Utah and Arizona National Parks in 3 days!

Living in the States for one year means short trips with short money.

We roadtripped for three days, along three states and with two different time zones. 

This guide is thought to start and end in Las Vegas, where you can rent a car and drive along scenic routes. It's not meant if you're looking for hiking trips or activities in the canyons (unfortunately with so little days we needed to make some compromises). 

With this guide you have a guide to travel to:

- Zion National Park

- Bryce Canyon National Park

- Horseshoe Bend

- Antelope Canyon 

- Oljato - Monument Valley

- Grand Canyon National Park

Zion National Park

@annatravelslocal

We started our trip list, early in the morning we started driving along the Valley of Fire, where you can be fascinated and surprised by the colors of the landscapes and the loneliness of the road. Attention: we lost an hour because of the Time Zone! Back on the I-15 we got to the Zion National Park and we kept driving through the park, while stopping to take pictures and to observe the nature. We drove through Mount Carmel Highway Tunnel and the Kolob Canyons scenic drive. There are a lot of characteristic shops, restaurants and nice spots along the drive.

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Bryce Canyon National Park

@annatravelslocal

Two hours later and we ended up at Bryce National Park, where we parked at each point and started wondering around. Thanks to the paper map they give you at the entrance, you can find the best spots: - Rainbow Point - Sunset Point - Natural Bridge Check out where we slept! We could see the Milky Way above our tents!

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Horseshoe Bend

@annatravelslocal

Attention: you gain one hour while driving here! We decided to travel manage better our time, so we went first to Horseshoe Bend (but if I have to think about it now, I would go after Antelope Canyon). Tips and advices: - entrance is 10 dollars per car (not included in the NP annual pass); - bring water and a hat if you're going during the summer season. It's an hour long walking distance to get to the Instagram famous point. There is no shade (except for two covered benches during the trail) on this flat trail. Face to face the canyon is very nice and particular, but the sun didn't let our pictures very worth it: the shade was covering the water. So I would suggest to go from midday, so the sun is up in the sky and creates magical colors in the water.

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Upper Antelope Canyon

@annatravelslocal

Ten minutes away from Horseshoe Bend, we find Paige. In this town you're going to find most of the tour guides to bring you to the Antelope Canyon. There is the Upper and Lower Canyon. It's not possible to visit them by yourself, you need to buy a tour guide. We went to the Upper Canyon: AMAZING! We parked the car at the shop, checked in and drove to the entrance of the Canyon. First reason why you can't drive yourself: it's all desert sand and bumpy road (we drove on a reinforced pick up). Second reason: it's time limited inside due to the high volumes of the groups. Each group follows their guide, who explains every crevices, colors, textures, figures, lights and take pictures of you and for you. Out from the Canyon there is a 15min distance walk, uphill and with steep steps to go back to the pick ups. It takes almost two hours for the whole tour (travels included).

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Oljato-Monument Valley

@annatravelslocal

Two hours of scenic routes after, we arrived at The Monument Valley. We stopped, of course, at the Forrest Gump point (Run, Forrest, run, duh!), that is 10 min drive away from the entrance of the Park. Then we went to the main entrance, tips and advices: - we paid 8 dollars per person to enter (not included in the NP annual pass); - last entrance is 8pm; - the route around the Monument Valley is very sandy, bumpy, with no pavement and a lot of stones, so be careful with your car! We slept at the hotel inside the Monument Valley at The View Hotel (not on booking), pricey but worth it (140 dollars person/night), breakfast included. All rooms have a Monument Valley view from their balconies. Otherwise another less expensive choice is Goulding's Lodge, outside the Monument Valley.

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Grand Canyon National Park

@annatravelslocal

Three hours, one time zone and a border passed, we arrived at the Grand Canyon. Entrance is included in the National Park annual pass, they give you a map at the entrance, best spots: - Desert View - Mather Point - Yavapai Point - Hopi Point Tips and advices: - you can park at each point, except for certain ones (like Hopi Point) where there is free bus you can take to get there; - the most amazing pictures you see on Instagram are probably taken in spots where to get there, you need to climb and get down dangerous and unsafe paths (have right shoes on and don't look down!).

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Good to know:

- National Park Annual Pass (80 dollar per year): you can buy it with another friend, since it's connected up to two people. You can enter all the National Parks in the US;

- weather: it's hot during the summer, not humid, bring with you a hat, fresh and linen clothes, a refillable bottle (in all the parks you can find stations to refill your battle) and sunscreen. The temperatures drop down during the night;

- time zones: check before you start your day the different time zones where you're planning to arrive. Sometimes you gain an hour, it's always good to have more time to dedicate to wondering around, but sometimes you lose an hour, and if you didn't know it may affect your trip; 

- car: if you rent a car think about getting a 4x4 only if you plan to do a lot of off roads (like in the Monument Valley), our car was an Altima and it was perfect for the trip and it didn't give us any problem;

- we went to sleep very early in the night (10pm) and got up early in the morning (6-7am) to enjoy the day in its entirety, best decision! 

- pack lightly: couple trousers, 3-4 shirts, shower towel (some hotel may not have it), water bottle, sunscreen, hat, hiking shoes if you plan to hike and flipflop to relax after

Curious about the money spent per person in this trip?

Hotel 185 dollars

Fuel 50 dollars

NP Annual Pass 26 dollars

Other entrances 11 dollars

Rented car 160 dollars

Food and souvenirs 150 dollars