Self-Launched: Camping the Best of the West's National Parks (Las Vegas to San Francisco)
16 days · Western United States National Parks
G Adventures charges £3,150
No-markup version: ~£1,560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of G Adventures' 16-day camping loop through the American Southwest's greatest national parks — Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion and Yosemite — ending in San Francisco. You'll camp in or near the parks, hike the Mist Trail and The Narrows, stargaze in a gold-tier Dark Sky Park, and drive yourself with a cheap rental car (or hop on shuttles and park shuttles where possible). Costs are approximate backpacker/budget estimates: park entry, campsites, fuel and food add up fast in the US, so booking campsites early (recreation.gov) is the single biggest money-saver.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Arrive whenever you like and settle into a hostel just off the Strip (Hostel Cat and The Hostel at Vegas are the usual budget picks). Grab groceries for the road, buy a 12-month America the Beautiful park pass (£63) if you're hitting six or more parks, and pick up your rental car today or tomorrow morning — a compact SUV with a basic campsite kit (tent, sleeping bag, cooler, stove) runs roughly £38-55/day. If you're without a car, compare with the Greyhound/FlixBus + park shuttle option, but note it's much harder to connect these parks by public transport.
🚌Local bus/rideshare from airport (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm in Las Vegas (~£28)
- →Grocery shop for camp meals
- →Buy America the Beautiful annual park pass
- →Collect rental car
Drive Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Long driving day on I-15 and Highway 20 past towering cliffs and canyon walls — about 4 hours 15 mins / 250 miles. Stop at Red Canyon for a quick leg-stretch, then set up camp at Sunset Campground inside the park (book on recreation.gov the moment the 6-month window opens — £15-22/night). Walk the Rim Trail at dusk, then stay up for the International Dark Sky Park stargazing with s'mores around your campfire ring.
🚌Rental car, ~250 miles (~£26 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, Sunset or North Campground, Bryce Canyon (~£18)
- →Rim Trail walk at sunset
- →Dark-sky stargazing
- →Campfire s'mores
Bryce hoodoos and on to Moab
Bryce Canyon to Moab, Utah
Get up for sunrise over the world's largest collection of hoodoos, then hike Queen's Garden / Navajo Loop from Sunrise Point. Note: the Navajo Loop has been closed indefinitely after mudslides and rockfall, so hike it as an out-and-back to Queen's Garden rather than a full loop, or take the Peekaboo Loop instead. In the afternoon drive Highway 12 toward Moab (4.5 hrs / 260 miles) and camp at a BLM or private site along Highway 128 — cheaper and quieter than in-town sites.
🚌Rental car, ~260 miles (~£28 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, BLM site near Moab (~£15)
- →Queen's Garden Trail hike
- →Sunrise Point viewpoint
- →Scenic Highway 12 drive
Arches National Park
Moab, Utah
Enter Arches at first light (you now need a timed-entry reservation in peak season — book free on recreation.gov). Hike Devils Garden past Landscape Arch to Double O Arch, plus the short Windows loop and Delicate Arch for sunset. Bring more water than you think you need. Camp stays put in Moab tonight.
🚌Rental car, park shuttles/short drives (~£6 fuel)
🛏Tent camping near Moab (~£15)
- →Devils Garden Trail
- →Delicate Arch sunset hike
- →The Windows loop
Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point
Moab, Utah
Full day in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands — Mesa Arch at sunrise, Grand View Point Trail and Upheaval Dome. Stop at Dead Horse Point State Park (£12 entry) for the classic Colorado River gooseneck view on the way back into town.
🚌Rental car, ~80 miles (~£10 fuel)
🛏Tent camping near Moab (~£15)
- →Mesa Arch sunrise
- →Grand View Point hike
- →Dead Horse Point overlook
Moab to Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef, Utah
Drive Highway 24 past Goblin Valley State Park (worth the £8 detour) to Capitol Reef and camp at Fruita Campground, which has orchard trees and a river alongside. Note the Scenic Drive rehab works mean Cassidy Arch access may be closed — swap in the Capitol Gorge or Cohab Canyon trails instead. After dark this is a gold-tier International Dark Sky Park, so bring a headtorch with a red filter and just lie back.
🚌Rental car, ~150 miles (~£16 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, Fruita Campground (~£18)
- →Goblin Valley stop
- →Cohab Canyon or Capitol Gorge hike
- →Gold-tier dark sky stargazing
Capitol Reef to Zion National Park
Zion National Park, Utah
Long scenic drive west on Highway 24 and Highway 12, stopping at the Larb Hollow and Boulder Mountain overlooks. Camp in Springdale (private sites ~£28) or at the Watchman Campground inside the park (£15-22; book very early). Springdale has a free town shuttle to the park entrance, and the park's own shuttle is mandatory in season for the main canyon.
