Grand Canyon North Rim — 13 Days
Palo Duro → Bandelier → Lake Powell → North Rim → Zion → Monument Valley → home
Route Map
● Austin (start/end) · numbered stops in order · dashed line shows approximate route
Estimated Trip Cost
Gas estimate assumes 2WD pickup + travel trailer at 10 mpg, 65 mph max, $3.25/gal regular unleaded (approx. national avg). Includes 1745 mi of stops + 430 mi return to Austin.
Trip Highlights
- ▶ North Rim at 8,200 ft — 15°F cooler than South Rim, 10% of the visitor count, Ponderosa pine forest
- ▶ Lake Powell boat access to water-only slot canyons from Wahweap Marina
- ▶ Zion Watchman CG shuttle access to Angel's Landing and The Narrows without moving the rig
- ▶ Monument Valley Mittens at sunrise as the return transit night — the most scenic overnight on any drive home
Stop-by-Stop
Day 1: depart Austin 7 AM — 365 miles via US-87 N / I-27 N; arrive ~12:30 PM. One transit night. Walk the canyon floor at golden hour — the red walls glow at sunset.
Day 2: depart 8 AM — 285 miles via US-60 W → I-25 N → NM-4 W to Bandelier; arrive ~12:30 PM. One night in the juniper-piñon forest at 6,600 ft. Tyuonyi Pueblo loop and cliff dwelling ladders in the late afternoon.
Page, AZ • NPS • $30/nt (no hookup) · $82/nt (full hookup)
Day 3: depart 7 AM — 355 miles via US-84 N → US-64 W → US-89 N to Page AZ; arrive ~12:30 PM. Two nights at Lake Powell. Day 3 afternoon: Horseshoe Bend (5-min drive, free). Day 4: Antelope Canyon tour ($75+ guided, book ahead) and boat rental from Wahweap Marina.
Day 5: depart 10 AM — 95 miles via US-89 S → AZ-89A W → AZ-67 S to North Rim; arrive ~11:30 AM. ⚠️ Verify site length before booking — most sites ~27 ft combined limit; call 928-638-7814 to confirm a long site. Three nights at 8,200 ft. Day 6: North Kaibab Trail to Coconino Overlook (1.5 mi RT). Day 7: Cape Royal Road to Angel's Window overlook. Showers/laundry CLOSED all 2026.
Springdale, UT • NPS • $35/nt (non-electric) · higher w/ electric
Day 8: depart 9 AM — 115 miles via AZ-67 N → US-89A W → UT-9 W; arrive ~11 AM. ⚠️ Approach via UT-9 from Springdale ONLY — eastern Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy has a 35'9" total rig limit. Three nights at Watchman CG. Day 9: Angel's Landing (permit via Recreation.gov). Day 10: The Narrows from the bottom. Shuttle covers every trailhead.
Day 11: depart Zion 8 AM — 180 miles via US-89 S → Kanab → Page → US-160 W; arrive ~11 AM. ⚠️ Max trailer 24 ft — 21-ft trailer clears; verify at gate. One transit night at The View Campground facing the Mittens. Book at theviewcampground.com; $20 park entry collected separately. Guided valley loop ($75+) available in the afternoon.
Day 12: depart 7 AM — 350 miles via US-160 E → US-491 S → Gallup → I-40 E → I-25 S → US-380 W to Carrizozo; arrive ~12:30 PM. One night on the lava field at 5,300 ft. Walk the nature trail at sunset. Day 13: drive Austin (430 miles via US-54 S → I-10 E — one long final push home).