LA Road Trip: 5 Days Into Zion Country
Five days extends the 4 day Death Valley loop with a genuine Utah stop: Zion National Park, reached in 2.5 to 3 hours from Las Vegas rather than the 6-plus hour direct slog from LA. Same spine as the shorter versions, Death Valley then Vegas then the Grand Canyon’s West Rim, just with one more state added before you turn around.
Book these before you go
- Reserve a rental car ; this route covers well over 1,000 miles.
- Check Las Vegas hotel rates for 2 nights there.
- Book a Grand Canyon West Rim tour ahead if the Skywalk matters to you.
- Reserve Zion lodging in Springdale early; rooms right at the park entrance sell out fastest in spring and fall.
Day 1: LA to Death Valley
The longest single leg of the trip: 260 to 270 miles and 4.5 to 5 hours to Furnace Creek. Check current conditions on nps.gov first, especially April through October when daytime highs routinely clear 120F. Entry is $30 a vehicle for 7 days, paid at a cashless machine, no reservation required.
Day 2: Death Valley to Las Vegas
2 to 2.5 hours via Pahrump on NV-160, a straightforward drive after yesterday’s haul. Check into Vegas with the afternoon free and spend the evening on the Strip.
Day 3: Vegas to the Grand Canyon West Rim and Back
125 miles and 2 to 2.5 hours each way on US-93, past the Hoover Dam. Leave by 7am for a full afternoon at the rim. General admission runs $67, with the Skywalk add-on bringing it to roughly $99 to $113 with taxes. Return to Vegas.
Day 4: Vegas to Zion National Park
160 miles, 2.5 to 3 hours on I-15 north, with occasional slowdowns near the Virgin River Gorge. Check into Springdale, right at the park’s south entrance, and spend the afternoon on the shuttle-only main canyon road, since private vehicles are not allowed on it during the park’s high season.
Day 5: Zion to LA
A morning hike or viewpoint stop, then the long way home: 430 miles and 6-plus hours direct, or backtrack through Vegas if you would rather break up the drive with a stop. Either way, leave by late morning.
| Day | Focus | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | LA to Death Valley | 4.5-5h |
| Day 2 | Death Valley to Las Vegas | 2-2.5h |
| Day 3 | Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim, round trip | 2-2.5h each way |
| Day 4 | Vegas to Zion National Park | 2.5-3h |
| Day 5 | Zion to LA | 6h+ direct |
Is Zion Worth a 6 Hour Drive Home?
For most visitors, yes, but only once, not as a repeat weekend trip. Zion’s entrance fee is $35 a vehicle for 7 days, plus a $100 non-resident surcharge per person aged 16 and over as of 2026, on top of the standard fee. The park itself, red sandstone canyon walls and the Virgin River, does not resemble anything else on this route.
Should I Pair Zion With Bryce Canyon Instead of Doing It Alone?
If you have one more day, yes. Bryce Canyon sits only 85 miles, about 2 hours, past Zion, and charges its own separate $35 vehicle fee plus surcharge. See the 6 day itinerary , which adds exactly this stop to the same route.
For a shorter trip without Utah, see the 4 day or 3 day versions. For the full 7 road trips out of LA, including Route 66 and Sequoia, see the guide .