United States to United States
Sandstone, switchbacks and a tunnel with windows cut in the rock, on the long way to the North Rim.
Direct
450 km
279.6 mi
Scenic route
720 km
447.4 mi
Days
3
about 4.7 hr direct
Tolls
£30
one way, per car
The drive
Most people drive Las Vegas to the South Rim in five hours on the interstate. The better plan goes north east through Valley of Fire, up to Zion and round to the North Rim, which sees a fraction of the visitors.
The Zion Mount Carmel Highway is the highlight, a set of switchbacks into a 1.7 km tunnel bored through the cliff in 1930.
If you want the South Rim as well, come back through Page and Sedona rather than repeating the interstate.
April, May, September and October. The North Rim closes in winter.
Worth the detour
Nevada
Valley of Fire Road
Bright red sandstone waves either side of a smooth, almost empty two lane.
8.9 / 10 · 29 km
Utah
Zion Mount Carmel Highway
Switchbacks out of Zion Canyon into a mile long tunnel with windows cut in the rock.
9.3 / 10 · 39 km
Arizona
Oak Creek Canyon, AZ 89A
Red rock Sedona at one end, pine forest at the other, with a hairpin climb between.
9.2 / 10 · 45 km
Where to break the drive
Springdale
At the Zion gate, book early in season.
Kanab
Central for both rims and the slot canyons.
Sedona
Red rock country on the way back south.
Questions
About 450 km, roughly 279.6 miles, by the most direct route. The scenic version described here runs closer to 720 km.
Around 4.7 hours of driving on the direct route, which most people split over two days. The scenic route takes 3 days without rushing.
Budget about £30 one way per car in tolls, vignettes and crossings, before fuel and hotels.
April, May, September and October. The North Rim closes in winter.
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