USA Road Trip — Grand Canyon, Vegas & Death Valley (Self-Launched)
10 days · American Southwest, USA
G Adventures charges £1,750
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched loop of the American Southwest's five great parks — Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Death Valley — with Route 66, Horseshoe Bend and a night in Las Vegas. The commercial version puts you in a 15-seat van with a driver-guide and shared tents; this version does the same route independently by renting a car (or hopping between park shuttles and Greyhound/FlixBus for non-drivers), staying in hostel dorms, campground cabins and budget motels. Costs are estimates at budget traveller rates in GBP and exclude international flights; note the US National Park Service non-resident entrance surcharge applies to many international visitors from 2026.
Day-by-day
Los Angeles → Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree, California
Pick up a rental car in LA (book a compact from £28-38/day, or ~£250 for the whole 10 days with a one-way-free LA loop). Drive east ~2.5 hours on I-10 to Joshua Tree. Grab a park map at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center in Joshua Tree town, then spend the afternoon scrambling among the boulders at Hidden Valley and Keys View for sunset views over the Coachella Valley. Stay in a hostel or budget motel in Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms; most have small pools and camp-style kitchens.
🚌Rental car from LA (~£30/day), 2.5hr drive
🛏Hostel dorm or budget motel, Joshua Tree/Twentynine Palms (~£30)
- →Joshua Tree National Park entry ($30/vehicle, 7-day pass)
- →Hidden Valley boulder loop (1 mile)
- →Keys View sunset
- →Skull Rock trail
Route 66 to the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona
Long driving day (~5 hours to the South Rim). Break it up with a detour onto the surviving stretches of Route 66 — stop in Amboy for the Roy's Cafe sign, and in Seligman for the retro diners and Route 66 gift shops. Arrive at the South Rim in the late afternoon, walk the Rim Trail from Mather Point to Hopi Point for sunset, and pick up a takeaway slice of pizza from the Bright Angel area to eat on the rim. Camp at Mather Campground (book on recreation.gov months ahead, ~£14/night per site) or take a dorm bed at the Yavapai Lodge/Bright Angel area budget options.
🚌Rental car, ~5hr drive with stops
🛏Mather Campground pitch or budget lodge room at Grand Canyon Village (~£25)
- →Route 66 photo stops (Amboy, Seligman)
- →Rim Trail walk
- →Hopi Point sunset
- →Rim-side pizza dinner
Hiking the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona
Take the free park shuttle to the trailheads and walk into the canyon. Easiest and safest taste: Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse and back (~3 hrs, free) — or the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point for the best views per step. Bring 3L of water each, salty snacks and sun protection; do not attempt to reach the river as a day hiker. Afternoon: free ranger talk at the visitor center and a sunset at Desert View Watchtower if you have the car. Shower and refill water at the campground services.
🚌Free park shuttle bus
🛏Mather Campground pitch or budget lodge room (~£25)
- →Bright Angel Trail hike (free)
- →South Kaibab to Ooh Aah Point (free)
- →Desert View Watchtower
- →Ranger talk
Grand Canyon → Page & Horseshoe Bend
Page, Arizona
Drive east along Desert View Drive (stop at the watchtower) and onward to Page (~2.5 hrs). Book an Antelope Canyon tour directly with a Navajo operator (Ken's Tours, Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours etc., from ~£55 for Lower Antelope) — it must be booked in advance and only authorised guides may enter the slot canyon. Late afternoon hike the 1.5-mile round trip to the Horseshoe Bend overlook (~£7 parking/entry) for the classic Colorado River view. Overnight in a Page hostel or motel before the long drive to Bryce.
🚌Rental car, ~2.5hr drive
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Page (~£40)
- →Desert View Drive
- →Antelope Canyon guided tour (~£55, book direct)
- →Horseshoe Bend overlook hike
Bryce Canyon hoodoos
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Drive ~2.5 hours to Bryce Canyon National Park. Pay the $35/vehicle entry, then hike down from Sunrise Point on the Queen's Garden Trail and back the same way (the Navajo Loop is closed due to rockfall/mudslides, so plan an out-and-back rather than a loop). Spend late afternoon on the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points and catch Thor's Hammer from above. Bryce is a Dark Sky Park — bring a torch and stargaze from the amphitheatre overlooks after dark. Camp at North Campground or Sunset Campground, or take a bunk in a Bryce Canyon City hostel.
