Grand Circle Road Trip: A Complete Beginners Guide
The Grand Circle road trip is one of the most breathtaking and adventure filled journeys in the United States, showcasing the best of the American Southwest. Connecting numerous national parks across 4 states, into 1 road that can range from 7 or more days, knowing how to do it properly is key to getting the most out of it and this article is going to help you with that, providing you with a complete beginners guide to preparing for this awesome trip!
Overview:
This legendary route takes travelers through 4 different states (Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Colorado). In each state, you can explore one or more national parks as well as other amazing destinations that be added to your trip.
Duration:
It is recommended to have at least 10 days on hand to do a Grand Circle road trip. In some cases, people take 2 weeks or longer to do it. The bottom line is that the more days free you have, the more parks and places you’ll be able to see and the less you’ll have to rush. The itinerary ideas below are designed for 10+ day trips.
National Parks within the Grand Circle:
Utah:
- Zion National Park – Known for The Narrows, Angels Landing, and towering sandstone cliffs.
- Bryce Canyon National Park – Famous for its unique hoodoos and breathtaking sunrises.
- Capitol Reef National Park – Home to the Waterpocket Fold and scenic drives.
- Arches National Park – Features over 2,000 natural stone arches, including Delicate Arch.
- Canyonlands National Park – A vast wilderness with deep canyons and stunning viewpoints.
Arizona:
- Grand Canyon National Park – One of the world’s most famous natural wonders, with breathtaking views from the South Rim and North Rim.
- Petrified Forest National Park – Features ancient fossilized trees and colorful badlands (optional add-on for extended itineraries).
Nevada:
- Great Basin National Park – Known for Wheeler Peak, Lehman Caves, and some of the best stargazing in the country.
Colorado:
- Rocky Mountain National Park – Home to alpine lakes, towering peaks, and wildlife (included in extended adventure itineraries).
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – Features steep cliffs and dramatic rock formations (included in adventure and photography itineraries).
- Great Sand Dunes National Park: One of the most iconic places for sand boarding, stargazing and stunning views in all of the US.
- Mesa Verde National Park – Showcases well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings (optional for extended itineraries).
New Mexico:
NM typically isn’t included in a Grand Circle road trip, but it is sometimes added to people’s itineraries and here are the national parks you can see here (if you have the extra days):
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park – Home to over 119 caves, with massive underground chambers and the famous Bat Flight Program at dusk.
- White Sands National Park – Features brilliant white gypsum dunes, great for hiking, sledding, and photography.
- Pecos National Historical Park – Preserves Pueblo ruins and Spanish mission sites, located near Santa Fe.
- Bandelier National Monument – Famous for ancient cliff dwellings and scenic canyon landscapes.
- Petroglyph National Monument – Near Albuquerque, home to thousands of ancient rock carvings from Indigenous cultures.
Other Notable Sites in the Grand Circle (Not National Parks, but Worth Visiting):
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (Arizona/Utah Border)
- Antelope Canyon (Arizona)
- Horseshoe Bend (Arizona)
- Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada)
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Utah)
- Vermilion Cliffs National Monument & The Wave (Arizona/Utah Border)
How to do a Grand Circle road trip:
One of best things to know about the Grand Circle road trip is there’s no wrong way to do it as there are many options to choose from. Essentially you choose from one or more places from the list above and decide which states, parks and the amount of time you’re willing to put into doing this trip and below you’ll see a few of the most popular ways people do it. The goal overall is to make your trip a loop trip, thus making it categorized under the “Grand Circle Loop”.
5 Sample Grand Circle road trip itinerary ideas:
These sample ideas are some of the ways to do a Grand Circle road trip. They are by no means mandatory but can give you a few starting point ideas to work with:
1. The Classic Grand Circle National Parks Road Trip:
- Best for: First-time visitors who want to see the most famous parks
- Duration: 10-14 days
- States Covered: Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado
Itinerary (10 Days)
Day 1: Las Vegas → Zion National Park (2.5-hour drive)
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Hike the Canyon Overlook trail or The Narrows
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Stay in Springdale, UT
Day 2: Explore more of Zion National Park
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- Hike Emerald Pools and Observation Point Trail
- Stay in Springdale, UT
Day 3: Zion → Bryce Canyon National Park (1.5-hour drive)
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- Drive the scenic Bryce Canyon route (road 12)
- Hike Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trail
- Stay near Bryce Canyon (see hotels)
Day 4: Bryce Canyon → Capitol Reef National Park (2.5-hour drive)
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- Drive Scenic Byway 12
- Hike Hickman Bridge Trail and Cassidy Arch trails
- Drive through the scenic route in Capitol Reef National Park
- Stay in Torrey, UT
Day 5: Capitol Reef → Arches National Park (2.5-hour drive)
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- Explore the Waterpocket Fold
- Drive to Moab and see Delicate Arch
- See Turret Arch, Double Arch and Windows Arches
- Drive through the Arches scenic drive
- Stay in Moab, UT
Day 6: Arches National Park → Canyonlands National Park
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- Visit Devil’s Garden and Landscape Arch
- Sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands
- Stay in Moab, UT
Day 7: Moab → Monument Valley (3.5-hour drive)
