Thanks to our newest camp at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, you can now road-trip through the Southwest’s most epic national parks and monuments via the Grand Circle—stopping at all five sister camps along the way: Grand Canyon, Moab, Zion, Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, and Bryce Canyon.
Our 950-mile itinerary travels through spectacular vistas, colors, and sunset of the American Southwest. Whether you want to see rock arches at Arches National Park, hoodoos at Bryce, Zion’s slot canyons, rugged Grand Staircase-Escalante, and the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Along the way, the Colorado River snakes through the desert landscape. Spend nights at Under Canvas camps beneath some of the darkest star-filled skies in the country.
Start the circle wherever is most convenient for you, and then take a week or more to explore the national parks and all the natural wonders and adventures in and around our camps along the way. Here’s our suggested Under Canvas Grand Circle road trip route:
Under Canvas Moab
Spend at least two nights at our beloved Moab location, exploring Arches and Canyonlands National Parks by day and the comfort of our camp by night. Just 7 miles north of Moab near Utah’s famed parks, you can see the area’s epic rock formations right from your tent. Tucked between two world-class climbing, mountain biking and hiking destinations, this is your gateway to the towering plateaus, sandstone cliffs and naturally occurring geologic wonders of Utah’s Canyon Country. Don’t leave without checking out the iconic Delicate Arch—a must-see…but so is Landscape Arch, the world’s longest rock span!
Under Canvas Bryce Canyon
Next up is our NEWEST Under Canvas location: Under Canvas Bryce Canyon. The drive here is an epic one! Traveling along Highway 12, you’ll be cruising on what is arguably the most scenic section of the 122-mile All-American Road known as the “Journey Through Time Scenic Byway”. Here you’ll see everything from lush alpine forests to otherworldly limestone formations. Once at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, you’ll be sleeping under the stars on 750 acres of beautiful and secluded high mountains plains. Enjoy expansive views of Mt. Dutton to the west, Escalante Mountains to the east and—only 15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park, you’ll be in a prime spot to explore all the hoodoos and hiking trails this leg of your road trip has to offer.
Under Canvas Zion
From Bryce to Zion, you can appreciate the scale of the sheer red cliffs formed by the Virgin River and along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Eventually you’ll land at Under Canvas Zion, located upon 196-acres of remote desert terrain just 20 miles from the entrance to Zion National Park and the charming town of Springdale. Operating under wide-open desert skies, our safari-inspired destination is a haven of solitude in the American Southwest, surrounded by views of soaring sandstone cliffs and majestic red rock. You’ll want to spend a few days here, taking your time to explore everything this awe-inspiring area is made up of. Make the most of it with help from our Adventure Concierge who can set you up with a custom adventure of your choosing—whether you’re craving canyoneering, mountain biking, a bit of rock climbing, or simply a guided hike through the park.
Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase
From the tents at Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, you can see Lake Powell’s soaring cliffs, buttes, towers, and all other desert rock geology your heart desires. Some sites you don’t want to miss include the Vermillion Cliffs, Horseshoe Bend, and Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase’s very own onsite slot canyon, Elephant Canyon. With views overlooking the canyon rim plateau, there are endless unique experiences waiting for you here—from hiking towering mesas and unwinding in a red-rock oasis to chasing sunsets and walking with dinosaurs at Grand Staircase-Escalante. Spend your evenings around the campfire, roasting s’mores, and sipping wine while retelling your day’s adventures with other guests.
Under Canvas Grand Canyon
Finally, you’ll make your way to Under Canvas Grand Canyon in Arizona for the final leg of your road trip adventure. Set upon 160-acres of secluded piñon and juniper forest, this location is just 25 minutes from the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. More than 6,000 feet deep and up to 18 miles wide, the canyon truly is grand! From the South Rim side, you can drop down into it from several trail heads—stepping further back in geologic time with every foot you descend.
Bring things full circle with a drive through Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley. The sandstone towers and formations here are as stunning in person as they look in the dozens of Western movies filmed in the valley. There’s never been a better time to get outside and explore the great outdoors and the Grand Circle road trip is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure worth taking!