Are you thinking of taking a driving tour of the national parks that are located in the southwestern United States? If you are, chances are that you are located somewhere in the region yourself and you are thinking of leaving from your home and taking your own car instead of flying into a starting point like Las Vegas. While this may work if you currently live in Nevada, Southern California, Arizona or Utah, it is probably not within reason if you live anywhere further away than this. If you live more than a few hundred miles from any of these states, it would be far better to simply fly into Las Vegas as a starting point and let a company like ours drive you. Renting a car that you are not familiar with and attempting to drive the hundreds of miles from park to park is not necessarily going to provide you with the best experience, as the whole point of the trip is to experience the beauty of the parks, not the drudgery of the drive. With that said, we believe we have created the ultimate driving tour of southwestern national parks with our 7 Day National Parks Tour package. If you want to do the driving yourself, you can follow the same route that we do (but we suggest leaving the driving to us!)
Day 1 Zion National Park
Leaving the bright lights of Las Vegas behind us for a while we head out to Utah’s finest National Park. Massive canyon walls and red sandstone cliffs ascend toward a brilliant blue sky. Challenge yourself to what’s considered the best half day hike in the southwest by hiking a narrow ridgeline to Angels Landing.
Take it easy exploring the pristine Emerald pools or enjoy a river hike deep in the narrows before enjoying a BBQ back at camp this evening. Because Zion is roughly a 2.5 hour drive from Las Vegas, we will spend an entire day in the park exploring the main sites and features.
Day 2 Bryce National Park
A short drive today takes us to an elevation of 8000 ft into Bryce National Park. Take a stroll along the rim and marvel at the unique sandstone spires (hoodoos) that rise dramatically from the natural amphitheater. Hike down into the hoodoos for an up close and personal experience with this fascinating landscape.
A soak in the outdoor hot tub back at camp will ease those hiking muscles and a night around the campfire will end this day nicely.
Day 3-4 Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Explore this stunning landscape in a guided sunset hummer tour or hang of a sandstone cliff on one of our optional canyoneering adventures! Visit Arches National Park home to over 2000 arches for a hike up to Delicate Arch. Enjoy walks in Canyonlands National Park where the Green river meets the Colorado in some of the most spectacular scenery the southwest has to offer. Swap tales of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid who used the canyons to hide from the law in the late 1800’s, visit the local town and enjoy Utah’s greatest adventure capital.
Day 5 Monument Valley
Headed south we wind out way through more of USA Southwest’s spectacular scenery to one of the most iconic locations on the planet. The background for many famous western movies and home to the Navajo Indians you are in for a real treat today. Hop on board a 4X4 jeep and enjoy an included Navajo guided tour of Monument Valley. Camp right along the rim, get ready to gaze up at the amazing starry skies and bag your front row seat to a magnificent sun rise.
Day 6 The Grand Canyon national park South Rim, Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon
Enjoy an optional visit to the world’s most famous slot canyon- Antelope Canyon this morning followed by a scenic walk to view Horseshoe Bend before heading to the Grand Canyon national park South Rim.
Saving the best for last! After a brief visit to a Navajo trading post we follow the mighty Colorado River through the painted desert to one of the seven natural wonders of the world! Take in a bird’s eye view on an optional helicopter ride, stroll along the rim at sunset, take a hike into the one of the deepest and most diverse canyons on earth or simply relax in one the rim cafes a admire the view before one last cookout and campfire.
Day 7 Las Vegas
We get our kicks at Route 66 and arrive back in Sin City at approx 5pm
The ultimate driving tour of southwestern national parks will allow you to see 8 different areas and spend enough time in each one to not feel as though you have missed anything. Some parks have more to do than others, so we provide those areas with more time. All in all, allowing us to guide you on a tour of this kind is a great idea because you will not only arrive rested instead of road tired, but we will also take the pressure out of trying to find the best sights and areas. We are familiar with these spaces and know them like the backs of our hands!