Leave Surprise around 6:00 AM via US-60 and US-93, allowing roughly 5½ hours of driving before stops. This is a long, hot desert leg, so fill the tank before leaving and carry more water than you think you’ll need; services are limited between Wickenburg, Kingman, and Las Vegas. After crossing into Nevada, stop at Seven Magic Mountains near Jean, about 30 minutes south of the Strip. The colorful stacked sculptures are free to view and take about 20–30 minutes, but there is no shade, water, or restroom infrastructure—visit before the afternoon heat becomes intense.
Continue north to Mandalay Bay Beach for approximately two hours of swimming and recovery after the drive. Access is generally reserved for registered hotel guests, so confirm your reservation’s pool privileges before relying on this stop; daybed and cabana rentals cost extra. If you are staying elsewhere, use the hotel pool instead and treat this as a brief arrival-and-refresh window. Park at your hotel if possible; Strip garage rates vary, while rideshare between resorts can save time in the heat.
Head downtown for The Neon Museum, ideally booking a sunset or early-evening tour in advance. The outdoor Neon Boneyard is especially atmospheric as the signs begin to glow, but August evenings remain hot, so bring water and wear comfortable shoes; admission is commonly around $20–35 depending on the tour. From the museum, it is a short drive or rideshare to Evel Knievel’s near Fremont Street for casual American food, typically about $25–45 per person. Finish at the Fremont Street Experience, where the five-block pedestrian canopy hosts free light shows and frequent live music. Keep valuables secure, expect crowds, and use a rideshare or hotel garage rather than moving your car repeatedly through downtown.
Leave Las Vegas around 6:00–7:00 AM for the drive north on I-15, detouring into Valley of Fire State Park near Overton. Allow about two hours for the detour, plus fuel and a short rest stop. Start with the viewpoints around Mouse’s Tank Road or the short walk to Fire Wave if temperatures are manageable; in August, the rock offers almost no shade, so carry water and keep this visit brief. The park usually opens around sunrise, and the entrance fee is roughly $10 per vehicle for Nevada residents or $15 for nonresidents; check same-day heat and trail advisories before setting out.
Return to I-15 and continue north to St. George, roughly an hour from the park. Spend about an hour in St. George Historic Downtown, where the shaded streets and restored buildings make a useful place to stretch, use the restroom, and grab a cold drink. Park near Main Street and walk rather than trying to move the car between blocks; cafés and shops generally begin opening around 10:00 AM. From here, the drive to Provo is about two hours, so plan a quick fuel stop before rejoining the interstate.
After checking in and cooling down, drive about 30 minutes east through Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls. The waterfall viewpoint is close to the road and requires little walking, making it a good late-afternoon stop, but use caution around wet rocks and expect limited parking. Return to downtown for dinner at Communal, a polished, locally focused restaurant where entrées typically run about $20–40 per person; reservations are sensible, especially on a Saturday, and dinner service commonly begins around 5:00 PM. If you still have energy after eating, finish with an easy one-hour walk in Provo Rock Canyon, just east of town, beneath the limestone cliffs. Go before full darkness, bring a headlamp if lingering late, and keep the evening relaxed after the long driving day.
Leave Provo around 7:00 AM in the rental car, following US-89 and US-91 toward Garden City and Bear Lake State Park. Allow roughly 1½ hours to reach the lake, with extra time for summer roadwork and a coffee or fuel stop. The water is an unusually vivid turquoise in August, and the Garden City shoreline is the best place for a quick scenic break. Walk the beach, take a short swim if conditions are calm, and keep towels and sunscreen accessible rather than buried in the trunk. Day-use fees and parking rules vary by entrance, so carry a card and some cash; arrive early because popular shoreline areas fill quickly on summer weekends.
From Bear Lake, continue north and west toward Blackfoot, then stop at the Idaho Potato Museum before finishing the drive to Idaho Falls. Plan about 45 minutes here, including the small gift shop and the museum’s exhibits on potato farming, processing, and Idaho’s agricultural identity. Typical hours are daytime business hours, generally around 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, but check the official schedule before setting out because seasonal hours can change. The museum is an easy stop with straightforward parking, and it makes a good leg-stretch before the final drive north on I-15.
