Canyon Country Adventure: Self-Launched Southwestern USA Road Trip
8 days · Phoenix to Las Vegas via the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks
Globus charges £2,750
No-markup version: ~£915 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Self-launched version of the classic Globus Canyon Country Adventure — an 8-day road trip from Phoenix to Las Vegas hitting the greatest hits of the American Southwest. Travel independently by rental car and embrace the freedom of choosing your own pace through Sedona's red rocks, the Grand Canyon's South Rim, Monument Valley's iconic mesas, Antelope Canyon's slot canyons, Lake Powell, and the surreal hoodoos of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. Swap the 46-person coach for a solo rental car and the first-class chain hotels for comfortable lodges and gateway-town motels, doing everything the big tour does for a fraction of the price.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Phoenix & prep the adventure
Phoenix, Arizona
Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor, pick up your rental car and gather supplies. Explore downtown Phoenix's Roosevelt Row street-art district and grab supplies for the road ahead. Book your Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley tours online in advance for the coming days. Spend the night in a budget-friendly motel near the airport or downtown.
🚌Collected rental car from Phoenix airport
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Phoenix (~$60-80)
- →Rent car & collect supplies
- →Explore Roosevelt Row arts district
- →Pre-book Grand Canyon entrance passes
Phoenix to Sedona to the Grand Canyon South Rim
Sedona & Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Drive north ~2hrs to Sedona and take in the stunning red rock country on your own self-guided orientation — stop at Airport Mesa for the classic viewpoint. Consider an optional self-booked 4x4 jeep tour through the red rock canyons. In the afternoon, drive ~2hrs to Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim. Arrive in time to catch sunset over the canyon from Mather Point or Yavapai Point.
🚌Self-drive rental car (~190 miles)
🛏Lodge or budget hotel in Tusayan outside park, or Yavapai Lodge in-park
- →Sedona red rock viewpoints (Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock vista)
- →Optional 4x4 jeep tour of Sedona backcountry
- →Sunset at Grand Canyon Mather Point
- →Visit Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Grand Canyon South Rim — canyon culture & rim trails
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Full day at the Grand Canyon. Do your own 'naturalist' experience by hiking part of the Bright Angel Trail (go down as far as you're comfortable — remember it's uphill all the way back!), visit the Grand Canyon Geology Museum, and catch the optional IMAX 'Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time' movie in Tusayan. In the evening join a free ranger talk at the amphitheatre. Watch the sunset from Hopi Point.
🚌Park shuttle bus (free) + short drives
🛏Lodge or budget hotel in Tusayan outside park, or Yavapai Lodge in-park
- →Hike Bright Angel Trail (partial descent)
- →Visit Grand Canyon Geology Museum
- →Ranger talk at the amphitheatre
- →Sunset at Hopi Point
Grand Canyon to Monument Valley to Lake Powell
Monument Valley & Lake Powell (Page), Arizona/Utah
Drive ~3.5hrs northeast through the Navajo Nation to Monument Valley Tribal Park. Join a self-booked 4x4 backcountry tour with a Navajo guide through the iconic mittens and mesas (John Ford Point, Artist's Point) — far more accessible than the poor road. Taste traditional Navajo fry bread from a local vendor. In the afternoon drive ~2.5hrs to Page, Arizona on the shores of Lake Powell.
🚌Self-drive rental car (~300 miles)
🛏Budget motel in Page, Arizona
- →Monument Valley 4x4 Navajo backcountry tour
- →Navajo fry bread tasting
- →View Lake Powell & Wahweap Marina sunset
Antelope Canyon & Lake Powell
Page, Arizona (Lake Powell)
Take a self-booked morning guided tour of the world-famous Antelope Slot Canyon with a local Navajo guide — the upper canyon's sculpted light beams are unforgettable (book well in advance). Spend the afternoon at leisure around Lake Powell: rent a kayak or take an optional boat tour on the lake, or simply enjoy the Wahweap Marina and Glen Canyon Dam overlook.
🚌Short drives / local tour pickup
🛏Budget motel in Page, Arizona
- →Guided Antelope Canyon walking tour
- →Optional Lake Powell kayak or boat tour
- →Glen Canyon Dam viewpoint
Lake Powell to Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Drive ~3hrs north into Utah's high country to Bryce Canyon National Park. Walk the Rim Trail and descend into the amphitheatre on the Navajo Loop to see the otherworldly hoodoo rock formations up close. Catch sunrise or sunset from Inspiration Point or Bryce Point for the full effect. Stay overnight near the park entrance.
🚌Self-drive rental car (~150 miles)
🛏Budget lodge or motel at Bryce Canyon (ride the park shuttle to avoid parking issues)
- →Bryce Amphitheatre rim trail walk
- →Navajo Loop hike among the hoodoos
- →Sunset at Bryce Point
Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park to Las Vegas
Zion National Park, Utah & Las Vegas, Nevada
Drive ~1.5hrs from Bryce to Zion National Park. Travel the dramatic scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Tunnel, then spend a few hours exploring Zion's towering sandstone cliffs — take the free shuttle into Zion Canyon and walk the easy Riverside Walk or Pa'rus Trail. Grab a boxed picnic from a local deli and eat it near the historic Zion Lodge. In the afternoon drive ~2.5-3hrs to Las Vegas for a fun farewell evening on the Strip.
🚌Self-drive rental car (~170 miles)
🛏Budget hotel off the Las Vegas Strip
- →Zion-Mount Carmel scenic drive & tunnel
- →Zion Canyon shuttle & Pa'rus Trail walk
- →Historic Zion Lodge visit
- →Farewell night on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas — depart
Las Vegas, Nevada
Enjoy a final breakfast, do some last-minute exploring of the Strip or a classic buffet, then drop off the rental car and catch your flight home from McCarran (Harry Reid) International Airport. Optional: extend your stay in Las Vegas with show tickets and extra nights.
🚌Rental car drop-off + airport shuttle
🛏None — depart today
- →Optional morning on the Strip
- →Return rental car
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£915 | £2,750 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,835 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£915
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 Canyon Country Adventure: Self-Launched Southwestern USA Road Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £915 per person for 8 days in Phoenix to Las Vegas via the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks. 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £2,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £915 — a saving of roughly £1,835 (67%) per person.
How long is the Phoenix to Las Vegas via the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Phoenix to Las Vegas via the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks.
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, nature trip through Phoenix to Las Vegas via the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks, 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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