Dreaming of an adventurous road trip? I’ve been planning overland expeditions for years and I love to share my ideal plan for a trip. Where shall we go next?
Can You Drive Around The Grand Canyon?
It is possible to drive around the Grand Canyon. On the South Rim you can follow the cliffs edge along the Desert View Drive. The rest of the trip you are further removed from the Canyon where it is not visible from the car. A roundtrip takes roughly 2 weeks and covers 1000 miles.
Now that you know it is possible, let me share my suggestion for the perfect itinerary. I’ve created two routes for you. The first is set up as a traditional road trip that you can do in any car or with any motorcycle. The second, is an overland trip that requires an offroad capable vehicle such as a 4x4 or a all terrain motorcycle. Choose whichever suits your style best.
Disclaimer: adventurism.tv is not responsible for any damage, injury or accident related to following any of the suggested routes. Take enough food and water into the backcountry. Bring an emergency communication device and shelter (when camping is not your goal). Think ahead and think for yourself. You follow this route at your own responsibility.
Around the Grand Canyon Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Flagstaff
Day 2 - Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 3 - Horse Shoe Bend Sunset
Day 4 - Antelope Canyon
Day 5 - Grand Canyon North Rim
Day 6 - Grand Canyon North Rim
Day 7 - Drive to Zion National Park
Day 8 - Zion National Park
Day 9 - Zion National Park
Day 10 - Valley of Fire State Park
Day 11 - Las Vegas or Boulder Beach
Day 12 - Skywalk
Day 13 - Route 66 back to Flagstaff
South Rim of the Grand Canyon
The start of this roundtrip is in Flagstaff, although you can jump on the trail at each spot. After your first night leave early and head for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to take a look at the Colorado River from above.
Follow the 180 and the 64 north to get to the entrance gate for the South Rim right after Tusayan and 5 miles before Grand Canyon Village. A vehicle permit costs $35 per car and a motorcycle permit costs $30. This covers the costs for the driver and the vehicles passengers. There are six days in the year where entry to the park is for free, like on the National Park Service Birthday August 25th. For up to date prices and dates check out the National Park Service website.
Buy an America the Beautiful - Annual Pass when you are planning to visit the North Rim (open only in summer) and Zion National Park on this trip. The pass is valid for all National Parks in the USA and covers it’s standard entrance fee. It only costs $85 so it is cheaper to get it for this road trip and you’ll still be able to enjoy it for the rest of the year. It is only available for US Citizens and there is a discount for seniors and military personnel.
There are so many cool viewpoints to choose from, that it is hard to be disappointed by the view. The crowds might be a different issue so always come as early as possible, especially during the summer heat. Our favourites are
Yavapai Point, which is easy to reach from Grand Canyon Village, offers an unobstructed view of the canyon when you are eager to get there. Next, leave your car at the parking and trek along the Hermit Trail to get to Hopi Point. This 4.2 mile walk is easy and accessible to all.
Head to Desert View and claim a spot at the campsite. They are know the fill up early and reservation is not possible. After pitching your tent you can find a nice spot to watch the sunset.
Leave early and drive a bit back to watch the sunrise at Ooh aah point, a short hike down along the South Kaibab Trail in about 20 minutes (one way).
Spend however many days at the South Rim as you want.
“UPDATE: Due to COVID the East Entrance to the Grand Canyon is closed. So after heading to Desert Point you will have to turn around and retrace so of your steps to head to the next destination.”
Antelope Canyon at Page
Our next stop is Page, a 2 hour drive from the East Gate of the Grand Canyon. The town itself doesn’t have a lot to offer, it is mostly a hub for tours to the North Rim, Antelope Canyon and a starting point for boat trips on Lake Powell. As well as the Horseshoe bend is only 9 miles south of Page. A perfect activity for arrival day and sunset.
“UPDATE: Due to COVID19 there are no tours running at the Antelope Canyon. Check their website for up to date information.”
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon with beautiful colours and shapes just east of Page. There is the Upper and the Lower Canyon and both can only be visited by booking a tour which are incredibly popular so make sure to pre-book a spot. The tickets for Upper Canyon are more expensive than Lower Canyon because it has the typical light beams that you see on pictures of this place. You pay an extra fee during mid day when those light beams are appearing.
The Canyons are both pretty amazing but be prepared to be rushed through the Canyon as it has become such a popular destination. Also, getting a photo without any people on it is going to be impossible. So leave the camera in you bag and enjoy the scenery taking it all in is going to be the best way to enjoy this incredible art piece of nature.
Finish the day with a boat trip at Lake Powell or travel on to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
You can extend your stay by booking a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon which start not far from Page.
