Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After collecting your rental at Harry Reid International Airport around 2 p.m., head southeast toward Mesa via US-93 and US-60. The drive is roughly 5½–6½ hours behind the wheel, before a fuel or food stop, so a 6–7 p.m. arrival isn’t realistic; plan for about 8:30–9:30 p.m. Arizona time. Arizona is one hour ahead of Las Vegas in October, so remember to adjust your clock. Get fuel and a proper break along the way, and check traffic and road conditions before leaving the airport.
Check in at Country Inn & Suites in Mesa and keep the night flexible after the long travel day. If you arrive with some energy, take a brief leg-stretch along Main Street in Downtown Mesa; otherwise, skip the stroll and settle in. For dinner, choose a casual spot near the hotel—allow about $15–30 per person, and call ahead or check current hours, since a late arrival may limit your options.
Leave Mesa around 12:15–12:30 p.m. for Grand Canyon University in West Phoenix. The drive usually takes 45–60 minutes, but allow extra time for campus parking, security, and finding your seats before the 2 p.m. graduation. Follow the ceremony’s parking instructions; campus event parking and entry arrangements can vary, so check the university’s latest guidance before setting out.
After the ceremony ends around 5:30 p.m., drive to the Olive Garden at 5835 W. Thunderbird Road in Glendale, a convenient choice near your next stop. Allow roughly 20–35 minutes from campus depending on traffic; dinner typically runs about $20–35 per person, and checking the location’s current hours or reserving ahead is sensible after a large event. Then head to Sahuaro Ranch Park for a short look at its historic ranch buildings and gardens—but this order is tight: the park generally closes at sunset, so after dinner there may be little or no time to visit. If it is already closed, don’t count on entering; save the stop for an earlier window only if your ceremony plans change. From Glendale, expect roughly 45–60 minutes back to Country Inn & Suites in Mesa, with traffic affecting the return.
Leave the hotel around 11 a.m. and allow roughly 2–2½ hours to reach Red Rock State Park, with a brief stop on the way. That puts you there around 1:30 p.m., so the planned three-hour visit is close to the park’s usual 5 p.m. closing time in fall. Check the park’s current hours before setting out, and be ready to trim the visit if your arrival slips. The entrance fee is typically around $7 per adult; spend your time on a short trail and at the visitor center rather than trying to cover the whole park.
If daylight and your timing cooperate, make a brief stop at Red Rock Crossing after the park; access is through Crescent Moon Picnic Site, which has a vehicle fee and may close around sunset. Then drive north to Williams—allow about 1½ hours, plus time for the stop—and check in at Days Inn. For dinner, Historic Brewing Company in town is an easygoing choice, with pub food and local beer; budget about $20–35 per person and check that evening’s hours before you leave Sedona.
Leave Days Inn around 11 a.m. for the roughly 30–45-minute drive to Grand Canyon South Rim via AZ-64; allow extra time for the entrance queue and finding parking. The standard private-vehicle entrance fee is typically about $35 and covers seven days, but check current fees and any pass options before you go. Start at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center for about 45 minutes: check the day’s shuttle service, trail conditions, and any closures. Then walk to Mather Point for your first big rim view—give yourself 30–45 minutes, and stay behind railings.
From Mather Point, join the Rim Trail for a relaxed out-and-back stretch; choose your turnaround point based on energy and daylight, and carry water even for an easy walk. Plan about 1–2 hours, keeping well back from the edge and allowing time to return to the village. For dinner, head to the Arizona Room in Bright Angel Lodge; budget roughly $25–45 per person and check seasonal hours or reserve ahead, since service can vary.
After dinner, make your way to Yavapai Point for stargazing. Check sunset, the forecast, and moonlight that day—clouds and a bright moon can make stars harder to see—and bring warm layers, as the rim gets cold after dark. Use a flashlight with a red-light setting if you have one, watch your footing, and check shuttle operating hours before relying on the buses; if driving, park only in designated spaces and take care on dark roads.
Leave Grand Canyon Village around 6:30 a.m. for Page, allowing 2½–3 hours behind the wheel plus a brief stop. The early start matters: this is a full day of driving, touring, and another long stretch after lunch. Page stays on Arizona time, but Moab is one hour ahead in October; double-check your tour confirmation’s check-in time and time zone so you don’t arrive late. Antelope Canyon visits are guided and must be booked in advance; access depends on your operator and confirmed slot.
