Southwest Canyons → Rockies Camping Trip

18ft self-contained RV. Page, AZ → Utah canyon country → Monument Valley → Durango → Million Dollar Highway → Ouray → Breckenridge.
Recommended length: 14–16 days (doable in 11–12 if you hustle; 18+ if you want slack).
Best window: mid-May–mid-June or mid-September–early October (heat + crowds + monsoons ease). High country after Memorial Day / before first big snow.

Trip Overview

Detail	Info
Route theme	Desert slots & hoodoos → red rock buttes → San Juan alpine
Rough distance	~1,000–1,200 driving miles once on-route (not counting home legs)
Rig	18ft self-contained RV / camper — perfect size for this loop
Pass	America the Beautiful annual pass (Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef)
Hard bookings	Antelope Canyon tour, Kanarra Falls permits, Zion Watchman, Durango train, key CG peaks

Route order (keep this sequence)

Page, AZ
Zion NP, UT
Kanarra Falls, UT (easy add-on between Zion and Bryce)
Bryce Canyon, UT
Bentonite Hills / Capitol Reef Cathedral Valley, UT
Canyonlands (Island in the Sky) + Moab base, UT
Monument Valley, AZ/UT
Durango, CO
Million Dollar Highway (US-550)
Ouray, CO
Breckenridge, CO

Geography note: This is not a tight circle — it’s a southwest-to-northeast climb. Bentonite sits near Capitol Reef (Torrey), not next to Bryce. Canyonlands before Monument Valley is the clean drive. Don’t reverse Monument Valley and Canyonlands unless you like backtracking.

Suggested pacing (14-day skeleton)

Days	Base	Focus
1–2	Page	Antelope + Horseshoe Bend + Lake Powell
3–5	Zion / Springdale	Canyon shuttle, Narrows or classic hikes
5 (pm) or 6 am	Kanarra Falls	Half-day slot + ladder, then push to Bryce
6–7	Bryce	Rim + hoodoo hikes, stargazing
8	Torrey / Capitol Reef	Hwy 12 scenic drive + Bentonite Hills day
9–10	Moab / Canyonlands	Island in the Sky overlooks; optional Arches
11	Monument Valley	Scenic drive / guided tour + sunset
12–13	Durango	Steam train + town
13–14	Ouray via US-550	Million Dollar Highway + hot springs
15–16	Breckenridge	Alpine endcap, hike, recover

Before You Leave — Non-Negotiables

Book early

Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon — guided tours only; peak slots sell out weeks ahead
Kanarra Falls — $15/person, 150 people/day, kanarrafalls.com. Peak season often sells out 1–4 weeks out
Zion Watchman Campground — Recreation.gov, 6 months rolling window; site length matters
Durango & Silverton train — durangotrain.com; summer steam round-trips book out
Bryce North/Sunset or Ruby’s Inn if park CGs are full
Ouray Amphitheater or town RV park if you want a sure thing on weekends

America the Beautiful pass

Covers entrance at Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef. Does not cover: - Antelope Canyon tours
- Kanarra Falls permits
- Horseshoe Bend parking ($10/vehicle, City of Page)
- Navajo Tribal Park / Monument Valley fees
- State parks (Dead Horse Point)

18ft RV reality check

Stretch	Verdict
Most paved park roads + US-89/191/160	Easy
Zion Canyon (shuttle season)	Park the rig; ride the bus
Cathedral Valley / Bentonite access roads	Do not take the RV. High-clearance 4x4 day trip or jeep rental
Million Dollar Highway (US-550)	Doable in 18ft if you’re comfortable with mountain driving. Narrow, drop-offs, few guardrails. Slow, sober, daylight, check weather
Breckenridge altitude (~9,600 ft)	Take it easy first night; hydrate

Pack extras (Southwest → alpine)

Water shoes + hiking poles (Narrows / Kanarra)
Dry bags, headlamp, microspikes only if shoulder-season ice
Layers for 40°F desert nights and 30°F alpine nights
Bear-aware food storage once you’re in CO mountains
Offline maps (Gaia/onX/Google offline) — big dead zones on Navajo land + Cathedral Valley
Full fresh tank before every remote stretch; dump when you can

Stop 1 — Page, Arizona (1–2 nights)

Why: Desert hub. Antelope Canyon’s swirling sandstone + Horseshoe Bend’s Colorado River horseshoe.

