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🇺🇸 Itinerary · American West · 14 days

2-week USA itinerary 2026: the Grand Circle

14 days in the American West: Utah's Mighty 5, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. Day-by-day road trip, real distances and budget.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

8 places

Average budget

€2,400-3,600

Total distance

~2,400 km

Profile

National parks

Season

Apr-May, Sep-Oct

Las Vegas 1d · Zion 2d · Bryce 1d · Capitol Reef 1d · Moab 3d · Monument Valley 1d · Page 2d · Grand Canyon 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

American West 2-week itinerary map: Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Moab, Monument Valley, Page, Grand Canyon

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

14 days, day by day

1

~€120

Las Vegas · Arrival

  • Morning Arrival at Harry Reid International. Pick up the car (SUV recommended).
  • Afternoon Rest off the jet lag, then explore the Strip.
  • Evening Bellagio fountains and first American dinner.
🛌 🛌 Las Vegas Strip · e.g. The LINQ Hotel (1 night)·🚗 Rental from the airport·USA guide →
2

~€90

Las Vegas → Zion

  • 8am Drive to Zion (2h40, 270 km).
  • 1pm Canyon shuttle, Riverside Walk.
  • Sunset Red cliffs at sundown.
🛌 🛌 Springdale · e.g. Cable Mountain Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 270 km
3

~€55

Zion · Angels Landing

  • Morning Angels Landing (permit) or The Narrows in the river.
  • Afternoon Emerald Pools, quieter.
4

~€85

Zion → Bryce Canyon

  • 9am Drive to Bryce (1h30, 115 km).
  • Midday Navajo Loop among the hoodoos (3h).
  • Sunset Inspiration Point.
🛌 🛌 Bryce · e.g. Ruby's Inn (1 night)·🚗 115 km
5

~€90

Bryce → Capitol Reef · Scenic Byway 12

  • 8am Route 12, one of America's finest drives (2h30, 200 km), via Escalante.
  • 1pm Capitol Reef: historic Fruita orchards, Scenic Drive.
  • Afternoon Hickman Bridge (1h30 walk).
🛌 🛌 Torrey · e.g. Capitol Reef Resort (1 night)·🚗 200 km
6

~€95

Capitol Reef → Moab · Arches

  • 8am Drive to Moab (2h30, 220 km).
  • 2pm Arches National Park: Balanced Rock, Windows.
  • Sunset Delicate Arch at sunset (1h30 round trip).
🛌 🛌 Moab · e.g. Hyatt Place Moab (3 nights)·🚗 220 km
7

~€60

Moab · Canyonlands

  • Morning Island in the Sky: Mesa Arch at sunrise, Grand View Point.
  • Afternoon Dead Horse Point State Park, view over the Colorado.
8

~€110

Moab · Adventure

  • Day Rafting on the Colorado, 4x4 on the trails, or mountain biking at Slickrock to suit your style.
  • Evening Local brewpub in Moab.
9

~€95

Moab → Monument Valley

  • 9am Drive to Monument Valley (2h30, 240 km).
  • 2pm Valley Drive by Navajo 4x4 (the iconic western mesas).
  • Sunset Sunset over the Mittens from The View.
🛌 🛌 Monument Valley · e.g. The View Hotel (1 night)·🚗 240 km
10

~€100

Monument Valley → Page

  • 8am Drive to Page (2h20, 200 km) via Kayenta.
  • 1pm Antelope Canyon (booked guided tour).
  • 5pm Horseshoe Bend at sunset.
🛌 🛌 Page · e.g. Hyatt Place Page (2 nights)·🚗 200 km
11

~€70

Page · Lake Powell

  • Morning Cruise or kayak on Lake Powell, turquoise water in the canyons.
  • Afternoon Relax or optional Rainbow Bridge.
12

~€95

Page → Grand Canyon · South Rim

  • 9am Drive to the South Rim (2h20, 220 km).
  • 1pm Mather Point, Bright Angel Trail (partial descent).
  • Sunset Desert View Watchtower.
🛌 🛌 Grand Canyon Village · e.g. Maswik Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 220 km
13

