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🇺🇸 Itinerary · American West · 7 days

1-week USA itinerary 2026: the American West loop

7 days in the American West from Las Vegas: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Page. Day-by-day road trip, real distances, costed budget and tips.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

5 places

Average budget

€1,500-2,300

Total distance

~1,400 km

Profile

First time

Season

Apr-May, Sep-Oct

Las Vegas 1d · Zion 2d · Bryce 1d · Page 1d · Grand Canyon 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

American West 1-week itinerary map: Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Page, Grand Canyon

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€120

Las Vegas · Arrival & the Strip

  • Morning Arrival at Harry Reid International. Pick up your rental car (book a sedan or SUV).
  • Afternoon Rest off the jet lag, then first contact with the oversized casino-hotels of the Strip.
  • Evening Bellagio fountains and dinner at a giant buffet.
🛌 🛌 Las Vegas Strip · e.g. The LINQ Hotel (1 night)·🚗 Rental car essential·USA guide →
2

~€90

Las Vegas → Zion · Into the canyons

  • 8am Drive to Zion National Park (2h40, 270 km) through Utah.
  • 1pm Mandatory shuttle in the canyon. Walk the Riverside Walk.
  • Afternoon Stand below the 600 m red cliffs.
🛌 🛌 Springdale · e.g. Cable Mountain Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 270 km · 🚌 in-park shuttle
3

~€50

Zion · Angels Landing or the Narrows

  • Morning Angels Landing hike (chains, 4h, permit required) or The Narrows (wading the river).
  • Afternoon Emerald Pools, more accessible, good for families.
  • Evening Dinner in Springdale, exceptional starry sky.
4

~€85

Zion → Bryce Canyon · Hoodoos

  • 9am Drive to Bryce Canyon (1h30, 115 km) through the Zion tunnel.
  • Midday Sunset Point then descend among the hoodoos via the Navajo Loop (3h).
  • Sunset Inspiration Point at sunset, the park's best panorama.
🛌 🛌 Bryce · e.g. Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn (1 night)·🚗 115 km
5

~€110

Bryce → Page · Antelope & Horseshoe

  • 8am Drive to Page (2h30, 250 km) along US-89.
  • 1pm Guided tour of Antelope Canyon (book weeks ahead, €60-80).
  • 5pm Horseshoe Bend at sunset (20-min walk).
🛌 🛌 Page · e.g. Hyatt Place Page (1 night)·🚗 250 km
6

~€95

Page → Grand Canyon · South Rim

  • 9am Drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim (2h20, 220 km).
  • 1pm First view from Mather Point, the 446 km long canyon.
  • Sunset Desert View Drive and Watchtower at sunset.
🛌 🛌 Tusayan or village · e.g. Maswik Lodge (1 night)·🚗 220 km
7

Flight

Grand Canyon → Las Vegas · Return

  • Morning Sunrise over the canyon from Yaki Point, then a rim trail.
  • Midday Drive back to Las Vegas (4h30, 450 km via Williams).
  • Evening Las Vegas airport. Flight back to Paris.
🚗 450 km

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €800
  • 🏨 Motel: €70/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 Shared car: €35/day
  • 🍔 Diners/fast food: €25/day
  • 🎫 America the Beautiful parks pass: €75
Recommended

Comfort

€1,950

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €850
  • 🏨 Lodge/3★ hotel: €130/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 SUV: €55/day
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €40/day
  • 🎫 Antelope + activities: €150

Premium

€3,800

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €1,800
  • 🏨 In-park lodges: €300/night
  • 🚗 Premium SUV: €90/day
  • 🚁 Grand Canyon flight: €350
  • 🎫 Private tours: €400

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

The short Grand Circle: Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon.

2 weeks

2 weeks

Full loop of Utah's Mighty 5 and Monument Valley.

1 month

1 month

The whole West Coast: California, parks and deserts.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

The American West is done by car, with no alternative. Expect ~1,400 km on the loop from Las Vegas, wide easy roads but long distances between parks. The America the Beautiful pass (€75) covers all national parks.

🚗

Rental car (Las Vegas)

€35-55/day · SUV advised · FR licence accepted

🚌

Zion shuttle

Free and mandatory Apr-Oct · the canyon is closed to cars

🎫

Antelope Canyon (Page)

Guided tour required · €60-80 · book weeks ahead

⛽

Fuel

~€1/litre · fill up before long desert sections

Adapt by season

Spring and autumn, not summer

The desert West hits 40°C in July-August, and the parks (Zion, Grand Canyon) get packed. Aim for April-May or September-October: mild temperatures (20-28°C), golden light, fewer crowds. In winter (Dec-Feb), Bryce Canyon is snow-covered and stunning, but the Grand Canyon North Rim closes and high-altitude nights drop below freezing.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In May 2024 I hiked Angels Landing at 6am with a lottery permit: alone on the chains, while by 10am it was a crowd. The lottery can be tried the day before on recreation.gov.
  • • Book Antelope Canyon weeks ahead: slots sell out fast.
  • • See Bryce at sunset from Inspiration Point, not at noon.
  • • Buy the America the Beautiful pass at the first park, quickly worth it.
  • • Sleep in Springdale, at Zion's gate, to start early.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Don't underestimate the Grand Canyon → Las Vegas drive (4h30), leave a margin.
  • • Avoid July-August: 40°C and packed parks.
  • • Keep Horseshoe Bend for sunset, not midday (backlight).
  • • Add Monument Valley if you have 2-3 more days (switch to the 2-week format).

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is one week enough for the American West? +
Yes for a first loop of Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Page and the Grand Canyon, about 1,400 km. It's dense but doable. To add Monument Valley, Arches and Canyonlands, plan 2 weeks.
Do I need a special licence to drive in the USA? +
A French/EU licence is fine for short rentals. An international permit is recommended but rarely required. Bring a credit card in the driver's name for the deposit.
What's the best starting airport? +
Las Vegas (Harry Reid) is the ideal base: central for the Grand Circle, frequent direct flights from Paris, plenty of car rentals.
How do I book Antelope Canyon? +
Only through licensed Navajo operators (Page), online, weeks ahead. Self-guided access is forbidden. Expect €60-80 per person for the Lower or Upper Canyon.
When is the best time to go? +
April-May and September-October: 20-28°C, fewer crowds. Avoid July-August (40°C). Winter is gorgeous at Bryce but roads can be snowy.
Do I need an ESTA? +
Yes, the ESTA is mandatory for French citizens (about $21, valid 2 years). Apply online at least 72h before departure on the official site.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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