Grand Circle RV Road Trip
Looking for an epic road trip through the incredible American Southwest? The Grand Circle is an ambitious and memorable adventure.
This 15-day Grand Circle itinerary starts in Las Vegas, runs through four US states, and stops in nine iconic national parks.
Don’t have 15 days? It’s easy to trim this itinerary down into 7- or 10-day trips.
Quick Itinerary Overview
Total Distance: About 1,700 miles or 26 hours of driving
States Visited: Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona (and New Mexico at Four Corners)
National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon
Iconic Landmarks: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, The Wave, Four Corners Monument
Best Times to Visit: Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October) for milder weather and smaller crowds
Before You Go: Planning & Travel Tips
The best way to experience the Grand Circle road trip is by RV or camper van since it provides convenience and allows you to stay closer to nature, cook your own meals and experience more outdoor time (without sacrificing comfort).
Weather & Seasons
Spring/Fall: Ideal times with mild temperatures (60-80°F) and fewer crowds
Summer: Very hot (90–105°F), frequent thunderstorms, and peak crowds
Winter: Cold temperatures, possible snow closures at higher elevations, but dramatically fewer visitors
Reservations & Planning
Buy a National Parks Annual Pass ($80) if you plan to visit 3+ parks
Book campgrounds 3–6 months in advance, especially for national parks
Check for national park timed entry requirements (particularly at Arches)
Reserve permits early for Angel's Landing (Zion) and The Wave (Kanab)
Always carry more water and fuel up more often than you think you'll need
This route can be done in either direction
RV & Camping Information
Size restrictions: Zion’s tunnel limits vehicles over 11'4" high, 7'10" wide, and 40' long. Bryce Canyon and Arches have parking and road limitations for oversized vehicles.
Campground Limits: Some allow RVs up to 20–30 feet, while others can accommodate rigs over 40 feet. Always check park and campground websites or ask rangers for current RV size restrictions and temporary rules.
Hook-ups: Many national park campgrounds have limited or no RV hook-ups
Remote areas: Stock up on essentials (water, food, fuel) before entering remote sections
Tech & Navigation
Cell service is limited throughout the route, so download or print offline maps
Each park has its own app with maps, hiking information, and shuttle schedules. Find more information on each park’s website.
Day 1-2: Las Vegas to Zion National Park
Drive: 2.5 hours (160 miles)
Location: Springdale, Utah
The Narrows in Zion National Park
From Las Vegas, head northwest to Zion National Park in Utah. As one of America's most visited national parks, Zion offers dramatic Southwestern beauty, with huge red sandstone cliffs, lush green valleys, and the serene Virgin River carving through it.
Check out our related blog: Las Vegas to Zion: Road Trip Itinerary
-
Park Access: No private vehicles are allowed on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from early March to late November. Use the free shuttle system instead.
Beat the Crowds: Enter before 8am or at sunset.
-
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive: 6 miles of stunning geology, hop on or off at various stops throughout the valley
Angel's Landing: 5.4 miles roundtrip, permit required
The Narrows: wade through the Virgin River in a slot canyon
Emerald Pools: family-friendly with waterfalls and pools
Canyon Overlook Trail: short hike, spectacular views
Kolob Canyon Area: less crowded section of the park
-
RV Options Inside Zion: Watchman Campground, South Campground
RV Options Outside Zion: Zion Canyon Campground & RV Resort, Zion River Resort
Day 3: Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park
Drive: 1.5 hours (72 miles)
Location: Bryce Canyon, Utah
Travel from Zion to Bryce Canyon and step into a surreal landscape of towering hoodoos and natural amphitheaters. The elevation shift makes it noticeably cooler, so pack layers. Head to the southern part of the park for fewer crowds.
-
Elevation: 8,000–9,000 feet
Free Shuttle Service: Runs every 15 minutes during daylight hours from early April–mid-October
Best Light: Sunrise and sunset for most vivid hoodoo colors
-
Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive: 18 miles with multiple viewpoints
Sunset Point: Great at both sunrise despite the name
Queens Garden Trail: 1.8 miles roundtrip, easy
Navajo Loop Trail: 1.5 miles, moderate descent into Bryce Amphitheater
Bryce Point: Expansive views
Bristlecone Loop Trail: Quieter hike in the southern park
-
RV Options Inside Park: North Campground, Sunset Campground
RV Options Outside Park: Ruby’s Inn RV Park, Bryce Canyon Pines Campground
Day 4: Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef National Park
Drive: 2.5 hours (120 miles)
Location: Torrey, Utah
Named after the iconic rock formation resembling the U.S. Capitol, Capitol Reef blends colorful sandstone formations with pioneer and Native American history.
