Southwest Road Trip · Aug 19

Aug 19 Wed

Las Vegas, NV

Late Night Arrival

✈️ Harry Reid International Airport

11:16 PM

Land at Harry Reid International Airport

📍 5757 Wayne Newton Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Collect all 5 bags before heading to the rental car desk. Pre-booking a minivan or large SUV is essential — confirm this in advance.

11:45 PM

Pick up rental car Vehicle

Pre-booked minivan or large SUV for 5 people + luggage. Rental desks are open 24 hrs at the airport.

12:15 AM

Check in: Hilton Grand Vacations Club Elara Hotel

📍 80 E Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Inform them of late arrival when booking — they hold the room. 2-bedroom suite sleeps 5. The Strip is only steps away but save it for Aug 25.

12:45 AM

Sleep 😴

Long drive tomorrow. Skip the Strip tonight — you'll have a full evening on Aug 25 for the Las Vegas experience.

Aug 20 Thu

Las Vegas → Zion, UT

Brunch & Drive to Zion

🚗 2.5 hrs via I-15 N → UT-9

9:00 AM

Wake up & pack bags

Load the car before checking out. Checkout is 10:00 AM.

10:00 AM

Checkout: Hilton Grand Vacations Club Elara Checkout

📍 80 E Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Return key cards, confirm car is packed and ready.

10:30 AM
The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas Food
📍 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109 · Self-park entrance: Wynn Las Vegas Dr off Las Vegas Blvd (2nd right past valet) · First 3 hrs free
Thursday brunch opens at 10:30 AM. One of the finest buffets on the Strip with chef-attended stations, made-to-order dishes, fresh seafood, and a gorgeous atrium setting. Weekday wait times are usually under 10 minutes. Plan for about 1.5 hours. 

🅿️ Parking: Drive your minivan to Wynn Las Vegas — enter the self-park garage from Las Vegas Blvd, turn right at Wynn Las Vegas Dr (second right past the valet). First 3 hours are FREE for non-guests — more than enough for brunch. No ticket to validate, just scan at the exit gate. Skip the valet ($40/day).

12:15 PM

Drive: Las Vegas → Springdale, UT Drive 2.5 hrs

Via I-15 N → exit UT-9 east. Scenery improves dramatically after St. George. Stop for gas and coffee in St. George (~45 min from Vegas).

3:00 PM

Zion Human History Museum

📍 Zion National Park Rd, Springdale, UT 84767

Arrive in Springdale and head straight here while waiting for 4 PM check-in. Watch the 20-min park film and browse the geology and Native history exhibits. Open until 5 PM. Flat, air-conditioned, and informative.

4:00 PM

Check in: LaFave Luxury Rentals at Zion Check-in

📍 Springdale, UT 84767 (exact address provided upon Airbnb booking)

Return from the museum, get settled, and freshen up. Walking distance to the free park shuttle stop.

5:00 PM

Zion Canyon Shuttle Ride

📍 Shuttle departs: Zion Canyon Visitor Center, 1 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767

Ride the free shuttle to the end of the canyon (Big Bend stop). Sit back and watch the 2,000-ft sandstone walls close in around you. No hiking needed — just watch.

5:45 PM

Virgin River Stroll

📍 Big Bend Shuttle Stop, Zion Canyon Scenic Dr, Springdale, UT 84767

Flat walk along the river at Big Bend. Cool off your feet — the river is refreshing in August heat. Take the shuttle back when ready.

7:00 PM

Dinner in Springdale Food

📍 Oscar's Café: 948 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767 · King's Landing Bistro: 1515 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767

Oscar's Café — local favorite, generous portions, great outdoor seating with canyon views. Or King's Landing Bistro — relaxed atmosphere, good for groups, with fresh juices and mocktails on the menu.

Aug 21 Fri

Zion National Park

Zion Overlooks & Easy Walks

🏨 Night 3 · LaFave Luxury Rentals

7:30 AM

Zion Human History Museum

📍 Zion National Park Rd, Springdale, UT 84767

Open from 10AM but start your day early with a drive to the east side. Watch the park film (20 min) and see geology exhibits. Flat and easy — great context for everything you'll see.

