Oct 21 — 28, 2026 · A Trip for Six

Berim
Utahhh

Eight days. Three couples. One SUV. From the Strip to the South Rim, through slot canyons and along the Vermilion Cliffs, into Bryce's amphitheater and out through Zion's narrow heart — then back to Vegas for one last night.

7nights
Wed → Wed
812mi
Total drive
3parks
Grand Canyon · Bryce · Zion
6people
3 couples · 1 SUV
01 / Route

The loop

  1. 01 Las Vegas, NV Wed Oct 21 · arrive
  2. 02 Grand Canyon South Rim 277 mi · 4h 30m
  3. 03 Page, AZ · Antelope Canyon 135 mi · 2h 30m
  4. 04 Bryce Canyon, UT 155 mi · 2h 45m
  5. 05 Zion · Springdale, UT 85 mi · 1h 30m
  6. 06 Las Vegas, NV 160 mi · 2h 45m · depart
~ 812 MI · the loop, drawn for real
02 / Itinerary

Eight days

01
Wed · Oct 21
Arrival

Land in Las Vegas

Vancouver (YVR)→Las Vegas (LAS)
✈ ~2h 45m direct 🛄 carry-on only 🚙 pick up SUV at LAS
Afternoon
Land at Harry Reid Intl. Pick up the rental SUV (7-seater minimum — see Notes). Drive to Strip hotel.
Evening
Easy first dinner. Save the late night — tomorrow is a 4.5 hr drive.
Tonight
Las Vegas Strip hotel · Wednesday rates are mid-week friendly
02
Thu · Oct 22
Onto the Rim

Vegas → Grand Canyon South Rim

Las Vegas→Tusayan / Williams, AZ
🚙 277 mi · 4h 30m 🗺 I-15 S · US-93 S · I-40 E · Hwy 64 N 🕐 No time change (AZ = PDT in Oct)
8:00 AM
Depart Vegas. Coffee + breakfast on the road.
11:30 AM
Stop in Williams, AZ — Route 66 town, great lunch stop. Or push through to Tusayan.
2:00 PM
Enter Grand Canyon NP. Use America the Beautiful pass ($80 — covers all 3 parks).
Afternoon
Mather Point for the first jaw-drop. Walk part of the Rim Trail. Stop in at Yavapai Geology Museum for the geology overview.
Sunset
Hopi Point or Mohave Point — take the free shuttle. Sunset around 6:00 PM. Bring layers, it cools fast.
Tonight
3-bedroom cabin in Williams or 3 rooms in Tusayan · see Lodging
03
Fri · Oct 23
Canyon to Page

Grand Canyon → Page, AZ

South Rim→Page
🚙 135 mi · 2h 30m 🗺 via Cameron · Hwy 89 N 🕐 +1 hr entering Page (Navajo DST)
Sunrise · 6:45 AM
Worth the alarm. Mather Point or Yaki Point for sunrise (Yaki = shuttle-only, less crowded).
Morning
Breakfast. Optional short hike — first switchbacks of Bright Angel Trail (turn around at 1.5-mile Resthouse — do NOT try to reach the river).
11:00 AM
Hit the road. Stop at Desert View Watchtower on the way out — last great rim view, plus the Mary Colter tower.
2:30 PM
Cross into Navajo Nation — clocks jump forward 1 hour. Arrive Page late afternoon.
Evening
Dinner in Page. Early night — Saturday is a big day.
Tonight
Vacation home in Page · or Hyatt Place / Courtyard Page
04
Sat · Oct 24
The Big Trio

Antelope · Horseshoe Bend · Bryce

Page→Bryce Canyon, UT
🚙 155 mi · 2h 45m 🗺 Hwy 89 N · Hwy 12 W ⏰ Tightest day — start early
7:00 AM
Horseshoe Bend at sunrise. $10/vehicle. ~1.5 mi round trip walk. Empty at this hour, magical light.
9:00 AM
Antelope Canyon tour (booked in advance!). 60–90 min, Navajo-guided. Upper Antelope = light beams (book midday for best light). Lower Antelope = more sculpted curves, fewer crowds.
Lunch
Page — quick lunch. Big River Grille or Birdhouse Bar & Grill.
1:30 PM
Wahweap Overlook — 15 min stop for Lake Powell views. Skip the marina unless boating.
2:00 PM
Drive Hwy 89 N → Hwy 12 W. Iconic scenic byway. Stop at Big Water Visitor Center if you want.
5:00 PM
Arrive Bryce area. Check in. Sunset at Sunset Point if you've still got fuel — it's a 5 min walk from the rim.
⚠ Book Antelope Canyon NOW Saturday morning slots are the first to sell out. 5 months ahead is borderline late. Use Ken's Tours (Lower) or Antelope Canyon Tours (Upper).
Tonight
Cabin in Tropic or Stone Canyon Inn · the one Saturday night of the trip
05
Sun · Oct 25
Bryce to Zion

