1 Week Grand Circle Road Trip - Byrce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon and more!

Road Trip: A shortened version of the Grand Circle Road Trip that can take approximately one week. Interested in a longer version that includes Arches and Canyonlands?  See the Grand Circle Road Trip here.

Mileage: Approximately 1030 miles.

Main Points of Interest: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Monument Valley Tribal Park and the Grand Canyon.

Suggested Start and End for this Road Trip: Las Vegas, Nevada

What to Expect Along this Road Trip

Start Your Road Trip
Once you have arrived to Las Vegas, Nevada you might want to stay there a night to experience all that is Las Vegas.  However, some of you may prefer to just jump straight into your car and hit the road!

Zion National Park
We head to Zion National Park through St George, Utah. St George can be a great stopping point for those who might have started their journey late or you can keep going to Springdale, Utah.  A nice drive from Springdale into Zion National Park to see everything from breathtaking Narrows to the beautiful Emerald Pools.  Zion is quickly becoming a very popular park for many outdoor enthusiasts. Zion is a wilderness preserved, full of the unexpected. It includes what might be the world`s largest arch - Kolob Arch, spanning 310 feet.

Bryce Canyon National Park
After you have wrapped up your visit to Zion National Park we head off to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce is most famous for its` spectacular collection of "hoodoos".  These colorful formations amaze millions of visitors from all around the world.  If you get a chance, find yourself a nice viewpoint during sunrise and sunset to experience some of the most beautiful photographic scenes.  If you plan to stay near Bryce Canyon National Park during your road trip, Bryce Canyon Lodge is a wonderful place to stay.  However, if you are not able to get reservations, consider staying in the town of Bryce or Ruby`s Inn.

Capitol Reef National Park
Now that you have completed your stay in Bryce Canyon, we continue our road trip on to Capitol Reef National Park located northeast of Bryce.  Capitol Reef is most commonly known for the Waterpocket Fold which is a 100 mile long "wrinkle" in the earth"s crust.  The beautiful drive to Capitol Reef from Bryce Canyon follows along route 12 and you might also want to consider visiting Kodachrome Park and Grand Escalante depending on time available. Torrey, Utah is a great place to consider staying which is located conveniently to Capitol Reef.

Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges protects some of the finest examples of ancient stone architecture in the southwest. Located on a tree-covered mesa cut by deep sandstone canyons, three natural bridges formed where meandering streams eroded the canyon walls. The bridges are named Kachina, Owachomo and Sipapu.

Monument Valley Tribal Park
Next point of interest along this road trip? Only one of the most famous sights in America. Monument Valley Tribal Park has been a backdrop to many western movies, TV shows and more. This park awes its` visitors with huge towers of red sandstone. The drive from Capitol Reef to Monument Valley takes you across parts of Glen Canyon. Towns to stay in can get more limited in this area but one place to consider staying would be Kayenta, Arizona.

Grand Canyon National Park
Our last primary point of interest on this road trip is the Grand Canyon South Rim. The Grand Canyon National Park, a World Heritage Site, encompasses 1,218,375 acres and lies on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 15 miles at its widest.  When visiting the Grand Canyon you might consider the towns of Grand Canyon or Williams, Arizona.

End Your Road Trip
Our last day is spent heading back to Las Vegas, Nevada.

What Should I bring on my Trip?

Depending on what time of year you are planning on taking this route, you might want to consider some of these items:

Summer Travel:

Shorts
Hats
Shirts :: Performance Short Sleeve
Shoes: Hiking Footwear
Soft Shell Jackets (Temperatures will vary day and night in these areas.  Be prepared with layers!)
Pants: Soft Shell Pants :: Trek Travel Pants

Winter Travel:

Shirts: Fleece :: Performance Long Sleeve
Jackets: Fleece :: Insulated Jackets :: Down Jackets
Shoes: Hiking Footwear
Pants: Fleece Pants :: Insulated Pants :: Rain Pants
Gloves and Mittens

Spring and Fall will also vary in temperatures so using any combo with the summer and winter ideas would be suitable.  Plan for layers to keep up with the temperature changes in the course of a day.

Road Trip Details