usa southwest road trip

19 Stunning Southwest Road Trip Itinerary Ideas (+ Tips!)

There may be no other region in the USA quite as otherworldly as the American Southwest. And there is absolutely no better way to appreciate that magnificent beauty than via an epic Southwest road trip itinerary!

Unfortunately, for most of us, there’s no way to encapsulate the full magnificence of the region on a single Southwest US road trip (and trust us, we’ve tried to, many times).

Because of that, we’ve teamed up with several other travel bloggers to craft this complete guide to the best road trips in the Southwest USA, from iconic classics in Utah to offbeat highlights in Nevada to focused Southwest national parks road trips.

We’ve decided to work with a pretty generous definition of the Southwestern US for this guide, covering road trips in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado, as well as parts of Southern California and West Texas.

Whether you only have a weekend to spare or are planning the Southwest road trip of a lifetime, here are the best Southwest USA road trip routes to consider!

Table of Contents

Quick Tips for Your Southwest USA Road Trip

Utah road trip itinerary ideas, arizona + new mexico southwest road trips, southwest road trip itineraries in colorado, cool nevada road trip ideas, west texas road trip itineraries, multi-state southwest itineraries, read more about visiting the southwest usa.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

Before diving into the best Southwest road trip itineraries below, there are a few tips to be aware of, especially if this is your first time in the region!

Pick up an America the Beautiful Pass.

If you’re planning a Southwest USA road trip itinerary, odds are very high that you’re planning to visit several national parks!

If so, consider picking up an  America the Beautiful Pass , also known as the USA’s annual national parks pass.

For only $80–less for certain groups like seniors and military personnel–the park covers day-use fees to over 2,000 federally managed lands, including all 62 national parks, for an entire year.

It’s one of the best travel deals around and will pay for itself within 3-4 visits to popular US national parks (for example, as of the time of writing, many popular Southwest national parks such as Arches and Bryce Canyon cost between $25-35 per vehicle to visit).

Buy your national parks pass  today!

Beware the heat.

Everyone talks about it, but it really can’t be overstated: the heat in the American Southwest in summer can be life-threatening and is not to be trifled with.

Water, sun protection, and keeping an eye on the weather need to be at the forefront of your mind as you work your way through the region.

If you’re planning a trip during the (long) summer, consider optimizing your schedule so that the bulk of your hiking takes place in the mornings and evenings, too, rather than in the middle of the day.

If you’re renting a car, shop around.

The best company to rent a car from for your Southwest USA road trip will likely vary dramatically depending on where and when you’re traveling.

Sometimes large international carriers offer the best prices, sometimes local outfits. Sometimes one company has an excellent base price, but terrible rental requirements.

The best way to find your rental car is to search through  Discover Cars , which will sift through dozens of companies to find the best combination of low prices and reasonable rental terms for your trip.

Shop rental cars for your Southwest road trip today!

Read the rental requirements carefully.

Especially make sure you know how many miles you’ve been allotted (or ideally, if they’re unlimited), what to do if the car breaks down, and what damages you’re liable for in the event of an accident.

You’ll also want to note whether or not to return the car empty or full of fuel.

On the off chance that you’re planning on extending your road trip beyond the US Southwest into Canada or Mexico, be sure to check the requirements for crossing the border as well.

Consider bringing your sleeping arrangements along with you.

It’s not right for everyone, but there’s a reason that using an RV or campervan is such a classic American road trip experience!

And, you don’t need to dive into the RV lifestyle and buy one for your next trip in order to try it out: you can try out the experience by renting RVs and camper vans from  Outdoorsy .

Browse RVs available to rent with Outdoorsy  today!

Make sure you pack the right gear.

From safety gear to snacks, a big road trip in the American Southwest requires bringing the right tools along, whether you’re taking a short vacation, trying out van life, or something in between.

We recommend taking a look at the suggestions on  our road trip packing list  before you go!

Book travel insurance.

We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance.

Anything can happen on the road, and an epic road trip is definitely a case of better to be safe than sorry.

You can check prices and inclusions with  Safety Wing  for road trips in the Southwest USA.

Don’t overextend yourself.

Exploring every nook and cranny of the American Southwest is a project for a lifetime, not one trip!

As tempting as it is to add on additional driving to stop in just one more park or small town, make sure that you leave enough time to thoroughly explore each destination rather than spending the entirety of your Southwest US road trip driving from one spot to the next.

Considering the long driving distances between some of the most iconic places in the Southwest, it’s easy to over-plan!

Set realistic expectations for visiting US national parks.

Many of the best national parks in the USA are located in the Southwest–and they are incredibly popular.

Be sure to research individual parks in advance to make the most of your time, as accessing the most iconic attractions often is not as simple as showing up.

Hotels tend to get booked up quickly, some parks like Rocky Mountain National Park, Arches National Park, and Zion National Park are now requiring most visitors to book timed entry permits in advance.