8:00 AM
Canyon Overlook Trail Light Hike
📍 Trailhead on UT-9 (Zion–Mt. Carmel Hwy), ~4 mi east of the Visitor Center · Park along the road
THE light hike of the trip. 1 mile round-trip, ~45 min, ends at a jaw-dropping platform overlooking the Great Arch and all of Zion Canyon. Go early before the heat and crowds hit. Parking at the trailhead just east of the tunnel.

9:00 AM

Pine Creek Canyon Overlook

📍 UT-9 (Zion–Mt. Carmel Hwy), ~3.5 mi east of Zion Visitor Center · Small pullout on the north side

5-min walk from the parking area. Stunning view of Pine Creek Canyon below the Zion–Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Best morning light here.

11:00 AM

Weeping Rock

📍 Shuttle Stop 7, Zion Canyon Scenic Dr, Springdale, UT 84767

Take the shuttle to Weeping Rock stop. Flat 0.4-mile paved path to a hanging garden that drips spring water from a canyon wall alcove. Magical and effortless.

1:00 PM

Afternoon rest at LaFave Rest

August in Zion hits 100°F+ by midday. Return to the rental, cool off, have lunch, rest. This is strategic — not lazy.

4:30 PM

Emerald Pools — Lower Trail

📍 Shuttle Stop 5 (Zion Lodge), Zion Canyon Scenic Dr, Springdale, UT 84767

1.2-mile easy paved trail to a beautiful pool with a dripping waterfall wall. Much cooler by late afternoon. Shuttle to Zion Lodge stop, then walk down.

7:00 PM

Dinner Food

📍 King's Landing Bistro: 1515 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767 · Spotted Dog Café: 428 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767

King's Landing Bistro — upscale menu, great canyon views, and excellent fresh-pressed juices and mocktails. Or Spotted Dog Café — cozy, family-friendly, known for hearty dinners and homemade desserts.

Aug 22 Sat

Zion National Park

Kolob Canyons & Springdale

🏨 Night 4 · LaFave Luxury Rentals (Last Night)

8:00 AM
Kolob Canyons 45 min drive
📍 Kolob Canyons Visitor Center: 3752 E Kolob Canyons Rd, New Harmony, UT 84757 · Take I-15 N to Exit 40
A completely different, quieter side of Zion — 45 min north on I-15. A 5-mile scenic drive ends at a viewpoint of dramatic red canyon fingers with far fewer crowds. Easy flat walk at the viewpoint. Stop at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center on the way in.

11:30 AM

Return to Springdale · Lunch

📍 Sol Foods Market: 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767

Drive back to Springdale, grab lunch at Sol Foods Market — great sandwiches and cold drinks, perfect after a morning of sightseeing.

1:00 PM

Explore Springdale Town

Browse art galleries, shop for souvenirs, grab ice cream. A charming small town with good shopping right outside Zion's gate.

3:00 PM

Shuttle to Court of the Patriarchs

📍 Shuttle Stop 4, Zion Canyon Scenic Dr, Springdale, UT 84767

Three massive sandstone peaks named Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Best viewed from the signed overlook — a short 0.5-mile flat walk from the shuttle stop.

6:00 PM

Pack & prep for Bryce Canyon

Set everything out for tomorrow's drive. Checkout is 9:00 AM. Confirm Clear Sky Resorts booking and arrival time.

7:00 PM

Farewell Springdale Dinner Food

📍 Switchback Grille: 1149 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767 · Spotted Dog Café: 428 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767

Switchback Grille — great patio with canyon views, perfect farewell dinner at Zion. Or try Spotted Dog Café for a cozy, romantic option.

Aug 23 Sun

Zion → Bryce Canyon, UT

Scenic UT-12 Drive & Hoodoos

🚗 1.5 hrs via UT-9 E → US-89 N → UT-12 E

9:00 AM

Checkout: LaFave Luxury Rentals Checkout

📍 Springdale, UT 84767 (address provided upon Airbnb booking)

Pack the car and hit the road toward Bryce Canyon.

