01The soft landing
San Diego
Start with ocean air, good food, and enough room to recover from the flight. The point is not to rush—the coast is the reset before the road trip begins.
- La Jolla Cove
- Balboa Park
- San Diego Zoo
Family field notes / Route 01
West Coast,
in progress.
A first pass at a family road trip: coast, desert, and some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American Southwest.
Dates flexible · route evolving
The idea
Begin in San Diego, make our way through Vegas and Utah’s national parks, then finish via the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Phoenix. Nothing is booked yet—this is here so we can see the shape of the trip together before deciding what deserves more time.
- Length
- 11 days
- Shape
- Road trip
- Finish
- Phoenix
01 / The route
A map makes it real.
The broad route is mapped already. We’ll refine the places to sleep, the pace, and the bookings once everyone has had a look.
Route sketch San Diego → Las Vegas → Zion → Bryce → Page → Grand Canyon → Sedona → Phoenix
02 / Places worth picturing
This is what we’re saying yes to.
01
02Canyon scale
Zion
Zion is the moment the route shifts from a road trip to something much bigger. We can keep the day gentle—scenic stops and riverside walks—or choose one memorable hike.
- Canyon shuttle
- Riverside Walk
- Angels Landing views
03Otherworldly stops
Bryce & Page
A day built for the photos everyone will remember: Bryce’s improbable hoodoos, followed by Page and the sandstone curves around Horseshoe Bend.
- Bryce Amphitheater
- Horseshoe Bend
- Antelope Canyon tour
04The main event
Grand Canyon
This needs a whole day. The plan leaves room to let the rim do what it does best: make everyone go quiet for a minute, then want one more viewpoint.
- South Rim viewpoints
- Sunset at the rim
- Easy rim walk
05A red-rock finale
Sedona
Sedona makes an excellent last chapter: red rock landscapes, an easy scenic drive, and a slower final day before Phoenix and the trip home.
- Oak Creek Canyon
- Red Rock Scenic Byway
- Desert Botanical Garden
04 / The rhythm
Day by day, not set in stone.
Pick an option above to see what its pace actually looks like. Dates and bookings stay deliberately open.
Option A · Park-first route
An 11-day route that skips San Diego and gives Zion, the Grand Canyon, and Sedona the space they deserve.
Day 1
Las Vegas
Arrive, settle in, and enjoy one easy evening before the road trip starts.
Arrival day
Day 2
Las Vegas → Zion
A relaxed start, then drive into canyon country before sunset.
About 2.5 hours
Day 3
Zion National Park
A full park day for shuttle stops, riverside walks, and the views that make Zion special.
No long drive
Day 4
Zion National Park
A second day for one bigger hike or a slower, choose-your-own-adventure day.
No long drive
Day 5
Zion → Bryce Canyon
Take the beautiful road east and arrive with time for the amphitheater at golden hour.
About 2.5 hours
Day 6
Bryce → Page
A morning among the hoodoos, then on to Page for a softer evening.
About 3 hours
Day 7
Page
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend without also needing to change hotels that night.
No long drive
Day 8
Page → Grand Canyon
A short transfer south with plenty of time for a first rim view.
About 2.5 hours
Day 9
Grand Canyon
A real Grand Canyon day: overlooks, an easy rim walk, and sunset.
No long drive
Day 10
Grand Canyon → Sedona
Drive to Sedona in the morning and keep the afternoon wide open.
About 2 hours
Day 11
Sedona → Phoenix
One final red-rock morning, then Phoenix for the flight home.
About 2 hours
Option B · Coast + fewer parks
An 11-day route that keeps San Diego, then chooses Zion and the Grand Canyon as the park anchors.
Day 1
San Diego
Arrive, settle in, and take the first evening slowly.
Arrival day
Day 2
San Diego
Beaches, Balboa Park, and a relaxed city day.
No long drive
Day 3
San Diego
Choose our favourites—La Jolla, the Zoo, or simply more coast.
No long drive
Day 4
San Diego → Las Vegas
An unhurried desert drive, then a first walk through the Strip.
About 5 hours
Day 5
Las Vegas → Zion
Trade neon for canyon walls and arrive before the day is over.
About 2.5 hours
Day 6
Zion National Park
A whole day in Zion—choose an easy trail, use the shuttle, and linger.
No long drive
Day 7
Zion National Park
A second day means the group can choose between a bigger hike or a slow scenic day.
No long drive
Day 8
Zion → Grand Canyon
A longer transfer day, but it removes the extra check-ins and makes the route simpler.
About 5 hours
Day 9
Grand Canyon
A full day at the rim—viewpoints, a walk, and sunset without a clock ticking.
No long drive
Day 10
Grand Canyon → Sedona
A scenic morning transfer and a quiet afternoon in Sedona.
About 2 hours
Day 11
Sedona → Phoenix
Take in the final desert views before the flight home.
About 2 hours
Option C · The full route, unhurried
A 14-day version that keeps the coast and every major stop, with proper time inside the parks.
Day 1
San Diego
Arrive, settle in, and take the first evening slowly.
Arrival day
Day 2
San Diego
Beaches, Balboa Park, and a relaxed city day.
No long drive
Day 3
San Diego
Choose our favourites—La Jolla, the Zoo, or simply more coast.
No long drive
Day 4
San Diego → Las Vegas
Drive after a calm morning and keep the evening in Vegas simple.
About 5 hours
Day 5
Las Vegas → Zion
Morning in Vegas, then the short, scenic move to Zion.
About 2.5 hours
Day 6
Zion National Park
A full, flexible first day in the park.
No long drive
Day 7
Zion National Park
A second Zion day for the hike or viewpoint we did not want to rush.
No long drive
Day 8
Zion → Bryce Canyon
Drive east and spend the afternoon at Bryce’s amphitheater.
About 2.5 hours
Day 9
Bryce → Page
Enjoy another Bryce morning, then head to Page at an easy pace.
About 3 hours
Day 10
Page
Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and no need to pack up again that night.
No long drive
Day 11
Page → Grand Canyon
A short transfer south with an unhurried first look at the rim.
About 2.5 hours
Day 12
Grand Canyon
A complete day for the rim, the viewpoints, and a sunset worth waiting for.
No long drive
Day 13
Grand Canyon → Sedona
Drive into Sedona and let the afternoon unfold slowly.
About 2 hours
Day 14
Sedona → Phoenix
Final views, final coffee, then Phoenix and home.
About 2 hours
Still to decide
Which moments deserve the most time?
The route is a conversation starter, not a locked itinerary. Next up: choose the pace, shortlist hotels, and make room for the things each of us is most excited to see.
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