Family Road Trip · 2026
Arizona canyons, Utah national parks, and a Thanksgiving to remember — all from the comfort of our Expedition.
The big idea
Emma and Lily are at the perfect age for this — old enough to hike, appreciate the scenery, and remember it for the rest of their lives. The Southwest is hands-down the most dramatic landscape in the country, and we can do it all from our own backyard without a single flight.
Thanksgiving week is the hidden gem of travel windows. Crowds thin out, prices drop, and we only need to pull the girls out of school for 2 days (Mon–Tue Nov 23–24). The school is already closed from Wednesday through the weekend. It works out to 11 full days.
When we go
Our window
November 21 – December 1, 2026
School is closed Nov 25–27 for Thanksgiving break. We leave Saturday Nov 21, pull the girls out just Mon–Tue, and get 11 incredible days. Weather is 60–70°F in Sedona and the Grand Canyon — perfect hiking. Zion and Bryce are cold but stunning, with almost no crowds.
Only 2 school days missedThanksgiving dinner at the Grand Canyon. We pick up a pre-made feast from Whole Foods in Sedona on Day 2, and eat it Thursday evening at Mather Campground with the canyon right outside the tent. That's a family memory the girls will never forget.
Where we're going
Stop 01
Sedona, Arizona
Red rock country, Pink Jeep backcountry tour, incredible restaurants, and sunset views that look like they're from another planet.
Stop 02
Grand Canyon
Camp inside the park. Wake up to the canyon at sunrise. Bright Angel Trail. Thanksgiving dinner under the stars.
Stop 03
Page, AZ
Antelope Canyon slot canyon tour. Horseshoe Bend at sunset. Lake Powell in the afternoon.
Stop 04
Zion N.P.
Camp on the Virgin River. The Narrows — hiking through a river inside a slot canyon. The girls will love this.
Stop 05
Bryce Canyon
Otherworldly hoodoos. Navajo Loop trail. Sunrise from Sunrise Point. Possibly snow — spectacular in November.
Stop 06
Monument Valley
The Forrest Gump road. The Mittens at sunset. A Navajo-guided loop through iconic American landscape — on the way home.
Day by day
SAT NOV 21
Yucaipa → Sedona
4.5 hr drive. Arrive afternoon, walk Uptown Sedona, dinner on the main strip watching the red rocks glow at sunset.
Hotel · 2 nightsSUN NOV 22
Sedona — full day
Pink Jeep backcountry tour in the morning. Afternoon free to hike Cathedral Rock or explore the galleries and shops. Stock up on Thanksgiving groceries at Whole Foods.
HotelMON NOV 23 · School pullout day 1
Sedona → Grand Canyon
2 hr drive. Set up camp at Mather Campground inside the park. Rim Trail walk at sunset — first look at the canyon.
Camping · Mather CampgroundTUE NOV 24 · School pullout day 2
Grand Canyon — full day
Full day exploring. Bright Angel Trail into the canyon. Desert View Drive for quieter viewpoints. Early prep for tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner.
CampingWED NOV 25
Grand Canyon → Page, AZ
2.5 hr drive east. Stop at Horseshoe Bend on the way in — best at sunset. Dinner and rest in Page.
Hotel · 2 nightsTHU NOV 26 · Thanksgiving
Page — Antelope Canyon + Lake Powell
Morning: Lower Antelope Canyon guided tour — the light beams are unforgettable. Afternoon: kayak or swim at Lake Powell. Thanksgiving dinner back at the hotel.
Thanksgiving DayFRI NOV 27
Page → Zion National Park
2 hr drive. Arrive midday. Set up camp at Watchman Campground on the Virgin River. Free park shuttle, Riverside Walk into the canyon.
Camping · Watchman CampgroundSAT NOV 28
Zion — The Narrows
The highlight of the whole trip. Hiking through the Virgin River inside a towering slot canyon. Wetsuit rentals in Springdale keep everyone warm. A genuine adventure the girls will talk about forever.
CampingSUN NOV 29
Zion → Bryce Canyon
1.5 hr scenic drive through Red Canyon. Arrive at Bryce in time for sunset at Sunset Point — the hoodoos glow orange.
Camping · Sunrise/Sunset CampgroundMON NOV 30
Bryce Canyon — full day
Sunrise at Sunrise Point. Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden trail — the best hike in the park, through hoodoos that look like another planet. Move to a warm hotel in Panguitch for the final night.
Hotel · PanguitchTUE DEC 1
Bryce → Monument Valley → Home
Drive the iconic Forrest Gump stretch of Hwy 163. Loop through Monument Valley. Then south through Arizona and home. ~8 hrs total — one last epic drive.
Home by eveningFor Emma & Lily
The Narrows, Zion
Hiking through a river inside a slot canyon — genuinely unlike anything else on earth. Even the most phone-absorbed teenager puts the phone down.
Antelope Canyon
The light beams. The swirling sandstone. The most photographed slot canyon in the world — and it's even more stunning in person.
Grand Canyon sunrise from camp
Waking up inside the park and walking to the rim in the early morning light. No crowds, no rush. Just our family and the canyon.
Pink Jeep Tour, Sedona
Driving over rock formations in a jeep that shouldn't be able to go there. Incredible views of Sedona's red rocks from above.
Thanksgiving at the Grand Canyon
Pre-made feast, campfire, and the canyon. Not a traditional Thanksgiving — a legendary one.
Where we sleep
4 camping nights save us ~$320 vs. all hotels. But these aren't compromise nights — camping inside Grand Canyon and Zion is actually a better experience than any hotel outside the parks.
The numbers
Our ride
2021 Ford Expedition
Action plan
Mather Campground — Grand Canyon
Books within hours of opening. Nov 23–24 sites open May 23, 2026 on Recreation.gov. Set a midnight alarm — this is the most critical booking.
May 23, 2026 — midnight
Watchman Campground — Zion
Nov 27–28 sites open May 27, 2026 on Recreation.gov. Almost as competitive as Grand Canyon. Book immediately when it opens.
May 27, 2026 — midnight
Antelope Canyon tour
Thanksgiving week tours sell out months in advance. Ken's Tours or Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours. ~$65/person.
Book as soon as possible
Bryce Canyon campsite
Sunrise or Sunset Campground, Nov 29. Less competitive in November but still book 3+ months out on Recreation.gov.
August 2026
Sedona hotel — 2 nights
Stay in Cottonwood or Village of Oak Creek for lower rates. Book with free cancellation. Holiday Inn Express or similar.
August–September 2026
Page hotel — 2 nights
Best Western at Lake Powell or Courtyard Page. Off-season rates ~$90–110/night.
August–September 2026
Pink Jeep Tour — Sedona
Broken Arrow or Ancient Expeditions tour. Book 4–6 weeks before Thanksgiving weekend.
October 2026
Zion Narrows wetsuit rentals
Zion Outfitter or Zion Adventure Company in Springdale. ~$45/person. Reserve online in advance.
October–November 2026
America the Beautiful Pass — $80
Buy at store.usgs.gov or at the first park entrance. Covers all 3 national parks. Saves $105 vs. paying per park.
Anytime before the trip
Legend: Book immediately Book within months 1–3 months out