Self-Launched Hike and Explore Utah and Arizona

Fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Take the TRAX light rail from the airport to downtown — it runs every 15 minutes and costs around $2.50, dropping you near Temple Square. Check into a budget hotel or hostel downtown. In the evening, explore the city on foot, grab dinner around the Granary District or 9th & 9th neighbourhood, and pick up supplies for the road ahead. Book your rental car in advance — major operators like Enterprise, Budget and Hertz all have desks at SLC airport. Pre-book your Arches National Park timed entry permit online via recreation.gov (required April–October, ~$2 booking fee on top of the park pass).

🚌TRAX light rail from SLC airport to downtown (~$2.50). Collect rental car next morning or on arrival.

🛏Avenues Hostel Salt Lake City (~£35/night) or a budget motel downtown

• →Arrive SLC, take TRAX light rail to downtown (~$2.50)
• →Check in and explore downtown Salt Lake City on foot
• →Pick up groceries and road-trip snacks for the journey south
• →Pre-book Arches timed entry permit on recreation.gov if not already done

After breakfast, pick up your rental car and drive south on I-15 and US-191 to Moab (~4–5 hours, ~240 miles). Break the drive with a stop at Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky district — walk to Mesa Arch (a short 0.5-mile loop) and the Green River Overlook for sweeping layered canyon views. Then head to Dead Horse Point State Park for one of the region's most jaw-dropping viewpoints, where the Colorado River winds far below. Continue into Moab for the evening. Buy an America the Beautiful Annual Pass (~£55/$80) at the first park entrance — it covers all national park entry fees for the whole trip and pays for itself immediately.

🚌Self-drive rental car (~£45/day including insurance, split across trip). Total drive today ~240 miles.

🛏Red Stone Inn Moab or similar motel (~£60–75/night) — classic roadside motel, central location, air conditioning

• →Drive Salt Lake City → Moab via US-191 (~4.5 hours)
• →Mesa Arch walk in Canyonlands NP (0.5-mile loop, free with America the Beautiful pass)
• →Green River Overlook stop
• →Dead Horse Point State Park viewpoint (~$20 entry, or use America the Beautiful pass)
• →Arrive Moab, check in and find dinner on Main Street

A full day exploring Arches National Park, home to over 2,000 natural stone arches. Enter early to beat the desert heat — timed entry permits are required in peak season, booked in advance on recreation.gov. Hike the Windows Section loop (~1.6 miles) to see Turret Arch, North and South Windows up close, then continue to Double Arch. Tackle Devil's Garden Trail in the afternoon (~7.9 miles round trip to Landscape Arch and beyond), weaving past fins, spires and arches carved over millennia. In the quieter afternoon heat, try the Grandstaff Trail (aka Morning Glory Natural Bridge trail) outside the park near Moab — a 4-mile out-and-back through a shaded canyon corridor with a canyon wall spring and natural arch at the end. Return to Moab for dinner — ask locals for restaurant tips.

🚌Self-drive to Arches NP entrance (~5 miles from Moab town centre). Park shuttle runs within the park in peak season.

🛏Red Stone Inn Moab or similar (~£60–75/night)

• →Arches National Park: Windows Section loop and Double Arch (~1.6 miles)
• →Devil's Garden Trail to Landscape Arch and Partition Arch (~7.9 miles)
• →Grandstaff Trail / Morning Glory Natural Bridge (4 miles, outside park, free)
• →Dinner in Moab — try Moab Brewery or Pasta Jay's

Start early with a hike to Corona Arch — one of Utah's most spectacular free-standing arches and far less crowded than Arches NP. The trailhead is just 10 miles from Moab off Highway 279 (BLM land, no entry fee). The 3-mile round trip crosses slickrock and uses fixed chains in one steep section, rewarding you with a truly enormous arch framing the canyon below. Then pack up and drive south (~2.5 hours) on US-163 into Navajo Nation and Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Book a Navajo-guided 4x4 valley tour direct with a local operator — companies like Sacred Monument Tours or Navajo Spirit offer 1.5–2 hour jeep tours into the valley for around $70–90 per person (~£55–70). Stay the night nearby — the View Hotel is iconic but pricier; Goulding's Lodge is a solid mid-range alternative.

