Itinerary · for one

US Southwest · red rock and slot canyons

A clockwise Grand Circle rental-car loop · eleven nights, solo, October cool dry season. Vegas LAS arrival + rental car for the whole trip. One night at Vegas as launchpad — Strip walk after dark, In-N-Out or shake at a counter. Drive east to South Rim of Grand Canyon for two nights — Mather Point at sunrise + sunset, Bright Angel + South Kaibab trails (descend ~2 hr, climb back ~4 hr — don”t go further), IMAX visitor centre. Drive northeast via Cameron + Hwy 89 to Page for two nights — Upper Antelope Canyon timed Navajo guided tour for the light shafts, Horseshoe Bend overlook at dawn, Lake Powell houseboat lunch. Drive north to Bryce Canyon for two nights — Sunrise Point at first light, Navajo Loop + Queen”s Garden combination walk through the hoodoos, Inspiration Point at sunset, Mossy Cave. Drive west to Zion for two nights — Narrows wade (rented dry-suit in shoulder season), Angels Landing chains (permit lottery required), Emerald Pools, the shuttle into the canyon. Drive east via St. George to Moab for one night at Arches NP — Delicate Arch sunset hike (4.8 km return, light-up at golden hour), Windows Section drive. Drive south to Sedona for one final night — Cathedral Rock sunset, Tlaquepaque village shopping, Slide Rock State Park, the final pinkening of the red-rock at dusk. Drive Phoenix Sky Harbor for the long-haul home.

1 traveler 7 bases 11 nights 15 min read
v1 · May 14, 2026
Oct 8 · Day 1 · the first one

Wheels down at McCarran. Then the long red road.

Out of Hong Kong on a Thursday, Las Vegas by Thursday afternoon — Cathay direct to LAX over the polar route, connecting north to McCarran, the Strip''s neon visible from descent. October shoulder ahead, the desert highs dropping to 27 °C and the nights crisp. Eleven nights on a clockwise rental- car loop through three states — one at Vegas as launchpad, two at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for the 1.6 km plunge, two at Page for Antelope Canyon''s slot light and Horseshoe Bend, two at Bryce for the hoodoo amphitheatre, two at Zion for the Narrows wade and Angels Landing chains, one at Moab for Arches + Delicate Arch at sunset, and one at Sedona for the red-rock end. The Grand Circle is the canonical Southwest road trip · 2,500 km of two-lane through five national parks · this is the version you imagine when you read Edward Abbey.

Oct 8 → Oct 19 · 11 nights · 7 bases · 1350 km between bases
Chapter 01 · Oct 8 Day 1

Las Vegas · launchpad

One launchpad night. Strip walk after dark, In-N-Out double-double for dinner, sleep early — tomorrow is 4.5 hr to the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Land Harry Reid International (LAS) · ride-share or hotel shuttle to the Strip · pick up rental on departure day
Avoid Booking a "Strip view" room you won't use — you're out by 7 a.m. tomorrow
Things to do
  • Strip walk after dark · Bellagio fountains, Caesar's Forum, the Cosmopolitan view bar, the Linq Promenade
  • In-N-Out · double-double animal-style, fries well-done, the chocolate shake
  • Vegas downtown Fremont Street · the older casinos, the SlotZilla zip-line, the original neon
  • Atomic Liquors · the oldest free-standing bar in Vegas (1952), shows in their tin-ceiling main room
  • Sleep early · the drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim starts at 7 a.m.
Pick a Strip mid-tier or a downtown boutique · skip the airport hotels
Bookings
hotel Vegas Strip mid-tier · 1 launchpad night pending
flight HKG → LAS via HKG-LAX (Cathay) + onward · or Cathay 879 over the pole pending
rental SUV rental for the 11-day Grand Circle loop pending
Chapter 02 · Oct 9–10 Days 2–3

