Hike the Great National Parks of the Western USA (Self-Launched)
11 days · Western USA (Utah, Arizona & California)
Much Better Adventures charges £3,800
No-markup version: ~£1,520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco through the Wild West's greatest hits — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Route 66, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, and Yosemite. Same parks, same trails, self-booked. Costs assume a share of a rental car (split between 3-4 travellers) or budget domestic flights/buses, mixed hostel and public campground camping, and self-catering. Figures are approximate per person in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Viva Las Vegas — meet-up & the Strip
Las Vegas, Nevada
Fly into Las Vegas (LAS). Check into a budget hostel or motel near Fremont Street (e.g. Hostel Cat, Sin City Hostel, or a Strat-style deal if you want the splash). If you're self-launching with a group, rendezvous this evening, swap numbers, agree on your rental car and pick up groceries at a Walmart or Trader Joe's for the camping days ahead. Walk Fremont Street Experience for the neon and cheap drinks — remember tipping is 15-20% on all bar and restaurant tabs.
🚌Local bus or rideshare from LAS to downtown (~£8-15); rental car pick-up
🛏Budget hostel/motel dorm or private room, Las Vegas (~£30-50 per person)
- →Collect rental car (book in advance, split between 3-4 people)
- →Fremont Street Experience walk
- →Grocery stock-up for camp meals
Drive to Zion National Park
Zion National Park, Utah
Pick up your rental car and drive ~4h to Springdale, the gateway town to Zion. Pay the $35 vehicle entry (or get the America the Beautiful annual pass, $80, which covers all parks on this route — great value if you're hitting 4+ parks). Hike the Emerald Pools Trail or the iconic Angels Landing (permit required — apply on recreation.gov up to 3 months ahead). Camp or stay at a budget motel in Springdale or Hurricane, then drive on toward Bryce for the night.
🚌Rental car, ~270km, fuel ~£25 shared
🛏Budget motel in Springdale/Hurricane or tent at Watchman Campground (~£20-35)
- →Drive Las Vegas to Zion (~4h)
- →Emerald Pools Trail or Angels Landing (permit lottery via recreation.gov)
- →Zion Canyon Shuttle (free with park entry)
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Drive ~2h to Bryce Canyon and catch sunrise over the amphitheatre — one of the most spectacular in the US. Hike the classic Peekaboo / Navajo Loop / Queen's Garden combo (~11km, 3-4h) descending below the rim into the hoodoos. Camp at Ruby's Inn RV Park & Campground just outside the park, or a budget cabin. Note: Bryce sits at ~2,300m so night temperatures can be cold even in summer — pack layers.
🚌Rental car, ~130km from Zion
🛏Ruby's Inn Campground, Bryce Canyon (~£18-25) or budget cabin (~£45)
- →Sunrise at Sunrise or Sunset Point
- →Peekaboo + Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden hike (~11km)
- →Campfire dinner & stargazing
Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon → Grand Canyon
Page, Arizona → Grand Canyon South Rim
Drive ~2.5h to Page, AZ. Walk the short (1.6km) trail to Horseshoe Bend overlook — parking is $10. Then book an Antelope Canyon slot canyon tour direct with a Navajo operator (Ken's Tours or Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours) — you MUST go with an authorised Navajo guide; book online in advance (~$70-100 for Lower or Upper Antelope). Timed-entry slots sell out. Drive on ~2.5h to Grand Canyon South Rim and camp at Mather Campground.
🚌Rental car, ~390km, fuel ~£35 shared
🛏Mather Campground, Grand Canyon South Rim (~£15-20)
- →Horseshoe Bend overlook (~$10 parking)
- →Antelope Canyon guided tour (book direct: ~£55-80)
- →Scenic drive to Grand Canyon South Rim
Hiking the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona
Spend the day hiking the South Rim trails — the Bright Angel Trail down to the 1.5-Mile or 3-Mile Resthouse, or the easier Rim Trail for the classic views. National Park rules mean private guides can't guide inside, so this was self-directed on the original trip anyway. Catch sunset from Hopi or Mather Point. Free park shuttles link the trailheads — no need to drive. Camp at Mather again or stay at Bright Angel Lodge (book far ahead).