~€60

Grand Canyon · Rim & trails

  • Sunrise Sunrise at Yaki Point.
  • Day Rim Trail, shuttle to Hermits Rest, or South Kaibab descent.
14

Flight

Grand Canyon → Las Vegas · Return

  • Morning Last viewpoint, then drive to Las Vegas (4h30, 450 km).
  • Evening Las Vegas airport. Flight back to Paris.
🚗 450 km

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€2,400

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €850
  • 🏨 Motel: €75/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 Shared car: €35/day
  • 🍔 Diners/groceries: €30/day
  • 🎫 Parks pass + Monument Valley: €110
Recommended

Comfort

€3,000

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €900
  • 🏨 3★ hotel: €140/night (for 2)
  • 🚗 SUV: €55/day
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €45/day
  • 🎫 Antelope, 4x4, activities: €300

Premium

€5,200

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €1,900
  • 🏨 In-park lodges: €320/night
  • 🚗 Premium SUV: €90/day
  • 🚁 Flights + private tours: €700
  • 🎫 Premium activities: €500

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

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

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

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

This itinerary covers ~2,400 km on a loop from Las Vegas, on easy but spread-out roads. No leg exceeds 4h30. The America the Beautiful pass (€75) covers all national parks. Monument Valley and Lake Powell have separate entry fees.

🚗

Rental car (Las Vegas)

€35-55/day · SUV advised · 2,400 km total

🚌

Zion shuttle

Free and mandatory Apr-Oct

🚙

Valley Drive 4x4 (Monument Valley)

Navajo guided tour · ~€70 · only access to the heart of the mesas

🎫

Antelope Canyon (Page)

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

Adapt by season

Spring and autumn for the Mighty 5

Utah's parks hit 38-40°C in summer, and canyon hikes become punishing. April-May and September-October offer 22-28°C, perfect for walking. Monument Valley is great year-round but freezing in January. If you travel in winter, snow-covered Bryce is worth it, but check that high-altitude roads (Cedar Breaks, Boulder) are open.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In October 2023 I saw Mesa Arch at Canyonlands at sunrise: the rock glows from within for 10 minutes. About thirty photographers were already there at 6:30am, get there earlier.
  • • Do Delicate Arch at sunset rather than midday.
  • • Keep 3 nights in Moab: Arches, Canyonlands and an adventure day deserve the time.
  • • Sleep at The View Hotel facing the Mittens, an unbeatable wake-up view.
  • • Drive Scenic Byway 12 unhurried, it's a destination in itself.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Don't cram Capitol Reef into half a day: one night in Torrey would do it justice.
  • • Book The View Hotel and the Grand Canyon lodges months ahead.
  • • Avoid summer: 40°C in Utah's canyons makes hiking miserable.
  • • Carry plenty of water, gas stations are scarce between parks.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

How many kilometres is this 2-week road trip? +
About 2,400 km on a loop from Las Vegas. Stops are spread out but none exceeds 4h30 of driving. Plan on 2-3 hours of driving on transfer days.
Which parks does the America the Beautiful pass cover? +
Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands and the Grand Canyon. The pass costs €75 and is valid 1 year. Monument Valley (Navajo land) and Lake Powell have separate tickets.
Do I need a 4x4 for this route? +
No, a standard car handles all paved roads. An SUV is more comfortable. A 4x4 is only needed for Monument Valley's tracks (guided tour) or Moab's trails.
When is the best time to go? +
April-May and September-October: 22-28°C, ideal for hiking. Avoid July-August (38-40°C). Winter is gorgeous but some high-altitude roads close.
Is this itinerary family-friendly? +
Yes, by swapping exposed hikes (Angels Landing) for easy trails (Emerald Pools, Hickman Bridge, Mesa Arch). Kids love Monument Valley and rafting in Moab.
Should I book accommodation in advance? +
Yes, especially The View Hotel (Monument Valley) and the Grand Canyon lodges, to book several months ahead. Springdale, Moab and Page have more supply but fill up in high season.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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