North Rim Panorama
North Rim of the Grand Canyon
The drive from Page to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a pretty good one. You’ll have to backtrack a bit until you take the exit towards Marble Canyon and cross the Colorado River. The canyon is the starting point for most rafting trips. However they are quite expensive and most are multi day adventures.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is not as busy as the South rim although you will probably not be alone on any of the popular spots. With your America the Beautiful Annual Pass the entry is for free. Accommodation on this side of the canyon is limited so I highly suggest bringing a tent for camping. There is a campsite at just before the North Rim visitors centre but it is also allowed to pitch at some of the other spots.
There are so many viewpoint on this side of the Grand Canyon that is is going to be hard to pick where to go. The type of vehicle you drive, limits your options, but even with a normal sedan there are still plenty of things to see and do.
Top 3 Favourite viewpoints
- Bright Angel Point
- Cape Royal
- Saddle Mountain
Top 3 Favourite day hikes
- Transept Trail
- Cape Final
- North Kaibab to Roaring Springs
Zion National Park
Next stop on the route is Zion National Park, a slight detour from sticking as close to the Grand Canyon as possible, but absolutely worth it. Another classic on the list of US National Parks and with your America the Beautiful Annual Pass the entrance fee is already covered.
To get there you can choose to take the scenic route and drive through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel with spectacular views when you come out at the other end.
Accommodation is scares in Springdale, the town just outside of the park, and therefor expensive. I would suggest finding a campground or stay a little further away, for example before the tunnel there are rustic cabins for rent for a very decent price. https://hiroadbasecamp.com/ Camping in or around the park is also an affordable option.
Zion National Park is in the top 5 of most popular parks in the USA and for a good reason. The main canyon is absolutely gorgeous and there are a a plethora of hikes and activities despite the relative small size of the park. It can get busy but that doesn’t necessarily ruin the views.
Top 3 Favourite day hikes
- The Narrows
- Angels landing
- Upper Emerald Pool Trail
Ancient Rock Paintings in Valley of Fire State Park
From Springdale to the campsite in the Valley of Fire State Park is 135 miles and takes about 2,5 hours. In this park you can visit the old rock paintings made by humans thousands of years ago. The campsite is the perfect location to explore the area. It doesn’t have a lot of facilities besides the basics so make sure to do your grocery shopping before you leave Moapa Valley. Especially get enough water because as the name suggests, it can get really hot during the day.
The best time for hiking is the early morning, you are more likely to see wildlife and are ahead of the day visitors coming from Las Vegas.
Top 3 Favourite hikes
- Mouse’s Tank Hike
- White Domes Hike
- Fire Wave Hike
When you don’t feel like hiking to see some really cool rock drawings you can drive to the Atlatl Rock where you just have to climb the metal stairs to reach the petroglyphs.
Boulder Beach and the Hoover Dam
After spending all these days in the desert it’s time for some relaxing at the beach. Boulder beach is the perfect location with multiple beaches where you can swim in Lake Mead. Only 1,5 drive from our previous camping spot, we head south and west for the last time. Besides chilling at the beach it’s also a good place to go wakeboarding or tubing or a trip to the Hoover Dam. For those who are ready to part with some of their savings can also head to Las Vegas for some luxury in a nice hotel and spending some time and money on the strip. Whatever rocks your boat.
West Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Skywalk
Last stop on the round trip is the Glass Walkway that hangs above the Grand Canyon. It is a popular day trip from Las Vegas and a really cool experience to do one of the last days of the trip. Important to know is that it is not a national park therefor you will have to pay an entrance fee. To walk the skywalk you’ll have to pay at least $59 per person entrance + entrance to the skywalk because that is not included in the general entry price. The land is owned by the Hualapai Indian Tribe and before opening this part of the canyon
It is a different experience from the other sections of the Grand Canyon that we’ve already visited on this trip. Some don’t like it as much as the North and South rim, others love this section just as much. It is up to you to decide how you feel.
There is a small tour of native shelters on the property and for an additional fee you can fly over the reserve on the newly installed zipline. It is a great way to support the locals and have a fun day at the same time.
Longest Section of the Historic Route 66
On our way back to flagstaff you drive the longest remaining section of the original route 66. Starting at Kingman passing through Peach Springs, named after the trees that used to line the springs in the area, all the way back to Flagstaff.
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Around the Grand Canyon Overland Trip Itinerary
The general stops and route for both trips are the same. For the overland itinerary we assume you have an offroad capable vehicle, love camping, have all the proper safety equipment and love to spend time in the remote outdoors. Even though the general route around the Canyon is the same, there are a number of detours and offroad only destinations in the overland itinerary that should be on your bucket list. Here is a general overview of the stops:
- South Rim of the Grand Canyon
- North Rim of the Grand Canyon
- Bottom of the Grand Canyon
- Zion and around Zion
- Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
- Historic Route 66 section
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