🚌Free park shuttle; rental car parked
🛏Mather Campground (~£15-20) or Bright Angel Lodge budget room
- →Bright Angel Trail hike
- →Rim Trail viewpoints
- →Sunset at Hopi Point
- →Free South Rim shuttle
Route 66 road trip to Barstow
Seligman & Oatman, Arizona → Barstow, California
The Mother Road day. Drive to Seligman, AZ — the birthplace of the Route 66 revival, with retro diners and souvenir shops — then take the scenic loop via Oatman, a near-ghost town with wild burros wandering the streets. Push on to Barstow for a roadside motel overnight. This is a long driving day (~5-6h); share the wheel if you can.
🚌Rental car, ~500km, fuel ~£45 shared
🛏Budget roadside motel, Barstow (~£40-55 per room / shared)
- →Seligman Route 66 strip & Angel Delgadillo's barber shop
- →Oatman ghost town & wild burros
- →Retro diner lunch (dine-in, tip 15-20%)
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California
Drive ~4h to Sequoia. See the General Sherman Tree — the largest living tree by volume on Earth — then climb the 350 steps to the top of Moro Rock for sweeping views over the Sierra foothills. Camp at Three Rivers Hideaway Campground or similar in the foothills. America the Beautiful pass covers entry here too.
🚌Rental car, ~300km, fuel ~£30 shared
🛏Three Rivers Hideaway Campground (~£18-25)
- →General Sherman Tree walk
- →Moro Rock stair climb (350 steps)
- →Sequoia grove trails
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia & Kings Canyon, California
A full day to hike the best trails across both parks — choose a longer route through sequoia groves and past granite domes, or drive between the two parks for several shorter walks. Keep an eye out for black bears and mule deer; store all food in bear boxes. This is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, so leave no trace.
🚌Rental car within parks, fuel ~£15 shared
🛏Three Rivers Hideaway Campground or similar (~£18-25)
- →Full-day hike through sequoia groves
- →Kings Canyon scenic drive
- →Wildlife spotting
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite, California
Drive ~3.5h to Yosemite Valley — the crown jewel. On arrival, walk to the base of Yosemite Falls (the tallest in North America) and get your bearings on the valley floor. Camp at Indian Flat or a Yosemite-area campground (Yosemite campsites sell out within minutes 5 months ahead on recreation.gov — set an alarm). Free Valley Shuttle connects the trailheads.
🚌Rental car, ~215km, fuel ~£22 shared
🛏Indian Flat Campground (~£20-28) or Yosemite-area budget lodging
- →Yosemite Falls walk
- →Valley floor orientation hike
- →Free Yosemite Valley Shuttle
Yosemite — Vernal Falls & Mirror Lake
Yosemite Valley, California
A full day on Yosemite's best trails using the free Valley Shuttle. Hike the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls (and on to Nevada Falls if you're feeling strong) and out to Mirror Lake beneath Half Dome. End the day with a celebratory dinner in Mariposa, the historic gold-rush town outside the park's west entrance.
🚌Free Valley Shuttle in the park; rental car for Mariposa drive
🛏Indian Flat Campground or Mariposa budget motel (~£20-50)
- →Mist Trail to Vernal Falls (+ optional Nevada Falls)
- →Mirror Lake walk
- →Group dinner in Mariposa
Final drive to San Francisco
Yosemite → San Francisco
Breakfast at camp, then the final ~3.5h drive down to San Francisco. Drop your rental car and enjoy lunch near the waterfront, with a wander to the Golden Gate Bridge if time allows. Trip ends in central San Francisco — BART or a rideshare gets you to SFO for onward flights (book nothing before late afternoon). If you're staying on, hostels in the Mission or Marina districts are the budget pick.
🚌Rental car, ~300km + BART to SFO (~£8)
🛏SF hostel (Mission/Marina) if staying on (~£35-55 dorm)
- →Scenic drive Yosemite to SF
- →Golden Gate Bridge & waterfront walk
- →Return rental car
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,520 | £3,800 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,280 per person (60%) | |
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.~£1,520
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 Hike the Great National Parks of the Western USA (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,520 per person for 11 days in Western USA (Utah, Arizona & California). 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 £3,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,520 — a saving of roughly £2,280 (60%) per person.
How long is the Western USA (Utah, Arizona & California) trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Western USA (Utah, Arizona & California).
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 Western USA (Utah, Arizona & California), 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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