Grand Canyon · the South Rim

Two nights on the South Rim. Mather Point at sunrise, descend Bright Angel two hours into the canyon, climb back, eat at El Tovar before the sunset returns.
2 nights
Get there Drive Vegas → South Rim ~4.5 hr via Williams · Tusayan gateway town has gas + groceries
Trails Descending takes half as long as climbing back · for a day-hike turn around 1 hr before you're tired
Things to do
  • Mather Point at sunrise · the most accessible South Rim viewpoint · the canyon glows red-orange-yellow over 15 min
  • Bright Angel Trail descent · 2 hr down to 1.5 Mile Resthouse, climb back ~3 hr · do not descend further on a day hike
  • South Kaibab Trail descent · alternative, more dramatic, less shade · descend to Ooh Aah Point (2 km return) for the easier version
  • Yavapai Geology Museum + Rim Trail walk · 2 km flat between Yavapai and Mather, audio info posts along the way
  • IMAX Theater Tusayan (outside park) · the Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time film, half-hour, good context
  • El Tovar Dining Room · the 1905 Mary Colter-style lodge with the canyon-rim dining · reservations essential 60 days ahead
Stay in the park (El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge) or Tusayan 10 min outside · skip Williams unless on a budget
Bookings
rental Same SUV · drive Vegas → South Rim pending
hotel El Tovar or Bright Angel Lodge in-park · 2 nights pending
Chapter 03 · Oct 11–12 Days 4–5

Page · Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend

Two nights at the Arizona-Utah border lake town. Upper Antelope's light shafts at midday, Horseshoe Bend at dawn, an afternoon on Lake Powell.
2 nights
Get there Drive South Rim → Page ~2.5 hr via Hwy 89 + Cameron
Antelope Canyon Navajo-guided only · book 4 weeks ahead · midday slot for light shafts (Mar–Oct)
Things to do
  • Upper Antelope Canyon · slot canyon · 90 min Navajo-guided tour through chambered light shafts at midday (best Mar–Oct)
  • Horseshoe Bend at dawn · the 270° meander of the Colorado River 300 m below · the most-photographed bend in the country
  • Lower Antelope Canyon · narrower, longer, more strenuous · ladder section · book a different tour operator from Upper
  • Lake Powell · paddleboat or houseboat lunch · Wahweap Marina · the second-largest reservoir in the US
  • Glen Canyon Dam Overlook + Vista Point · the dam that holds back Lake Powell · the engineering story
  • Navajo frybread tacos at a Page corner stand · the Diné staple · beans, lettuce, cheese on top
Pick a Lake Powell-view hotel · or Best Western Plus by the river · or Marriott in town
Bookings
rental Same SUV · drive South Rim → Page pending
hotel Page hotel · 2 nights pending
activity Upper Antelope Canyon Navajo guided tour · midday slot pending
Chapter 04 · Oct 13–14 Days 6–7

Bryce Canyon · the hoodoo amphitheatre

Two nights at the smaller, higher park (2,500–2,800 m). Sunrise at the rim turns the hoodoo amphitheatre to fire. The Navajo Loop drops you into the columns themselves.
2 nights
Get there Drive Page → Bryce ~2.5 hr via Hwy 12 (one of the most scenic state roads in the US)
Altitude Bryce rim is 2,500 m · cool nights even in October · pack a fleece
Things to do
  • Sunrise Point at dawn · the canonical Bryce shot · the hoodoos lighting orange-to-red along the wall
  • Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden combination · 5 km loop · descend through Wall Street between the hoodoos and return
  • Inspiration Point at sunset · the wider angle on the amphitheatre · golden hour
  • Mossy Cave · short walk on the north end · waterfall + tiny cave + the only Bryce trail without elevation gain
  • Rim Trail walk · 2 km between Bryce Point and Inspiration Point · flat, lots of viewpoints
  • Stargazing at General Store dark-sky walk · Bryce is one of the darkest skies in the US, hosts the annual Astronomy Festival in June
Stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge in-park · or at Best Western Plus or Ruby's Inn just outside the park entrance
Bookings
rental Same SUV · drive Page → Bryce via Hwy 12 pending
hotel Bryce Canyon Lodge or Ruby's Inn · 2 nights pending
Chapter 05 · Oct 15–16 Days 8–9