Continue to Idaho Falls, check in, and leave the car parked while you explore the downtown riverfront. The Idaho Falls River Walk is a relaxed one-hour stroll beside the Snake River, with the waterfall, bridges, and green spaces providing a welcome change from the highway. It is free and open throughout the day; late afternoon is especially pleasant, though bring a light layer because temperatures drop quickly near the water. For dinner, walk or drive a few minutes to The SnakeBite Restaurant, a reliable downtown choice in a historic setting known for steakhouse-style plates. Expect roughly $25–45 per person before drinks and tip, and consider calling ahead or joining the waitlist during the busy August dinner period.
Leave Idaho Falls around 7:00 AM on US-20; the drive to West Yellowstone takes about two hours, with mountain scenery and a noticeable change to cooler, higher-elevation weather as you approach town. After arrival, handle campground check-in and pick up food, ice, firewood, and breakfast supplies in town—summer inventory can disappear quickly, so do this before sightseeing. Keep bear-aware food storage in mind: use the campground’s approved lockers or your vehicle’s enclosed trunk, never leave food or scented items at the site.
Your first stop is the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, conveniently near the park entrance. Allow about 1½ hours, and check the same-day schedule before going; summer hours are generally extended, with admission roughly $15–25 per adult depending on current pricing. The shaded viewing areas and educational talks make this a good first activity after the drive, and the rescued animals are especially worthwhile if you want a Yellowstone wildlife introduction without searching the park roads.
Walk or make the short drive into central West Yellowstone for the West Yellowstone Historic Center, housed near the old Union Pacific railroad depot. Give it about 45 minutes; it is a compact museum focused on the railroad, early tourism, and the town’s role as a western gateway. Hours are seasonal and can be limited, so verify before setting out; admission is typically modest, around $5–10. From there, head to the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre for an approximately one-hour large-format regional film. This is a smart midafternoon pause when sun, crowds, and possible thunderstorms make outdoor wandering less pleasant; reserve seats if an evening or afternoon showing is popular.
Have dinner at The Buffalo Bar, a casual West Yellowstone institution with burgers, sandwiches, and a relaxed Western atmosphere. Expect about $20–40 per person, and allow extra time during the August dinner rush. Afterward, drive west on US-20 for roughly 15–20 minutes to Hebgen Lake for sunset. Choose a signed shoreline pullout or picnic area, bring a jacket and headlamp, and stay on established paths after dark. The lake is a calmer first-evening alternative to trying to fit more of Yellowstone National Park into an arrival day; check sunset time and wildfire or road advisories before leaving town.
Start early from West Yellowstone, ideally around 6:30–7:00 AM, when parking is easier and wildlife is most active along the road. Drive east on US-20 into Yellowstone National Park, then continue toward the Lower Geyser Basin; allow about 45 minutes to Fountain Paint Pot Trail. The easy boardwalk takes roughly an hour and passes bubbling mud pots, colorful springs, and steaming fumaroles. Stay strictly on the boardwalk—thermal ground can be dangerously thin—and carry water, sunscreen, and a light jacket for the cool morning air.
Continue north toward the Midway Geyser Basin for the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. Park at the Fairy Falls Trailhead, where the short uphill walk to the overlook takes about 20–30 minutes each way; plan 1½ hours including the view and traffic delays. Midday crowds build quickly, and parking can fill, so arriving before late morning is worthwhile. Steam may partially obscure the colors in cooler weather, but the elevated view still gives the best perspective of the spring’s brilliant blue center and orange-red microbial mats.
Drive south through the Upper Geyser Basin to Old Faithful, allowing 30–45 minutes depending on traffic and animal-related slowdowns. Check the next eruption prediction on the National Park Service app or at the visitor center; eruptions are generally forecast within a roughly 10-minute window, and the area is free after the park entrance fee. Give yourself about two hours to watch the eruption and wander nearby thermal features, but don’t attempt to cross between areas on foot—the distances are greater than they look. For lunch, stop at Old Faithful Inn, usually open seasonally from morning through evening; its historic log lobby is worth seeing, and a light café meal runs about $15–30 per person. Afterward, spend about an hour at Biscuit Basin, following its compact boardwalk past vivid hot springs and geysers. Check current conditions before going, since thermal-area boardwalks can close unexpectedly.
