Winter 2024 Road trip from Bay Area

1. Yosemite, Grand Canyon, LV, LA

Fri, Dec 20: Drive to Merced

Sat, Dec 21: Yosemite

Sun, Dec 22: LA

Mon, Dec 23: LA

Tue, Dec 24: Drive to LV. Mojave National Preserve en-route.

Wed, Dec 25: LV

Thu, Dec 26: Drive to Grand Canyon

Fri, Dec 27: Grand Canyon

Sat, Dec 28: LV

Sun, Dec 29: Back

2. Death Valley, Grand Canyon, LV

1. Day 1 Drive to Death Valley NP; Stay (night 1) (6.5 hrs drive)

2. Night 1: Stay at DV Park

3. Day 2 look around DV and 2 hour drive to LV; stay (night 2) (2 Hour drive)

4. Night 2 Check in at LV

5. Day3 Las Vegas stay (night 3) (local drives if any)

6. Night 3 Stay at LV 

7. Day 4 : Drive to Page (night 4) (4.5 hr drive)

8. Night 4: Stay at Page, Az.

9. Day 5 : GC (night 5) (local drives)

10. Night 5: Stay at Page, Az.

11. Day 6 : Drive to Kingman via Flagstaff, all view points on the way (night 6) (4.5 hr drive)

12. Night 6: Kingman, Az (for sleep break)

13. Day 7 : Drive back home (9 hours)

3. Yosemite, LA, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, LV

Fri, Dec 20: Drive to Merced

Sat, Dec 21: Yosemite, back to Merced

Sun, Dec 22: Drive to Death Valley. 

Mon, Dec 23: Death Valley

Tue, Dec 24: Drive to LV. Mojave National Preserve & possibly Castle Mountains en-route.

Wed, Dec 25: LV

Thu, Dec 26: LV

Fri, Dec 27: Hoover Dam. Drive to Grand Canyon. Stay near depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams or Flagstaff or Page.

Sat, Dec 28: Grand Canyon

Sun, Dec 29: Drive to LA

Mon, Dec 30: LA

Tue, Dec 31: LA

Wed, Jan 1: Drive back home

4. Death Valley, Grand Canyon, warmer South Arizona

Sat, Dec 21: Drive to Death Valley

Sun, Dec 22: Death Valley. 

Mon, Dec 23: Death Valley. Drive to Las Vegas in night.

Tue, Dec 24: Las Vegas

Wed, Dec 25: Las Vegas

Thu, Dec 26: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams or Flagstaff.

Fri, Dec 27: Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend.

Sat, Dec 28: Sunset Crater volcano, Wupatki National Monument

Sun, Dec 29: Sedona, Red Rock state park, Slide Rock state park, Tonto natural bridge state park

Mon, Dec 30: Lost Dutchman state park,  Picaho Peak state park, Saguaro national park

Tue, Dec 31: Kartcher Caverns state park, Catalina state park, start driving back

Wed, Jan 1: Joshua Tree national park, Drive back home

5. Death Valley, Grand Canyon, colder South Utah

Sat, Dec 21: Drive to Death Valley

Sun, Dec 22: Death Valley. 

Mon, Dec 23: Death Valley. Drive to Las Vegas in night.

Tue, Dec 24: Las Vegas

Wed, Dec 25: Las Vegas

Thu, Dec 26: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams or Flagstaff.

Fri, Dec 27: Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay at Page

Sat, Dec 28: Antelope Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Glen Canyon

Sun, Dec 29: Grand Staircase Escalante, White Pocket, Coral Pink Sand dunes, Spooky Slot canyon, Peekaboo Red Canyon Slot (technically challenging)

Mon, Dec 30: Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin

Tue, Dec 31: Cedar Breaks, Zion, stay in LV

Wed, Jan 1: Drive back home

6a. Grand Canyon, colder South Utah

Sat, Dec 21: Drive to Las Vegas

Sun, Dec 22: Las Vegas. 

Mon, Dec 23: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams or Flagstaff.