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- Take a guided Jeep tour
- Stay in Monument Valley
Day 8: Monument Valley → Page, AZ (2-hour drive)
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- Visit Antelope Canyon (reservation required)
- Hike and sunset at Horseshoe Bend
- Stay in Page, AZ
Day 9: Page → Grand Canyon South Rim (2-hour drive)
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- Explore Desert View Drive and scenic viewpoints
- Stay at Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 10: Grand Canyon → Las Vegas (4.5-hour drive)
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- Stop at Hoover Dam on the way back
- Explore the Gold Stike Hot Springs trail if there’s time (and it’s open)
2. The Ultimate Adventure Grand Circle Road Trip
- Best for: Hikers, adventure seekers, and photographers
- Duration: 12 days
- States Covered: Utah, Arizona, Colorado
Itinerary (12 Days)
Day 1-2: Denver → Rocky Mountain National Park
- Hike Sky Pond Trail
- Stay in Estes Park, CO
Day 3: Rocky Mountain NP → Black Canyon of the Gunnison (5-hour drive)
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- Explore Painted Wall Overlook
- Stay near Montrose, CO
Day 4: Black Canyon → Moab, UT (3.5-hour drive)
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- Sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park
- Stay in Moab, UT
Day 5-6: Arches & Canyonlands National Park
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- Hike Delicate Arch & Fiery Furnace
- Explore White Rim Road (4WD recommended)
- Stay in Moab, UT
Day 7: Moab → Capitol Reef National Park (2.5-hour drive)
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- Explore Cathedral Valley
- Stay in Torrey, UT
Day 8-9: Capitol Reef → Zion National Park (3.5-hour drive)
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- Rappel in The Subway (permit required)
- Stay in Springdale, UT
Day 10: Zion → Page, AZ (2-hour drive)
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- Kayak in Lake Powell
- Stay in Page, AZ
Days 11-12: Page → Sedona → Grand Canyon → Las Vegas
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- Explore the best Sedona hikes
- Visit Grand Canyon before heading back
3. The Hidden Gems Grand Circle Road Trip
- Best for: Travelers looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations
- Duration: 7-10 days
- States Covered: Utah, Arizona, Nevada
Itinerary (10 Days)
Day 1: Las Vegas → Valley of Fire State Park
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- Explore Fire Wave Trail
- Stay near Valley of Fire State Park
Day 2: Valley of Fire → Cathedral Gorge
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- Hike slot canyons in Cathedral Gorge
- Stay in Panaca, NV
Day 3: Great Basin National Park
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- Stargazing at Wheeler Peak
- Stay near Great Basin
Day 4: Great Basin → Capitol Reef National Park
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- Explore the Waterpocket Fold
- Stay in Torrey, UT
Day 5-6: Grand Staircase-Escalante & Vermilion Cliffs
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- Visit White Pocket (4WD required)
- Hike Buckskin Gulch
- Stay in Kanab, UT
Day 7: Grand Canyon North Rim
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- Drive Cape Royal Road
- Stay in Jacob Lake, AZ
Day 8-10: Page → Grand Canyon South Rim → Las Vegas
4. The Ultimate Desert and Canyons Road Trip
- Best for: Desert lovers and scenic drives
- Duration: 8-12 days
- States Covered: Utah, Arizona, Nevada (and California)
Itinerary (10 Days)
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Day 1: Las Vegas → Red Rock Canyon → Death Valley
- Explore Badwater Basin
- Stay in Death Valley
Day 2: Death Valley → Valley of Fire → Zion
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- Stay in Springdale, UT
Day 3-4: Zion & Bryce Canyon
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- Hike The Narrows
- Stay near Bryce Canyon
Day 5: Bryce → Monument Valley
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- Take a Jeep tour
- Stay in Monument Valley
Day 6-7: Canyon de Chelly & Sedona
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- Explore ancient cliff dwellings
- Stay in Sedona, AZ
Day 8-10: Grand Canyon → Hoover Dam → Las Vegas
5. The Ultimate Photography Grand Circle Road Trip
- Best for: Photographers and night sky enthusiasts
- Duration: 10-14 days
- States Covered: Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada
Itinerary (12 Days)
Day 1: Denver → Great Sand Dunes National Park
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- Capture Milky Way shots
- Stay near the dunes
Day 2: Black Canyon of the Gunnison
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- Explore Painted Wall
- Stay near Montrose, CO
Day 3-5: Moab (Arches & Canyonlands)
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- Sunrise at Mesa Arch
- Stay in Moab, UT
Day 6-7: Capitol Reef & Zion
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- Capture sunset at Zion Canyon Overlook
- Stay in Springdale, UT
Day 8-9: Bryce Canyon & Page
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- Photograph Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
- Stay in Page, AZ
Day 10-12: Monument Valley → Grand Canyon → Las Vegas
Tips for Your Grand Circle Road Trip:
- Best Times to Go: Spring (March-May) and Fall (September-November) for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.
- Park Fees: Get the America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year) to save money on entrance fees.
- Lodging: Book early for hotels in Moab, Springdale, and Grand Canyon. Campsites and Airbnb options are also available.
- Gas & Food: Some areas have limited services, so plan fuel stops and carry snacks.
- Packing Essentials: Hiking boots, sunscreen, water bottles, layers for cold nights, and a camera!
Last Things To Know:
The Grand Circle Road Trip is one of the most epic road trips in the U.S., filled with stunning landscapes, thrilling hikes, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you have a week or ten days, this itinerary will help you make the most of your adventure.
