels in Springdale or a Tiny House near the park link .

Recommended Trails:

Zion Canyon Overlook Trail (1.4 km) Sunset viewing is recommended .

Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail (5.8 km) Angel lading requires a special permit and must be done 2 days in advance. This trail is located at the summit of Scout Lookout.

The Zion Narrows Riverside Walk (8.7 km) – If you are going to do this hike, you have the option of renting waterproof shoes and suits, and walking sticks, at the stores outside the park (Zion Outfitters) in case you don't want to get wet and so you can have good support along the way.

The Watchman Trail (5 km)

Emerald Pools Trail (4.8 km)

We recommend that you take a maximum of two walks per day in this park and bring snacks such as sandwiches or cereal bars to recharge your energy without having to leave the park. Never forget to stay well hydrated.

Day 4: Bryce National Park

Bryce National Park Trip : Approximately 1:50 h from Zion. One or one and a half days to explore.

Parking : Shuttle Stop 11 at Sunset Point.
Camping sites: Free options approx. 5 points (37.73140° N, 112.09400° W). There are also camping options within the park but you have to book approximately 4 months in advance and it costs money. link more sites
Airbnb: Search in the town of Panguitch.

Recommended Trails:

Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail (5.1 km)

Wall Street, Queens Garden and Peekaboo loop trail (10.1 km)

Finish with a shuttle bus or car ride to the highest point and the most incredible view: Bryce Point.

We recommend taking the Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail, which will give you a very complete idea of what it is like. If you want to cover most of the park, we recommend taking the Pekaboo Trail, which you can start at Wall Street.

Day 5: Arches National Park

Travel to Arches National Park: Approximately 4:10 hrs from Bryce. Reserve your ticket in advance or arrive after 4:00 pm for free admission.

Book your entrance to the park: Link

Hotels/Airbnb: Find a hotel or Airbnb in Moab, a small but beautiful town with great places to eat.

Airbnb La Sal: This is a town that is approximately 45 minutes from Arches on a mountain where you will be able to see the stars, see many deer and be in the middle of nature. Here we recommend a tiny house in the middle of the mountain. We recommend arriving before sunset so you can enjoy it and drive calmly since there are many deer on the road and at night it is dangerous to drive like that. Airbnb La Sal

Recommended Trails :

Devils Garden Trail (12.7 km). You can do the full loop on this trail, which has several famous arches, or you can go to the point you want and turn back. We recommend in order: Pine Tree Arch Trail and Tunner Arch Trail (1.6 km round trip), Landscape Arch Trail 3.1 km, and Navajo Arch 4.7 km round trip.

Delicate Arch (5.1 km)

Double Arch (Trail 1 km)

Windows Loop Trail (1.1 km)

Day 6: Canyonlands National Park

Visiting Canyonlands National Park: Recommended entrance: Island in the Sky, 20 minutes from Moab. Second option: Entrance going to Monticello, approximately 2:15 h.

Sleeping recommendations: Camping is available within the park for a fee, in most places it is first come, first served, at the Needles you have to make a reservation (there are 26 places).
CampSite Canyonlands Reservation Link .

The next stop we recommend is Page. Since the trip from Moab to Page is 4:35 hours, we recommend sleeping in a town halfway along the way.

Monticello Airbnb Link

View Points on Island in the Sky:

This park is not so much about walking but rather about going by car to the View Points. There are several trails if you want to walk in the following link

Grand View Point Trail (2.9 km)

Mesa Arch Trail

Visitor Center Overlook

Recommendations for sleeping:

Camping within the park is available for a fee, in most places it is on a first-come, first-served basis, in the Needles you have to make a reservation (there are 26 places).

CampSite Canyonlands Reservation Link

The next stop we recommend is Page. Since the trip from Moab to Page takes 4:35 hours, we recommend sleeping in a town halfway along the way.

Monticello Airbnb Link

Day 7: Page, HorseShoe Bend and Antelope Canyon

On the way we recommend taking Hwy 163 to Monument Valley, where the famous road from the movie Forest Gump is located, then visiting the Indian reservation (Monument Valley Tribal Visitor Center) will cost $15 and you can do the loop by car.

Upon arrival in Page, go to the reserve for the Antilopoe Canyon tour, which is made up of two tours, the Upper and the Lower. We recommend the Lower because it is less crowded and the canyon is narrower and longer. The Link reservation costs $150 and both tours are required to enter. IMPORTANT: make this reservation 2-3 months in advance to be able to choose a good time.

The most important thing on this day is to plan to see the sunset at Horse Shoe Bend. We could say that it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the trip.

The entrance fee is $15 and keep in mind that it is very crowded, so you may want to arrive a little early, bring something to eat or drink, relax and enjoy the view.

The town of Page is very nice and there are several things to do, one of them is to go to the GCBC Brewery where you can eat and drink a good beer. Now if you like to eat an excellent smoke BBQ we recommend you go to Big John's where you can enjoy live country music and eat the best pulled pork sandwich.

In this town there are several places to sleep that can be cheap and good, from hotels and Airbnb.

For this town of Page, 1 full day or 1 day and a half is recommended, since here you can also visit Lake Powell, rent a kayak or jet ski and tour the lake or go through the canyon.

Day 8 (Grand Canyon National Park)

Again, leave early as the tour is 1.45 hours long. This park has some incredible pine forests and we recommend camping. You can camp inside the park with a reservation in advance, or in places outside the park that are also excellent.