Bryce Amphitheater → Zion

Bryce→Springdale
🚙 85 mi · 1h 30m 🗺 Hwy 12 · 89 · Zion-Mt Carmel Hwy 🌡 Bryce is 8,000 ft — pack a real jacket
Sunrise · 7:30 AM
Bryce Point for sunrise — the wide amphitheater view. It will be COLD (30s°F). Hot coffee in a thermos is non-negotiable.
9:00 AM
Hike Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden combo — 3 miles, ~2 hours, descends into the hoodoos. The best short hike in the park.
12:00 PM
Lunch in Tropic or at Ruby's Inn. Pack up.
1:30 PM
Drive Hwy 12 → 89 → enter Zion via the Zion-Mt Carmel Highway. The tunnel + switchbacks are one of the most scenic drives in the US.
3:30 PM
Arrive Springdale. Check into rental for the next 2 nights.
Late afternoon
Easy intro: Pa'rus Trail (2 mi paved, gold cottonwoods along the Virgin River) or drive to Watchman Trailhead for sunset.
Tonight + Tomorrow
2-night Springdale vacation home or Cliffrose / Cable Mountain Lodge
06
Mon · Oct 26
Deep in Zion

Zion · the full day

Springdale↔Zion Canyon shuttle
🚌 Shuttle from Springdale or Visitor Center 👥 Mondays = quiet · best day of the week
Early · 7:30 AM
First shuttle into the canyon. Beat the day-trippers.
Morning
Angels Landing (with permit) — 5.4 mi, strenuous, chains section is iconic. Or skip if not your style.
Alternate: Observation Point via East Mesa — longer drive, no permit needed, looks DOWN on Angels Landing.
Afternoon
The Narrows bottom-up. Wade up the Virgin River as far as you want, turn around when ready.
⚠ Rent dry pants + neoprene socks from Zion Outfitter ($30–45) — water is ~50°F.
Sunset
Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mi, easy) — east of the tunnel. Gold cottonwoods, red walls, fewer people. Best sunset spot in the park.
Evening
Dinner in Springdale — Bit & Spur (Mexican), King's Landing Bistro, or Oscar's Café.
⚠ Angels Landing permit Seasonal lottery for Sept–Nov dates opens July 1–20, 2026 on recreation.gov. Apply on July 1. Day-before lottery is the backup.
07
Tue · Oct 27
Back to the Strip

Zion → Vegas · last night

Springdale→Las Vegas
🚙 160 mi · 2h 45m 🗺 I-15 S 🕐 −1 hr entering Nevada
Morning · optional
Easy short hike or Springdale brunch. Emerald Pools (Lower) is 1.2 mi if you want one more Zion hit.
11:00 AM
Leave Springdale. Stop in St. George for lunch.
2:30 PM
Arrive Vegas. Check in. Pool / nap / spa.
Evening
Final group dinner. Sphere show if running, or a residency, or just casino + lounges. Tuesday is calm — restaurants take walk-ups, no covers, no crowds. Make the most of it.
Tonight
Las Vegas Strip hotel · Tuesday rates are the cheapest of the week
08
Wed · Oct 28
Home

Fly home

Las Vegas (LAS)→Vancouver (YVR)
✈ ~2h 45m direct 🚙 Return SUV at LAS
Morning
Breakfast. Return rental SUV (allow 60 min buffer). Fly home.
03 / Lodging

Where to sleep

Night 1 · Las Vegas

Wed Oct 21 · arrival
  • TOPThe Cosmopolitan — 3 Terrace Studios $200–280/rm
  • ARIA — central, easy access $180–260/rm
  • Park MGM / NoMad — value pick $140–200/rm
  • Wynn / Encore — splurge $280–400/rm

Night 2 · Grand Canyon area

Thu Oct 22
  • TOPVRBO 3BR cabin in Williams, AZ — best for 6 $300–500 total
  • Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn (Tusayan) — closest to entrance $220–300/rm
  • Bright Angel Lodge cabins (in-park) — book grandcanyonlodges.com NOW $180–250
  • Grand Canyon Railway Hotel (Williams) — old-school fun $190–240/rm