Allow about two hours for your Antelope Canyon tour, including check-in and the guided visit. Afterward, keep lunch close to your operator and quick: Fiesta Mexicana is a convenient casual choice, with meals generally around $15–30 per person. Aim to leave Page by early afternoon for the roughly 4½–5-hour drive to Moab via US-89, US-191, and UT-128 or the route your navigation recommends. Plan a rest stop and budget roughly $60–90 for fuel; with the time change, a late-afternoon or early-evening arrival is likely.
Check in, then eat near your lodging rather than adding another drive across town. Moab restaurants can wind down early, especially outside peak season, so check kitchen hours before setting out and keep a backup snack in the car. Expect about $20–40 per person for dinner; if you arrive later than planned, call ahead to confirm a kitchen is still serving.
Set out from Moab early—around 7 a.m. is sensible—for the long drive west to Las Vegas via I-70, US-6 and I-15. Allow 6½–7½ hours of driving, plus fuel, food and stretch breaks; Las Vegas is an hour behind Moab, so the clock change helps, but expect to reach your hotel in the afternoon rather than early day. Keep water and snacks handy, and check road conditions before leaving.
After checking in at your Strip-area hotel, take a breather, then visit the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens—a free, easy indoor stop that usually takes 30–45 minutes. Its seasonal display changes, so it’s worth lingering over the details rather than rushing through. The central Strip is walkable, but distances can be deceptive; use hotel walkways and escalators, and allow extra time to cross between resorts.
Head to Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas for dinner, ideally with a reservation if you’re hoping for a terrace table and a view toward the fountains. Budget about $30–60 per person before drinks and tip. Afterward, watch the Fountains of Bellagio across the Strip; shows run into the evening, with frequency varying by day and time, so check the posted schedule when you arrive. Allow 20–30 minutes to find a good viewing spot and enjoy a show or two.
Start at The Mob Museum in downtown, where you can easily spend 2–3 hours among the crime and law-enforcement exhibits. It’s generally open daily, but check the current hours and ticket prices before you go; admission is typically around $30–$35, with some exhibits or experiences costing extra. Give yourself time to explore rather than rushing through—the building itself, a former courthouse, is part of the story.
Walk about 10 minutes to the Fremont Street Experience for its canopy, buskers and people-watching; allow 1–1½ hours, and remember the overhead light shows are best after dark. Then head a few blocks east to Evel Pie in Fremont East for a casual slice or a whole pie—budget about $15–$25 per person. Downtown is easiest on foot between these stops, though a rideshare can save time if the heat or crowds wear you down.
Reserve a timed guided visit at The Neon Museum in advance; tours usually take 1–1½ hours, and evening slots are popular. Check the exact tour schedule and price when booking, and take a rideshare from Fremont—walking there is less convenient. Finish in the Arts District, browsing its galleries and independent shops if they’re still open; many shops close earlier than restaurants and bars, so check individual hours. If you arrive after closing, the neighborhood is still pleasant for a relaxed stroll and a drink.
Start at The Venetian Resort and give yourself about 1–1½ hours to wander its grand public spaces and indoor canals. The resort is open around the clock, though shops and restaurants keep their own hours; you can browse the public areas without a hotel stay. From there, head east toward The Sphere—about a 15–25-minute walk, depending on your route, or a short rideshare. Allow about 30 minutes to see the exterior, but don’t count on entering: an event or immersive-experience ticket must be booked separately, and exterior viewing access can vary.
Continue to The LINQ Promenade for an easy hour of browsing and a break outdoors, then eat at Hash House A Go Go at The LINQ. Portions are famously large; budget roughly $20–40 per person, and check current hours and wait times before you go. Finish at The STRAT SkyPod, farther north on the Strip. A rideshare is the simplest connection—walking is possible but lengthy, especially in the heat. Allow 1–1½ hours for the views; check which observation-deck attractions are operating and buy any ride tickets separately. Admission prices vary, so confirm current rates before setting out.
No packing list attached yet.