Do

Antelope Canyon (Upper or Lower) — Navajo guided tour required. Lower = more ladders/stairs, often slightly cheaper; Upper = classic light beams midday in season. Book one solid tour; don’t stack three tourist products in one day.
Horseshoe Bend — 0.6 mi each way from parking. $10/vehicle. Go early or late for light and fewer people.
Optional: Lake Powell viewpoint / Glen Canyon Dam overlook if energy left.

Camp (18ft-friendly)

Option	Notes
Wahweap RV & Campground	Glen Canyon NRA. Full-hookup + dry loops. Lake Powell access. Big-rig capable; 18ft is trivial.
Antelope Point RV Park	Newer, full hookups, near marina; convenient to canyon tour meetups.
Page city RV parks	Backup if lake parks full.

Logistics

Book Antelope before you lock camp nights.
Summer afternoons are brutal — hike early.
Fuel + groceries in Page before remote Utah stretches.

Next drive: Page → Zion (Springdale) ≈ 2–2.5 hrs via US-89.

Stop 2 — Zion National Park, Utah (2–3 nights)

Why: 2,000-ft red sandstone walls. Virgin River corridor. The Narrows if conditions allow.

Do

Park the RV at camp or Springdale; use the canyon shuttle (seasonal, typically spring–fall).
Classics: Riverside Walk → Narrows bottom-up (check flash-flood risk daily), Watchman Trail, Canyon Overlook (east side — different parking), Court of the Patriarchs viewpoints.
Angels Landing = separate timed permit lottery — only if you care enough to plan it.
Springdale food/beer after hikes.

Camp

Option	Notes
Watchman Campground (in park)	Best base. Reservations on Recreation.gov. Electric sites available; check each site’s vehicle length. 18ft fits many sites — don’t book a 19-ft-max tent-only pad by accident.
South Campground	Status has swung with rehab projects — verify current year on NPS/Recreation.gov. Don’t build the trip around it until confirmed open.
Springdale / Rockville private RV parks	Walkable/shuttleable backups when Watchman is gone.
Lava Point	Small, high, remote; not the main-canyon experience; vehicle limits on Kolob Terrace Road.

Blunt tips

Watchman fills at the 6-month open time for peak dates. Set a calendar alert.
Narrows = rent canyon shoes/stick in Springdale if you don’t own them.
East entrance tunnel has large-vehicle restrictions/escort rules for big rigs; your 18ft is usually fine but read the current NPS tunnel page if towing.

Next: Zion → Kanarra Falls ≈ 45–60 min north toward Kanarraville (I-15 corridor).

Stop 3 — Kanarra Falls, Utah (half day; not a full base)

Why: Hidden canyon, stream walking, rustic wooden ladder beside a waterfall. Shorter and more “secret slot” than Zion’s main scene — but it’s not secret anymore.

Do

Permit required: $15/person, cap ~150/day, credit card, no refunds.
Buy at kanarrafalls.com. Peak season: book ahead; unused tickets sometimes release afternoon walk-up after 2pm (no guarantee).
Expect wet feet, slippery rock, one or two ladder sections. Not a stroller hike.
RV parking is available at the town trailhead lot with a valid permit — don’t block residential streets.

Camp

No need to overnight in Kanarraville unless you want quiet.
- Morning Kanarra → afternoon drive to Bryce is the clean move.
- If you need a night nearby: Cedar City RV options, or push to Bryce same day (~1.5–2 hrs from Kanarra area depending on stops).

Next drive: Kanarraville area → Bryce Canyon ≈ 1.5–2 hrs.

Stop 4 — Bryce Canyon, Utah (1–2 nights)

Why: Densest concentration of crimson hoodoos on the planet. Rim at sunrise/sunset is the money shot.

Do

Rim Trail segments between major overlooks (Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, Bryce Point).
Drop below the rim: Navajo Loop + Queen’s Garden combo is the classic (check for trail closures).
Night sky — Bryce is a serious dark-sky park; cold at 8,000+ ft.
Optional: scenic drive to Rainbow Point if you want the full park spine.

Camp

Option	Notes
North Campground (in park)	Closest to visitor center/rim. Reserve where required; check driveway length per site.
Sunset Campground (in park)	Seasonal; some loops tent/van oriented — read loop rules.
Ruby’s Inn RV Park & Campground	0.5–1 mile from entrance. Full hookups, dump, showers, seasonal shuttle. Easiest 18ft full-service option.

