Day 2: Under Canvas, Grand Canyon
206 miles (3 hours)
Due to a medical emergency we started our first drive a few hours later than expected. The plan was to drive to the Grand Canyon and do a small hike but unfortunately we weren’t able to do the hike anymore so we decided to go to Under Canvas, our stay for the night, and enjoy the amenities over there. Under Canvas is a glamping resort and is only a 25-minute drive away from the highlights of the Grand Canyon. The campsite is beautifully decorated and is a great place to unplug since there is no wifi available. Cooking s’mores on the campfire with other residents underneath a sky full of stars made it absolutely worth every second. (Read more about Under Canvas, Grand Canyon)
Day 3: Grand Canyon + Horseshoe Bend
166 miles (3 hours)
The Grand Canyon was a no brainer for us when we were adding stops for our drive. It was quite impressive to see it in person but we would suggest going early if you want to avoid the big crowds. There are a lot of beautiful viewpoints where you barely need to hike but if you have some time to spare it could be fun to plan a hike into the Canyon such as Bright Angel Trail and spend the night at one of the campsites along Pipe Creek. We opted to spend about an hour at the Grand Canyon and then enjoy the scenic drive towards Page in order to catch the sunset at Horseshoe Bend.
Horseshoe Bend is a well-known place to snap those Instagram worthy shots if you are up for a 20-minute trek. The sunset is directly behind the bend, so it can be tricky to capture good photo’s at this time of day. This being said, watching the sun disappear behind the horizon was quite magical. If you want to ensure there are no shadows in the canyon, visit mid afternoon. This night we grabbed a simple hotel in Page but would also recommend looking into booking a campsite for the night on Lake Powell.
Day 4: Antelope Canyon + Monument Valley tipi
125 miles (2 hours)
On today’s agenda, we had one of our travel bucket-list items: Antelope Canyon. It is a slot canyon that was naturally created by the erosion of the sandstone largely due to flash flooding and the result is absolutely breathtaking. Be aware you must book a tour in order to access the canyons and as it is a very popular tourist destination, so we recommend doing this well in advance. There are a few options but we opted for reserving the ‘Ken’s Tour’ of the Lower Antelope Canyon. Admittedly we were a bit disappointed by how packed the “General Tour” was and we felt quite rushed through it. There are other companies that offer Photography Tours which are much more expensive but if you plan on only visiting this once in your life we believe the smaller group would be worth the extra money.
Since the Antelope Canyon is right on the border of Utah we said “good-bye” to Arizona and “hello” to Utah with a commemorative photo at the state-line crossing. Fun fact: you are officially entering into Navajo country where the sale of alcohol is not permitted so if you wish to have some during your stay be sure to stock up before entering Utah. This night we lucked out and booked a last minute in an authentic tipi through Airbnb in Monument Valley. We can’t stress enough how breathtaking the view of Monument Valley is from the tipi! We spent the night under the most insane sky of stars and woke up early to catch the sunrise coming up behind the monuments. This is such an beautiful experience and is something we will never forget.
Day 5: Monument Valley + Moab
159 miles (3 hours 15 min)
Our morning was spent relaxing at our tipi and then headed off to explore Monument Valley Park. After we took the beautiful drive up Interstate 163 towards Mexican Hat. Along this road is where you can get the famous vantage point of the monuments. Depending on the time of day there will likely be a lot of people to also be lined up. For this reason, we recommend going a little bit further down the road towards the monuments. The afternoon was spent mostly in the car on our longest drive of the trip to Moab. Moab is a great hub town where you will run into a lot of other campers and hikers who are set to explore many of the National Parks in the area. If you are looking for another place to glamp, another Under Canvas site is located just outside of town.
Day 6: Arches National Park + Grand Junction
114 miles (2 hours)
Arches National Park is just a quick drive from Moab so be sure to pack your most comfortable hiking shoes because if you plan on going to Arches National Park, we highly recommend doing the hike to the Delicate Arch! The Delicate Arch is considered the world’s most famous natural stone arches for both its dramatic shape and setting. This hike is quite difficult due to the sun exposure and terrain so pack the necessities (sunblock, plenty of water, protein bars, etc.) We did see people of all ages and fitness level on the trail so overall it’s quite doable. It will take about an hour and a half each way so be ready to dedicate roughly 3-4 hours to this hike.
Doing this particular trail is the only way to be able to walk up to the Delicate Arch. However, if you are not feeling so adventurous or short on time there are two other viewpoints (Upper and Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint) to get a glimpse of the arch from afar. Either way, we recommend researching the park before arriving. There are many beautiful sites and several hikes for all levels. From here we drove just under two hours to Grand Junction, Colorado to spend the evening resting our legs before heading to Aspen!
Day 7: Aspen, Colorado
127 miles (2 hours 10 min)
This was both our first time in Aspen so we did not know what to expect, especially with it being summertime. However, we were both pleasantly surprised by how bustling downtown Aspen was. We had a fantastic time strolling through the pedestrian streets lined with restaurants and luxury boutiques. If you are looking for a great place to enjoy a glass of rose while people-watching (you never know who you will see in Aspen) we recommend getting a table one of the terraces outside. While we did not have time for many activities, Aspen has plenty to do in the summer so be sure to include as a part of your road trip!
If you really want that feeling of a roadtrip but you don’t have the budget or time to be away from home for weeks than this trip is a great alternative. It is exceptionally beautiful with a variety of landscapes and covers highlights like the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and Arches National Park. Small tip: you can also decide to skip on Moab and Colorado and head towards Bryce Canyon to explore more of Utah and fly back from Salt Lake City (or even Las Vegas with a bit more driving).