Tue, Dec 24: Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay at Page

Wed, Dec 25: Antelope Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Glen Canyon

Thu, Dec 26: Natural Bridges, Canyonlands

Fri, Dec 27: Dead Horse Point, Arches

Sat, Dec 28: Goblin Valley, Capitol Reef

Sun, Dec 29: Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin

Mon, Dec 30: Cedar Breaks, Zion, stay in LV

Tue, Dec 31: LV

Wed, Jan 1: Drive back home

6b. Grand Canyon, colder South Utah

Sat, Dec 21: Drive to California City

Sun, Dec 22: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams or Flagstaff. 

Mon, Dec 23: Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay at Page

Tue, Dec 24: Antelope Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Glen Canyon

Wed, Dec 25: Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands 

Thu, Dec 26: Dead Horse Point, Arches

Fri, Dec 27: Goblin Valley, Capitol Reef

Sat, Dec 28: Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin

Sun, Dec 29: Cedar Breaks, Zion, stay in LV.

Mon, Dec 30: LV

Tue, Dec 31: LV

Wed, Jan 1: Drive back home

7. Grand Canyon, colder South Utah, more time

Sat, Dec 21: Drive to California City

Sun, Dec 22: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams or Flagstaff. 

Mon, Dec 23: Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay at Page

Tue, Dec 24: Antelope Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Glen Canyon, Zebra Slot Canyon, Tunnel Slot Canyon (can skip)

Wed, Dec 25: Monument Valley, Goosenecks State Park, Bear Ears National Monument, Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges 

Thu, Dec 26: Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point

Fri, Dec 27: Arches

Sat, Dec 28: Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon, Capitol Reef

Sun, Dec 29: Capitol Reef

Mon, Dec 30: Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin

Tue, Dec 31: Cedar Breaks, Zion

Wed, Jan 1: Great Basin

Thu, Jan 2: Las Vegas

Fri, Jan 3: Las Vegas

Sat, Jan 4: Death Valley

Sun, Jan 5: Back home

8. Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, surrounding

Sat, Dec 21: Drive to California City

Sun, Dec 22: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams or Flagstaff. 

Mon, Dec 23: Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend. 

Tue, Dec 24: Bryce Canyon

Wed, Dec 25: Kodachrome Basin

Thu, Dec 26: Cedar Breaks

Fri, Dec 27: Zion

Sat, Dec 28: Great Basin 

Sun, Dec 29: Las Vegas 

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Las Vegas

Wed, Jan 1: Death Valley

Thu, Jan 2: Death Valley

Fri, Jan 3: Joshua tree

Sat, Jan 4: LA or Big Sur

Sun, Jan 5: Back home

9. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, colder South Utah, more time

Sat, Dec 21

Golden Gate Bridge

Sun, Dec 22

Drive to California City

Mon, Dec 23

Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon Junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Tue, Dec 24

Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay at Page.

Wed, Dec 25

Antelope Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Glen Canyon, Zebra Slot Canyon, Tunnel Slot Canyon (can skip).

Thu, Dec 26

Monument Valley, Goosenecks State Park, Bear Ears National Monument, Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges.

Fri, Dec 27

Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point.

Sat, Dec 28

Arches.

Sun, Dec 29

Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon, Capitol Reef.

Mon, Dec 30

Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin.

Tue, Dec 31

Cedar Breaks, Zion.

Wed, Jan 1

Great Basin.

Thu, Jan 2

Las Vegas

Fri, Jan 3

Las Vegas.

Sat, Jan 4

Back Home

10. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, surrounding

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge

Sun, Dec 22: Drive to California City

Mon, Dec 23: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Tue, Dec 24: Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend.

Wed, Dec 25: Bryce Canyon

Thu, Dec 26: Kodachrome Basin

Fri, Dec 27: Cedar Breaks

Sat, Dec 28: Zion

Sun, Dec 29: Great Basin

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Las Vegas

Wed, Jan 1: Las Vegas

Thu, Jan 2: Death Valley

Fri, Jan 3: Big Sur

Sat, Jan 4: Back home

11. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, surrounding

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Drive to California City

Mon, Dec 23: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Tue, Dec 24: Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend.