Blunt tips

Elevation: cooler than Zion/Page. Pack the puffy.
You do not need more than 1.5 solid days unless you’re a hoodoo photographer.

Next drive: Bryce → Torrey (Capitol Reef gateway) via Scenic Byway 12 ≈ 2–2.5 hrs of the best paved driving in Utah. Do not skip Hwy 12 for I-70 unless weather/time forces it.

Stop 5 — Bentonite Hills, Utah (day trip from Torrey / Capitol Reef)

Why: Banded pastel clay hills that look like Mars. Part of the Cathedral Valley / Caineville Wash landscape east of Capitol Reef’s main spine.

Critical RV rule

Leave the 18ft rig in Torrey (or Fruita area) and day-trip in a high-clearance vehicle.
Hartnet / Cathedral Valley roads are washboard, soft when wet, and a bad place to high-center or slim a camper. Bentonite clay turns to grease after rain — if it’s wet, skip it.

Do

Bentonite Hills viewpoints along Cathedral Valley loop roads.
Pair with Capitol Reef paved highlights: Fruita historic district, scenic drive, easy orchards/petroglyph stops.
Optional jeep rental from Torrey-area outfits (e.g. tied to Thousand Lakes RV Park) if you only have the camper.

Camp (base for this stop)

Option	Notes
Fruita Campground (Capitol Reef NP)	In-park, popular, reserve when available. Great base.
Thousand Lakes RV Park (Torrey)	Full hookups, easy town access, jeep rental logistics.
BLM dispersed east/west of Torrey	Free options if self-contained; use existing pads, pack out waste.
Cathedral Valley Campground	Primitive, free, ~6 sites, FCFS, pit toilet — only if you’re in a suitable vehicle on the loop, not the daily driver RV plan.

Blunt tips

This is a photography / weird geology stop, not a hiking destination.
One night Torrey is enough for Bentonite + Capitol Reef sampler; two if you love the park.

Next drive: Torrey → Moab / Island in the Sky ≈ 2.5–3 hrs (UT-24 → I-70 → US-191).

Stop 6 — Canyonlands (Island in the Sky), Utah (1–2 nights Moab base)

Why: Huge Colorado/Green River canyon wilderness from mesa-top overlooks. Big sky, short walks, maximum payoff.

Do

Grand View Point, Green River Overlook, Mesa Arch (sunrise classic), Shafer Canyon overlook.
Optional: Dead Horse Point State Park (separate fee) — one of the best single viewpoints in Utah; camp here as a premium alternative.
Moab town for dinner, bike shops, laundry, dump/water.
Optional add: Arches NP if you have a full extra day (timed entry may apply in peak season — check current rules).

Camp

Option	Notes
Willow Flat (Island in the Sky)	12 sites, FCFS, ~$15, no water, RVs generally ≤28 ft — 18ft OK. Fills early spring–fall.
Dead Horse Point SP (Kayenta/Wingate)	Reservable, better facilities, killer views, longer RV pads.
BLM Moab area (Horsethief, Lone Mesa, Hwy 128 river sites, etc.)	Dispersed/paid BLM; classic 18ft boondock country.
Moab private RV parks	Hookups + recovery night before Monument Valley.

Blunt tips

Island in the Sky is an overlook park — you can crush the highlights in one solid day.
Carry all water if staying at Willow Flat.
Needles District is a different, longer side trip — skip on this itinerary unless you add 2 days.

Next drive: Moab → Monument Valley ≈ 2.5–3 hrs via US-191 S + US-163. Fuel in Blanding or Kayenta corridor as needed.

Stop 7 — Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah (1 night)

Why: The postcard West — isolated red buttes, highway views you’ve seen in every western.

Do

Valley Drive (Tribal Park scenic loop) — check current self-drive vs guided rules/fees at the visitor center.
Goulding’s area museum/trading post history if it interests you.
Sunset and sunrise are the point. Midday is flat light and tour buses.
Respect Navajo Nation rules: stay on allowed roads, no off-trail wandering, alcohol restrictions on tribal land.

Camp

Option	Notes
Goulding’s RV Campground	Full hookups, reliable, amenities, views into the rock country. Best “easy button.”
The View Campground	Closer to the iconic skyline; often dry camping, max RV ~24 ft — 18ft fits. Views win over hookups.