Zion · the Narrows and Angels Landing

Two nights for Utah's most-visited park. Wade up the Narrows river in dry-suit bibs, hike the chained spine of Angels Landing if you have the permit and the head for it.
2 nights
Get there Drive Bryce → Springdale ~1.5 hr · the gateway town has all the outfitters
Angels Landing Permit required since 2022 · recreation.gov lottery 2 months ahead · without it, hike Scout Lookout (the safer 80%)
Things to do
  • The Narrows wade · rent dry-suit bib + neoprene socks at Zion Outfitter · walk upstream from the Riverside Walk into the slot canyon
  • Angels Landing chains · 4 km return up the spine of a fin · chained section above the final drop (permit-only)
  • Scout Lookout · alternative to Angels Landing summit · same trail without the chain section, no permit needed
  • Emerald Pools · 3 km lower-middle-upper loop · waterfall pools cascade down from the canyon wall
  • Canyon shuttle · personal vehicles banned in Zion Canyon · the shuttle runs every 10 min from Visitor Center
  • Kanab steakhouse dinner · or back to Springdale for the King Bee Diner short-rib chili
Springdale just outside the park · or Cable Mountain Lodge attached to the canyon shuttle stop
Bookings
rental Same SUV · drive Bryce → Springdale pending
hotel Springdale hotel · 2 nights pending
activity Angels Landing permit (recreation.gov lottery · 2 mo ahead) pending
rental Zion Outfitter dry-suit + neoprene sock rental for Narrows pending
Chapter 06 · Oct 17 Day 10

Moab · Arches at sunset

One night at the Mormon-pioneer red-rock town. Delicate Arch hike timed for sunset light-up, Windows Section by morning, the Moab Brewery for green-chile burger after.
1 night
Get there Drive Zion → Moab ~4 hr via I-70 east + Hwy 191 south
Reservations Arches NP requires timed entry Apr 1 – Oct 31 · book on recreation.gov 1 day to 3 months ahead
Things to do
  • Delicate Arch sunset hike · 4.8 km return · arrive 90 min before sunset · the iconic Utah license-plate arch lit gold-then-red
  • Windows Section · short walks to North Window, South Window, Turret Arch · the densest cluster of arches in the park
  • Double Arch · the largest opening in the park · 0.8 km return walk · climb up underneath for the cathedral feel
  • Park Avenue trail · 3 km one-way through the canyon of Courthouse Towers · best done shuttle-back via Hwy 191
  • Moab Brewery dinner · house-brewed dead-horse ale, green-chile cheeseburger, sweet-potato fries
  • Stargazing at Panorama Point · Arches is an International Dark Sky Park · the sky overhead is the show
Stay in Moab town for restaurants and gas · or the Red Cliffs Lodge along the Colorado River 25 min outside
Bookings
rental Same SUV · drive Zion → Moab pending
hotel Moab town hotel · 1 night pending
activity Arches NP timed entry reservation (recreation.gov) pending
Chapter 07 · Oct 18 Day 11

Sedona · Cathedral Rock

One last night at the red-rock end. Drive south through Monument Valley (or shortcut via Flagstaff), end the trip at Cathedral Rock at sunset, fly out of Phoenix tomorrow.
1 night
Get there Drive Moab → Sedona ~6 hr via Hwy 191 + I-40 + Flagstaff
Drive out Sedona → Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) ~2 hr via Hwy 89A + I-17
Things to do
  • Cathedral Rock at sunset · 2.5 km return scramble up · the red sandstone spires lighting red against the cobalt sky
  • Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village · Mexican-colonial-style arts village under Sedona shade trees · final shopping
  • Slide Rock State Park · the natural sandstone water-slide in Oak Creek Canyon · short stop on the way north or south
  • Chapel of the Holy Cross · the 1956 chapel set into a red-rock spur · short visit + outside view
  • Last meal at Mariposa or Elote Cafe · the Southwest-Mexican fusion · margaritas, green-chile, masa flat-corn cakes
  • Drive Sedona → Phoenix Sky Harbor for the flight home · 2 hr south, plenty of margin
Stay in Sedona West (Uptown area) or near Tlaquepaque · skip Cottonwood unless on a budget
Bookings
rental Same SUV · drive Moab → Sedona · return PHX pending
hotel Sedona hotel · 1 last night pending
flight PHX → HKG (Cathay direct or via LAX) pending
Oct 19 · Day 12 · the last one

Last Cathedral Rock at sunset in Sedona. Then the flight home.

Final evening at Cathedral Rock in Sedona — the red sandstone spires lighting up at golden hour against the cobalt sky, the Verde Valley stretching east. Last burrito at a Tlaquepaque counter, drive Phoenix Sky Harbor at dawn, Cathay back over the pole via LAX. Hong Kong by sunset on the day after. Eleven nights — two at the Grand Canyon''s South Rim with the 1.6 km of plunge below, two at Antelope Canyon under the chambered light, two at Bryce''s hoodoos at sunrise, two through Zion''s Narrows in the river itself, one at Delicate Arch with the desert at dusk, one in Sedona at the red-rock end. The frybread and the green-chile and the long Mormon-pioneer two-lane already half-remembered.

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