Alternative 4 Day Arizona to Utah Road Trip: From and To Las Vegas

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Looking for a short Arizona to Utah road trip itinerary? We’ve got you covered! Arizona and Utah are big states but it is indeed possible to visit them in just 4 days. Of course, you won’t be able to do everything. We understand that it’s hard to know what to choose between national parks, cities and recreational areas. So we’re here to help.

In this post, and based on our US travel experience, we crafted a 4 day Arizona to Utah itinerary from and to Las Vegas. We experienced these stops on our West coast road trip. This allows you to use the Las Vegas International Airport and is one of our most convenient Arizona to Utah road trips.

Overview of the route

• Total distance: 779 miles/1254 km
• Driving time: 13 hours
• Pace: Moderate
• Departure: Las Vegas
• Arrival: Las Vegas
• What you’ll see: A mix of national parks, canyons, famous landmarks, and cities
• Ideal for: Couples based in Las Vegas who want to travel around Arizona and Utah. Las Vegas has an international airport so you can come and go anywhere from there.

Arizona to Utah in 4 days map

This is one of the best road trips Arizona Utah itinerary from and back to Las Vegas. 

Day 1: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon & Horseshoe Bend, for one of the best Arizona road trips to Utah and Nevada

• Las Vegas to Grand Canyon: 4h25min, 265miles/426km
• Grand Canyon to Horseshoe Bend: 2h13, 120miles/193km

Morning: Las Vegas

With only a brief stop in Las Vegas, it’s best to make the mot of it. We recommend starting with a drive down the iconic Strip. One of the big activities to do on the strip is visiting the famous hotels. Yes, they are like museums. You’ll look at the architecture and the fun decor. You can also make a quick stop for a photo op at the classic Las Vegas sign.

Consider wandering through The Venetian Hotel, an impressive replica of Venice, or catch the mesmerizing fountain and light show at the Bellagio. Take an hour to ride the High Roller, the towering Ferris wheel, offering a stunning 360° view of the glittering Las Vegas skyline.

Time recommended: 3-4 hours

Budget: You can book your tickets here for the High Roller.

Afternoon: Drive to & visit Grand Canyon National Park, one of the best Utah road trip national parks

On your Arizona to Utah road trip, the Grand Canyon is a must see. While the South Rim offers iconic viewpoints like Mather Point, Hopi Point, and Shoshone Point, it’s a bit off the main route. Instead, consider the North Rim to save on driving time without missing the spectacle.

Here, must-visit spots include Bright Angel Point, Coconino Overlook, and the North Kaibab Trailhead, each offering unique perspectives of this geological wonder. This detour to the North Rim ensures you’re still immersed in the Grand Canyon’s awe-inspiring beauty, with a more convenient route for your journey.

Note that the North Rim is usually closed from October to May.

Time recommended: 3h

Budget: $35 per car 

End of the day:Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon on your way to Page

Your next stop on this road trip from Arizona to Utah is Horseshoe Bend, a worldwide-famous scenery . Although it is often thought to be part of the Grand Canyon, that’s not the case.

Horseshoe Bend is actually part of Glen Canyon and right on the road towards the West. This gorgeous rock formation is located in the Colorado River. It is shaped as a horseshoe making for some of the best views in the West. It’s a popular photo stop for its grandeur! The Glen Canyon Dam is also one of the main landmarks to see in the area. It’s especially beautiful at the end of the day during golden hour.

Time recommended: 1h

Budget: $10 per car for parking

Day 2: Page & Antelope Canyon

• Page to Antelope Canyon: 9min, 6 miles/10 km
• Antelope Canyon to Kanab: 1h20min, 78 miles/126km
• Light Driving Day

Morning: Antelope Canyon Upper 

Day 2 starts with Upper Antelope Canyon. Depending on availabilities, you can start with Lower Antelope Canyon or even Canyon X. The most famous and accessible one is Upper Antelope Canyon though they are pretty similar when it comes to colours and rock formations. 

You’ll first have to hop on the back of a truck that drives you to the canyon. As this is a popular one, there are usually several trucks going there at the same time. Then you’ll follow your guide into the canyon to discover those beautiful ocher rock formations. 

Time recommended: 2h

Budget: $8 per person for entry to the Park and $37 per person for the canyon visit. We recommend booking your tickets through one of the tour operators directly as tickets will be cheaper than on other websites, see here. 

Afternoon: Antelope Canyon  Lower

We visited both canyons and also love Lower Antelope Canyon. It is less famous but also smaller than Upper Antelope Canyon. It’s also less busy which is nice if you’re trying to get away from the crowds. You’ll have to go down a few staircases inside the canyon to get to the bottom of it. There you’ll enjoy the beauty of the daylight beaming against the ocher colours. The whole visit is on foot and due to the stairs, ti’s not accessible to people with reduced mobility. 

Time recommended: 2h

Budget: $8 per person for entry to the Park (only need to pay this once for both canyons) and $28 per person for the canyon visit. We recommend booking your tickets through one of the tour operators directly as tickets will be cheaper than on other websites, see here.

An alternative to these two canyons is the new Canyon X. It’s a gem and can also be cheaper depending on when you book!

End of the day: Drive to Kanab

Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park

• Kanab to Bryce Canyon: 1h31, 79 miles/126km

One of the best National Parks in Utah and Arizona to include to your itinerary is Bryce Canyon National Park. many people hesitate between Bryce and Grand Canyons. Good thing this itinerary takes you to both!