10:30 AM
Red Canyon — UT-12 Scenic Stop On Route
📍 UT-12 near milepost 3, approx. 10 mi west of Bryce Canyon entrance, Panguitch, UT 84759
Free drive-through on one of America's great scenic highways. Park the car and walk a flat 5-min path through vivid red hoodoos — a perfect warm-up for Bryce. Great photo op.

11:30 AM

Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center

📍 UT-63, Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764 (1 mi south of UT-12 junction)

Watch the 20-min park film, pick up the scenic rim drive map. Rangers can advise on best sunset spots for today. Purchase the America the Beautiful Pass here if you haven't yet ($80).

12:30 PM

Rim Trail: Sunrise → Sunset Point

📍 Sunrise Point parking area, Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764

Flat, paved 0.5-mile walk between the two main viewpoints. The hoodoo amphitheater below is staggering — thousands of orange spires stretching as far as you can see.

2:00 PM

Inspiration Point

📍 Inspiration Point Rd, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 84764 (2.5 mi south of Visitor Center)

5-min walk from the parking lot. Best panoramic view in all of Bryce — a 180° sea of hoodoos. Try to beat the afternoon tour buses by going early in the day window.

4:00 PM

Check in: Clear Sky Resorts Check-in

📍 855 UT-12, Cannonville, UT 84718 · 20 min southeast of Bryce Canyon entrance

20-min drive from Bryce. Book 2–3 geodomes for the group. On-site restaurant, firepits, horseshoes, corn hole. No TVs — that's the whole point. Arrive before sunset.

7:00 PM

Dinner at Clear Sky Restaurant Food

📍 855 UT-12, Cannonville, UT 84718 (on-site at Clear Sky Resorts)

Eat on-site — reviews praise fair prices and good food. Staying in means more time for stargazing. Gather around the firepits afterwards.

9:00 PM
Stargazing — Milky Way ✨ Highlight
THE highlight of Night 5. Lie on your back inside the clear geodome and look straight up at the Milky Way. Bortle 2 dark sky — one of the darkest in the US. Guided stargazing tours available on-site. An experience you won't forget.

Aug 24 Mon

Bryce Canyon → Page, AZ

Sunrise at Bryce · Drive South

🚗 2 hrs via US-89 S to Page, AZ

6:15 AM
Sunrise at Bryce Canyon — Sunrise Point Highlight
📍 Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 84764 · 20 min drive from Clear Sky Resorts
Drive 20 min back to Sunrise Point for golden hour light on the hoodoos. Worth every second of the early alarm — the canyon glows amber, pink, and fire as the sun rises. The most photogenic moment of the trip.

8:00 AM

Rim Drive to Rainbow Point

📍 Rainbow Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 84764 · 18 mi south of Visitor Center on UT-63

Drive the full 18-mile scenic road south to Rainbow Point (9,115 ft elevation). Stop at Natural Bridge, Agua Canyon, and Farview Point — all are park-and-step-out overlooks. Views over three states from the top.

10:30 AM

Checkout: Clear Sky Resorts Checkout

📍 855 UT-12, Cannonville, UT 84718

Pack up and head south toward Page, AZ — a 2-hour scenic drive through the high desert.

10:30 AM

Drive: Bryce Canyon → Page, AZ Drive 2 hrs

Via US-89 S through the Paria Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs area. Gorgeous red-rock high desert the whole way. Stop for lunch in Kanab, UT (~1 hr from Bryce) — a small cowboy town with several good cafes.

1:00 PM

Glen Canyon Dam Visit

📍 Carl Hayden Visitor Center, US-89, Page, AZ 86040 · Free parking on-site

Free Carl Hayden Visitor Center — film, exhibits, and a flat walkout overlook of the massive 710-ft dam and jade-green Colorado River below. About 1 hour. Fascinating and effortless.

