The Grand Circle from Las Vegas: the loop that starts and ends here

By the ThingsVegas Editorial Team | Published November 6, 2026 | Last reviewed: November 6, 2026

The Grand Circle is a loop of six national parks that starts and ends in Las Vegas, roughly 1,200 to 1,500 miles in 7 days rushed or 10 to 14 days comfortable. The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers every park on it. Best seasons: March to May, September to November.

Prices last checked: November 6, 2026. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026. Sources are named on this page; check the official page before you pay, because prices and hours change.

Which direction, and how many days?

Clockwise via Zion first is the gentler start: the parks get bigger as you go, and the driving eases you into desert distances. Counterclockwise via the Grand Canyon first puts the biggest canyon on day one and the desert parks late, which suits a trip where the canyon is the reason you came. The loop is the same either way, and the trade is the order, not the content. Overseas visitors already take this shape: packaged trade product starts and ends in Las Vegas, and overseas Vegas visitors visit 2.2 to 5.2 US destinations, so this page plans the trip they are already taking.

What are the legs, in miles and hours?

The legs stated individually are the honest ones: published loop totals vary by which parks are included, so this page states each leg and lets you add your own. The four legs marked approximate come from the itinerary sources used for this brief and are flagged for a routing check when you plan, because a single road closure changes them. The two bookend legs are the verified ones: Las Vegas to Zion is about 160 miles in 2.5 hours, and the Grand Canyon South Rim to Las Vegas is about 275 miles in 4.5 hours, per the Zion and Grand Canyon pages this hub links to.

Where do you sleep, and what does the pass not cover?

Sleep in the gateway town, not in the park, unless you booked a park lodge months ahead: Springdale for Zion, Bryce Canyon City at the gate for Bryce, Moab for Arches and Canyonlands, Kayenta or The View Hotel for Monument Valley, Page for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, and the South Rim lodges or Tusayan for the Grand Canyon. The pass math is the budget line that matters most: the $80 America the Beautiful pass covers entry to every National Park Service unit on the loop, and it waives the $100 per person nonresident surcharge for international readers. It does not cover Monument Valley, which is Navajo Tribal Park and charges $10 per person plus $15 per vehicle, Antelope Canyon, which is Navajo Nation Parks and guide only with a $15 permit in 2026, or Horseshoe Bend parking, which is City of Page property at $10 per vehicle. Budget those three separately, in cash or card at the gate, and the pass still pays for itself on the second national park.

Each stop on the loop has its own decision page on this site. Start with Zion in a day for the shuttle and permit rules, Bryce Canyon for the overnight add on, Monument Valley for the two fee stack and the guide only backcountry, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend for the guide only rule and Arizona time, and the Grand Canyon rim decision for the West Rim or South Rim choice. You need a car for the whole loop, and the document question for international drivers is answered on our foreign license rental guide. The full set of desert days is on our day trips hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days does the Grand Circle take?

Seven days is the rushed version and 10 to 14 days is the comfortable one. The loop runs roughly 1,200 to 1,500 miles depending on which parks you include, and the driving alone fills most of a 7 day version. Do not try to do it in 5 days: the parks deserve a day each, not a drive by.

Which direction should I drive the Grand Circle?

Clockwise via Zion first is the gentler start: Las Vegas to Zion, then Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands at Moab, Monument Valley, Page, and the Grand Canyon South Rim back to Las Vegas. Counterclockwise via the Grand Canyon first puts the biggest canyon early and the desert parks late. The trade is simple: clockwise eases you in, counterclockwise front loads the highlight.

Does the America the Beautiful pass cover the Grand Circle?

It covers every National Park Service unit on the loop: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands and the Grand Canyon, for $80. It does not cover Monument Valley, which is Navajo Tribal Park, Antelope Canyon, which is Navajo Nation Parks and guide only, or Horseshoe Bend parking, which is City of Page property. That is why the pass math leads this page.

Do international visitors pay extra on the Grand Circle?

Yes, at the major national parks, unless they hold an annual pass. From January 1, 2026, non US residents age 16 and over pay an additional $100 per person at the big parks, including Zion and the Grand Canyon, waived only by an Annual or America the Beautiful pass. That surcharge is exactly why the $80 pass, or the $250 nonresident annual pass, leads the budget on this page.

When is the best season for the Grand Circle?

March to May and September to November. Summer is hot at the low parks and crowded at the famous ones, and winter closes the North Rim and can close high roads. The shoulder seasons give you open trails, open shuttles and driving weather that does not punish the car.