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ROUTE89

The Grand Circle

Utah’s Mighty 5, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon in one loop from Las Vegas.

Monument Valley, Utah, USA© Domenico Convertini · CC BY-SA 2.0
Distance
About 1,300 mi
≈ 2,090 km, rounded
Time
10–14 days
at a comfortable pace
Best season
Apr–May · Sep–Oct
Start → finish
Las Vegas → Las Vegas

The Grand Circle is the densest collection of national parks on Earth: in a loop of about 1,300 miles from Las Vegas you drive through Zion’s canyon, Bryce’s hoodoos, the scenic Byway 12, Capitol Reef’s orchards, Arches and Canyonlands, the buttes of Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon’s slots and the Grand Canyon. It is the road trip most visitors dream of when they think of the American West.

Map of the The Grand Circle road tripUTNVCapitol ReefPageLas VegasLAS VEGASZionZIONBryce CanyonBRYCE CANYONArchesARCHESMonument ValleyMONUMENT VALLEYAntelopeANTELOPEHorseshoe BendHORSESHOE BENDGrand CanyonGRAND CANYONN0100 mi
The route, stop by stop — tap a stop to open its guide.

Day by day

  1. 1

    Day 1 · Las Vegas

    Fly in, pick up the car, a night on the Strip. Buy water by the case.

    Sleep: [Las Vegas](/cities/las-vegas/)

  2. 2

    Day 2 · To Zion

    Via Valley of Fire if you leave early. Afternoon on the Pa’rus Trail, sunset at the Watchman.

    160 mi · 2 h 45Sleep: Springdale

  3. 3

    Day 3 · Zion

    The Narrows in the morning, Angels Landing or Scout Lookout in the afternoon. See our Zion guide.

    Sleep: Springdale

  4. 4

    Day 4 · Zion–Mount Carmel Highway to Bryce

    The tunnel and Canyon Overlook, Red Canyon, then sunset at Bryce Point.

    85 mi · 1 h 45Sleep: Bryce Canyon City

  5. 5

    Day 5 · Bryce & Scenic Byway 12

    Sunrise and the Navajo Loop, then Byway 12 over the Hogback, through Escalante to Boulder and Torrey.

    120 mi · 2 h 30Sleep: Torrey

  6. 6

    Day 6 · Capitol Reef to Moab

    Capitol Reef’s petroglyphs, orchards and Hickman Bridge hike; pie at the Gifford House. Drive on to Moab.

    145 mi · 2 h 30Sleep: Moab

  7. 7

    Day 7 · Arches

    Early entry, the Windows and Devils Garden, Delicate Arch at sunset. See our Arches guide.

    Sleep: Moab

  8. 8

    Day 8 · Canyonlands & Dead Horse Point

    Mesa Arch at sunrise, Grand View Point, Dead Horse Point’s gooseneck.

    70 miSleep: Moab

  9. 9

    Day 9 · Monument Valley

    Via Bluff and the Valley of the Gods, Forrest Gump Point, sunset over the Mittens. See Monument Valley.

    150 mi · 2 h 30Sleep: Monument Valley

  10. 10

    Day 10 · Page: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend

    A booked slot in Antelope Canyon, then Horseshoe Bend in the late afternoon. Watch the time zone change.

    120 mi · 2 hSleep: Page

  11. 11

    Day 11 · Grand Canyon

    In through the East Entrance along Desert View Drive; sunset at Hopi Point. See our Grand Canyon guide.

    135 mi · 2 h 30Sleep: Grand Canyon Village or Tusayan

  12. 12

    Day 12 · Back to Las Vegas

    Sunrise on the rim, then via Route 66 in Williams or Seligman and the Hoover Dam.

    280 mi · 4 h 30Sleep: Las Vegas

Short on days? Part of this route also works as a short trip, planned hour by hour:

What it costs

Mid-range estimates; see our [budget guide](/usa-travel-budget/)
ItemTypical cost for two
Rental car, 12 days$700–$1,200 + gas ~$250
Lodging, 11 nights$1,800–$3,000
Park entry, non-residents$250 America the Beautiful pass (covers the car and the surcharges)
Navajo fees, Antelope tour, Horseshoe Bend parking$250–$350

Where to sleep along the way

Book the nights that matter first — inside or next to the parks, and in towns hosting a festival — then fill in the rest. Free cancellation keeps the plan flexible.

Partner links · Trip.com

Our hand-picked hotels on this route

Road trip questions

How many days do you need for the Grand Circle?

Ten days at a fast pace, two weeks to breathe. Fewer than a week means choosing between Utah and Arizona.

Which pass do you need for the Southwest national parks?

The America the Beautiful pass: $80 for US residents, $250 for non-residents, covering all the national parks on the route and the $100 non-resident surcharge.

When is the best time for a Southwest road trip?

April–May and September–October. Summer is very hot at low elevations, and winter brings snow to Bryce and the Grand Canyon rims.

Do you need a 4x4 for the Grand Circle?

No. Every stop in this itinerary is on paved roads, except the Monument Valley drive, usually fine for normal cars in dry weather.

Exit 10Stops on this routeLas VegasNeon in the Mojave, and the best base camp for the Southwest parks.
Exit 17Zion National ParkWalk up a river between 2,000-foot walls of red and cream sandstone.Exit 24Bryce Canyon National ParkAn amphitheater of orange hoodoos, at its best when the sun comes up.Exit 31Arches National ParkTwo thousand stone arches, one of them on Utah’s license plates.Exit 38Monument ValleyThe buttes of every Western ever filmed, on Navajo land.Exit 45Antelope CanyonLight pouring into a slot of sandstone carved like silk.
Exit 10And now?Route 662,400 miles · 14–21 days
Exit 17Pacific Coast Highway640 miles · 5–7 daysExit 24The West Coast Classic2,100 miles · 15–16 days

Written by Kylian Dev. Distances and drive times are without stops or traffic; add 25% for a realistic day.