Night 3 · Page, AZ

Fri Oct 23
  • TOPVRBO 3BR home in Page — many with Lake Powell views $300–450 total
  • Hyatt Place Page / Lake Powell — reliable, well-rated $170–230/rm
  • Courtyard by Marriott Page $160–220/rm
  • Lake Powell Resort at Wahweap — on the water, splurge $240–320/rm

Night 4 · Bryce Canyon

Sat Oct 24 · weekend night
  • TOPStone Canyon Inn cabins (Tropic) — 2 & 3BR, hot tubs $400–600/cabin
  • Bryce Canyon Lodge cabins — brycecanyonforever.com, books out $240–320
  • Under Canvas Bryce — luxury glamping $350–500/tent
  • Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand — reliable fallback $200–280/rm

Nights 5–6 · Zion · Springdale

Sun Oct 25 + Mon Oct 26 · 2 nights
  • TOPVRBO 3BR home in Springdale — hot tub, red rock views $500–800/night total
  • Cliffrose Springdale (Curio) — luxury hotel by park entrance $280–380/rm
  • Cable Mountain Lodge — Virgin River balconies $260–340/rm
  • Zion Mountain Ranch (East Zion) — log cabins, full kitchens $320–480/cabin

Night 7 · Las Vegas

Tue Oct 27 · party night
  • TOPResorts World — Zouk programming + great rooms $160–240/rm
  • Fontainebleau — newest on the Strip $200–300/rm
  • Wynn / Encore — XS nightclub if open $240–340/rm
  • The Cosmopolitan — repeat if you liked night 1 $180–260/rm
04 / Booking

Lock these in

01
Antelope Canyon tour
Sat Oct 24 morning. Ken's Tours (Lower) or Antelope Canyon Tours (Upper). Saturday slots sell out 3+ months ahead.
This week
02
Flights · YVR ↔ LAS
Oct 21 → 28, 2 adults each couple. WestJet or Air Canada (carry-on included).
This week
03
Bryce Sat night cabin
Stone Canyon Inn books out first. Lock the Sat Oct 24 night before anything else in Utah.
This week
04
Springdale 2-night rental
3BR with hot tub for Oct 25–26. VRBO or Airbnb. The best ones go 4+ months out.
2 weeks
05
Grand Canyon area lodging
Hardest to source. In-park (grandcanyonlodges.com) first, Tusayan or Williams cabin second.
2 weeks
06
Page rental
VRBO 3BR for Oct 23. Friday night is moderate demand; not urgent but plenty of choice if early.
3 weeks
07
SUV rental at LAS
7-seater (Suburban, Tahoe, Expedition) for 6 people + carry-ons. Costco Travel or AutoSlash for best rates.
3 weeks
08
Vegas hotels (Night 1 + Night 7)
Most flexible — book direct on hotel sites. Mid-week rates stay reasonable close-in.
1 month
09
Angels Landing permit lottery
Apply for Sun Oct 25 or Mon Oct 26 on recreation.gov. Sun/Mon = best win odds of any October dates.
Jul 1–20, 2026
05 / Notes

Practical matters

Time zones

Las Vegas is PDT. Arizona does NOT observe DST, so practically it's the same as Vegas in October.

BUT the Navajo Nation (which includes Page) DOES observe DST — Page runs 1 hour ahead of Vegas.

Utah (Bryce, Zion) is MDT — 1 hour ahead of Vegas.

Set Antelope Canyon tour times to Page local time.

The park pass

America the Beautiful Pass — $80, buy at first park entrance. Covers Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, and any US national park for 12 months. Versus paying $35 × 3 = $105, it's cheaper and you get a year of NPS access.

Weather snapshot

Vegas: 75–82°F day, 58°F night

Grand Canyon (S Rim): 65°F / 35°F · 7,000 ft

Page / Lake Powell: 72°F / 50°F

Bryce: 60°F / 30°F · 8,000 ft · COLD mornings

Zion: 70°F / 45°F · fall colors at peak

Packing essentials

Layers — 40°F swings between dawn and afternoon

Hiking shoes with grip for slickrock

Headlamp for sunrise hikes

Refillable water bottles — most parks have fill stations

Sunscreen + sunglasses — high elevation UV is intense

Power bank for the long photo days

The vehicle

Six adults + carry-ons need a full-size 7-seater SUV (Chevy Suburban, Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia). A midsize SUV will not work.

Alternative: 2 standard SUVs. More comfortable, but doubles parking hassle at trailheads.

Fill up in Page before driving north — gas is cheaper than in the parks.

Cash & cards

Antelope Canyon tours often want cash tips for Navajo guides ($10–20/person).

Horseshoe Bend parking is $10 cash or card.

Carry $100–200 cash per couple for incidentals.