Visitors can hike through colorful sandstone formations, ancient petroglyph sites, and enjoy the serene beauty of the Waterpocket Fold—a 100-mile-long fold in the earth’s crust. The Fruita Historic District has wonderfully preserved homestead buildings, a fruit orchard (where you can pick fruit) and a delicious bakery.
Check out our related blog: Capitol Reef RV Camping.
Capitol Reef National Park Website | Capitol Reef Camping Reservations
-
Try the pies at Gifford Homestead
Capitol Reef is a Dark Sky Park—great for stargazing
It’s less crowded than other Utah parks
-
Capitol Reef Scenic Drive: 8 miles
Fruita Historic District: Orchards, Gifford Homestead, cabins
Capitol Gorge Trail: Easy walk to pioneer inscriptions
Cassidy Arch Trail: 3.1 miles roundtrip, moderate
Petroglyph Panel: Fremont culture rock art
Goosenecks Overlook: Best at sunset
-
RV Options Inside the Park: Fruita Campground
RV Options Outside the Park: Cathedral Valley Campground, Capitol Reef RV Park
Day 5–7: Capitol Reef to Moab (Arches & Canyonlands)
Drive: 2.5 hours (135 miles)
Location: Moab, Utah
Moab is a lively basecamp for outdoor adventures like mountain biking, rafting, off-roading, and home to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Spend three nights here to see it all.
Arches National Park
Drive from Moab: 10 minutes (5.2 miles)
Arches National Park packs a lot of punch with more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches and towers, dramatic red rock formations, and sweeping desert vistas. The park can easily be enjoyed in a few hours, but many visitors will want to spend longer exploring its iconic landmarks.
Access Note: Timed entry is required in Arches April–October, 7am–4pm. Get your tickets here (reserve them early!).
-
Delicate Arch: 3 miles, moderate
Windows Section: Easy walks to iconic arches
Sand Dune Arch: Short and shady
Devils Garden Trail: 7.2 miles, multiple arches
Park Avenue Trail: 1 mile through canyon walls
Balanced Rock: Quick stop
Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky District)
Drive from Moab: 40 minutes (30 miles)
Lesser known but larger than the other Utah Mighty Five national parks, Canyonlands has breathtaking sandstone vistas like its Island in the Sky District, with gorgeous overlooks to marvel at the vast expanse of the Colorado River carving through the red rock below. Note that each of this park’s districts are not connected, so plan accordingly.
-
Mesa Arch: 0.5-mile loop, sunrise is best
Grand View Point: Panoramic canyon overlook
White Rim Overlook: 1 mile, easy
Upheaval Dome: Unique crater, 1 mile
Green River Overlook: Excellent photo spot
-
RV Options: Devils Garden (Arches), Willow Flat (Canyonlands), Sun Outdoors Moab, Moab RV & Glamping Resort
Day 8: Moab to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Drive: 3.5 hours (190 miles)
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is not as well-known as Utah's Mighty Five but not because it is any less beautiful. The National Park Service calls it the “steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America...and a vertical wilderness.”
The dramatic black walls plunging 2,000 feet to the river below create a stark, impressive landscape that feels entirely different from the red rock wonders you've experienced so far.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Website | Black Canyon Camping Reservations
-
Gunnison has the steepest cliffs in North America
Gunnison is an International Dark Sky Park, great for stargazing
The North and South Rims are not connected by roads
The South Rim is more developed
-
South Rim Scenic Drive: 7 miles with overlooks
Painted Wall: Tallest cliff in Colorado
Rim Rock Trail: Family-friendly
Chasm View: Unforgettable perspective
Gunnison River: Fly fishing
-
RV Options Inside Gunnison: South Rim Campground
RV Options Outside Gunnison: Black Canyon RV Park, Elk Creek Campground
Day 9: Black Canyon to Mesa Verde National Park
Drive: 3.5 hours (180 miles)
Location: Cortez, Colorado
Mesa Verde shifts the focus to cultural history with cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans. It’s a fascinating, slower-paced stop in the journey.
