All Confirmed ✓
Bookings at a Glance
| What | Detail | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Flight Out | EWR → PHX, land 3:00 PM | Sat May 16 | ✓ Booked |
| ✈️ Flight Home | SLC → EWR | Sat May 23 | ✓ Booked |
| 🚙 Jeep Wrangler 4DR | Hertz — PHX pickup / SLC drop | May 16–23 | ✓ Booked |
| 🏨 Yavapai Lodge | Grand Canyon South Rim (inside park!) | May 16–18 | ✓ Booked |
| 🦙 Hurricane Airbnb | 3804 S 1100 W, Hurricane UT · alpacas + views | May 18–20 | ✓ Booked |
| 🏨 Best Western Plus Bryce | 26 S Main St, Bryce Canyon City UT | May 20–22 | ✓ Booked |
| 🏨 Little America SLC | 500 Main St, Salt Lake City UT | May 22–23 | ✓ Booked |
| 🎟️ America the Beautiful | Annual pass — all parks on route (backordered) | All parks | ✓ Purchased |
Getting Around
Driving Distances & Maps
Every leg with estimated times and one-tap Google Maps navigation. Top-down moments called out! 🚙
| Day | Leg | Miles | Est. Time | Navigate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 5/16 | PHX Airport → Grand Canyon South Rim | ~230 | ~3.5 hrs | Open Maps |
| Mon 5/18 | Grand Canyon → Horseshoe Bend, Page AZ | ~90 | ~1.5 hrs | Open Maps |
| Mon 5/18 | Page → Vermillion Cliffs → Hurricane UT (via US-89A 🔥 top down) | ~135 | ~2.5 hrs | Open Maps |
| Tue 5/19 | Hurricane Airbnb → Zion Visitor Center | ~30 | ~35 min | Open Maps |
| Wed 5/20 | Hurricane → Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel | ~80 | ~1.5 hrs | Open Maps |
| Fri 5/22 | Bryce → Capitol Reef (via scenic UT-12 🏆) | ~100 | ~2 hrs | Open Maps |
| Fri 5/22 | Capitol Reef → Little America Hotel SLC | ~215 | ~3.5 hrs | Open Maps |
| Sat 5/23 | Little America → Antelope Island State Park | ~50 | ~50 min | Open Maps |
| Sat 5/23 | Antelope Island → SLC Airport (drop Wrangler) | ~25 | ~25 min | Open Maps |
| Total Trip Distance | ~875 mi | ~16 hrs | Full Route | |
💡 Best top-down moments: PHX desert on Day 1 · US-89A through Vermillion Cliffs · UT-9 Zion corridor · UT-12 to Capitol Reef · Antelope Island causeway
Day by Day
Full Itinerary
Tap any day to expand. Google Maps links on every stop. Times are suggested — adjust to your pace!
✈️ Land at Phoenix Sky Harbor
Clear baggage, grab the Wrangler at Hertz. On the road by 4:15pm — top down through the Sonoran Desert immediately.
🚙 Drive PHX → Grand Canyon (~3.5 hrs)
US-89N through Flagstaff. Stop for gas + snacks in Flagstaff. Top down around Flagstaff — elevation drops to perfect driving temp.
📍 Navigate (230 mi · 3.5 hrs)🏨 Arrive Yavapai Lodge — Check In
Drop bags and walk to the rim immediately. First Grand Canyon sunset. You won't believe what you're looking at.
🌅 Go to Mather Point — 10 min walk from lodge📍 Mather Point✅ Mule Tour Check-In — Bright Angel Transportation Desk
Required tonight — you must check in at the Bright Angel Transportation Desk the day before your ride. Head to Bright Angel Lodge on North Village Loop Drive before they close.
⚠️ Mandatory — do not skip this step📞 Reconfirm 2+ days before your tour: (928) 638-3283📍 Bright Angel Lodge🌅 Sunrise at Mather Point — Before Your Ride
Early wake-up anyway for the mule tour — catch the canyon turning gold and pink first. A perfect way to start the day before heading to the corral.