🚌Rental car, ~2.5hr drive
🛏North/Sunset Campground pitch or hostel bunk (~£25)
- →Queen's Garden Trail hike (out-and-back)
- →Rim Trail overlooks
- →Sunset Point
- →Stargazing
Coral Pink Sand Dunes → Zion National Park
Springdale / Zion, Utah
Pack up and drive toward Zion (~2 hrs), detouring to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (~£8 entry) for an hour walking the pink dunes and a scenic pull-off over the Colorado Plateau. Arrive in Springdale, park at the visitor center lot, and use the free Zion shuttle into the canyon. Afternoon is free to settle in, walk the Pa'rus Trail and find dinner in Springdale. Camp at South Campground/Watchman Campground (book early) or stay in a Springdale hostel dorm.
🚌Rental car, ~2-3hr drive
🛏Watchman/South Campground pitch or Springdale hostel dorm (~£30)
- →Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- →Pa'rus Trail walk
- →Zion free shuttle orientation
Zion: The Narrows and canyon hikes
Zion National Park, Utah
Full day in Zion using the free shuttle. Options: wade upstream into The Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava (free, but rent canyoneering shoes and a walking stick in Springdale for ~£25 — check flash-flood forecasts), hike Angels Landing if you've won the permit lottery in advance (free lottery on recreation.gov, apply the day before), or the easier Emerald Pools and Canyon Overlook trails. Evening: campfire at the campground and roast marshmallows, or a beer in Springdale.
🚌Free Zion shuttle bus
🛏Watchman/South Campground pitch or Springdale hostel dorm (~£30)
- →The Narrows hike (gear rental ~£25)
- →Angels Landing (free permit lottery, advance entry)
- →Emerald Pools trail
- →Canyon Overlook
Zion → Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Short drive (~2.5 hrs) to Vegas. Drop the car-free afternoon exploring the Strip on foot: Bellagio fountains, the Venetian canals, Fremont Street's neon canopy. Cheap eats at the casinos' food courts or a £10-15 Chinatown plate off-Strip. Stay in a hostel dorm or budget Strip motel; night bus/rideshare back if you're out late. Remember the US drinking age is 21.
🚌Rental car, ~2.5hr drive
🛏Hostel dorm near the Strip or budget motel (~£30)
- →Strip walk (free)
- →Bellagio fountains
- →Fremont Street Experience
- →Optional show/casino (own budget)
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley / Ridgecrest, California
Leave early and drive to Death Valley (~2 hrs) — fill up with water and fuel before entering. Hit Zabriskie Point for the badlands, Badwater Basin to stand on the salt flats at the lowest point in North America (-86m), and Devils Golf Course or the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes if time allows. Note the $30/vehicle entry (non-residents may pay an additional surcharge). Drive on to Ridgecrest (~2.5 hrs) for a budget motel and a proper shower.
🚌Rental car, ~4-5hr total driving
🛏Budget motel in Ridgecrest (~£45)
- →Zabriskie Point
- →Badwater Basin salt flats
- →Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- →Devils Golf Course
Ridgecrest → Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Drive southwest ~2.5 hours back to LA via the Antelope Valley (free stop at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve if in spring). Return the rental car at LAX or downtown, then head to the airport or a hostel if you're staying on. If you're not driving, this leg is doable by Kern Transit/Amtrak Thruway bus to Bakersfield then Amtrak San Joaquins to LA Union Station (~£35-45).
🚌Rental car return, ~2.5hr drive
🛏None (or onward hostel in LA)
- →Antelope Valley scenic drive
- →Return rental car
- →Optional Santa Monica/Venice stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £1,750 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £570 per person (33%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does USA Road Trip — Grand Canyon, Vegas & Death Valley (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 10 days in American Southwest, USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £570 (33%) per person.
How long is the American Southwest, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through American Southwest, USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, road-trip, hiking trip through American Southwest, USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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