Self-Launched Hike and Explore Utah and Arizona
7 days · Utah & Arizona, USA
Much Better Adventures charges £2,195
No-markup version: ~£745 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An epic self-launched road trip through the American Southwest — hitting Canyonlands, Arches, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Zion National Park. Same jaw-dropping landscapes, same iconic hikes, same Navajo-guided experiences, but booked independently and driven yourself (or via shared shuttles) for a fraction of the guided tour price. Flying into Salt Lake City and out of Las Vegas, this 7-day adventure is ideal for budget-conscious travellers comfortable hiring a car and navigating national parks independently. All national park entry fees, slot canyon tours, and Monument Valley jeep tours can be booked direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Costs below are estimated per person based on two people sharing a hire car and accommodation.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Take the free TRAX light rail (Red Line) from the airport to downtown — it's fast, easy, and costs around $2.50. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the downtown area and take a relaxed evening stroll around Temple Square and the surrounding streets to soak up the Wasatch Mountain backdrop. Grab dinner at one of the many affordable spots on Main Street — try The Pie Pizzeria or Red Iguana for local favourites.
🚌TRAX light rail from airport to downtown (~£2). Hire car from SLC Airport recommended for the full trip — budget ~£45-55/day for a standard car (book in advance via Kayak or Rentalcars.com)
🛏Avenues Hostel Salt Lake City (dorm ~£30/night) or Motel 6 Salt Lake City Downtown (~£55/night private room)
- →Arrive SLC — take TRAX Red Line light rail to downtown (~$2.50 / ~£2)
- →Self-guided walk around Temple Square and downtown Salt Lake City
- →Pick up hire car if not already arranged (book ahead via Rental Cars or Kayak)
Drive to Moab via Canyonlands & Dead Horse Point
Moab, Utah
An early start for the ~4.5 hour drive south from Salt Lake City to Moab — Utah's adventure capital. Stop at Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district) on the way in, walking the easy Mesa Arch loop (~0.5mi) for that iconic sunrise arch view, and the Green River Overlook. Then continue a short detour to Dead Horse Point State Park for one of the most dramatic canyon viewpoints in the American West. Arrive in Moab for the evening, grab dinner on the main strip — try Moab Brewery or Jeffreys Steakhouse.
🚌Self-drive hire car from Salt Lake City to Moab (~238 miles, ~4.5hrs). Fuel est. ~£25 shared between two.
🛏Red Stone Inn Moab (~£80/night private room) or Lazy Lizard International Hostel Moab (dorm ~£22, private ~£55)
- →Drive Salt Lake City to Moab (~4.5hrs via US-191 S)
- →Canyonlands National Park — Mesa Arch loop (~0.5mi) and Green River Overlook (America the Beautiful Pass or $35/vehicle entry)
- →Dead Horse Point State Park — canyon viewpoint walk (~$20/vehicle entry)
- →Explore downtown Moab for dinner
Hike Arches National Park
Moab, Utah
A full day in Arches National Park — home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Enter early (timed entry reservations required April–October, book at recreation.gov, ~$2 reservation fee on top of park entry). Hike the Windows Section for the classic arch views, then tackle Devil's Garden Trail (~7.2mi out and back to Landscape Arch and beyond). In the afternoon, take the Grandstaff Canyon Trail (~8.4mi round trip) just outside the park for a shaded canyon contrast. Return to Moab for dinner — ask locals for the best taco spots.
🚌Self-drive hire car. Arches is 5 miles north of Moab. Use the park shuttle (free, runs April–Oct) once inside to reduce driving.
🛏Red Stone Inn Moab (~£80/night) or Lazy Lizard Hostel Moab (dorm ~£22)
- →Arches National Park — timed entry reservation required (recreation.gov, ~$2 fee)
- →Windows Section walk (~1mi loop)
- →Devil's Garden Trail to Landscape Arch and beyond (~7.2mi)
- →Grandstaff Canyon Trail (~8.4mi) — free, just outside the park
- →Park entry: America the Beautiful Annual Pass (~£60) covers all parks on this trip — highly recommended
Corona Arch Hike then Drive to Monument Valley
Monument Valley, Utah/Arizona border
Start the morning with the spectacular Corona Arch hike (~3mi round trip, ~1.5-2hrs) — a short drive from Moab along the scenic Highway 279. This free hike winds across slickrock and through canyon terrain to one of Utah's most impressive free-standing arches. Then load up the car and drive south (~2.5hrs) into Navajo Nation and Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Book a Navajo-guided 4x4 jeep tour through the park in advance via the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park website or GetYourGuide (~£50-65pp) — these depart late afternoon and offer incredible sunset light on the buttes. Check into your accommodation near the valley.
🚌Self-drive hire car. Monument Valley is ~150 miles south of Moab.