Wed, Dec 25: Page. Antelope Canyon.

Thu, Dec 26: Kodachrome Basin

Fri, Dec 27: Bryce

Sat, Dec 28: Cedar Breaks

Sun, Dec 29: Zion

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Las Vegas

Wed, Jan 1: Las Vegas

Thu, Jan 2: Death Valley

Fri, Jan 3: Big Sur

Sat, Jan 4: Back home

12. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, surrounding

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Drive to California City

Mon, Dec 23: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Tue, Dec 24: Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend.

Wed, Dec 25: Page. Antelope Canyon.

Thu, Dec 26: Kodachrome Basin

Fri, Dec 27: Bryce

Sat, Dec 28: Cedar Breaks, Zion

Sun, Dec 29: Las Vegas

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Death Valley

Wed, Jan 1: Channel Islands

Thu, Jan 2: Big Sur, back home

13. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, colder South Utah, aggressive

Sat, Dec 21

Golden Gate Bridge

Sun, Dec 22

Drive to California City

Mon, Dec 23

Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon Junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Tue, Dec 24

Grand Canyon South Rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay at Page.

Wed, Dec 25

Antelope Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Glen Canyon, Zebra Slot Canyon, Tunnel Slot Canyon (can skip).

Thu, Dec 26

Monument Valley, Goosenecks State Park, Bear Ears National Monument, Valley of the Gods, Natural Bridges.

Fri, Dec 27

Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point.

Sat, Dec 28

Arches.

Sun, Dec 29

Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon, Capitol Reef.

Mon, Dec 30

Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin.

Tue, Dec 31

Cedar Breaks, Zion. Drive to Vegas.

Wed, Jan 1

Las Vegas.

Thu, Jan 2

Las Vegas

Fri, Jan 3

Back Home

14. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, southern Utah, relaxed

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Drive to California City

Mon, Dec 23: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Tue, Dec 24: Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend.

Wed, Dec 25: Page. Antelope Canyon.

Thu, Dec 26: Kodachrome Basin

Fri, Dec 27: Bryce

Sat, Dec 28: Cedar Breaks

Sun, Dec 29: Zion

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Las Vegas

Wed, Jan 1: Las Vegas

Thu, Jan 2: Drive back home

15. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Southern Utah

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Drive dear Death Valley

Mon, Dec 23: Death Valley

Tue, Dec 24: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Wed, Dec 25: Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend.

Thu, Dec 26: Page. Antelope Canyon.

Fri, Dec 27: Kodachrome Basin

Sat, Dec 28: Bryce

Sun, Dec 29: Cedar Breaks, Zion

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Las Vegas

Wed, Jan 1: Las Vegas

Thu, Jan 2: Drive back home

16. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Southern Utah

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Big Sur

Mon, Dec 23: Channel Islands

Tue, Dec 24: Death Valley

Wed, Dec 25: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Thu, Dec 26: Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend.

Fri, Dec 27: Page. Antelope Canyon.

Sat, Dec 28: Kodachrome Basin, Bryce

Sun, Dec 29: Cedar Breaks, Zion

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Las Vegas

Wed, Jan 1: Las Vegas

Thu, Jan 2: Drive back home

17. San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Southern Arizona

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Big Sur

Mon, Dec 23: Channel Islands

Tue, Dec 24: Death Valley

Wed, Dec 25: Hoover dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Thu, Dec 26: Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend.

Fri, Dec 27: Sunset Crater volcano, Wupatki National Monument

Sat, Dec 28: Sedona

Sun, Dec 29: Saguaro national park

Mon, Dec 30: Las Vegas

Tue, Dec 31: Las Vegas

Wed, Jan 1: Las Vegas

Thu, Jan 2: Drive back home

Sun, Dec 29: 

Mon, Dec 30: Tue, Dec 31: Kartcher Caverns state park, Catalina state park, start driving back

18. San Francisco, Big Sur, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Big Sur. Stay in Big Sur.

Mon, Dec 23: Start driving to Death Valley. Stay en-route in California City.