Known as a must-see on a Utah big 5 road trip, it’s equally a must to add it on your way to Utah from Arizona. 

Bryce Canyon was one of the most surprising national parks on our USA West Coast road trip. If you think you’ve seen everything canyon related after the Grand Canyon, you’re wrong!

Bryce Canyon is a breathtaking place that will make you feel extremely small and that will remind you of what planet earth and nature can do.

There are a number of viewpoints to stop at in Bryce Canyon. Rainbow and Yovimpa Points are located at the south of the Canyon and provide stunning views from the Pink Cliffs to the Vermillion Cliffs. Natural Bridge is another point where you can see arches made by erosion from the rain and the wind into the canyon. Bryce Point is a viewpoint over Bryce Canyon amphitheater and the start of a couple of trails. We wouldn’t recommend embarking on a full trail as they can take several days to complete. However, you can walk for 5 minutes just to get into the canyon a bit more. 

Finally, Sunrise and Sunset Points are located on the north side of the canyon and deliver stunning views on a rock formation called Thor’s Hammer due to its shape. This spot is great at the end of the day especially! 

Pink Cliffs, located more south, is essentially another viewpoint with incredible views on the layered pink rock formations. Standing here will make you feel so small yet so free!

All together, Bryce Canyon is an absolute gem that you should add to your West Coast USA road trip itinerary.

Time recommended: all day

Budget: $35 per car

Day 4: Zion National Parks back to LV

• Bryce Canyon to LV through Zion NP: 4h30, 251 miles/404km

Another national park to add to your Utah and Arizona road trip itinerary is Zion National Park. It’s not part of the Mighty Five for nothing! Although the park is close to Bryce Canyon, it’s actually quite different looking.

At Zion, you’ll find high red cliffs surrounded by trees in contrast with Bryce Canyon which is essentially dry. The Virgin River travels through the canyon hence the greenery in the park. From waterfalls to beautiful sceneries, you could easily spend 5 to 7 days here. Zion is located right between Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas so it’s the perfect park to visit on this 4 day road trip to Arizona and Utah from and back to Las Vegas. 

During your day in Zion National Park, below is what we recommend doing.

Note that you can book this budget-friendly self-guided audio tour of Zion to learn more about your park at your own pace. It all works on your phone!

Budget: $35 per car

Head to the Canyon Overlook

This trail is only one mile (1.6km) round trip and takes between 30 minutes to an hour to complete. To get to the trailhead, you’ll need to drive up Route 9 to the area by the upper east entrance of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. There you can park your car and head to the trail. The view from the overlook is absolutely incredible into the canyon. There is a sign there to point out all the main peaks and landmarks. 

Time recommended: 1h

Hike the Watchman Trail

The Watchman Trail is known as one of the Zion hikes you should do if it’s your first time in the park. Throughout the hike, you get views on the Watcham Tower and Bridge Mountain. You’re also surrounded by greenery and desert plants. At the end of the hike, you get a gorgeous panoramic view of the Springdale area.

The hike is considered moderate and is quite short as it takes only 1h and 33 minutes to complete. There is barely any shade on the trail though so it’s best to head early in the summer!

Time recommended: 1h35min

Zion-Mount Carmel Scenic Drive 

This beautiful drive, which connects the East and South entrance, goes across Zion National Park for a 10 miles/16 km stretch. In our experience, we actually ended up in Zion by chance as it wasn’t the road we had initially planned! We ended up on the Zion-Mount Carmel Scenic Drive and absolutely loved it. The views on this scenic drive are stunning and you can stop at several pull outs to take photos or even walk around. On this winding road, you’ll be surrounded by the canyon and the buttes all around you. One of the main spots is called Canyon Junction Bridge which offers a stunning view on the Virgin River in the foreground and the Watchman Tower in the backdrop. The Switchbacks, standing at 800 feet/244m are also one of the main landmarks in the park. 

Time recommended: 3h

Kolob Canyons

The Kolob Canyons are a perfect visit to end the day away from the crowds! This is an underrated area of Zion National Park that most people don’t adventure to. However, it’s a gorgeous area that is definitely worth a visit! There is a 5 mile/8km scenic drive along the Kolob Canyons Road that takes you to the crimson canyons. With creeks, Kolob Arch and giant sandstones, it’s hard not to like this spot! It’s also especially beautiful in the winter when the canyons are covered in snow!

Time recommended: 2h

Horseback riding in Zion National Park

After having had the experience of horseback riding in Monument Valley, I can only recommend horseback riding in National Parks as much as you can! It’s such a unique way to discover a national park and the guides are usually very good. It also allows you to see more than the usual tourist points. In Zion, we recommend this one hour horseback riding tour or this one which is two hours long. We highly recommend booking in advance as they sell out fast!

UTV adventure to explore Zion off the beaten path 

Zion National Park is the perfect place to go on a UTV (a sort go buggie meets ATV vehicle) adventure. If you like good sensations and want to explore Zion National Park off the beaten path, this is a great experience. You can book here. 

End of the day: Head back to Las Vegas

Have more time?

Check out our other Arizona to Utah road trip itineraires:

• 10 days across Arizona and Utah
• 7 days across Arizona and Utah
• 4 days from Nevada to Utah through Arizona