🛏The View Hotel Monument Valley (~£120/night — iconic views, worth it) or Goulding's Lodge (~£100/night)
- →Corona Arch hike (~3mi round trip, free — small parking area off Hwy 279)
- →Drive Moab to Monument Valley (~150 miles, ~2.5hrs via US-191 S and US-163 S)
- →Navajo-guided 4x4 jeep tour of Monument Valley (~£50-65pp, book via monumentvalleytours.net or GetYourGuide)
- →Watch sunset over the Mittens and Merrick Butte
Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend, then drive to Zion area
Page, AZ → Virgin, UT
Drive east to Page, Arizona (~1.5hrs from Monument Valley) for a guided tour of Antelope Canyon — entry is only possible with a licensed Navajo tour operator. Book in advance via Antelope Canyon Tours or Ken's Tours (~£50-70pp including the mandatory jeep transfer). The narrow slot canyon's flowing sandstone walls and light beams are genuinely unmissable. From there, it's a short drive to Horseshoe Bend — park at the official lot ($10/vehicle) and walk the easy 1.5mi round-trip trail to the viewpoint 1,000ft above the Colorado River. Then make the long but spectacular drive west through Arizona and into southern Utah, arriving at Virgin (gateway to Zion) for the night.
🚌Self-drive hire car. Full day of driving ~4hrs total. Fuel ~£20 shared.
🛏Cable Mountain Lodge Virgin/Springdale (~£100/night) or Zion Canyon Campground (~£30/pitch) or Under Canvas Zion (glamping, ~£150/night)
- →Drive Monument Valley to Page, AZ (~1.5hrs)
- →Antelope Canyon guided Navajo tour (~£50-70pp, mandatory — book via antelopecanyon.com or GetYourGuide)
- →Horseshoe Bend viewpoint hike (~1.5mi round trip, $10/vehicle parking)
- →Drive Page to Virgin, UT (~2.5hrs via US-89 N and UT-9)
Full Day Hiking in Zion National Park
Zion National Park, Utah
A full day in one of America's most beautiful national parks. Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Centre and use the free park shuttle — private vehicles are restricted in Zion Canyon April–November. Hike Emerald Pools (Lower, Middle, Upper — ~3mi total), then connect to the Kayenta Trail. Push on to Angels Landing's predecessor viewpoint at Scouts Lookout (~4mi from the shuttle stop, no permit needed for Scouts Lookout itself). In the afternoon, take the shuttle back and walk the Riverside Walk (2mi round trip) along the Virgin River toward the start of The Narrows. Finish the day with celebratory drinks and dinner in Springdale — try Zion Brewing Co.
🚌Free Zion Canyon Shuttle (seasonal). Drive to Springdale from Virgin is ~10 mins.
🛏Cable Mountain Lodge or Driftwood Lodge Springdale (~£100-120/night) or Zion Canyon Campground (~£30)
- →Zion National Park free shuttle from Visitor Centre (park entry via America the Beautiful Pass or $35/vehicle)
- →Emerald Pools Trail — Lower, Middle, Upper (~3mi, moderate)
- →Kayenta Trail connecting to West Rim Trail
- →Scouts Lookout viewpoint (~4mi from Grotto shuttle stop — no permit needed)
- →Riverside Walk and start of The Narrows (~2mi round trip, flat)
- →Dinner and drinks in Springdale
Drive to Las Vegas — End of Adventure
Las Vegas, Nevada
After a final breakfast near Zion, hit the road west through the Mojave Desert toward Las Vegas — a scenic ~2.5hr drive via I-15. Drop the hire car at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) — most major rental companies have drop-off here. Las Vegas airport is very well connected for onward flights home. If you have time before your flight, the Strip is only 15 minutes from the airport — grab a final meal or wander the casinos before heading home.
🚌Self-drive hire car to LAS. Return car at airport. One-way hire car SLC→LAS typically adds ~£50-80 one-way fee — factor this into your total car hire budget.
🛏N/A — fly out of Las Vegas (LAS). If staying over, budget hotels on/near the Strip from ~£60/night (try Excalibur, Circus Circus, or LINQ)
- →Drive Virgin/Springdale to Las Vegas (~155 miles, ~2.5hrs via I-15 W)
- →Drop hire car at LAS airport (check your rental agreement for one-way drop-off fees — book a one-way hire from SLC to LAS in advance)
- →Optional: explore the Las Vegas Strip if time allows before your flight
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£745 | £2,195 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,450 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£745
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Hike and Explore Utah and Arizona cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £745 per person for 7 days in Utah & Arizona, 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 Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £2,195 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £745 — a saving of roughly £1,450 (66%) per person.
How long is the Utah & Arizona, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Utah & Arizona, 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, hiking, road-trip trip through Utah & Arizona, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.