-
Divided Into Two Main Areas: Chapin Mesa (main dwellings), Wetherill Mesa (less crowded)
Guided tours required for main sites (book tours 14 days in advance)
May–September is best for ranger programs
-
Cliff Palace: Largest dwelling, guided only
Mesa Top Loop Drive: Self-guided archaeological sites
Chapin Mesa Museum: History and artifacts
Petroglyph Trail: 2.4 miles, moderate
Long House: Accessible from Wetherill Mesa
-
RV Options Inside Mesa Verde: Morefield Campground
RV Options Outside Mesa Verde: Mesa Verde RV Park, Ancient Cedars RV Resort
Day 10: Mesa Verde to Four Corners & Petrified Forest
Drive: 4–5 hours (230 miles)
After leaving Mesa Verde, drive an hour to Four Corners National Monument, where you can stand in four states simultaneously. Then continue to Petrified Forest National Park, which boasts vibrant petrified wood, ancient fossils, and wide open desert views.
Four Corners Monument
Quick stop for photo at the four-state intersection
Browse Native crafts sold by local vendors
Petrified Forest National Park
Explore fossilized logs and vivid Painted Desert views. This park is compact but rich in geological history. Stop at the Visitor Center for maps and information.
-
No overnight stays in park
Colors are best at sunrise/sunset
Highlights can be seen in half a day
-
Painted Desert Overlooks: Tawa, Kachina Points
Crystal Forest: Glittering petrified wood
Newspaper Rock: 650+ petroglyphs
Blue Mesa Trail: 1-mile loop
Route 66 & Studebaker relic
-
RV Options: KOA Holbrook, OK RV Park, Desert Sky Campground
Day 11–12: Petrified Forest to Grand Canyon (South Rim)
Drive: 3.5 hours (185 miles)
Location: Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
Arriving at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, you're met with jaw-dropping overlooks of towering red cliffs and a seemingly endless expanse of the canyon. The South Rim's overlooks offer views so stunning they are hard to believe.
Plan to spend a day or two here enjoying what is an unforgettable natural wonder with museums, hiking trails of all levels, mule rides, and more.
Check out our related blog: Which RV Should I Rent for the Grand Canyon?
-
Enter before 10am or after 2pm to avoid long lines
Use shuttle buses to avoid crowded parking lots
Hermit Road: Quieter view points via shuttle or bike
Remember: Hiking down a trail is optional—hiking back up isn’t
Book lodging (hotels and campgrounds) early
-
Mather Point: First view for many
Grand Canyon Village: Lodges, history
Bright Angel Trail: Popular hike into canyon
Rim Trail: Easy, scenic, and accessible
Desert View Drive: 25-mile route with viewpoints
Yavapai Geology Museum: Educational stop
-
RV Options Inside the Grand Canyon: Mather Campground, Trailer Village
RV Options Outside the Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, Ten-X Campground
Day 13: Grand Canyon to Page, Arizona
Drive: 2.5 hours (135 miles)
Location: Page, Arizona
Spend the day at two major photographic icons of the Southwest—Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Check out our related blog: Fun Things to Do in Page, Arizona
-
Antelope Canyon: Navajo guide required (book tours in advance)
Best Light: 10am–12pm in Upper Canyon
Horseshoe Bend Parking: $10
No drones allowed
-
Upper Antelope Canyon: Easier access
Lower Antelope Canyon: Fewer crowds, more ladders
Horseshoe Bend: 1.5-mile roundtrip with limited shade
-
RV Options: Wahweap RV Park, Antelope Point, Page Lake Powell Campground
Day 14: Page to Kanab, Utah
Drive: 1.25 hours (75 miles)
Location: Kanab, Utah
Kanab—nicknamed “Little Hollywood”—is a quirky town full of cinematic history and access to striking desert formations.
-
The Wave: Permit-only, high-demand attraction (lotteries held online and locally)
Consider lesser-known hikes nearby
Kanab’s food scene is worth checking out
-
The Wave: Advanced permits required
Coral Pink Sand Dunes: Unique landscape
Belly of the Dragon: Short walk through sandstone tunnel
Little Hollywood Museum: Film memorabilia
Local ATV tours
-
RV Options: Grand Plateau RV Resort, Dark Sky RV Campground, Hitch-N-Post
Day 15: Kanab to Las Vegas
Drive: 3.25 hours (200 miles)
Return to Las Vegas. Add a night in the city or head straight to the airport depending on your flight.
Trip Variations
7-Day Option: Las Vegas → Zion → Bryce → Page → Grand Canyon → Las Vegas
10-Day Option: Las Vegas → Zion → Bryce → Capitol Reef → Moab (Arches/Canyonlands) → Grand Canyon → Las Vegas
A Grand RV Adventure
The Grand Circle is an ambitious trip of a lifetime to see some of the most beautiful natural areas in Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Be sure to plan ahead, make reservations where you can, bring water and sunscreen, and have a blast!