American SouthwestRoad trips
A 7-day Southwest road trip with friends: Zion and Bryce
Two national parks, fewer hotel changes and a day you do not have to fill.
For a first Southwest road trip with friends, a Las Vegas, Zion and Bryce Canyon loop gives you seven days without adding a new park every morning. Spend two nights near each park, keep one flexible day and return to Las Vegas before the flight day. This is a suggested pace, not a driving-time guarantee; check roads, weather and park access for your dates.
Where to start
In this guide
Your seven-day route
1. Day 1: arrive in Las Vegas and get organized
Valley of Fire, Nevada. Illustrative photo.Photo : Nick Zilavy / Unsplash Sleep in Las Vegas on arrival, then collect the car and groceries without a park deadline. For four friends, check that the booked vehicle fits four people and four bags, not just that the rental category sounds large. Buy the first two picnic lunches, breakfast supplies and refillable water containers before leaving the city.
The practical details
- Night 1: Las Vegas. Confirm all drivers are covered by the rental agreement and photograph the car at collection.
- Download the park maps and route while you have a reliable connection. Keep food in a cooler where needed.
Planning budget per person$90 to $1702. Day 2: Las Vegas to Springdale, at Zion鈥檚 south entrance
Use Springdale as your base for two nights. Once checked in, visit the Zion Canyon Visitor Center area to check conditions and understand the next morning鈥檚 shuttle. If you arrive late, a meal and an early night are enough; there is a full Zion day tomorrow.
The practical details
- Planning allowance: about three hours of driving from Las Vegas, plus stops. Recalculate for your hotel and traffic; the airport is roughly 170 miles from Zion.
- Nights 2 and 3: Springdale. Ask the lodging about parking and the walk or shuttle connection to the park entrance.
Planning budget per person$100 to $190NPS 路 directions to Zion3. Day 3: Riverside Walk and a picnic in Zion Canyon
Take the park shuttle to Temple of Sinawava and follow Riverside Walk beside the Virgin River. This paved route leads to the start of the Narrows; turn around there without entering the river. Plan a picnic afterward and keep the afternoon for a shorter stop or a rest in Springdale.
The practical details
- NPS suggests one to two hours for Riverside Walk. Check closures and surface conditions before setting out.
- During shuttle operation, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles. Allow about 45 minutes each way to stop 9, plus queues; the shuttle is free and needs no reservation. Note the last return.
Planning budget per person$100 to $190NPS 路 Riverside Walk4. Day 4: reach Bryce and walk between Sunset and Sunrise Points
The view from Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon.Photo : Zhanjiang Chen / Unsplash Leave Springdale after breakfast and head for Bryce Canyon City or Tropic, where you will stay two nights. If the road and your vehicle permit, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway gives you an eastward route out of Zion. At Bryce, begin with the rim between Sunset and Sunrise Points instead of committing to a descent after the drive.
The practical details
- Allow roughly two hours of driving on the direct route, before stops. The paved Sunset-to-Sunrise section is 0.5 mile each way; give the return walk an hour with photos.
- RV or van: check NPS size and weight limits before choosing the road. Over-limit vehicles cannot use the section between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance; Highway 20 provides an alternative toward Bryce.
Planning budget per person$90 to $170NPS 路 Bryce day hikes5. Day 5: hike Queens Garden and Navajo Loop, or stay on the rim
Bryce Canyon in winter. Trail conditions vary with the season.Photo : Donald Giannatti / Unsplash If everyone is comfortable with a moderate hike and the trail is open, choose the Queens Garden and Navajo combination. Descend via Queens Garden and return uphill via Two Bridges, following the NPS route advice. Anyone who wants a shorter day can stay with rim viewpoints; agree on a meeting time before splitting up.
The practical details
- Trail figures: 2.9 miles round trip, about 625 feet of elevation gain; allow two to three hours. The climb back up comes at the end.
- Wall Street is a seasonal branch, not a guaranteed route. Check trail conditions that morning and use the rim alternative if ice or closures rule out the descent.
Planning budget per person$90 to $170NPS 路 Queens Garden / Navajo combination6. Day 6: keep a flexible return day
Return toward Las Vegas with time for a stop if the roads and the group鈥檚 energy allow. This buffer can absorb a weather change earlier in the trip. Do not sell it as an extra mandatory excursion before you know how the week is going.
The practical details
- Night 6: Las Vegas. Set aside roughly four to five hours for the return drive, plus breaks, then check the actual route before departure.
- Keep the evening unbooked until you arrive. If weather delayed a Bryce viewpoint, a short morning visit can fit only if it preserves the driving and rest time.
Planning budget per person$90 to $1707. Day 7: return the car and close the shared expenses
Allow time for refueling, returning the car and the airport transfer. Record the final shared receipts before everyone goes home. A refundable rental deposit is not the same as an expense: wait for the final charge before dividing it.
The practical details
- Check your rental return address, fuel policy and airport transfer time the night before. Keep the return receipt until the final charge is settled.
Planning budget per person$25 to $60
Editorial daily estimates per person in USD, sharing a double room, for lodging and ordinary meals only. Day 7 covers meals only. Excludes flights, car rental, fuel, insurance, parking and park fees or passes. These are planning envelopes, not live quotes; replace them with prices for your dates.
Before you book: six nights and the costs to add
- Book one night in Las Vegas, two in Springdale, two near Bryce, then one final night in Las Vegas. Compare the full lodging total, including parking and any mandatory fees.
- Park fees checked October 13, 2026: standard private-car entry is $35 at Zion and $35 at Bryce. Four US residents sharing one car without a pass would pay $70 total, or $17.50 each, for those entries.
- Non-US residents aged 16+ face an additional $100 per person at each of these parks unless admitted under a qualifying pass. Compare eligibility and pass coverage on NPS before buying.
- Add a separate transport line: rental quote + driver charges + insurance selected + estimated fuel + parking. Divide only after confirming the travelers and rental terms.
- Driving times here are planning allowances, not live navigation. Check closures, the weather and your vehicle dimensions before committing to the route.
Places & visitor information
The extra day is part of the trip, even when nothing is booked.
Organizer questions
Why leave out the Grand Canyon?
This route prioritizes time in two parks over collecting stops. If the Grand Canyon is essential, extend the trip or replace one park after checking travel times and seasonal access.
Are park fees included in the daily estimates?
No. Compare current entry fees and passes for your group鈥檚 residency and ages on the NPS website. Add car rental, fuel, insurance, flights and park fees to the lodging-and-food estimates separately.
How should friends split the car and rooms?
Agree before booking. Shared car costs can follow attendance; rooms should reflect who uses which nights and beds. Record personal upgrades separately, and decide how cancellation costs are handled while everyone can still choose.
