What does a road trip look like that covers part of the American West in less than two weeks, from the desert canyons of Arizona to the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone?
The route starts in Las Vegas and ends in Salt Lake City. Along the way, it leads through northern Arizona, the Navajo Nation, national parks in Utah, and continues north through Wyoming to the Grand Teton and Yellowstone area.
The proposed plan is based on my 2017 trip when I took an almost identical route during a visit to the USA. It was in the Wyoming area that I watched a total solar eclipse—a moment that became one of the most powerful experiences of the entire trip.
The road trip connects iconic spots like the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Antelope Canyon with less-visited parts of Utah and Wyoming. Dramatic desert scenery is followed by more remote areas near Capitol Reef, the Wind River Range, and finally the geothermal world of the world’s oldest national park—Yellowstone.
Day 1 – Arrival in Las Vegas
We arrive in Las Vegas. After checking in, we’ll walk along part of the Las Vegas Strip and stop at some of the city’s iconic landmarks.
We’ll make a short stop, for example, at the Bellagio Hotel, famous for its fountains. Anyone who wants to can also visit some of the local casinos in the evening. We spend the night in Las Vegas.
Day 2 – Grand Canyon North Rim and travel to Page
In the morning, we head east from Las Vegas toward the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon immediately impresses us with its majesty and immense depth. One of the most beautiful viewpoints is Point Imperial.
In the afternoon, we continue toward the town of Page. Along the way, we encounter the Colorado River for the first time at Marble Canyon. We’ll also stop at the historic Navajo Bridge.
In the evening, we arrive in Page, where we’ll stay the night.
Day 3 – Page and Antelope Canyon
On the third day, we stay in Page, which is a good base for several famous natural attractions.
In the morning, we’ll visit Horseshoe Bend—the iconic meander of the Colorado River. Later, we’ll move on to Lake Powell, where you can rent a kayak or go for a swim.
One of the area’s main attractions is Lower Antelope Canyon. Before entering the canyon, local Navajo Indians make the wait more pleasant with music.
The canyon itself often exceeds even high expectations. Narrow rock walls and light filtering from above create unique shapes and colors that won’t leave any visitor indifferent.
Day 4 – Monument Valley, Moki Dugway, and the Lake Powell area
In the morning, we set off from Page toward the Monument Valley area.
Along the way, we’ll stop at several well-known spots—for example, the Mexican Hat rock formation or the viewpoint known as Forrest Gump Point.
We’ll also stop at the Goosenecks overlook and continue along the famous Moki Dugway road. From there, we’ll turn off to Muley Point, which offers a beautiful view of the landscape shaped by the Colorado River.
We’ll also make a stop at the Hite Crossing Bridge. The bridge crosses the northern part of Lake Powell at the site of the former settlement of Hite, which was once an important crossing over the Colorado River before the Glen Canyon Dam was built.
If there’s enough time, you can also visit the lesser-known Leprechaun Canyon—a narrow slot canyon with smooth sandstone walls and colors similar to Antelope Canyon, but with significantly fewer visitors.
We spend the night in the small town of Hanksville.
Day 5 – Capitol Reef and travel across Utah
In the morning, we leave Hanksville. After about an hour’s drive, we arrive at Capitol Reef National Park.
Here, we’ll take a short trek to Hickman Natural Bridge—an elegant sandstone arch that spans high above the canyon and is one of the most photogenic natural features in Capitol Reef National Park.
If time permits, you can also visit the Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook—a viewpoint over the vast Cathedral Valley, offering a beautiful view of the typical sandstone monoliths and desert landscape of Capitol Reef National Park.
In the evening, we arrive in the town of Salina, where we’ll stay the night.
Day 6 – Stewart Falls and travel to Wyoming
Breakfast at the hotel in Salina, followed by a transfer to the trailhead for Stewart Falls. It’s a pleasant break after longer drives.
If the weather is good and there’s enough time, the program can be extended to include a climb of Mount Timpanogos—one of the highest peaks in the Wasatch Range (3,581 m). The climb is one of the most popular hikes in Utah, but it’s a full-day route that usually takes about 8 to 10 hours and offers beautiful views of Utah Valley. If you decide on this hike, it’s advisable to set aside a separate day in your itinerary.
In the afternoon, we continue north toward Wyoming. The goal is to reach the area before the Wind River Reservation, where we’ll spend the night and prepare to explore this less-visited part of Wyoming.
Day 7 – Wind River Reservation
We start the day in the Wind River Reservation area, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. It’s a vast territory with open landscapes, mountain horizons, and a strong presence of indigenous Native American culture.
During the day, you can stop at several places around the Wind River Range—for example, at viewpoints of the high mountain massifs or at smaller mountain lakes, which are among the lesser-known but very impressive spots in Wyoming.
The entire region is known as the gateway to the wild Wind River Range, which is one of the wildest and least populated mountain areas in the American West.
In the late afternoon, we set off on a longer drive west, which will bring us to the Grand Teton National Park area and the southern entrance to Yellowstone.
Day 8 – Grand Teton, Signal Mountain, and the entrance to Yellowstone
We wake up in the area near Signal Mountain Summit in Grand Teton National Park. In the morning, we’ll enjoy views of the Jackson Hole valley and the dramatic silhouette of the Teton Range, which is one of the most iconic mountain landscapes in the American West.
We then continue north through the southern entrance of Yellowstone National Park, which was established in 1872 and is considered the oldest national park in the world.
The park is best known for its geothermal features. There are more than ten thousand different thermal objects here—geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles.
One of the first stops in the park is Mud Volcano—an area with active mud pots and a strong smell of sulfur.
We’ll also visit Lewis Falls—an approximately 9-meter waterfall on the Lewis River, which is clearly visible directly from the main road.
While traveling along the park roads, it’s quite common to encounter American bison, which are among the symbols of Yellowstone.
Day 9 – Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and geysers
The next day, we continue exploring Yellowstone.
One of the most impressive spots is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with the Lower Falls, which is one of the park’s most famous waterfalls.
Later, we’ll move to one of the most famous geysers in the world—Old Faithful. This geyser erupts approximately every 30 to 120 minutes, so you need to wait a while or arrive at the right time.
Another iconic attraction in the park is Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin—one of the largest and most colorful thermal springs in Yellowstone.
Day 10 – Montana and Idaho Falls
We leave Yellowstone and briefly enter the state of Montana—the northernmost point of our trip.
Later, we continue to the city of Idaho Falls. The city lies on the Snake River and offers a pleasant place to rest after a long journey.
We’ll visit the local waterfalls on the Snake River and take a short trip to the Swan Valley area, where Fall Creek Falls is located.
Day 11 – Salt Lake City
The final leg leads us to Salt Lake City.
We’ll stop at the Utah State Capitol Building and look at the city skyline. Salt Lake City surprised us with its peaceful atmosphere, plenty of greenery, and relatively small number of high-rise buildings.
Day 12 – Departure
Departure from Salt Lake City.
Road trip characteristics
- Duration: approximately 12 to 13 days
- Start: Las Vegas
- End: Salt Lake City
- Trip type: road trip across the American West
- Main locations: Grand Canyon (North Rim), Page, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Capitol Reef, Wind River Reservation, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Idaho Falls
- Daily driving distances (approximate):
- minimum: approximately 30 km
- average: approximately 240 km
- maximum: approximately 510 km