Finish at Yellowstone Lake at West Thumb, roughly a 40-minute drive south from Biscuit Basin. Allow 1½ hours for the lakeside boardwalk, where hot springs and colorful pools sit directly beside the deep blue lake, with broad mountain views across the water. This is a good late-day stop because the light is softer and the pace is calmer, though temperatures drop quickly after sunset. From West Thumb, expect about 1½–2 hours back to West Yellowstone via US-191 and US-20. Fill up in town before entering the park, keep food stored securely at camp, and plan dinner near Canyon Street or your campground rather than relying on park concessions late in the evening.
Check out of your West Yellowstone campground around 8:00 AM and follow US-20 toward Idaho Falls; plan on roughly two hours of direct driving, plus the morning’s detour. Before leaving, top off fuel and secure food in the cooler—services thin out quickly once you turn toward the forest. Near Island Park, allow about two hours for the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. The road is slower and winding but rewarding, ending at Upper Mesa Falls, where a short network of overlooks gives you excellent views of the Snake River plunging through the canyon. The viewing area generally opens during daylight hours, with a small day-use fee often collected; bring a light jacket, since the forest can feel cool even in August.
Continue through the Island Park area to Harriman State Park, allowing about 1½ hours for an easy walk through open meadows, shaded lodgepole forest, and quiet trout-water landscapes. It is a good place to slow down rather than chase every trail; carry water and watch for bicycles and wildlife on the shared paths. Afterward, drive into Idaho Falls and check into camp before heading downtown. Spend roughly 1½ hours at the Museum of Idaho, whose exhibits regularly cover regional history, Indigenous cultures, science, and touring displays. Check the current schedule before setting out—summer hours are commonly daytime through early evening, and admission is typically around $10–20 for adults.
For dinner, walk or make the short drive through downtown to Lucy’s New York Style Pizzeria. Expect about $15–30 per person for pizza and a salad; it is casual, filling, and well suited to a night when everyone is dusty from the road. Finish at Tautphaus Park, where shaded paths and gardens make for an easy one-hour sunset stroll. The park is free and usually remains accessible into the evening, but allow extra time to return to camp and keep food secured—Idaho Falls can be pleasantly cool after dark, while the campground may still have active summer mosquitoes.
Leave Idaho Falls around 6:30–7:00 AM with coffee, water, and a full tank; the planned US-26 and US-89 route is scenic but slower than I-15, taking roughly 5–6 hours with the stops. Build in flexibility for summer traffic and roadwork, especially around mountain communities. Your first substantial break is Jackson Town Square, where about an hour is enough to stretch beneath the famous elk-antler arches and browse the historic center. The square is open all day, and its surrounding galleries, shops, and cafés generally begin opening around 9:00–10:00 AM; street parking is limited, so use one of the public lots just outside the square and walk in.
Continue south on US-89 toward Bear Lake for the planned scenic drive and roughly 1½-hour lakeside pause. The water’s striking turquoise color is best appreciated from the overlooks and public shoreline areas, though the lake can be busy in August and some beaches charge day-use or parking fees, commonly around $10–20. Pick up lunch or snacks before reaching the busiest shoreline areas, and keep the stop relaxed rather than trying to circle every road—the remaining drive to Provo still takes several hours. Allow extra time when leaving the lake, as summer recreational traffic can be slow.
After arriving in Provo, head to the BYU Museum of Paleontology for about an hour. It is on the Brigham Young University campus, with visitor parking nearby but occasional campus restrictions, so check the museum’s current visitor instructions before driving in. Typical hours are weekday daytime hours, often roughly 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, and admission is generally free, though hours and access can change during university breaks. This is a good low-effort stop after the long drive: the fossil halls are compact, air-conditioned, and focused on excellent dinosaur specimens rather than a sprawling campus tour.
For dinner, walk or drive a few minutes into downtown Provo for Black Sheep Café, a small, popular restaurant known for creative Southwestern and Native-inspired cooking. Dinner usually runs about $20–40 per person before drinks and tip; reservations are sensible if available, since the dining room can fill quickly. Afterward, spend about 45 minutes at Jesse Knight Garden, an atmospheric landscaped space downtown that is best treated as a gentle post-dinner stroll rather than a major attraction. Check the garden’s evening access when you arrive, and keep the walk unhurried—after the long route from Idaho Falls, an early night will serve you better than adding another stop.