📍 Mather Point🫏 Canyon Vistas Mule Tour
Report to the Bright Angel Transportation Desk (you checked in last night!). The Canyon Vistas ride takes you along the rim with jaw-dropping views — a true bucket list Grand Canyon experience. Listen to your wrangler and soak in every second.
⚠️ Checked in last night at Bright Angel Lodge ✓📞 Must reconfirm by May 14 at latest: (928) 638-3283📍 Bright Angel Transportation Desk🗼 East Rim Drive → Desert View Watchtower
25-mile drive east along the rim with multiple stunning pullouts. Watchtower = 360° views including the Colorado River below.
📍 Desert View Watchtower🍽️ Dinner — El Tovar or Canyon Star
El Tovar = iconic rim-side fine dining (reserve ahead!). Canyon Star in Tusayan for Western show vibes.
🚙 Depart Grand Canyon → Page AZ
East on Hwy 64, north on US-89. Open desert driving.
📍 Navigate to Page (90 mi · 1.5 hrs)🌀 Horseshoe Bend — Page, AZ
1-mile round trip. Colorado River 1,000 ft below in a perfect horseshoe. Rated 4.8/5, 22k+ reviews. Monday = noticeably fewer crowds than weekends. $10 cash parking.
📸 Shoot from center overlook — best composition📍 Horseshoe Bend💧 Glen Canyon Dam + Lake Powell Overlook
20-min stop. The dam and turquoise Lake Powell stretching into the canyon is stunning. Free from the overlook.
📍 Glen Canyon Dam🔴 Vermillion Cliffs — US-89A Drive-Through
You drive straight through them on the way west. Striped red, orange, and white sandstone towers above the road. Pull over 20-30 mins. 4.7 stars. Free. Top down required here.
🚙 Top down moment of the trip📍 Vermillion Cliffs🦙 Arrive Hurricane Airbnb
3804 S 1100 W, Hurricane UT. Meet the alpacas. Settle in. 30 mins from Zion entrance.
📍 Airbnb Address🚗 Drive to Zion Visitor Center
Park before 8am to guarantee a spot. Free shuttle runs throughout the day — no personal cars allowed in the canyon in peak season. America the Beautiful Pass at the gate.
⚠️ Lot fills by 9am — go early!📍 Navigate to Zion (30 mi · 35 min)🌊 The Narrows — Into the River
Paved Riverside Walk (1 mi) leads to the Virgin River — then you walk into the slot canyon as far as you want. No permit from the bottom. The walls get closer and more dramatic the further you go. Budget 2-3 hours.
👟 Water shoes are non-negotiable🥶 River water ~55°F📍 Narrows Trailhead⛰️ Angels Landing — Scout Lookout Section
Permit-free hike to Scout Lookout delivers insane views over the full Zion Canyon. Walter's Wiggles switchbacks are iconic. Budget 2-2.5 hrs round trip.
📍 Angels Landing Trailhead🌄 Canyon Overlook Trail — Easy Close
1-mile easy trail near east entrance tunnel. Big open canyon views in gorgeous afternoon light. Perfect wind-down to a massive day.
📍 Canyon Overlook Trail♨️ Optional: Zion Canyon Hot Springs
La Verkin UT — between Zion and the Airbnb. 4.7 stars, multiple pools, cocktail bar. The Angel's Landing frozen drink post-hike is peak Southwest. Open until 10pm.
🔥 Highly recommended📍 Zion Hot Springs🦙 Relaxed Checkout Morning
Coffee with the alpacas. Enjoy the canyon views before leaving. Slow morning — you've earned it.
🚙 Drive Hurricane → Bryce Canyon (~1.5 hrs)
Beautiful red rock country through UT-9 and US-89 north. Top down the whole way.
📍 Navigate (80 mi · 1.5 hrs)🏨 Check In — Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel
26 S Main St, Bryce Canyon City. Hot tub, breakfast included, 4.4 stars. Drop bags, rest up for tomorrow's 5:45am alarm.
🌅 Bryce Point — Golden Hour Sunset
The hoodoos lit up orange and amber at sunset. Completely otherworldly. Best possible first impression of Bryce Canyon.
