Arizona & Utah 2026
Complete 15-Day Adventure Guide & Group Itinerary
Slim View
Parents & Sons Arrival
Sat, May 30: Phoenix to Sedona
- Arrive Phoenix (PHX) @ 11:15 AM (lv. BR 7:00 AM)
- Explore Phoenix Capital area
- Drive north to Sedona (Approx. 2 hours)
- Visit the stunning Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Overnight at Country Inn & Suites
🍴 Dining Options (Sedona):
- $$ Elote Cafe — Modern Mexican & Southwestern
- $$ The Hudson — New American & stunning patio
- $ Tamaliza Cafe — Authentic local tamales
Parents & Sons
Sun, May 31: Volcanos into the Canyon
- Drive to Flagstaff area (~1 hour)
- Explore Sunset Crater, Strawberry Crater & Wupatki dwellings
- Drive to Grand Canyon National Park (~2 hours)
- Overnight at Kachina Lodge
- Sunset at the South Rim
☕ Breakfast Options (Sedona):
- $$ Coffee Pot Restaurant — Famous for 101 omelets
- $ Sedonuts — Quick & local artisanal donuts
🍴 Dining Options (Grand Canyon):
- $$ Arizona Steakhouse — Canyon-side chophouse
- $ Bright Angel Diner — Historic comfort food
- $ Maswik Food Court — Quick & affordable variety
Parents & Sons
Mon, June 1: Grand Canyon Exploration
- Full morning exploring Grand Canyon views and trails
- Visit viewpoints along Desert View Drive
- Drive to Page, AZ (Approx. 2.5 hours)
- Overnight at Sleep Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Grand Canyon):
- $$ El Tovar Dining Room — Iconic rim breakfast
- $ Bright Angel Fountain — Quick bites & coffee
🍴 Dining Options (Page):
- $$ Big John’s Texas BBQ — Smoked brisket & music
- $ BirdHouse — Gourmet crispy fried chicken
- $$ Sunset 89 — Island-inspired fusion & views
Parents & Sons
Tue, June 2: Page Slots & Horseshoe Bend
- Antelope Canyon Slot Tour — Noon (2 hr tour)
- Stunning overlook at Horseshoe Bend
- Drive to Monument Valley (Approx. 2.5 hours)
- Overnight at The View Cabins
☕ Breakfast Options (Page):
- $ Sleep Inn Breakfast — Complimentary hot hotel breakfast
- $$ Ranch House Grille — Hearty local diner
🍴 Dining Options (Monument Valley):
- $$ Swingin' Steak — Open-fire grilled steaks
- $ San Juan Cafe — Navajo tacos & fry bread
- $$ The View Restaurant — Dining inside the tribal park
Parents & Sons
Wed, June 3: Monument Valley Icons
- Monument Valley Tour (The Mittens, John Ford Point)
- Visit Mexican Hat Rock, Valley of the Gods
- Overnight at San Juan Inn (near Mexican Hat)
☕ Breakfast Options (Monument Valley):
- $$ The View Breakfast — Wake up with the Mittens
- $ Goulding's Stagecoach — Traditional Southwestern
🍴 Dining Options (Blanding):
- $$ Homestead Steak House — Quality local steaks
- $ Patio Diner — Iconic burgers & thick shakes
- $ Yak’s Cafe — Hearty Southwestern local eats
Parents & Sons
Thu, June 4: Ancient History in Blanding
- House on Fire / Bears Ears / Montezuma Canyon
- Visit Dinosaur Museum in Blanding (9:30 AM - 5:00 PM)
- Overnight at Bears Ears Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Mexican Hat):
- $ Olde Bridge Grille — Scenic river-view breakfast
- $ San Juan Cafe — Traditional Navajo breakfast bread
🍴 Dining Options (Blanding/Bluff):
- $$ Homestead Steak House — Local favorite
- $$ Cottonwood Steakhouse (Bluff) — Rustic BBQ
- $$ Twin Rocks Cafe — Famous Navajo tacos
🤝 THE GREAT MOAB MEETUP
Group 2 (BTR) and Group 3 (Houston) join in Moab today!
Full Group Joined
Fri, June 5: Arrival in Moab
- Track 1: Drive Blanding & Canyonlands Needles
- Track 2/3: Arrive SLC (1:11 PM). Drive to Moab. 📍 ~238 mi | 🚗 3.75 hrs
- Groups congregate in Moab for dinner
- Overnight at Archway Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Blanding):
- $ Bears Ears Inn — Complimentary continental breakfast
- $ Yak's Cafe — Local favorite for massive portions
🍴 Dining Options (Moab):
- $$ Moab Brewery — Local craft beer & pub fare
- $$ Antica Forma — Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza
- $ Milt's Stop & Eat — Legendary burger stand
Full Group
Sat, June 6: Canyonlands Islands
- Visit Islands in the Sky (Canyonlands NP)
- Dead Horse Point Overlook for panoramic vistas
- Overnight at Archway Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Moab):
- $ Archway Inn — Complimentary full hot breakfast
- $ Jailhouse Cafe — Old-school Moab breakfast classic
🍴 Dining Options (Moab):
- $$ Antica Forma — Top-rated Italian favorite
- $$ Moab Brewery — Popular group venue
- $ Gloria’s Corner Cafe — Fresh & outdoor dining
Full Group
Sun, June 7: Arches National Park
- Full day immersion in Arches National Park
- Visit Delicate Arch and the Windows Section
- Overnight at Archway Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Moab):
- $ Archway Inn — Complimentary full hot breakfast
- $ Love Muffin Cafe — Modern bakery & breakfast burritos
🍴 Dining Options (Moab):
- $$ Thai Bella — Highly-rated authentic Thai
- $$ Pasta Jay’s — Casual & hearty Italian
- $$ Hidden Cuisine — South African fusion
Full Group
Mon, June 8: Reef to the Lodge
- Drive from Moab through Capitol Reef National Park
- Continue along Scenic Byway 12
- Overnight at Slot Canyon Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Moab):
- $ Archway Inn — Final complimentary Moab breakfast
- $ Moab Diner — Famous green chile "Smothered" plates
🍴 Dining Options (Bryce):
- $$ Cowboy’s Buffet — Large group-friendly buffet
- $ Ruby's Canyon Diner — Quick burgers & pizza
- $$ Valhalla Pizzeria — Casual dining in-park
Full Group
Tue, June 9: Bryce Canyon Amphitheaters
- Full visit to Bryce - Sunset Point, Thor's Hammer
- Overnight at Bryce View Lodge
☕ Breakfast Options (Escalante):
- $$ North Creek Grill — Handcrafted morning meals
- $ Escalante Mercantile — Artisan coffee & local pastries
🍴 Dining Options (Bryce Area):
- $$ Bryce Canyon Pines — (Must try the pie!)