Blunt tips

One night is enough for most people.
Wind can be nasty on the plateau — stake awnings carefully or leave them in.
Cell service is spotty; download maps offline.

Next drive: Monument Valley → Durango ≈ 3–3.5 hrs via US-160 E (passes near Mesa Verde — optional quick detour if you’re a ruins person and have slack).

Stop 8 — Durango, Colorado (1–2 nights)

Why: Drop into the Rockies. Historic 1880s coal-fired steam train through the Animas River gorge to Silverton.

Do

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad — book the steam round-trip if you can; diesel exists on some schedules. Full day commitment.
- RV parking at the Durango lot is available (recently ~$20/day for RVs) — no overnight camping in the lot.
Downtown Durango: brewery walk, Animas River trail, recover from desert dust.
Optional: if train is sold out, consider a half-day jeep road or simple alpine hike instead — don’t force a bad seat time.

Camp

Option	Notes
Junction Creek Campground (San Juan NF)	~15 min from town, some electric sites, reservable mix. Solid public option.
HTR Durango (Lightner Creek)	Full-service private park in a box canyon; easy for 18ft.
Other private parks along US-160 / Lightner Creek	Hookup backups in peak summer.

Blunt tips

Train day = early start, layers, snacks; Silverton is high and can be cold even in July.
This is your last easy “town full services” stop before serious mountain roads.

Next drive: Durango → Ouray via Million Dollar Highway ≈ 1.5–2 hrs pure driving — plan more with photo stops. Daylight only.

Stop 9 — Million Dollar Highway, Colorado (drive day; optional Silverton pause)

Why: US-550 between Silverton and Ouray is one of the most dramatic paved drives in the U.S. — cliff bands, big exposure, almost no guardrails in the famous sections.

How to drive it in an 18ft RV

Go northbound Durango → Silverton → Ouray (your route).
Daylight, good weather, full attention. No rushing for a dinner reservation.
Slow is fine; locals pass when safe.
Watch for motorcycles, rental jeeps, and rubberneckers.
If storms, ice, or you’re wiped: overnight Silverton and finish in the morning.
Not the place to learn mountain driving with a first-time tow. Solo 18ft camper is much easier than a long trailer.

Optional pause

Silverton — mining town boardwalk energy; limited RV camping; good lunch stop.
Photo pullouts exist but some are tight — know your turn radius.

Next: roll straight into Ouray as the night’s base.

Stop 10 — Ouray, Colorado (1–2 nights)

Why: “Switzerland of America.” Victorian mining town in a box canyon of jagged peaks. Hot springs after the highway adrenaline.

Do

Ouray Hot Springs pool (easy) or local soaking options.
Town walk + ice park area viewpoints (even in summer the gorge is wild).
Easy/moderate hikes: Perimeter Trail segments, Box Canyon Falls, or a jeep road day if you want more altitude.
Don’t schedule a huge hike the same afternoon you drove 550 if you’re not used to exposure driving.

Camp

Option	Notes
Amphitheater Campground (GMUG NF)	Above town, views, vault toilets, no hookups. Small-rig friendly (official guidance often ~35 ft max; 18ft is ideal). Reserve/FCFS mix by season. Bear country.
Ouray Riverside / town RV parks	Full hookups on the Uncompahgre — easier recovery night.

Blunt tips

Nights get cold; shoulders can drop hard.
This is a gem — worth two nights if the forecast is clear.

Next drive: Ouray → Breckenridge ≈ 4–5 hrs depending on route/stops
Common path: US-550 N → Ridgway → toward Montrose/Gunnison or over toward CO-62 / Telluride corridor alternatives, then north to I-70 corridor and Breck.
Pick the route the morning-of based on construction and weather (CDOT). Leave early.

Stop 11 — Breckenridge, Colorado (2+ nights endcap)

Why: High-altitude mountain town finish. Historic Main Street, endless hiking, real sheets-and-showers energy if you want a resort RV park after two weeks of dust.

Do

Easy recovery walks: river paths, town stroll, scenic chairlift if running in summer.
Harder: alpine lakes / 13er trailheads only if you’re acclimated (you just came from 5–8k desert — respect 9–12k trailheads).
Optional nearby: Frisco, Dillon Reservoir, Boreas Pass (road conditions permitting).
Celebrate the loop. Laundry. Dump. Long shower.