🚌Self-drive Moab → Monument Valley (~165 miles, ~2.5 hours on US-191/US-163).

🛏Goulding's Lodge near Monument Valley (~£90–110/night) or The View Hotel for iconic views (pricier)

• →Corona Arch hike from Hwy 279 trailhead (3 miles round trip, free)
• →Drive south on US-163 to Monument Valley (~2.5 hours)
• →Navajo-guided 4x4 jeep tour of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (~$70–90 pp, book direct with Sacred Monument Tours or Navajo Spirit)
• →Watch sunset over the Mittens from the viewpoint

Drive east to Page, Arizona (~1.5 hours from Monument Valley) for two of the Southwest's most photographed landmarks. Antelope Canyon requires a guided tour booked in advance — book directly with an authorised Navajo tour operator such as Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours or Chief Tsosie's. Lower Antelope Canyon tours (~£40–55 pp) are slightly less crowded than Upper; both are stunning. Then walk the 1.5-mile round trip to Horseshoe Bend — entry to the viewpoint area is $10 per vehicle. In the afternoon, drive northwest across the Arizona Strip and into Utah to the Zion area, staying in Springdale (the gateway village just outside Zion's south entrance) or the nearby town of Virgin. Stock up on food for tomorrow's packed lunch.

🚌Self-drive Monument Valley → Page, AZ (~95 miles, ~1.5 hrs), then Page → Springdale, UT (~165 miles, ~2.5 hrs).

🛏Zion Canyon Campground (Springdale, ~£30–35/night) or Desert Pearl Inn / similar guesthouse (~£70–90/night)

• →Drive to Page, AZ (~1.5 hours from Monument Valley)
• →Guided Antelope Canyon tour — book direct with Navajo operator (~$55–75 pp / ~£42–58)
• →Horseshoe Bend viewpoint walk (1.5 miles round trip, $10/vehicle entry)
• →Drive to Springdale/Virgin, Utah (~2.5 hours on US-89 North and HWY-9)
• →Settle in and prep packed lunch for tomorrow's full hiking day

A full and rewarding day in Zion National Park. Leave your car at the visitor centre (or your accommodation in Springdale) and ride the free park shuttle — it runs regularly between the south entrance and the Temple of Sinawava. Hike Emerald Pools (lower, middle and upper loops combined ~3 miles), then tackle the Kayenta Trail linking to Scouts Lookout on the West Rim Trail for wide-open views above Zion Canyon (~5–6 miles total with the approach from the canyon floor). Enjoy your packed lunch with a view. In the afternoon, take the shuttle to Weeping Rock (easy 0.4-mile walk) and end at the Riverside Walk, tracing the Virgin River to the start of The Narrows. In the evening, head into Springdale for a celebratory dinner and drinks — Zion Brewing Company is a favourite among hikers.

🚌Free Zion National Park shuttle (runs spring–autumn). Park entry covered by America the Beautiful Annual Pass.

🛏Zion Canyon Campground or guesthouse near Springdale (~£35–90/night)

• →Free Zion park shuttle from south entrance visitor centre
• →Emerald Pools trail (lower, middle, upper loops, ~3 miles)
• →Kayenta Trail to Angels Landing base / Scouts Lookout (~5–6 miles total)
• →Weeping Rock easy walk (0.4 miles)
• →Riverside Walk to The Narrows start (2 miles round trip)
• →Celebratory dinner at Zion Brewing Company, Springdale

After breakfast, pack up and enjoy one last look at the red rock landscape before driving west on I-15 through the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas (~2.5 hours, ~160 miles). Drop your rental car at the Las Vegas Strip or at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). If you have time before your flight, wander the Strip, catch a late lunch, or store luggage at your hotel. Las Vegas is brilliantly connected for onward flights home — many airlines offer multi-city tickets flying into SLC and out of LAS, which can save money versus two one-ways.

🚌Self-drive to Las Vegas (~160 miles). Return rental car. Shuttle or rideshare to LAS airport (~$20–30 / £15–25).

🛏N/A — trip ends in Las Vegas

• →Drive Springdale/Virgin → Las Vegas via I-15 (~160 miles, ~2.5 hours)
• →Drop rental car at LAS airport or Strip location
• →Optional: explore the Las Vegas Strip before your flight
• →Fly home from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)