The Grand Tour Package - Sample Trip Itinerary
Sample Itinerary
Utah's National Parks
A Multigenerational Journey
Nine days, five parks, three generations — a real example of the custom plans we build.
Three generations
9 days from Vegas
Spring or fall
Five national parks
Right vehicle, right pace
A roomy SUV (or an RV for the adventurous) makes this trip easy — and building an easy option and an ambitious one into each day keeps every generation happy.
Beat the heat & the crowds
Start hikes early, carry far more water than you think, and travel spring or fall — midday desert heat in summer is no joke.
Plus the timed-entry reservations and Angels Landing / Narrows permits secured in advance, altitude notes for Bryce's 8,000 feet, and the day-by-day pacing that keeps grandparents and grandkids equally happy.
Value inns and campgrounds, park passes, picnics, self-driven in your own SUV.
$0,000–0,000Park lodges and comfortable hotels, a guided river day, a mix of dining.
$0,000–0,000Luxury lodges and glamping, private guides, and fine dining.
$00,000–00,000A multi-park road trip means a few home bases. For groups, we prioritize connecting rooms or suites — and at least one stay with a pool. One favorite: the historic in-park lodges like Zion Lodge and Bryce Canyon Lodge, which put you inside the scenery for sunrise and sunset.
Plus value stays right at the park gates, safari-style glamping under the stars, and the once-in-a-lifetime desert resorts — each matched to your group and booked early before they fill (in-park lodges go a year ahead).
Zion National Park
Towering red cliffs and a river canyon — the dramatic opening act.
Into the canyonRide the park shuttle in. Easy: the paved Pa'rus Trail and Riverside Walk — flat, shaded, and grandparent- and stroller-friendly. Ambitious: wade The Narrows or climb Angels Landing (permit required).
Zion's shuttle and paved trails make the canyon floor accessible to nearly everyone, while the high routes thrill the teens — the whole group shares the same canyon, at their own pace.
Plus the arrival day timed to sunset over the cliffs, the easy-wonders day at Emerald Pools and Canyon Overlook, the golden-hour Zion–Mt. Carmel drive most visitors skip, and where to eat each night.
Bryce Canyon
An amphitheater of glowing stone spires — like nowhere else on Earth.
The rim walk from Sunrise to Sunset Point with almost no effort, the Queen's Garden + Navajo Loop down among the hoodoos, dark-sky stargazing at 8,000 feet, and a geology tie-in on how ice — not just water — carves solid rock.
Day 5 · Scenic Byway 12 & Capitol Reef
Days 6–7 · Arches & Canyonlands
Days 8–9 · River day & farewell
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Stone chimneys and quiet trails near Bryce — an uncrowded detour the tour buses never reach.
Goblin Valley State Park
A playground of mushroom-shaped rocks kids are actually allowed to scramble among. Pure joy, almost no crowds.
Plus the shady sandbox hidden inside Sand Dune Arch, the Grand-Canyon-like overlook at Dead Horse Point, a fresh fruit pie from the historic Gifford House, and more locals-only stops.
This is where your family's story begins
You've seen the shape of it — every park, every stay, every hidden gem, made from scratch around your group, your dates, and your budget. Tell us about your trip, and Roots & Routes Travel will take it from there.
Plan my family's trip →A day-by-day plan built just for you · lodging, permits, activities, food, and hidden gems