From red rock to neon
Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Page, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon in a tight six-day loop—with an honest warning about how much time disappears behind the wheel.
American Southwest6 daysApril–May 2026
$2,500 for twoactual trip cost
Why this route works
The version that was actually traveled.
This route was driven from the Bay Area and revised repeatedly around The Wave lottery. It worked in six days, but seven gives Monument Valley and Bryce the daylight they deserve.
Travelers who want five iconic parks and are willing to make an explicit time-versus-cost choice.
Actual routeApproximate route · verify live conditions
- San Francisco
- Las Vegas
- Zion
- Bryce Canyon
- Page
- The Wave
- Monument Valley
- Grand Canyon
- Las Vegas
- San Francisco
Day by day
Win + add one day
Add a Page night and give The Wave a protected day.
01
Bay Area → Las Vegas
Transit day · 9h
02
Zion → Bryce
Two parks · arrive after dark
03
Bryce → Page
Sunrise + early finish
04
The Wave
Full hiking day · permit required
05
Page → Monument Valley
Antelope + sunset
06
Grand Canyon → Las Vegas
More daylight buffer
07
Las Vegas → Bay Area
Transit day · 9h
Worth protecting
Highlights
- ✓ Zion and Bryce in one sweep
- ✓ Antelope Canyon timed entry
- ✓ Monument Valley sunset
- ✓ Grand Canyon sunrise
Learned on the road
Author’s notes
- → Add a seventh day if you can
- → Book Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley lodging early
- → Do not count a nine-hour drive as a sightseeing day
The honest tradeoff
What this route gives up
- − One workday
- − $480 more
- − Original hotel sequence
Fork it into a trip that fits you.
Change the starting city, dates, budget, pace and must-see stops. TripFork will compare complete alternatives without changing this original guide.
Read the original story on She Leaves Notes ↗