Zion to San Francisco: Self-Launched National Parks Road Trip

Pick up your rental car at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport — book in advance for best rates (budget ~£40-55/day with a compact car). Drive 2.5 hours northeast on I-15 to Springdale, the gateway town to Zion National Park. Check into your hostel or budget motel, grab dinner at one of the casual restaurants on Zion Park Blvd, and rest up for a full day in the park tomorrow.

🚌Rental car from Las Vegas (£40–55/day, book via Rentalcars.com or Kayak). Parking at your accommodation in Springdale.

🛏Zion Canyon Campground or Desert Pearl Inn budget rooms, Springdale (~£30–50/night)

• →Pick up rental car at Las Vegas airport
• →Scenic 2.5-hour drive along I-15 to Springdale
• →Evening stroll around Springdale town

Purchase your America the Beautiful annual pass (~£60) on entry — it covers all national parks on this trip and pays for itself today. Board the free Zion Canyon Shuttle from Springdale (runs spring–autumn) and explore the park's iconic trails. Hike Angels Landing (permit required via recreation.gov, ~£3) for jaw-dropping canyon views, or tackle the Emerald Pools trails if you prefer a gentler route. Wade through The Narrows slot canyon — rent waterproof gear in Springdale (~£30) for the full experience.

🚌Free Zion Canyon Shuttle from Springdale visitor centre

🛏Springdale budget motel or Zion Canyon Campground (~£30–50/night)

• →Enter Zion NP using America the Beautiful annual pass (~£60 one-off)
• →Take the free Zion Canyon Shuttle into the park
• →Hike Angels Landing (permit via recreation.gov, ~£3) or Emerald Pools Trail
• →Wade The Narrows slot canyon (rent waterproof gear in Springdale ~£30)

Drive 1.5 hours northeast on UT-9 and US-89 to Bryce Canyon National Park (covered by your America the Beautiful pass). Arrive mid-morning and spend the afternoon hiking the Rim Trail for sweeping views over the amphitheatre of hoodoos. Watch sunset from Sunset Point — the orange and pink spires glow spectacularly in the late light. Stay in the nearby town of Bryce or at Ruby's Inn.

🚌Rental car, approx 1.5-hour drive via UT-9 and US-89

🛏Ruby's Inn budget rooms or Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, Bryce (~£45–65/night)

• →Scenic 1.5-hour drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon
• →Enter Bryce Canyon NP (America the Beautiful pass)
• →Hike the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points
• →Watch sunset from Sunset Point over the hoodoo amphitheatre

Start early with a hike down the Queen's Garden Trail from Sunrise Point into the hoodoo forest (currently an out-and-back due to Navajo Loop closure — check recreation.gov for updates). Drive 2 hours south to Page, Arizona. Visit Horseshoe Bend for the short 1.5-mile round-trip hike (£6 parking fee) to the iconic Colorado River meander viewpoint. For Antelope Canyon, book a Navajo-guided tour directly via AntelopeCanyon.com (~£50–70) — this is required as the canyon sits on Navajo land.

🚌Rental car, approx 2-hour drive from Bryce Canyon to Page via US-89

🛏Courtyard Page or Navajo Village Inn, Page (~£45–60/night)

• →Morning hike: Queen's Garden Trail out-and-back from Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon
• →Drive 2 hours south to Page, Arizona
• →Hike to Horseshoe Bend viewpoint (~£6 parking fee, 1.5-mile round trip)
• →Self-booked Antelope Canyon guided tour via AntelopeCanyon.com (~£50–70)

Drive ~2.5 hours west from Page to the Grand Canyon South Rim (America the Beautiful pass). Arrive and walk the Rim Trail to iconic viewpoints including Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and Desert View Watchtower. The scale of the canyon is truly staggering at first sight. Book your accommodation inside or just outside the park well in advance — Grand Canyon Village fills up months ahead.

