Zion & Vegas: The Ultimate Five-Day Itinerary

Fly into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas or St. George Regional Airport (SGU) in Utah. Grab your rental car and head to your rental property or hotel. There are a handful of hotel options in Springdale, right outside the Zion National Park entrance, but for this portion of our trip, we opted for a rental property. There are tons of rental options, but we stayed in Hurricane, Utah, where our rental provided plenty of space for the 10 of us to be together. After a quick stop at the grocery store, we had steaks on the grill and spent the night lounging by our pool.

Head to Zion National Park for your first full day. Zion offers a range of options for people of all ages and experience levels. Everyone in our group was up for moderate-intensity hikes, so on our first day, we hiked Scout Lookout, which brings you right to the base of the famous Angel’s Landing hike. Scout Lookout is 3.6 miles out and back with some decently intense elevation, but the path is well maintained and can be done in regular gym shoes, no fancy equipment required. Once we reached the top, part of our group attempted the rest of Angel’s Landing, but turned back when it started to rain.

Pro tip: Angel’s Landing requires a permit that must be obtained in advance.

After your hike, make sure to check out the visitor’s center and gift shop for some souvenirs. Head back to your rental to unwind, and hopefully spend some well-deserved time in the hot tub.

For your second day in the park, plan to hike one of Zion’s most popular stops, The Narrows. Make sure to rent your equipment ahead of time! I recommend Zion Outfitter because you can walk from their parking lot directly into the park. You can bring your own water shoes, but I definitely recommend renting a hiking pole for stability.

For The Narrows, you will need to grab the park shuttle all the way to the final stop, so make sure you plan for about 45 minutes on the bus (and some of the most amazing views!). The Narrows is another hike that can be attempted by a range of experience levels. It’s an out-and-back hike with spectacular views around every bend, so you can go as far as you would like and turn around whenever you feel ready. Make sure you check the weather; if there’s any chance of flash flooding they will close this hike, as it’s through a very narrow canyon (hence the name).

After two days in the park, from here we left Utah and headed straight to Las Vegas!

Pro tip: When you pack up in the morning, have a dry change of clothes to switch into before your drive to Vegas.

Have a late dinner reservation ready to go for when you arrive. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be ready for a good meal and some drinks after two days of hiking! We opted for Beauty & Essex in the Cosmopolitan and had a fantastic experience.

For your first full day in Vegas, start with a slow morning and a spa appointment to recover from your hiking adventures. For a unique way to see the sights, opt for something different, like an exotic car experience or a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.

Head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and a night out. Check out Mizumi for an upscale Japanese dining experience located in Wynn.

We ended our night at XS Nightclub in Encore at a Chainsmokers show, opting for a cabana on the pool deck. This put us a bit removed from the show itself, but after a day full of crowds, it was a welcome change. Plus we were able to prioritize our time together.

After a late night and a slow morning, head to Encore Beach Club for one final hurrah. We were lucky enough to see Marshmello, which truly was one of the highlights of the trip. Try to bring only the necessities with you to the beach club. We did rent a small locker to store our valuables, but everything else ended up soaking wet by the end of the day.

Pro tip: We worked with a promoter to get us into both XS and Encore, which definitely made the experience. If you’re interested, reach out to me and I can put you in touch!

The best way to bring a trip full of adventure and fun with your friends to an end? Pizza back at the hotel. Pack up, get to bed early (maybe) and prepare to catch flights home the next day.