north america · 5 days · 9 stops

Grand Circle — Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon & Arches

The Utah–Arizona loop from Las Vegas: Zion, Bryce Amphitheater, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley, Four Corners and the Grand Canyon's South Rim.

Days
5
Stops
9
Driving
587 km
Behind the wheel
7h 48m

Driving figures are measured road distances between the stops listed for each day, not straight lines. The transfer from wherever you sleep to the first stop of the day is not included.

Daylight on this route, by season

The single number that decides whether a self-drive day works. Almost every guide tells you to "check the daylight hours"; here they are for this route, on the solstices and equinoxes.

Day Driving 21 Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar
Las Vegas → Zion 2h 32m 14h 43m 12h 12m 9h 36m 12h 11m
Checkerboard Mesa → Bryce Amphitheater 2h 36m 14h 46m 12h 12m 9h 34m 12h 11m
Antelope Canyon → Horseshoe Bend 0h 20m 14h 42m 12h 12m 9h 38m 12h 10m
Monument Valley → Four Corners 2h 20m 14h 42m 12h 12m 9h 37m 12h 10m
Grand Canyon South Rim 0h 14h 37m 12h 11m 9h 42m 12h 10m

Measured at the midpoint of each day's stops. "Midnight sun" means the sun does not set; "polar night" means it does not rise.

Day by day

Day 1: Las Vegas → Zion

2 stops · 271 km · 2h 32m driving · 4h at stops

In winter: About 2h 32m of driving inside 9h 36m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    The Strip, Las Vegas

    Pick up the car and stock up before leaving the city

    Allow about 1h

  2. 2

    Zion National Park

    Trailhead for Angels Landing

    Allow about 3h

Legs and times
  • The Strip, Las Vegas → Zion National Park: 271 km, 2h 32m

Day 2: Checkerboard Mesa → Bryce Amphitheater

2 stops · 147 km · 2h 36m driving · 3h 30m at stops

In winter: About 2h 36m of driving inside 9h 34m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Checkerboard Mesa

    Cross-hatched sandstone patterns

    Allow about 0h 30m

  2. 2

    Bryce Amphitheater

    Sunrise viewpoint over the amphitheatre

    Allow about 3h

Legs and times
  • Checkerboard Mesa → Bryce Amphitheater: 147 km, 2h 36m

Day 3: Antelope Canyon → Horseshoe Bend

2 stops · 9 km · 0h 20m driving · 2h 30m at stops

In winter: About 0h 20m of driving inside 9h 38m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Antelope Canyon

    Upper Antelope Canyon is guided-only — book ahead

    Allow about 1h 30m

  2. 2

    Horseshoe Bend

    The Colorado River's horseshoe bend

    Allow about 1h

Legs and times
  • Antelope Canyon → Horseshoe Bend: 9 km, 0h 20m

Day 4: Monument Valley → Four Corners

2 stops · 161 km · 2h 20m driving · 3h 30m at stops

In winter: About 2h 20m of driving inside 9h 37m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Monument Valley

    Navajo land — drive the scenic loop

    Allow about 3h

  2. 2

    Four Corners

    Stand in four states at once

    Allow about 0h 30m

Legs and times
  • Monument Valley → Four Corners: 161 km, 2h 20m

Day 5: Grand Canyon South Rim

1 stops · 0 km · 0h driving · 4h at stops

In winter: About 0h of driving inside 9h 42m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Grand Canyon South Rim

    Sunset from Mather Point

    Allow about 4h

When to drive it

21 Jun

14h 42m

of daylight

21 Sep

12h 12m

of daylight

21 Dec

9h 38m

of daylight

21 Mar

12h 10m

of daylight

Longest days are around 21 June, shortest around 21 December. On this route the swing is large enough that the same day's driving can be comfortable in June and entirely after dark in December — which is why the table above is per day.

Plan this route with the daylight in view

Tseril builds the multi-day route on a map, warns you about the legs you would drive at night, and shows the snow and weather at every stop. Free to use.

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