Las Vegas to Zion in a grand tourer: a two-day road trip plan

Zion National Park is 160 miles from the Strip, or about two and a half hours of driving through three states. It is the most popular out-of-state trip our renters take, and a genuinely great drive when you plan it well. Here is our two-day plan, built from years of hearing what guests loved and what they wished they had known.

Before you leave Las Vegas

Out-of-state trips need approval on your reservation, which takes a single checkbox and a rough route. Choose a mileage package too: a round trip with some exploring runs to about 400 miles, which is more than the standard daily allowance on most exotics.

• Best cars for the trip: Ferrari Roma, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Tesla Model S Plaid.
• Pack light. Soft bags fit grand tourer trunks far better than hard shells.
• Utah is one hour ahead of Nevada from March to November. Plan check-in times accordingly.
• Download offline maps. Coverage in the Virgin River Gorge is patchy.

Day one: the Strip to Springdale

Las Vegas to Mesquite, 80 miles

Leave by 8 am to beat the heat and the North Las Vegas traffic. The I-15 opens up past Apex, and the long straight across the Moapa Valley is where the Roma's grand touring manners show. Stop in Mesquite for fuel and coffee, since prices jump in Arizona and Utah.

The Virgin River Gorge, 30 miles

This short Arizona stretch of I-15 is one of the most dramatic pieces of interstate in the country. The road follows the river through a narrow limestone canyon with sweeping curves and steep grades. Stay in the right lane, keep a steady pace and use the paddles to hold a gear on descents.

St. George to Springdale, 45 miles

Exit at State Route 9 toward Hurricane and La Verkin. The road climbs gently into red rock country, and the first view of the Zion cliffs appears just past Rockville. Check into your hotel in Springdale and walk to dinner along the main street.

Day two: inside the park

From March to November, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles and served by free shuttles. Park your car at your Springdale hotel, not in the crowded visitor center lot, and catch the town shuttle to the park entrance.

• Riverside Walk: an easy 2.2-mile round trip along the Virgin River to the start of The Narrows.
• Canyon Overlook Trail: a 1-mile hike on the east side, reached by driving the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway through the famous tunnel.
• Pa'rus Trail: a flat, paved path ideal for a sunrise walk.

The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is open to private cars year-round and is the highlight drive of the park, with switchbacks, a 1.1-mile tunnel from 1930 and slickrock scenery on the east side. It is a perfect road for a grand tourer. Oversize vehicles need a tunnel escort, but every car in our fleet fits without one.

Park the car in Springdale, ride the shuttle, and save the Mount Carmel Highway for late afternoon when the light turns the slickrock gold.

Heading home

Leave Springdale by 3 pm Utah time to be back on the Strip for dinner. If you drove the Model S Plaid, the Supercharger in St. George is the natural stop. Otherwise fill up in Mesquite again before crossing back into Nevada.

Costs to expect

Beyond your rental, budget for the Zion entrance fee of $35 per vehicle, fuel for about 330 highway miles, and Springdale hotel rates that climb sharply on weekends. Ask our team about the sample weekly rate on the Roma or 911 if you are thinking of adding Bryce Canyon, which is only 90 minutes further.