📸 Priority shot — don't skip📍 Bryce Point🌄 Sunrise at Sunrise Point — Most Photogenic Moment of the Trip
Thousands of hoodoos glowing orange and pink. 8,000 ft elevation — bring a real jacket, it's 35°F at sunrise in May. Worth every freezing second.
🏆 Do not miss this📍 Sunrise Point🪄 Queens Garden + Navajo Loop Combo
~3 miles, mild-moderate. Goes DOWN into the hoodoos — walking through narrow passages between spires is surreal. The definitive Bryce experience. Not just the rim lookout.
📍 Queens Garden Trailhead🏔️ Bryce Point — Afternoon Light
You saw sunset here — afternoon light gives a completely different look. Drive the full scenic road for all the overlooks.
📍 Bryce Point🥩 Dinner at Stone Hearth Grille + Hotel Hot Tub
Stone Hearth Grille in Tropic (10 mins, excellent patio) then back for the hotel hot tub. Perfect Day 6 recovery combo.
🚙 Depart Bryce → Capitol Reef via Scenic UT-12
UT-12 is one of the most scenic roads in America — red canyon walls, white sandstone domes, sweeping valley views. Slow down and enjoy it.
🏆 One of the best drives in the USA📍 Navigate via UT-12 (100 mi · 2 hrs)🏜️ Capitol Reef National Park
Massively underrated — almost no crowds compared to Zion and Bryce. Hickman Bridge Trail (2 miles, natural arch) + the paved Scenic Drive through Waterpocket Fold. Budget 2-3 hours.
💎 Hidden gem — enjoy the quiet📍 Capitol Reef NP⭐ Lunch at Cafe Diablo — Torrey, UT
Genuinely exceptional food in the middle of nowhere. A legendary stop for every Southwest road tripper. Do not skip this.
📍 Cafe Diablo🏨 Check In — Little America Hotel SLC
500 Main St, Salt Lake City. A genuinely great hotel for the final night. Celebrate the trip with a proper dinner. You've earned it.
📍 Little America Hotel🚙 Drive SLC → Antelope Island
~50 min north on I-15. Early start = best morning light on the salt flats and fewer people on the island.
📍 Navigate (~50 min)🦬 Antelope Island State Park
Free-roaming bison, surreal salt flat landscapes, and the Wasatch Mountains reflecting off the Great Salt Lake. Drive the main road to find bison, walk the lakeside trail, soak in the massive open-sky views. Budget 2-2.5 hours.
🎬 Perfect final chapter to the trip⚠️ Stay 25 yds from bison — they're wild📍 Antelope Island SP✈️ Drive to SLC Airport — Drop Wrangler & Fly Home
25 minutes from the island. Return the Wrangler at Hertz SLC, check in, fly home. End scene. What a trip.
📍 Navigate to SLC Airport (~25 min)What to Expect
May Weather by Location
May is one of the best months for this route — but each stop has its own personality. Plan around it!
Don't Forget
Packing List
Check items off as you pack — progress saves in your browser automatically!
Eat & Drink
Restaurant Guide
El Tovar Dining Room SplurgeReserve Ahead!
The iconic rim-side fine dining experience. Reserve in advance. The setting right next to the canyon is worth it alone.
Canyon Star Restaurant Casual
Grand Hotel Tusayan. Western dinner show vibes, solid food. Great lively option for a first night.
Yavapai Tavern Convenient
Attached to your lodge. Perfect for a quick breakfast before sunrise hikes or relaxed lunches.
Kin Restaurant Breakfast
Newer, well-reviewed spot in Page. Good for a quick breakfast before Horseshoe Bend.
Safeway Page — Stock Up Here!
Car snacks, water, electrolytes before US-89A. Slim pickings between Page and Hurricane.
Whiptail Grill Local Legend
The green chile cheeseburger is genuinely legendary. Arrive early or expect a wait every time.
OSO Restaurant Post-Hike Recovery
Excellent tacos and margaritas. Exactly what you want after The Narrows and Angels Landing.
Spotted Dog Cafe (Flanigan's) Nicer Dinner
Canyon views, great food. The sit-down elevated option in Springdale.