Camp

Option	Notes
Tiger Run Resort	Full hookups, big amenity set, between Breck and Frisco. Easy 18ft fit. Pricey, convenient.
USFS campgrounds toward Goose Creek / Swan / open NF sites	Cheaper, more primitive; length and season vary — verify.
Other private parks along CO-9 / I-70 spur	Book ahead on summer weekends and fall color weeks.

Blunt tips

First 24 hours: hydrate, light alcohol, slow hikes.
Afternoon thunderstorms common in summer mountains.
This is a fine place to end — flying out of DEN or driving onward both work.

Drive-Time Cheat Sheet (rig-realistic)

Leg	~Time	Notes
Page → Zion	2–2.5 hr	US-89 scenic
Zion → Kanarra	0.75–1 hr	Quick add-on
Kanarra → Bryce	1.5–2 hr	Via UT-20/US-89/UT-12
Bryce → Torrey	2–2.5 hr	Hwy 12 — do it
Torrey → Moab	2.5–3 hr
Moab → Monument Valley	2.5–3 hr
Monument Valley → Durango	3–3.5 hr	Optional Mesa Verde
Durango → Ouray (US-550)	1.5–2+ hr	Photo + nerves time
Ouray → Breckenridge	4–5 hr	Weather/construction dependent

Sample 14-Day Day-by-Day

Day 1 — Arrive Page. Horseshoe Bend late day. Camp Wahweap or Antelope Point.
Day 2 — Antelope Canyon tour AM. Lake Powell / recover PM.
Day 3 — Drive to Zion. Watchman or Springdale. Short evening hike (Watchman Trail).
Day 4 — Full Zion day (Narrows or classic corridor hikes).
Day 5 — Zion morning → Kanarra Falls midday → drive to Bryce. Sunset rim.
Day 6 — Bryce hoodoos full day.
Day 7 — Hwy 12 to Torrey. Capitol Reef scenic drive.
Day 8 — Bentonite Hills / Cathedral Valley day trip (4x4). Night Torrey.
Day 9 — Drive Moab. Island in the Sky afternoon overlooks.
Day 10 — Dead Horse Point or Arches optional + Moab reset.
Day 11 — Monument Valley. Sunset. Goulding’s or The View.
Day 12 — Drive Durango. Town evening.
Day 13 — Steam train day.
Day 14 — Million Dollar Highway to Ouray. Soak.
Day 15 — Ouray morning → Breckenridge.
Day 16 — Breck buffer / depart.

Compress to 11–12 by cutting Arches, second Zion day, and second Ouray night. Expand by adding Mesa Verde, Telluride side hit, or extra Moab mountain-bike day.

Money & Fees (ballpark, per couple, not including fuel/food)

Item	Expect
America the Beautiful	~$80/year
Antelope tour	~$80–120+/person
Kanarra permits	$15/person
Horseshoe Bend parking	$10/vehicle
Monument Valley tribal fees / drive	check current gate rates
NP campgrounds	~$20–45/night
Private full-hookup parks	~$55–100+/night (Breck/Page peak)
Durango train	significant — budget real money + RV parking

Fuel: desert + mountain grades. Keep tanks above half outside towns.

Risk Register (read this)

Flash floods — Narrows, Kanarra, any slot. If storms upstream, cancel.
Heat — Page/Monument in July–Aug can wreck a day. Dawn starts.
Altitude — Bryce already cool; Ouray/Breck are the real shift.
Cathedral Valley clay — wet = no-go.
US-550 — weather, rockfall, nerves. Daylight only.
Reservations failure cascade — always have a BLM/private backup near Zion, Bryce, Moab.
Monsoon — Jul–Sep afternoon cells; don’t start exposed rim hikes at 1pm.

18ft RV Hit List (print this)

Bottom Line

This is a strong itinerary if you respect three things:

Permits & park camps book early (Antelope, Kanarra, Zion, train).
Bentonite is a day trip without the RV — don’t improvise Cathedral Valley in the camper.
US-550 is the psychological crux of the Colorado half — 18ft is the right size; attitude and daylight matter more than horsepower.

Do that, and you get the full arc: slots → hoodoos → Mars hills → mesa canyons → John Wayne buttes → steam train → cliff highway → alpine bowl → high-country village.

Built for Pipps’ 18ft RV style (practical camps, blunt constraints, no filler). Verify live fees, road closures, and CG status on Recreation.gov / NPS / tribal sites before deposit money — desert and mountain ops change seasonally.