Imagine waking up to the fiery red walls of the Grand Canyon, hiking among Zion’s towering sandstone cathedrals, standing speechless beneath Bryce’s glowing hoodoos, and seven days later watching grizzlies fish for salmon beneath Glacier’s jagged peaks before descending into British Columbia’s misty rainforest valleys. This scenic adventure route linking the national parks between Arizona and British Columbia is one of the most dramatic park-to-park journeys on the continent.
You can drive north from Phoenix to Vancouver or south from British Columbia to Arizona both directions deliver jaw-dropping variety. And the smartest part? Drive it one way, then let US Canada Auto Transport ship your car home while you fly relaxed and ready for work (or your next trip).
Ready to start mapping your park-hopping dream?
Why This National Park Route Is Pure Magic
Few drives pack five world-class national parks into a single week. You’ll trade desert silence for alpine wildflowers, red-rock canyons for glacier-carved lakes, and open skies for old-growth cedar forests. November’s shoulder season brings crisp air, golden larches, fewer crowds, and (bonus) lower hotel rates.
Many adventurers choose to ship a car from British Columbia to Arizona after driving north, turning the trip into a true one-way bucket-list experience. No retracing miles just pure, uninterrupted park immersion.
Your 7-Day National Parks Adventure Itinerary
Here’s a comfortable northbound plan that keeps daily driving relaxed and leaves daylight for hikes. Flip the days for the equally stunning southbound version.
Day 1: Phoenix → Grand Canyon & Flagstaff (230 miles | 4 hours)
Roll north on I-17 as saguaros give way to ponderosa pines. Arrive at the South Rim by noon for the classic Mather Point gasp, then walk the easy Rim Trail at golden hour.
- Must-eat: Historic green-chile stew at El Tovar with canyon views.
- Overnight: Little America Hotel Flagstaff (~$160) – cozy pine-forest retreat.
Day 2: Flagstaff → Zion National Park & Springdale (160 miles | 3 hours)
Take the breathtaking US-89A through Vermilion Cliffs, then enter Zion from the east for that unforgettable tunnel-and-switchback reveal. Shuttle to Emerald Pools or (if you scored permits) Angels Landing.
- Must-eat: Short-rib enchiladas at Spotted Dog Cafe with red cliffs glowing outside the window.
- Overnight: Cable Mountain Lodge Springdale (~$150) – steps from the park gate.
Day 3: Springdale → Bryce Canyon National Park (85 miles | 2 hours)
A short, scenic hop via Zion’s east entrance and Red Canyon brings you to Bryce’s otherworldly amphitheater of orange hoodoos. Hike Navajo Loop at sunrise November’s cool air makes it perfect.
- Must-eat: Bison burger at Ruby’s Inn with hoodoo panoramas.
- Overnight: Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn (~$140) – western charm and heated pool.
Day 4: Bryce → Salmon, Idaho (500 miles | 8 hours)
The longest drive day, but smooth I-15 and I-70 scenery keeps it pleasant. Quick detour at City of Rocks National Reserve for granite spires that look like a sci-fi film set.
- Must-eat: Huckleberry trout at Sacajawea Cafe overlooking the Salmon River.
- Overnight: Sacajawea Inn (~$150) – peaceful riverside rooms.
Day 5: Salmon → Glacier National Park & West Glacier (320 miles | 6 hours)
Wind north through Bitterroot Valley to Glacier. If Going-to-the-Sun Road is open (check NPS), it’s one of the planet’s most spectacular 50-mile drives. Otherwise, explore Lake McDonald and Trail of the Cedars.
- Must-eat: Bison burger at Glacier Grill with mountain silhouettes.
- Overnight: Glacier Park Lodge (~$160) – historic timber grandeur.
Day 6: West Glacier → Revelstoke, BC – Mount Revelstoke NP (250 miles | 5 hours)
Cross at quiet Roosville, then climb the Meadows in the Sky Parkway (weather permitting) for 360-degree alpine views and November’s golden larch fireworks.
- Must-eat: Cedar-plank salmon at Woolsey Creek Bistro amid snowy peaks.
- Overnight: Best Western Plus Revelstoke (~$150) – hot tub under the stars.
Day 7: Revelstoke → Vancouver (350 miles | 6 hours)
Descend the Trans-Canada through Fraser Canyon’s roaring waterfalls, stop at Hell’s Gate Airtram, then roll into Vancouver for Stanley Park’s totem poles and seawall sunset.
- Must-eat: Seafood chowder at The Sandbar on Granville Island.
- Overnight: Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre (~$170) – perfect downtown base.
Border Crossing Tips for a Seamless Park Hop
- Use Roosville/Patterson (quietest in November) or Kingsgate for fastest entry.
- Passport or Enhanced Driver’s License required; NEXUS saves hours.
- Declare food honestly Canada is strict on fresh fruit and dairy.
- November crossings often take under 30 minutes mid-morning.
For more general route inspiration, see our popular post Arizona to British Columbia: The Desert-to-Pacific Escape.
Customize Your Perfect Park Journey
Want to add Capitol Reef, Banff, or an extra night stargazing in Bryce? November weather can vary our free tool lets you drag, drop, and adjust in seconds.
Build your custom national parks route with our Road Trip Planner →
One-Way Freedom: Drive the Parks, Ship the Car
Driving both directions would mean 4,000 miles and missing half the magic on the return. Ship your vehicle one way and you keep every sunrise fresh, every trail new. Our customers say it best: “We flew home while the car followed more vacation days, zero fatigue.”
Your National Park Odyssey Awaits
The scenic adventure route linking the national parks between Arizona and British Columbia delivers the kind of memories that last a lifetime rim walks at dawn, hoodoos glowing like embers, glaciers sparkling under northern light, and rainforest trails dripping with moss.
Whether you chase desert sunrises north to coastal fjords or descend from British Columbia’s alpine meadows to Arizona’s red-rock silence, this one-way journey works both ways beautifully. Plan your perfect park-hopping route with our Road Trip Planner and let US Canada Auto Transport handle the car so all you do is hike, stare in wonder, and soak it all in.
Google Maps Itinerary Link
The parks are calling. Answer with the trip of a lifetime.