🚌Rental car, approx 2.5-hour drive west on US-89 and AZ-64

🛏Yavapai Lodge or Trailer Village campsite, Grand Canyon Village (~£40–70/night)

• →Drive 2.5 hours from Page to Grand Canyon South Rim
• →Enter Grand Canyon NP (America the Beautiful pass)
• →Walk the Rim Trail: Mather Point, Yavapai Geology Museum, Desert View Watchtower
• →Watch sunset from Grand Canyon Village

Head down into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail — hike to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse or push on to Indian Garden (Havasupai Gardens) and back. Start early and carry plenty of water. If your budget allows, book a helicopter tour with Maverick Helicopters or Papillon directly (~£300–380, cheaper than the operator's listed price) for a spectacular bird's-eye view of the canyon and Colorado River.

🚌On foot within the park; free South Rim shuttle buses between viewpoints

🛏Yavapai Lodge or Trailer Village campsite, Grand Canyon Village (~£40–70/night)

• →Early morning hike: Bright Angel Trail to 1.5-Mile Resthouse or Havasupai Gardens
• →Optional: Grand Canyon helicopter tour booked direct via Maverick or Papillon (~£300–380)
• →Evening at Grand Canyon Village, dinner at Bright Angel Restaurant

Drive ~4 hours west on I-40 and US-93 back to Las Vegas. Use this as a recovery and buffer day — explore the Strip, grab a cheap all-you-can-eat buffet, or take in a free show. Las Vegas is one of the best value cities in the US for accommodation, especially mid-week.

🚌Rental car, approx 4-hour drive west via I-40 and US-93

🛏Circus Circus or Excalibur budget hotel rooms on the Strip (~£35–55/night)

• →Scenic 4-hour drive back to Las Vegas
• →Explore the Las Vegas Strip at leisure
• →Optional: Free Bellagio Fountains show, Fremont Street Experience

Drive 2 hours west from Las Vegas into Death Valley National Park (America the Beautiful pass). Stop at Zabriskie Point for otherworldly badlands views, explore the salt flats at Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level), and walk among the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Visit Artist's Palette for a stunning drive through multi-coloured rock formations. Death Valley is extreme — carry 4+ litres of water per person and check road conditions before heading out.

🚌Rental car, approx 2-hour drive west from Las Vegas via I-15 and CA-127

🛏Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel or Furnace Creek Campsite, Death Valley (~£40–70/night)

• →Drive 2 hours from Las Vegas into Death Valley NP
• →Enter Death Valley NP (America the Beautiful pass)
• →Zabriskie Point badlands viewpoint
• →Badwater Basin salt flats walk (lowest point in North America)
• →Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes walk
• →Artist's Drive scenic loop

Drive ~3.5 hours northwest from Death Valley through the Owens Valley to Sequoia National Park (America the Beautiful pass). Enter via the Ash Mountain entrance and drive the steep, winding Generals Highway up to the Giant Forest. Marvel at the General Sherman Tree — the largest living tree on Earth by volume. Walk the Congress Trail loop (~2 miles) through a cathedral of massive sequoias.

🚌Rental car, approx 3.5-hour drive via US-395 and CA-198

🛏Wuksachi Lodge or Lodgepole Campground, Sequoia NP (~£40–70/night)

• →Scenic 3.5-hour drive through the Owens Valley to Sequoia NP
• →Enter Sequoia NP (America the Beautiful pass)
• →Visit General Sherman Tree (world's largest tree by volume)
• →Congress Trail loop hike (~2 miles) through Giant Forest

Start the morning with a hike to Moro Rock (a short but steep 0.25-mile trail to a granite dome with panoramic Sierra Nevada views) or explore Crystal Cave (guided tour ~£15, book via recreation.gov). Then drive ~3 hours north through Kings Canyon and Fresno to reach Yosemite Valley. Check in and get your first glimpse of El Capitan and Half Dome as you enter the valley.

