American West Road Trip Itinerary: Southern Utah, 6 National Parks
Southern Utah Itinerary
Start / End
Las Vegas, Nevada
States Covered
National parks
Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Moab, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon & Zion
Total Distance
1,200 Miles (1,900 KM)
Suggested Days
At least 12-16 days
Suggested Seasons
All seasons, but Spring & Fall are the best
#ThisIsMyRoute
Overview
The route that we have chosen for this American west road trip is a loop that leaves from and arrives back in Las Vegas, Nevada. It takes you to six national parks and multiple national monuments. This trip is ideal for people visiting the US for the first time, families with children, hardcore adventurers or honeymooners. There’s really no perfect itinerary–just follow the general route and make it your own! It can be adjusted to fit any need that your group is looking for.
Preparation
While you could technically take this American West road trip at any time of the year, spring and fall seasons have the most moderate weather, but larger crowds. If you choose to visit in the quieter summer or winter, just be prepared to deal with the heat or possibly the snow, and make sure you’ve brought appropriate clothing and gear. That being said, the desert looks incredibly beautiful when it snows!
Ideally, you would give yourself at least 14 days for this trip. There’s not a ton of driving, so it could be done in less than 14, but you might regret quickly passing through many of the stops.
Itinerary
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
ST. GEORGE
2 HOURS – 118 MILES/303 KM
St. George isn’t just known for its close proximity to Zion National Park. In fact, we suggest that you save Zion for the end of the trip when you stay in Springdale. St. George is a beautiful city nestled between red rocks in the heart of Greater Zion and there’s plenty of outdoor activities to burn your energy from that your flight and drive. There are over 668 mountain biking trails and the annual Red Bull Rampage, which is basically the Super Bowl of mountain biking. If you didn’t bring your bike, there are plenty of bike shops in town that rent them for a day rate.