Grand Canyon & More National Parks — 3 Days Self-Launched from Las Vegas
3 days · Southwest USA
Bindlestiff Tours charges £563
No-markup version: ~£375 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 3-day DIY version of Bindlestiff Tours' "Grand Canyon and More" loop out of Las Vegas: Zion Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon South Rim. Instead of a guided coach, you'll drive a budget rental car (or book a shared shuttle) along US-89 and use self-bookable Navajo-guided tours for Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley. Two nights' budget lodging in Page, Arizona replaces the 3-star tour hotel, with breakfasts from the supermarket and picnic lunches. All costs are approximate per person for a group of two sharing a car and room.
Day-by-day
Las Vegas → Zion National Park → Page, Arizona
Las Vegas / Zion National Park / Page
Pick up a compact rental car from McCarran (LAS) airport or a downtown agency by 07:00 (~£28/week-day rate, roughly £55–70 for 3 days incl. insurance for the car). Drive I-15 north ~2h30 to Zion National Park. Enter via the Springdale gate and take the free park shuttle up the canyon. Walk the Emerald Pools Trail (~2h, easy-moderate), stop at the Temple of Sinawava, view the Great White Throne, and catch a ranger talk at the Human History Museum. Buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass at the first park gate (US$80 ≈ £63) — it covers Zion, Glen Canyon, Monument Valley Tribal Park entry isn't covered but Grand Canyon is, and it's cheaper than 3 separate entry fees. Note non-US residents now pay a US$100 park surcharge — budget for it. Leave Zion around 15:30, drive 2h45 via Kanab to Page, AZ (stopping at the historic Cameron Trading Post en route if you go the Hwy 89A way). Check into a budget motel/hostel in Page (Travelodge, Lake Powell Hostel, or a Page Airbnb shared room) and eat dinner at a local diner (Big John's BBQ or Fiesta Mexicana, ~£12).
🚌Rental car Las Vegas → Zion (~2h30) → Page (~2h45). Fuel ~£25 total. Alternative: no-drive option is possible via a Zion/Bryce shuttle but the DIY car gives far more flexibility for the loop.
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Page, AZ (e.g. Travelodge Page / Lake Powell Hostel) — dorm or private twin ~£35–50/night
- →Zion Emerald Pools Trail
- →Temple of Sinawava
- →Great White Throne viewpoint
- →Ranger talk at Zion Human History Museum
- →Scenic drive Hwy 89 through Kanab
Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon & Monument Valley
Page / Antelope Canyon / Monument Valley
Sunrise at Horseshoe Bend — a 10-minute drive from Page, free with the America the Beautiful pass, 1.2km walk to the rim (go early, it gets hot and crowded by 9am). Then a self-booked Antelope Canyon tour: Upper Antelope Canyon entry is only permitted with a Navajo guide — book in advance on GetYourGuide or directly with Ken's Tours / Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours, ~£70–95 pp including the Navajo Nation permit. Allow 1h30. Lunch in Page (~£10). Afternoon drive 2h15 to Monument Valley; the self-bookable equivalent of the included jeep tour is a Navajo-guided 4x4 tour booked direct with Monument Valley Tribal Tours or Simpson's Trailhandler Tours (~£65–75 pp for a 2.5h tour). Return to Page (2h15) or, if you prefer, sleep in Kayenta/Bluff to shorten the drive — but keeping Page as base saves repacking. Dinner at a Page restaurant (~£12).
🚌Rental car Page → Horseshoe Bend (10 min) → Antelope Canyon (15 min) → Monument Valley (2h15) → Page (2h15). Fuel ~£30.
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Page, AZ — second night ~£35–50
- →Horseshoe Bend at sunrise
- →Antelope Canyon Navajo-guided tour (booked via GetYourGuide or direct)
- →Monument Valley Navajo 4x4 jeep tour (booked direct)
- →Lake Powell viewpoint / Glen Canyon Dam overlook
Grand Canyon South Rim & Route 66 return to Las Vegas
Page / Grand Canyon South Rim / Las Vegas
Early start (06:30) to drive 2h15 via US-89 and AZ-64 to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Walk the Rim Trail between Mather Point and Yavapai Point (easy, paved, 2–3h with stunning Colorado River views), or if you're feeling energetic hike partway down the Bright Angel Trail (allow 2–3h for the first switchbacks; carry 2L+ water — do not attempt rim-to-river in one day). Browse the visitor centre exhibits and the historic El Tovar area. Optional splurge: a 45-min helicopter flight over the canyon booked via Papillon or Maverick (~£250–300 pp — book at least a week ahead). Drive out via Williams and Seligman on the classic Route 66 stretch, stopping at the historic Seligman Sundries and a Route 66 trading post for lunch (~£12). Arrive back in Las Vegas around 19:00–20:00, drop the car and return to the Strip or the airport. Avoid booking a flight before 21:00.
🚌Rental car Grand Canyon South Rim → Williams → Route 66 → Las Vegas (~4h30 with stops). Fuel ~£30. Car drop-off at LAS.
🛏Not included — return to Las Vegas (a hostel dorm on the Strip/Fremont, e.g. Hostel Cat or the Las Vegas Hostel, is ~£30/night if you need one)
- →Grand Canyon South Rim Rim Trail (Mather Point to Yavapai Point)
- →Optional Bright Angel Trail hike
- →Optional helicopter flight (Papillon / Maverick)
- →Route 66 historic drive via Seligman & Williams
- →Navajo trading post stop
Self-launched vs. Bindlestiff Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bindlestiff Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£375 | £563 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £188 per person (33%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bindlestiff Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£375
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 Grand Canyon & More National Parks — 3 Days Self-Launched from Las Vegas cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £375 per person for 3 days in 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 Bindlestiff Tours?+
Yes — Bindlestiff Tours charges around £563 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £375 — a saving of roughly £188 (33%) per person.
How long is the Southwest USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through 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 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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