🚌Rental car, approx 3-hour drive from Sequoia to Yosemite via CA-41

🛏Yosemite Valley Lodge, Half Dome Village canvas tent cabins, or Curry Village (~£45–80/night)

• →Morning: Moro Rock hike (0.25-mile, panoramic Sierra Nevada views)
• →Optional: Crystal Cave guided tour (~£15, book via recreation.gov)
• →Drive ~3 hours north to Yosemite Valley via CA-41
• →First views of El Capitan and Half Dome on arrival
• →Enter Yosemite NP (America the Beautiful pass)

A full day in America's most iconic national park. Take the free Yosemite Valley Shuttle and hike the Valley Loop Trail for eye-level views of El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall. Tackle the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (strenuous, ~3 miles round trip) for waterfall spray and stunning granite scenery. For a half-day option, Mirror Lake Loop (5 miles) offers perfect Half Dome reflections. Note: Yosemite Valley requires timed entry reservations (~£3) from late May to early September — book via recreation.gov well in advance.

🚌Free Yosemite Valley Shuttle buses (no private cars in the valley during peak season)

🛏Half Dome Village canvas tent cabins or Curry Village, Yosemite Valley (~£45–80/night)

• →Free Yosemite Valley Shuttle around the valley
• →Valley Loop Trail: El Capitan Meadow, Bridalveil Fall
• →Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (3-mile round trip, strenuous)
• →Mirror Lake Loop (5 miles, Half Dome reflections)
• →Yosemite Valley Visitor Center for ranger talks and exhibits

Drive up to Glacier Point (accessible by car when Glacier Point Road is open, typically May–November) for one of the most spectacular panoramic views in the Sierra Nevada — Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the valley floor all at once. Hike the Four Mile Trail back down to the valley floor (~4.6 miles, strenuous descent) for an unforgettable perspective shift. Alternatively, head to Tuolumne Meadows for high-altitude alpine hiking.

🚌Rental car to Glacier Point, or seasonal Glacier Point Tour bus (~£20 one-way). Free valley shuttle back from trailhead.

🛏Half Dome Village or Curry Village, Yosemite Valley (~£45–80/night)

• →Drive to Glacier Point (or take the seasonal Glacier Point Tour bus ~£20 one-way)
• →Panoramic views of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and Nevada Fall
• →Hike Four Mile Trail back down to Yosemite Valley (4.6 miles descent)
• →Optional: Tuolumne Meadows alpine hiking (Tioga Road, summer only)

Drive ~3.5 hours west from Yosemite to San Francisco via CA-120 and I-580. Drop off your rental car at SFO or a city centre location. Cross the iconic Bay Bridge into the city and check into your hostel in the Mission, Haight-Ashbury, or Fisherman's Wharf neighbourhoods. Celebrate the end of your road trip with dinner in one of the city's legendary restaurants — Mission burritos, Chinatown dim sum, or clam chowder in a sourdough bowl at Fisherman's Wharf.

🚌Rental car from Yosemite to San Francisco (return/drop-off), approx 3.5 hours via CA-120 and I-580. BART or Muni for city transport (~£3/ride).

🛏HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, USA Hostels SF, or Green Tortoise Hostel (~£35–55/night)

• →Scenic 3.5-hour drive west from Yosemite to San Francisco
• →Drop off rental car (SFO or city centre)
• →Cross Bay Bridge into San Francisco
• →Check in to SF hostel and explore your neighbourhood
• →Celebratory dinner: Mission tacos, Chinatown, or Fisherman's Wharf clam chowder

Your final day in the city. Walk or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge (free to walk; bike rental ~£25 for 3 hours from Blazing Saddles). Explore Alcatraz Island (book in advance via Alcatraz Cruises, ~£35) for a fascinating audio tour of the infamous former prison. Wander through the Mission, hit Dolores Park, or browse the Ferry Building Marketplace. Head to SFO for your onward flight when ready.

🚌BART to SFO from downtown (~£8). Muni buses and cable cars within the city (~£3/ride).

🛏Check out of hostel

• →Walk or cycle the Golden Gate Bridge (bike rental ~£25 from Blazing Saddles)
• →Alcatraz Island tour — book via AlcatrazCruises.com (~£35, includes audio guide)
• →Explore the Mission District and Dolores Park
• →Ferry Building Marketplace for gourmet local food and produce
• →Depart from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)