4 parks, 6 days: Vegas to Arches, Zion National Parks & more in a campervan with kids

They said don’t take three kids in a campervan through the desert. I said, ‘Zionara, baby!’" 🚐🌵

In under a month, we'll be retiring early from our jobs (FIRE) and travelling full-time with our kids (kinda nervous, not gunna lie). As part of this adventure, we’re joining a traveling village and campervanning across Europe for 45 days in September. Just so we don't totally mess it up, we went on a super cool, 6-day, test trip across Nevada, Arizona, and Utah visiting Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion National Park.

Pre-trip planning

• Hit the shoulder season. We rolled thru mid-March during Nebraska's spring break—fewer crowds, no bugs, chilly but manageable weather, plenty of sun, and lower prices. Pack layers; it drops down at night, but still beats a Nebraskan blizzard.

• Book your campsites 6 months out. Like set an alarm for 4 am, they go quick cuz they are so damn beautiful.

• Book a campervan. We used Traveller’s Autobarn, loved the van, loved the company, good value and they aren’t nickel and dimers. Get the winter bundle (sleeping bags, heater, etc) if you go in March.

• Everything else can be planned for closer to your trip. 

Here we go, 4 parks, 6 days starting with Zion National Park

Day 1: Fly into Vegas

• Landed late on a Friday, and we found a cheap hotel off the Strip, spent the night. No glitz, just sleep.

Day 2: Zion National Park 

• Up at the butt crack of dawn to grab our campervan from Traveller’s Autobarn. Our first time in a van like this, and it’s a game-changer—best views, cozy vibes, easy to drive, no setup, and the kids can sprawl out on long drives. 

• Hit a grocery store just outside Vegas—van’s got two fridges and storage for days. Stocked up, grabbed firewood (don’t forget it!), and peeled out.

• Drove 2.5-hours to Watchman Campground.

• Hiked Emerald Pool Trail (2.2 miles, easy) and Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile, moderate). Kids loved the pools; I loved the views. Quick, fun, and totally doable.

Day 3: Capitol Reef National Park 

• Tackled a beefy 4.5-hour drive to Fruita Campground; long drive but good views.

• Hiked the Hickman Bridge Trail (1.8 miles, moderate) and Grand Wash Trail (1 mile in a bit and then turned around, easy)—high mountains, low crying.

Day 4: Arches National Park 

• Drove 3-hours to Devils Garden Campground. 

• Hiked Devils Garden Trail (2-7 miles, moderate). Take the offshoot for Pine Tree Arch!

• Drove up to Park Avenue and Fiery Furnace viewpoints. Stunning, no effort. 

Day 5: Canyonlands National Park 

• Took a day trip (1-hour drive) for a quick stop—no overnight.

• Hiked Mesa Arch Trail (0.5 miles, easy) and Whale Rock Trail (1 mile, moderate)—easy and beautiful. 

• Then started heading back towards Vegas, drove 2.5 hours to Fremont Indian State Park’s Sam Stowe Campground. This was a hidden gem, super pretty. 

• Checked out The Fremont Indian Museum and Discovery Trail (0.5 mile, easy), educational and chill—you’ll see stone carvings from 500 AD!

Day 6: Back to Vegas 

• 3-hour drive back to the exact opposite environment, its a funny dichotomy.

• Airbnb’d a couple nights, showed the kids the craziness of the Strip, made a quick drive out to Red Rock Canyon, then spent our last night in the 5-star, fancy Fontainebleau where we pretty much lived at the pool.

This loop is awesome because you see a lot, and don’t have to drive too much—13 hours total, broken up. The campervan saves cash and drops you right into nature, letting you soak in the parks, not some overpriced hotel. It was a little cold, sure, but cheaper and quieter than peak season. Hikes are short (1-3 miles), kid-friendly, and still deliver jaw-dropping views. Fair warning: it’s not all sunshine though—we all broke down a bit (I definitely yelled at everyone at one point and made everyone cry), but we repaired and all came out stronger.

This is early retirement with kids, you don’t have to hoard vacation days anymore. Trade cubicles for canyons, show the kids the wonder of nature and get them out of the classroom. 

The world’s waiting. Want to travel on your terms? FI starts with your ‘why’.

This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.

IRL - 4 national parks, 6 days