- $ Kiva Koffeehouse — Scenic lunch & salads
- $ I.D.K. BBQ (Tropic) — Local favorite for ribs
Full Group
Wed, June 10: The Staircase to Zion
- Stops at Escalante and Grand Staircase area
- Arrive in Springdale (Zion NP base)
- Overnight at Bumbleberry Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Bryce):
- $$ Bryce Canyon Lodge — Historic breakfast in-park
- $ Ruby's General Store — Quick breakfast sandwiches
🍴 Dining Options (Springdale):
- $$ Oscar’s Cafe — Tex-Mex & massive burgers
- $$ Bit & Spur — Southwestern saloon & grill
- $$ Zion Canyon Brew Pub — Riverside pub vibe
Full Group
Thu, June 11: Zion Canyon
- Full day immersion in Zion National Park
- Hike The Narrows or Riverside Walk
- Ride the canyon shuttle to Temple of Sinawava
- Overnight at Bumbleberry Inn
☕ Breakfast Options (Springdale):
- $ Bumbleberry Inn — Complimentary local breakfast
- $ Deep Creek Coffee — Outdoor patio with canyon views
🍴 Dining Options (Springdale):
- $$ Oscar's Cafe — Local favorite institution
- $$ Whiptail Grill — Southwestern & goat world
- $$ Zion Pizza & Noodle Co — Casual favorite
Full Group
Fri, June 12: Return to the City
- Final morning views in Zion
- Drive north to Salt Lake City (4.5 hours)
- Farewell dinner and overnight at the Hyatt Regency
☕ Breakfast Options (Springdale):
- $ Bumbleberry Inn — Complimentary local breakfast
- $ FeelLove Coffee — Artisan lattes & morning snacks
🍴 Dining Options (Salt Lake):
- $$ Red Iguana — Legendary Oaxacan moles
- $$ Settebello Pizzeria — Authentic wood-fired
- $$ Ruth's Diner — Historic mountain dining
Full Group
Sat, June 13: Journey Home
- Short commute from hotel to SLC Airport (approx. 5 miles)
- Groups 1 & 2: Flight back to Baton Rouge via Dallas
- Group 3: Flight back to Houston
🚗 Car Rental Return:
Thrifty Return - Salt Lake City Int'l Airport
3920 N Terminal Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84122
📞 (877) 283-0898
☕ Breakfast Options (Salt Lake City):
- $ Hyatt House SLC — Complimentary hot hotel breakfast
- $ The Park Café — Highly-rated local parkside diner
✈️ Transportation Summary
Group 1: Parents & Sons
Inbound: Sat, May 30
Baton Rouge (BTR) → Phoenix (PHX)
AA 4067 (BTR–DFW):
6:00 AM CDT – 7:35 AM CDT
Layover (DFW): 1h 05m — DoableAA 520 (DFW–PHX):
8:40 AM CDT – 9:05 AM MDT
Outbound: Sat, June 13
SLC → DFW → BTR
AA 2607 (SLC–DFW):
11:17 AM MDT – 3:02 PM CDT
Layover (DFW): 1h 43m — EasyAA 5259 (DFW–BTR):
4:45 PM CDT – 6:17 PM CDT
Group 2: Fiance & Self
Inbound: Fri, June 5
BTR → DFW → SLC
AA 3941 (BTR–DFW):
8:10 AM CDT– 9:55 AM CDT
Layover (DFW): 1h 33m — EasyAA 2613 (DFW–SLC):
11:28 AM CDT – 1:11 PM MDT
Outbound: Sat, June 13
SLC → DFW → BTR
AA 2607 (SLC–DFW):
11:17 AM MDT – 3:02 PM CDT
Layover (DFW): 1h 43m — EasyAA 5259 (DFW–BTR):
4:45 PM CDT – 6:17 PM CDT
Group 3: Brother & Family
Inbound: Fri, June 5
Houston (IAH) → SLC
UA 2242 (IAH–SLC):
9:35 AM CDT – 11:56 AM MDT
Outbound: Sat, June 13
SLC (SLC) → Houston (IAH)
Flight Info TBD
🏠 Lodging & Stay Directory
Country Inn & Suites
Kachina Lodge
Sleep Inn & Suites
The View Cabins
San Juan Inn
Bears Ears Inn
Archway Inn
Slot Canyons Inn
Bryce View Lodge
Bumbleberry Inn
Hyatt Regency Downtown
🍽️ Dining & Budget Guide
$ Under $20 per patron
$$ $20–$50 per patron
Note: All high-end options ($$$ and $$$$) have been filtered out of this itinerary to focus on affordable local favorites.