Southwest Grand Circle Self-Drive in

A loop from Las Vegas linking Utah's red-rock parks, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon South Rim.

Clockwise around the Grand Circle, slowing down at Zion and Moab with extra nights, and crossing Grand Staircase country on Highway 12. Daily drives are fairly balanced, suiting first-timers with ample time who want to see it all. The trade-offs: no Grand Canyon North Rim, and Lake Powell is seen but not boated.

Summer in Utah is hot and canyons carry flash flood risk; the high plateau is snowy in winter; spring and autumn are the safest.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Las Vegas

Las Vegas（Las Vegas Strip、Fountains of Bellagio）

A taxi from the airport to the Strip takes about 15 minutes; pick up the car the next day, and in the evening stroll the Strip for the hotels and fountains.

Stay: Central Strip

Day 2 · Valley of Fire to Zion

Las Vegas（Valley of Fire State Park） → Zion National Park（Canyon Junction Bridge）

Pick up the car and take I-15 around Valley of Fire State Park, then north to Springdale; about 330 km, 4 hours of pure driving.

Valley of Fire is extremely hot at midday in summer and some trails may be restricted; arrive in the morning.

Stay: Springdale

Day 3 · Zion Canyon Hiking Day

Zion National Park（The Narrows、Riverside Walk、Emerald Pools Trail、Court of the Patriarchs）

Walk or take the town shuttle to the south entrance, then the in-park shuttle, getting on and off at stops along the scenic drive; no driving needed all day.

Wading the Narrows requires checking the water level; do not enter during flash flood warnings.

Stay: Springdale

Day 4 · East out of Zion to Bryce

Zion National Park（Canyon Overlook Trail、Checkerboard Mesa） → Bryce Canyon National Park（Bryce Point、Inspiration Point、Sunset Point、Navajo Loop & Queen's Garden Trail）

Exit east through the tunnel, then take US-89 and UT-12 to Bryce, about 140 km and 2 hours; spend the afternoon at the rim viewpoints.

Stay: Bryce Canyon City

Day 5 · Highway 12 across the Grand Staircase

Bryce Canyon National Park（Sunrise Point） → Escalante（Kodachrome Basin State Park、Lower Calf Creek Falls、The Hogback, Scenic Byway 12）

After sunrise, drive UT-12 east via Escalante to Boulder, about 130 km, around 2 hours of driving.

Stay: Boulder

Day 6 · Over Boulder Mountain to Capitol Reef

Escalante（Anasazi State Park Museum） → Capitol Reef National Park (Torrey)（Fruita Rural Historic District、Capitol Reef Scenic Drive、Hickman Bridge）

Take UT-12 over Boulder Mountain to Torrey, about 60 km and 1 hour, then about 15 minutes into the park.

Aspens turn yellow on Boulder Mountain in autumn; watch for snow after October.

Stay: Torrey

Day 7 · Goblin Valley to Moab

Capitol Reef National Park (Torrey)（Goblin Valley State Park） → Moab (Arches & Canyonlands)（Moab Museum）

UT-24 east to Goblin Valley takes about 1.5 hours, then I-70 to Moab about 2 hours.

Stay: Downtown Moab

Day 8 · Full Day at Arches

Moab (Arches & Canyonlands)（Balanced Rock、The Windows Section、Double Arch、Landscape Arch、Delicate Arch）

It's about 15 minutes from Moab to the entrance; drive within the park, with 5 to 30 minutes between viewpoints.

The Delicate Arch round trip takes about 2.5 hours; it's best in the evening, with a headlamp for the descent.

Stay: Downtown Moab

Day 9 · Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point

Moab (Arches & Canyonlands)（Island in the Sky、Mesa Arch、Grand View Point Overlook、Dead Horse Point State Park）

Take US-191 to UT-313 to Island in the Sky, about 1 hour; on the return, enter Dead Horse Point State Park for sunset.

Stay: Downtown Moab

Day 10 · South to Monument Valley

Moab (Arches & Canyonlands)（Hole N' The Rock、Wilson Arch） → Monument Valley（Goosenecks State Park、Forrest Gump Point、The View (Monument Valley Visitor Center)）

Head south on US-191 and US-163, about 240 km, 3 hours of pure driving, stopping at Hole N" The Rock and Goosenecks along the way.

Stay: Gouldings Area

Day 11 · Valley Loop and on to Page

Monument Valley（Valley Drive、West and East Mitten Buttes、John Ford's Point） → Page & Lake Powell（Horseshoe Bend、Wahweap Overlook）

Drive the valley's dirt-road loop for about 2 hours in the morning, then take US-160 and AZ-98 to Page, about 210 km and 2 hours.

The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time while the rest of Arizona does not, a 1-hour difference; double-check booking times.

Stay: Page

Day 12 · Antelope Canyon to the Grand Canyon South Rim

Page & Lake Powell（Antelope Canyon） → Grand Canyon South Rim（Desert View Watchtower、Lipan Point、Mather Point）

Join a tour of Antelope Canyon in Page in the morning, then enter the park through the East Entrance via US-89 and AZ-64 in the afternoon, about 220 km and 2.5 hours.

Antelope Canyon is by guided tour only and must be booked in advance; large bags are not allowed.

Stay: Grand Canyon Village

Day 13 · Back to Las Vegas

Grand Canyon South Rim（Hermit Road & Hopi Point、Rim Trail） → Las Vegas（Hoover Dam）

Stroll Hermit Road in the morning, then take I-40 and US-93 to Hoover Dam and into the city, about 450 km, 4.5 hours of pure driving.

Book an evening flight, or add a night in Las Vegas.

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