🚌Rental car, ~190 miles (~£20 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, Watchman Campground or Springdale (~£22)
- →Highway 12 scenic drive
- →Boulder Mountain viewpoints
Zion: Angels Landing or Observation Point
Zion National Park, Utah
Angels Landing needs a lottery permit (apply on recreation.gov — £4 application, £26 if you win). If you don't get one, Observation Point via East Mesa or the Canyon Overlook Trail are excellent substitutes. Spend the afternoon wading the Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava if flows are safe — rent canyoneering shoes and a walking stick from a Springdale outfitter for about £22.
🚌Free park shuttle (~£0); gear rental £22
🛏Tent camping, Zion/Springdale (~£22)
- →Angels Landing or Observation Point hike
- →Canyon Overlook Trail
- →Shuttle into Zion Canyon
The Narrows in Zion
Zion National Park, Utah
Dedicate a full day to The Narrows — the unforgettable slot canyon wade up the Virgin River. Start early to beat the crowds, check the flash-flood forecast at the visitor centre, and walk as far as Big Spring or beyond. Evening free for laundry and a Springdale pizza.
🚌Free park shuttle
🛏Tent camping, Zion/Springdale (~£22)
- →The Narrows hike
- →Flash-flood safety briefing
Zion to Las Vegas
Zion to Las Vegas, Nevada
Drive back to Las Vegas (2hrs 45mins). If your rental allows one-way drop, swap vehicles here or simply keep the car for the California leg. Overnight in a hostel, restock food and do laundry. This is also the natural day to swap drivers if you're sharing the trip with others you've met on a backpacker forum or hostel.
🚌Rental car, ~170 miles (~£18 fuel)
🛏Hostel dorm in Las Vegas (~£28)
- →Rental car swap
- →Resupply and laundry
Las Vegas to Death Valley
Death Valley National Park, California
Drive out to Death Valley (2 hrs) and explore Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin and Artists Drive before it gets too hot — go early and carry 4 litres of water each. Camp at Furnace Creek or Mesquite Spring (£15). Time your visit outside the summer months; in July temperatures routinely top 45°C.
🚌Rental car, ~130 miles (~£14 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, Furnace Creek (~£15)
- →Zabriskie Point
- →Badwater Basin salt flats
- →Artists Drive loop
Death Valley to Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park, California
Big transfer day — roughly 5 hours / 250 miles via Highway 395 and the Sierra foothills. Set up camp at Lodgepole or Dorst Creek and stretch your legs on the short General Sherman Tree and Congress Trail walk among the giant sequoias.
🚌Rental car, ~250 miles (~£26 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, Lodgepole (~£18)
- →General Sherman Tree walk
- →Congress Trail
Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Hike Moro Rock for sunrise views, then drive into Kings Canyon for the Zumwalt Meadow and Roaring River Falls trails. These parks are quieter than Yosemite — a great chance to actually see wildlife. Camp another night in the park.
🚌Rental car (~£12 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, Lodgepole (~£18)
- →Moro Rock sunrise
- →Zumwalt Meadow Trail
- →Roaring River Falls
Sequoia to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, California
Drive north to Yosemite (4.5 hrs) and set up camp. Yosemite Valley campsites sell out within minutes on recreation.gov on the 15th of each month five months ahead — set a reminder. Camp 4 is the walk-in climbers' site (arrive early in the queue). Spend the afternoon on the Valley Loop shuttle and the short Cook's Meadow and Lower Yosemite Fall walks.
🚌Rental car, ~220 miles (~£22 fuel); free Valley shuttle
🛏Tent camping, Camp 4 or Housekeeping Camp (~£18)
- →Valley Loop shuttle
- →Cook's Meadow walk
- →Lower Yosemite Fall
Mist Trail and Glacier Point
Yosemite National Park, California
The big one: the Mist Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls — steep, wet and genuinely spectacular. Start early, take trekking poles and plenty of water. In the afternoon drive to Glacier Point for sunset over Half Dome, or for the strong-legged swap in the Four Mile Trail. Camp a final night in the park.
🚌Free Valley shuttle; rental car to Glacier Point (~£8 fuel)
🛏Tent camping, Yosemite Valley (~£18)
- →Mist Trail to Nevada Fall
- →Glacier Point sunset
- →Vernal Fall viewpoint
Yosemite to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Drive west to San Francisco (3.5 hrs / 190 miles), drop the rental car at the airport and finish in the city. BART from the airport into town costs about £8. If your flight out is late evening (the operator requires departures after 19:00), squeeze in a Mission District burrito and a walk down to the bay.
🚌Rental car, ~190 miles (~£20 fuel); BART ~£8
🛏None — onward travel
- →Drive to San Francisco
- →Drop rental car
- →Mission District wander
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,560 | £3,150 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,590 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,560
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 Self-Launched: Camping the Best of the West's National Parks (Las Vegas to San Francisco) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,560 per person for 16 days in Western United States National Parks. 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 £3,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,560 — a saving of roughly £1,590 (50%) per person.
How long is the Western United States National Parks trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through Western United States National Parks.
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, budget trip through Western United States National Parks, 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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