For anyone planning a road trip through the southwest of the United States here is the ultimate 1-week Southwest USA road trip itinerary.
If you love being out in nature, enjoying the views, and doing activities outside a road trip through Southwest USA needs to be on your travel bucket list.
In just 1 week you can travel around Nevada, Utah, and Arizona and visit tons of National Parks and other amazing places.
Trying to plan a road trip all by yourself can be difficult and time-consuming but don’t worry, here is everything you need to know to have the best one-week road trip around the Southwest of the USA.
This post is a detailed Southwest USA road trip itinerary.
Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Las Vegas to Zion Canyon National Park
Daily Schedule Overview
- Fly into Las Vegas (if you fly in the night before check into accommodation)
- Explore the Las Vegas Strip for a few hours (visit Caesar’s Palace, Hells Kitchen, the Venetian, the Ferris Wheel, the Eiffel Tower, and the Bellagio/Gardens)
- Pick up the van from Escape Campervans
- Drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park
- Check into the campsite in Zion
Transportation
Las Vegas is one of the cheapest locations to fly into in the States. For this reason, it is the start of many people’s travels around the Southwest of the United States. And for all my Canadians out there that live close to the border look into driving down to the states to catch a flight because you can save tons of money to fly within the country. I flew with Spirit Airlines and my roundtrip flight cost around $90.
Once arriving in Las Vegas we explored a bit before picking up out camper van for our road trip. We got our van from Escape Campervans. I highly recommend that my budget travellers look into getting a camper van because it saves you a ton of money. We got the Maverick van which included two seats in the front, a table and benches in the back that folded out to a bed, and a kitchen in the back. This van combines your transportation, accommodations, and food cost (+ groceries) into one.
The drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park is around 2.5 hours.
Accommodations
Las Vegas Accommodations
We stayed at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, a hotel right off the Las Vegas strip. It was very affordable and in a great location so I recommend you check it out.
Zion Accommodations
We stayed at Zion Canyon Campground which was great. If you want more information check out my Campground Guide.
Day 2 – Zion Canyon National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park
Daily Schedule Overview
- Start your day by going to the Zion Visitor Center
- From the visitor center take the shuttle into the park
- Hike #1 of the day (Rim Trail to Scouts Lookout)
- Have a picnic break to eat lunch
- Hike #2 of the day (Emerald Pools Trail)
- Drive from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park
If you want more information about exploring Zion National Park check out my blog post about Exploring Zion National Park in One Day.
Transportation
The shuttle is the transportation you will use to explore Zion National Park. The shuttle stops 9 times on its way from the visitor center to the top of the canyon at Temple of Sinawava.
The drive from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park is just under a 2-hour drive.
Accommodations
Bryce Canyon Accommodations
When visiting Bryce Canyon National Park we stayed at Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground. It was located right outside the national park, only around a 5-minute drive into Bryce Canyon National Park. If you want more information check out my Campground Guide.
Day 3 – Bryce Canyon National Park
Daily Schedule Overview
- Start your day by getting a park pass
- Start your morning with a hike (Queen’s Garden to Peekaboo Loop Trail)
- Have a picnic in the park for lunch (Sunset Point)
- After lunch drive the Bryce Canyon scenic drive
- End the night with a sunset at Bryce Point
If you want more detailed information about Bryce Canyon National Park check out my Bryce Canyon blog post.
Transportation
To enter Bryce Canyon National Park you need a permit which you can get on recreation.gov. The vehicle pass costs $35, the motorcycle pass costs $30 (this includes individual use of the park shuttle), and a pedestrian/cyclist pass costs $20 (this allows use of the park shuttle). There is also a shuttle you can take into the park if you don’t have your own vehicle.
Day 4 – Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park
Daily Schedule Overview
- Pack up your campsite at Bryce Canyon and head to Capitol Reef National Park
- Go to the visitor center when you arrive and get information about the park
- Hike #1 of the day (Hickman Bridge)
- Have a picnic lunch (at Gifford House)
- Drive the scenic drive
- Hike #2 of the Day (Fremont River Trail)
- Check into campsite
Transportation
The drive from Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park is just over a 2-hour drive.
Accommodations
Capitol Reef Accommodations
When we visited Capitol Reef National Park we stayed at Wonderlands RV Park.
If you want more information about what to do while in Capitol Reef National Park click here.
Day 5 -Capitol Reef National Park to Page, Arizona
Daily Schedule Overview
- Get an early start to the day and start your long drive from Capitol Reef National Park to Page Arizona
- Once you arrive in Page Arizona go to see Horseshoe Bend
- Visit Canyon X or the other Antelope Canyons
- Check into your campsite for the night
Transportation
The drive from Capitol Reef National Park to Page Arizona will be your longest drive of the road trip by far. It takes around 4 and a half hours to drive all the way to Page. So get some good road trip snacks ready and make a good playlist for the car!
Accommodations
Page Arizona Accommodations
When we visited Page Arizona we stayed at Wahweap RV Park and Campground. This campground was located right by Lake Powell.
If you want more information about what to see while you are visiting Page Arizona check out my blog post about all the amazing sights you have to see in Page.
Day 6 – Page, Arizona to Grand Canyon
Daily Schedule Overview
- In the morning drive from Page Arizona to the Grand Canyon
- Once you get to the Grand Canyon check into your campsite
- Once you are settled go for a walk around the village
- End your night by watching the sunset at Hopi Point
Transportation
The drive from Page Arizona to Grand Canyon National Park is around 1 hour and 45 minutes (unless you drive a weird route like we did and get lost 😉 )
Accommodations
Grand Canyon Accommodations
When we visited the Grand Canyon we stayed at the Mather Campground. This campsite was a great price and super close to everything you would want to see.
If you want more information about what to do and see while visiting the Grand Canyon click here.
Day 7 – Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
Daily Schedule Overview
- Wake up and take the shuttle or drive to the village
- Hike the Bright Angels Trail
- After your hike see any last-minute things at the Grand Canyon (ex. get passport stamps, walk the Rim Trail, go shopping, etc.)
- Then start your drive from the Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas
- Stop at the Hover Dam on your way back to Vegas
- Depending on when you fly home spend your last night at Boulder Beach Campground
Transportation
When you are getting around the Grand Canyon you can either drive or take the shuttle. If you are staying at the Mather Campground the shuttle stop is only a couple minute walk from the campground and the shuttle can take you pretty much anywhere you want to go in the park.
The drive from the Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas is around 4 hours. This is a long drive so make sure you give yourself enough time. We made the mistake of leaving the Grand Canyon a bit later and we were rushing to see the Hover Dam before it closed.
Accommodations
Las Vegas Accommodations
For our road trip, we had one night in Las Vegas when we got back at the end before we flew out the next morning. Depending on what you prefer you could always get a hotel in Vegas like the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino or if you are like us and aren’t returning your van until the next morning and want to save some money you can book one last campsite. We stayed at Boulder Beach Campground for our last night in Vegas. Just a warning this campsite doesn’t have showers which we didn’t realize until we arrived but it is a very nice campground.
And that brings us to the end of this 1 week Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary. I had such an amazing time on this trip and couldn’t recommend it enough. If you love to hike, camp, and explore the outdoors you need to add this trip to your bucket list!