Tue, Dec 24: Drive to Death Valley. Stay. 

Wed, Dec 25: Death Valley. If we are near North Death Valley, stay night in Las Vegas, else stay in same place as earlier. Apply for Wave daily lottery 3 days prior.

Thu, Dec 26: Hoover dam, Lake Mead. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Fri, Dec 27: Drive to Grand Canyon South rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay in Page.

Sat, Dec 28: Wave (lottery permit) or Lake Powell. Drive to Bryce City.

Sun, Dec 29: Bryce Canyon. Stay near Bryce.

Mon, Dec 30: Cedar Breaks or Kodachrome. Stay near Bryce.

Tue, Dec 31: Drive to Zion. Drive to Las Vegas in the night.

Wed, Jan 1: Las Vegas

Thu, Jan 2: Drive home

19. San Francisco, Big Sur, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Big Sur. Stay in Big Sur.

Mon, Dec 23: Start driving to Death Valley. Stay en-route, close to Death Valley's entrance.

Tue, Dec 24: Drive to Death Valley. Drive to Las Vegas in the night.

Wed, Dec 25: Las Vegas. Stay in Las Vegas. Apply for Wave lottery permit.

Thu, Dec 26: Hoover dam, Lake Mead. Stay near Grand Canyon depending on availability, at Grand Canyon junction, Williams, or Flagstaff.

Fri, Dec 27: Drive to Grand Canyon South rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay in Page.

Sat, Dec 28: Wave (lottery permit) or Lake Powell. Drive to Bryce City.

Sun, Dec 29: Bryce Canyon. Stay near Bryce.

Mon, Dec 30: Cedar Breaks or Kodachrome. Stay near Bryce.

Tue, Dec 31: Great Basin. Stay near Great Basin.

Wed, Jan 1: Drive to Reno. Stay

Thu, Jan 2: Drive home

20. San Francisco, Big Sur, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley

Sat, Dec 21: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Sun, Dec 22: Big Sur.

Mon, Dec 23: Start driving to Death Valley. Stay en-route in Ridgecrest.

Tue, Dec 24: Drive to Death Valley. Drive to Las Vegas in the night. Stay.

Wed, Dec 25: Las Vegas.

Thu, Dec 26: Las Vegas.

Fri, Dec 27: Hoover dam, Lake Mead. Stay near Grand Canyon.

Sat, Dec 28: Drive to Grand Canyon South rim. Horseshoe Bend. Stay in Page.

Sun, Dec 29: Wave (lottery permit) or Lake Powell. Stay in Page.

Mon, Dec 30: Glen Canyon or Rainbow bridge. Drive to Bryce. Stay near Bryce. 

Tue, Dec 31: Bryce Canyon. Stay near Bryce. 

Wed, Jan 1: Start driving home. Stay en-route.

Thu, Jan 2: Drive home. Reach night.

https://www.mapquest.com/routeplanner/from/us/ca/san-jose/95120-4417/6147-franciscan-way-37.22497,-121.89458/to/us/nevada/great-basin-national-park-470557700/to/us/utah/bryce-canyon-national-park-434959111/to/us/utah/zion-national-park-534171230/to/us/az/page-282022570/to/us/arizona/grand-canyon-national-park-south-entrance-449537648/to/us/nevada/hoover-dam-470561178/to/us/nv/las-vegas-492976340/to/us/california/death-valley-national-park-467625300/to/us/ca/big-sur-282916536/to/us/utah/cedar-breaks-national-monument-351694322

Detours near Las Vegas:

Valley of Fire state park, Red Rock Canyon state park, Tule Springs fossil beds, Kershaw-Ryan state park-Canyon Overlook Loop, Caliente ghost town, Cathedral Gorge State Park with Moon Caves-Cathedral Caves-Miller Point Trail

Detours near Page:

Buckskin gulch slot canyon (prefer AWD), White Pocket (4WD needed). Consider 4WD tours such as Coral Cliff tours, Alstrom Point (needs AWD near the end).

Lone Rock Beach, Lake Powell.