Road Trippin' the American West: Self-Launched National Parks Road Trip
9 days · Southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona)
G Adventures charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£860 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, DIY version of G Adventures' 9-day "Road Trippin' American West" loop from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, covering Joshua Tree, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. Instead of a private van and a group leader, you'll hire a compact car (or join a shared shuttle for the long legs), stay in hostel dorms/motels near park entrances, self-drive Route 66 and book local Navajo-guided tours directly. You lose the group hand-holding but gain total flexibility and a much lower price tag. All costs are approximate per person in GBP and assume 2-4 people sharing a car; solo travellers pay more for vehicle hire.
Day-by-day
Los Angeles to Joshua Tree
Los Angeles / Joshua Tree, CA
Fly into LAX and pick up a hire car (book well in advance — a compact from Alamo/Enterprise at LAX runs roughly £30-45/day all-in with insurance). Drive east ~2.5hrs to Joshua Tree. Stock up on groceries in Palm Springs or Yucca Valley (water, breakfast supplies, picnic lunches) — there's no supermarket inside the park. Settle into a hostel or motel in Joshua Tree town and catch sunset among the boulders.
🚌Hire car from LAX; ~130 miles (~2.5hrs) via I-10 and CA-62. Fuel ~£10.
🛏Hostel dorm or budget motel in Joshua Tree town (e.g. Joshua Tree Inn area guesthouses), ~£35-50/night shared
- →Collect hire car at LAX
- →Grocery shop in Yucca Valley
- →Sunset boulder walk near Joshua Tree town
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Full day exploring the park with your own car. Start early to beat the heat. Drive through the park's west entrance, walk the Hidden Valley loop, scramble the Skull Rock and Arch Rock trails, and hit Keys View for the panorama over the Coachella Valley. Entry is via the America the Beautiful annual pass (~£65, covers every park on this trip) or ~£24 day pass — the annual pass pays for itself within three parks. Bring plenty of water and a picnic.
🚌Self-drive within the park (~40 miles); fuel ~£6
🛏Same Joshua Tree hostel/motel
- →Hidden Valley Trail
- →Skull Rock & Arch Rock trails
- →Keys View sunset viewpoint
- →Joshua trees at Cholla Cactus Garden
Joshua Tree to Las Vegas to Springdale (Zion gateway)
Las Vegas, NV / Springdale, UT
Long driving day. Head northeast on I-15 to Las Vegas (~3.5hrs), park up and spend a couple of hours on the Strip — free to wander, treat yourself to a buffet lunch if you fancy (~£20). Leave Vegas mid-afternoon and drive ~2.5hrs to Springdale, the walkable town at Zion's gates. Note: US National Park Service non-resident fees may apply — check the NPS website before you travel.
🚌Self-drive ~320 miles (~6hrs total driving); fuel ~£22
🛏Hostel or motel in Springdale or Hurricane, UT, ~£40-55/night shared
- →Walk the Las Vegas Strip
- →Optional buffet lunch
- →Evening stroll in Springdale with canyon views
Zion National Park
Zion National Park, UT
Take the free park shuttle from Springdale into Zion Canyon. Hike the Riverside Walk and, conditions permitting, wade upstream into The Narrows (rent canyoneering shoes and a walking stick in Springdale, ~£25). Alternatively, the Scout Lookout/West Rim Trail gives huge views — Angels Landing requires a permit from the NPS lottery, so apply online in advance if you want it. Hikes are free and self-paced.
🚌Free Zion shuttle; no driving needed
🛏Same Springdale/Hurricane base
- →Riverside Walk
- →The Narrows hike (gear rental)
- →Scout Lookout / West Rim Trail
- →Optional Angels Landing (permit lottery in advance)
Zion to Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Drive ~2hrs east on scenic UT-9 through the Zion–Mt Carmel tunnel and past Checkerboard Mesa. Arrive at Bryce Canyon and spend the afternoon hiking among the hoodoos: walk the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points, then descend the Queen's Garden Trail (note: the Navajo Loop is currently closed due to mudslides/rockfall, so do Queen's Garden as an out-and-back). Stay nearby in Bryce Canyon City or Tropic.
🚌Self-drive ~90 miles (~2hrs); fuel ~£8
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Tropic/Bryce Canyon City, ~£35-50/night shared
- →Zion–Mt Carmel scenic drive
- →Rim Trail walk
- →Queen's Garden Trail out-and-back
- →Sunset at Sunset Point
Bryce to Page: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend, then Monument Valley
Page, AZ / Monument Valley, AZ-UT
Early start for the ~2.5hr drive to Page, Arizona. Book the Antelope Canyon tour directly with a Navajo operator (Ken's Tours, Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours etc.) — around £70-90pp for the upper canyon, and book online weeks ahead as slots sell out. Afterwards drive 10 minutes to Horseshoe Bend (small entry/parking fee ~£8) for the short 1.2km round-trip overlook hike. Continue ~2hrs to Monument Valley and overnight at a motel or lodge near Kayenta/The View area.
🚌Self-drive ~230 miles (~4.5hrs); fuel ~£18
🛏Motel near Kayenta, AZ or Monument Valley, ~£40-60/night shared
- →Antelope Canyon guided tour (book direct with Navajo operator)
- →Horseshoe Bend overlook hike
- →Sunset over Monument Valley buttes
Monument Valley jeep tour to the Grand Canyon
Monument Valley, AZ / Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
Take an early Navajo-guided jeep or 4x4 tour of Monument Valley's tribal park (book direct, ~£55-75pp; self-drive on the dirt loop road is possible but rough). Then head south, stopping at the historic Cameron Trading Post for lunch and a look at Navajo rugs and jewellery. Arrive at Grand Canyon South Rim in time for sunset from Mather or Yavapai Point. Stay in Tusayan or the park's budget lodges.
🚌Self-drive ~180 miles (~3.5hrs); fuel ~£14
🛏Motel in Tusayan or budget lodge inside Grand Canyon Village, ~£45-70/night shared
- →Navajo-guided Monument Valley jeep tour
- →Cameron Trading Post stop
- →Grand Canyon sunset from Mather Point
Grand Canyon South Rim full day
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Spend the whole day on the South Rim using the free park shuttle. Walk the Rim Trail, descend part-way down the Bright Angel Trail for a sense of the canyon's scale (turn around before it gets too hot), and visit the Yavapai Geology Museum. Optional splurge: a 45-50 min helicopter flight over the canyon, bookable via GetYourGuide or directly with Papillon/Maverick from Tusayan (~£250-300).
🚌Free park shuttle
🛏Same Tusayan/Grand Canyon Village base
- →Rim Trail walk
- →Bright Angel Trail partial descent
- →Yavapai Geology Museum
- →Optional Grand Canyon helicopter flight
Grand Canyon to Las Vegas via Route 66
Route 66 / Las Vegas, NV
Drive out of the park's south entrance and join the classic stretch of Route 66 through Seligman and Kingman — stop for a photo at the retro diners and neon signs in Seligman. Drop the hire car at Las Vegas airport or downtown and fly out (allow a late departure). If your flight is early, stay an extra night in Vegas near the airport.
🚌Self-drive ~280 miles (~5hrs); fuel ~£20
🛏None included (departure day); optional hostel/hotel night in Las Vegas ~£35-60
- →Route 66 drive through Seligman and Kingman
- →Retro diner stop
- →Return hire car at Las Vegas
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£860 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,040 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£860
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 Road Trippin' the American West: Self-Launched National Parks Road Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £860 per person for 9 days in Southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona). 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 £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £860 — a saving of roughly £1,040 (55%) per person.
How long is the Southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona).
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 Southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona), 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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