4 Days: LA to the Southwest
Four days keeps the 3-day base (Death Valley, Las Vegas) and adds Grand Canyon West as a day trip out of Vegas rather than a straight drive from LA. For just the desert loop, drop back to 3 days ; to push on into Zion, move up to 5 days .
Book these before you go:
- Compare rental cars on Discover Cars
- Death Valley lodging on Booking.com
- Las Vegas hotel rates on Booking.com
- Grand Canyon West Skywalk tickets on GetYourGuide
| Day | Stop | Distance from LA | Drive time | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death Valley | 260-270 miles | 4.5-5 hrs | Furnace Creek, overnight |
| 2 | Las Vegas | 120 miles from Death Valley | 2-2.5 hrs | Badwater Basin en route, Strip evening |
| 3 | Grand Canyon West | 120-130 miles from Vegas | 2-2.5 hrs | Skywalk day trip, back to Vegas |
| 4 | Los Angeles (return) | 270 miles | 4-4.5 hrs | Drive home |
Day 1: Los Angeles to Death Valley, the real distance
Furnace Creek is 260 to 270 miles and 4.5 to 5 hours from LA, not the 2-hour dash some guides still claim. Pay the $30 per-vehicle fee at the cashless machine (current fees at nps.gov/deva ), check into Furnace Creek Ranch or Stovepipe Wells, and use any remaining daylight for Zabriskie Point’s badlands view.
Day 2: Badwater Basin, then on to Vegas
Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, is worth an early start before the heat builds. From there it’s 120 miles and 2 to 2.5 hours to Las Vegas via NV-160 and CA-190; check in and give yourself one evening on the Strip.
Day 3: Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk
Grand Canyon West is Hualapai tribal land, not Grand Canyon National Park, a distinction that matters because an NPS annual pass is worthless here. The $99 All-Access Pass covers the glass Skywalk, shuttle, and viewpoints, 120 to 130 miles and 2 to 2.5 hours from Vegas via US-93. This is not the South Rim, the one in every postcard; that’s 8-plus hours one way from LA and its own multi-day trip entirely (fees at nps.gov/grca ). Drive back to Vegas for the night.
Day 4: Vegas to Los Angeles
Return the 270 miles and 4 to 4.5 hours to LA via I-15. Leave by early afternoon rather than pushing an evening departure straight into rush-hour traffic on both ends of the drive.
Four days is a real taste of two deserts and one canyon, not a relaxed trip. If the pace feels rushed, cut Grand Canyon West and keep the extra day in Vegas instead; the 3-day version does exactly that.