2:30 PM

Wahweap Marina — Lake Powell Overlook

📍 100 Lakeshore Dr, Page, AZ 86040 · 10 min from Glen Canyon Dam

A 10-min drive from the dam. Step out at Wahweap Marina for a stunning flat walkout view of Lake Powell's brilliant blue water against red-rock buttes. Grab a refreshing drink or ice cream at the marina — a perfect afternoon cooldown before check-in.

4:00 PM

Check in: Airbnb Colton — Page, AZ Check-in

📍 Page, AZ 86040 (exact address provided upon Airbnb booking)

Settle in and rest up. Early-ish start tomorrow for the Antelope Canyon tour and the drive back to Las Vegas.

6:30 PM

Dinner in Page Food

📍 Ranch House Grill: 819 Vista Ave, Page, AZ 86040 · Fiesta Mexicana: 125 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040

Ranch House Grill — local favorite, great steaks and burgers, well-reviewed for groups. Or Fiesta Mexicana — generous portions, laid-back vibe.

Aug 25 Tue

Page, AZ → Las Vegas, NV

Antelope Canyon · Horseshoe Bend · Vegas

🚗 3.5 hrs via US-89 S → AZ-89 → US-93 N

9:00 AM

Checkout: Airbnb Colton Checkout

📍 Page, AZ 86040 (address provided upon Airbnb booking)

Pack up and prep for the grand finale morning. Don't eat too much — you'll want to focus on the canyon, not digestion.

11:00 AM
Upper Antelope Canyon Tour Book in Advance
📍 Ekis' Antelope Canyon Tours: 22 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040 · Chief Tsosie's: 7 N Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040
Ekis' Antelope Canyon Tours or Chief Tsosie's — midday = light beams through the slot canyon ceiling (summer only). A completely flat Navajo-guided walk through glowing orange sandstone walls. ~1.5 hrs. Absolutely otherworldly. No fitness required. Bring a mask — it's dusty. No tripods allowed on standard tours.

1:00 PM

Horseshoe Bend Easy Walk

📍 1001 Page Pkwy (off US-89 S), Page, AZ 86040 · $10 parking fee at the lot

Easy 1.5-mile round trip on a wide paved path. $10 parking. The Colorado River makes a 270° bend around the canyon floor 1,000 ft below. Go right after Antelope Canyon while you're close. Bring water — zero shade and August heat is brutal here. Watch the edge carefully.

3:00 PM

Drive: Page → Las Vegas Drive 3.5 hrs

Via US-89 S → AZ-89 → US-93 N through Boulder City. Arrive Las Vegas ~6:30 PM. The Hoover Dam is visible from US-93 on the way in — a free sight from the car.

6:30 PM

Check in: Hilton Grand Vacations Club Elara Check-in

📍 80 E Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Back to the Strip for your final night. Freshen up — you've earned a celebratory evening.

8:00 PM
Celebratory Dinner — Las Vegas Strip Food
📍 Giada: 3595 S Las Vegas Blvd (The Cromwell), NV 89109 · Hash House A Go Go: 3535 S Las Vegas Blvd (The LINQ), NV 89109
Giada at The Cromwell — upscale Italian with stunning Strip views, perfect for a group celebration. Or Hash House A Go Go at The LINQ for massive portions and a party atmosphere. Walk the Strip after dinner — Fountains of Bellagio run until midnight.

Aug 26 Wed

Las Vegas, NV

Fly Home ✈️

✈️ Harry Reid International Airport · 20 min from Strip

11:00 AM

Checkout: Hilton Grand Vacations Club Elara Checkout

📍 80 E Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Pack up and return key cards. Load the car one last time.

11:30 AM

Return rental car at airport

Airport car return is clearly signed. Allow extra time if the car is large (minivan return can take a few minutes to inspect).

After drop

Harry Reid International Airport — Fly Home

📍 5757 Wayne Newton Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119 · 20 min from the Strip via I-15 S

Allow minimum 2 hours before departure for security. Safe travels — and start planning the next one. 🌵

Zion · Bryce Canyon· Antelope Canyon

Zion · Bryce Canyon
· Antelope Canyon