Leave Provo around 7:00 AM with a full tank and breakfast packed for the approximately five-hour drive to Las Vegas. Follow I-15 south, allowing extra time for construction, truck traffic, and the planned stops. Your first break is Cedar Breaks National Monument, near Brian Head, reached by detouring east from I-15; the high elevation makes it dramatically cooler than the desert below. Spend about 45 minutes at the overlooks along Cedar Breaks Scenic Drive, where the amphitheater’s red, orange, and cream cliffs resemble a smaller, quieter cousin of Bryce Canyon. The monument generally opens during daylight, but check the National Park Service status before leaving; the entrance fee is typically around $10–15 per vehicle unless covered by an America the Beautiful pass. Bring a jacket even in August, and return to I-15 rather than lingering too long—the remaining drive is still substantial.
Continue south to St. George, then stop at the Red Hills Desert Garden for an easy 30–45-minute walk among native plants, reconstructed desert washes, and red-rock scenery. It is free, close to downtown, and usually open from morning into the evening, though summer heat makes a short visit preferable around midday. The garden has some shade but not enough for a long linger, so carry water and avoid touching cacti. From here, it is roughly two hours to Las Vegas via I-15; refuel in St. George before leaving, as fuel prices and traffic tend to worsen closer to the Strip. On arrival, check into your hotel or campground and allow time to cool down before the evening stops.
Head to the Pinball Hall of Fame on Las Vegas Boulevard, just south of the main Strip, for an hour or so of low-key fun. It is a large, casual nonprofit arcade packed with playable vintage machines; admission is free, while individual games generally cost about 25–50 cents. Parking is free, and this is a better afternoon choice than wandering the Strip in the heat. Afterward, drive or use a rideshare to Lotus of Siam in East Las Vegas for dinner. Reserve ahead if possible—the acclaimed Northern Thai menu is popular, and $30–60 per person is a sensible estimate before drinks and gratuity. Order family-style if you want to sample several dishes, and confirm the specific location on your reservation because the restaurant has operated more than one Las Vegas venue.
Finish with an easy walk through The Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes, where the indoor canals, painted ceilings, and air-conditioning make a comfortable evening reset. Allow about 1½ hours, with the option to continue outside for Strip views after dark. Parking and resort access can take longer than expected, so rideshare is simplest; if driving, use the resort’s garage and allow 15–20 minutes to reach the shopping area. Keep tomorrow’s departure in mind: avoid turning this into a late night, and leave valuables out of sight in the car whenever you move between stops.
Leave Las Vegas around 7:00 AM with a full tank, plenty of water, and the car’s air-conditioning checked; take US-93 southeast toward Boulder City. Allow about 1½ hours to reach Hoover Dam, including the approach roads and likely summer traffic. Start with the dam’s viewpoints and the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge overlook; the exterior viewpoints are free, while visitor-center access or guided dam tours generally cost extra. Parking can fill quickly, and August heat is intense, so keep this stop focused and carry water for the exposed walks.
From Hoover Dam, continue into Lake Mead National Recreation Area for a short shoreline or desert-viewpoint break rather than a long hike. Expect a possible park entrance fee—typically around $25 per vehicle unless you have an America the Beautiful pass—and confirm current road or heat advisories before leaving Las Vegas. Then drive back toward Boulder City for breakfast or brunch at Boulder City Coffee Company, a convenient local stop for coffee, sandwiches, and lighter plates; budget roughly $10–20 per person and check same-day hours before setting out.
After Boulder City Coffee Company, follow US-93 south toward Wickenburg, allowing about an hour and a half of driving plus a fuel stop if needed. In Wickenburg, park around the compact historic district and spend 30–45 minutes strolling the Western-themed storefronts and shaded sidewalks. This is a good place to stretch, buy cold drinks, and browse without committing to another major attraction; avoid leaving electronics or food in the parked car during the hottest part of the day. Depart Wickenburg in the afternoon on US-60 for Surprise, allowing roughly an hour depending on traffic, and arrive with time for campground or lodging check-in, a shower, and a well-earned dinner close to your accommodation.