Zion Hot Springs Bar Cocktails
The Angel's Landing frozen drink post-hike is peak Southwest energy. La Verkin, UT — on your way back to the Airbnb.
Stone Hearth Grille Best Dinner
Tropic, UT — 10 mins from Bryce. Excellent food, great patio. The standout dinner option in the area.
Cowboy's Buffet & Steak Room (Ruby's Inn) Hearty
Exactly right after a morning in the hoodoos. Affordable and close to everything.
Lodge at Bryce Canyon Dining Room Convenient
Inside the park. Solid food in a beautiful historic setting. Good for mid-park-day lunch.
Cafe Diablo Don't SkipSplurge Lunch
Legendary among Southwest road trippers. Genuinely exceptional food in the middle of nowhere. A must-do stop.
Rim Rock Restaurant (Capitol Reef Resort) Backup
Solid food with great views if Cafe Diablo timing doesn't work out.
Little America Dining Room Celebration Dinner
On-site at your hotel. End the trip right with a proper sit-down dinner. You've absolutely earned it.
Roosters Brewing Co. (Ogden) Craft Beer
15 mins north if you want to venture out. Great craft beer and food for a final night out.
Know Before You Go
Pro Tips
🎟️ America the Beautiful Pass
One pass covers the whole vehicle — no need for two. Confirm the backordered pass arrives before May 16. Covers Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, and Antelope Island.
🚌 Zion Shuttle is Mandatory
No personal vehicles in Zion Canyon during peak season. Park at the Visitor Center by 8am max. The free shuttle runs frequently throughout the day.
🌡️ Bryce = COLD at Sunrise
8,000 ft elevation — sunrise in May can be 35°F. Bring a real jacket for Sunrise Point. Warms fast by 10am but that first hour is genuinely cold.
👟 Narrows Gear Is Non-Negotiable
Waterproof sandals or neoprene water shoes — your feet will be in the river. Rental gear available in Springdale if you don't want to pack them.
⛽ Gas Up Strategically
The Wrangler gets ~17-18 mpg. Always fill up in Page, Kanab, and Torrey. Don't assume there's a station ahead between parks — there often isn't.
📵 Download Offline Maps NOW
Cell service is spotty or dead in most parks and on US-89A. Download the full route on Google Maps before leaving NJ. All stops, all driving legs.
🌅 Chase Golden Hours Every Day
Mather Point sunrise, Bryce Point sunset, Sunrise Point at dawn — every single alarm on this trip is worth it. The golden hours transform these parks.
💧 Hydration on Every Trail
2L per person minimum for any hike. Add electrolyte packets on hot days — dehydration hits fast in the desert. Most major trailheads have fill stations.
🚙 Top Down Moments
PHX desert on Day 1 · US-89A through Vermillion Cliffs · UT-9 Zion corridor · UT-12 to Capitol Reef · Antelope Island causeway. The cinematic Wrangler moments of the trip.
📸 Horseshoe Bend Timing
Go first thing Monday morning. Scorching and packed by 11am. $10 cash for parking — no ATM on-site, bring it from the hotel.
🦬 Bison at Antelope Island
Stay 25+ yards from bison — they're wild and fast. Best viewing along the main road and southern end of the island, usually right by the road in the morning.
⚡ Afternoon Thunderstorms
Common 2–5pm across AZ and UT in May. Hike mornings, get off exposed ridgelines if dark clouds build. Check weather.gov the night before each park day.
Know Your Numbers
Budget Breakdown
Per-person estimates based on 2 travelers sharing where applicable. Use the tracker below to log actual spend as you go!
🧾 Live Expense Tracker
Enter your actual spend as you go — differences auto-calculate. Data saves in your browser.
| Category | Budget (pp) | Actual Spent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | $550 | — | |
| Rental Car (your share) | $575 | — | |
| Lodging (your share) | $450 | — | |
| Food & Drink | $500 | — | |
| Admissions & Activities | $120 | — | |
| Gas | $100 | — | |
| Misc / Souvenirs | $150 | — | |
| TOTAL | $2,445 | $0 | — |
🟢 Green = under budget · 🔴 Red = over budget · Budget midpoints used for calculation