Other restrictions can pop up too–for example, Zion National Park requires visitors to use a shuttle rather than private cars to access popular hikes (unless you’re planning a winter trip, that is).

None of this detracts from the beauty of the parks–but it does mean that your experience will be much better if you plan ahead!

Kanab to Escalante

From Rachel & Clark of Seeking Our Someday

The Kanab, UT to Escalante, UT road trip gives way to some of Southern Utah’s most beautiful hidden gems.

These rural areas are filled with some of the most dramatic rock formations that you can find on an itinerary for the Southwest USA. 

Starting in Kanab, use this small town as a home base for visiting several nearby destinations.

Buckskin Gulch, just East of Kanab, is one of the longest slot canyons in the world and is considered one of the most beautiful slot canyons in Utah.

For an incredible day trip from Kanab, hike into this slot canyon from Wirepass Trailhead. Be on the lookout for ancient petroglyphs as you descend into the canyon.

Just north of Kanab are the Moqui Caves. These caves are great to explore for a couple of hours, especially in the afternoon light.

Only 30 minutes outside of Kanab, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is home to some of the most beautiful sand dunes. These dunes are especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset. 

On the two-hour drive from Kanab to Escalante, make sure to stop at Bryce Canyon National Park to see the natural hoodoos in the Bryce Amphitheater and check out a few of the coolest things to see in Bryce Canyon NP .

Use Escalante as a second home base to visit more hidden gems in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Some of the most incredible landscapes can be found down Hole in the Rock Road, just south of Escalante.

Make sure to visit Zebra Slot Canyon, a very narrow slot canyon with natural striped rock, along with Devils Garden just a few miles down the road.

Further down Hole in the Rock Road are the Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons which are a fun loop hike through two beautiful slot canyons.

Driving Distance

Recommended road trip length.

This road trip could be done in a long weekend, but there are enough places to visit that we recommend 1-2 weeks to fully experience all of the stops along the way.

New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle

From Becky of SightDOING

Northern New Mexico doesn’t get the attention that the rest of the state does, but travelers willing to take an extra drive will find incredible beauty along the  Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway .

Starting from Taos and going clockwise, you’ll visit the smaller towns of Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Angel Fire.

This part of New Mexico sits high in the mountains and the route takes you through ever-changing scenery.

Many parts are verdant green, thick with evergreens and aspens.

As the road winds, you’ll also see alpine valleys and lakes, plus the impressive Mt. Wheeler (the highest in the state).

As you drive, you’ll be reminded more of Colorado than the stereotypical desert road trips that are so iconic in the Southwest.

Perhaps as you’d expect in a beautiful destination like this, the primary activities involve the outdoors.

One of the highlights is Eagle Rock Lake, not only beautiful but home to playful otters that you might spot if you’re lucky. The picnic tables make a perfect vantage spot.

Hiking is plentiful: head out into the Columbine Hondo Wilderness for wildflowers in spring or look for waterfalls in Cimarron Canyon State Park.

Other activities include mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, and even skiing in the winter.

It’s not all about the outdoors, though. Visitors can also watch artisans in Questa, pay their respects at the Vietnam Memorial near Angel Fire, brewery hop along the trail, or explore Taos’ history.

Best of all, this New Mexico road trip is wonderful year-round.

Although the driving route is short enough that you can complete it in a day, the area is deserving of a weekend.

Allow plenty of time to stop and explore the parks and mountains along the way and consider even longer if you’re an avid hiker.

Phoenix to the Grand Canyon Road Trip

From Nicole of American SW Obsessed

Visiting the Grand Canyon is one of the best weekend trips you can make from Phoenix. 

The  drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon  is only 4 hours and there are several stops along the way.

Montezuma Castle is one of the best preserved Native American Ruins located 94 miles from Phoenix.

It is a 5-story structure built into a recess in a white limestone cliff about 70 feet above the ground and it consists of 20 rooms.

Another great stop is Sedona, which is famous for its red rocks and great hiking trails.

You could easily spend a weekend in Sedona but it is also a great place to stop for some lunch and get out and stretch your legs.

Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon National Park you will enter from the east and one of the first viewpoints is the Desert View Point and Watchtower.

This is one of the most popular viewpoints in the east and it is your first view of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. 

You can continue heading West to the main visitors center where you can walk the Trail of Time. 

The Grand Canyon Trail of Time is an interpretive walking timeline trail focusing on the highlights of the Grand Canyon so tourists can experience and appreciate the vastness of geologic time, as well as the stories captured by Grand Canyon rock layers and landscapes. 

We recommend three days as a minimum for this road trip.  Some people do this in a day but it is very rushed. 

Spending a weekend there gives you time to make stops along the way and experience the Grand Canyon.

Northern New Mexico

From Melissa of Parenthood and Passports

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment for a reason.

The southwestern state is one of the best places in the United States for a culturally immersive trip, incredible food, and beautiful desert landscapes. 

Most New Mexico road trips start and end in Albuquerque, the largest city in the state.

There are so many things to do in New Mexico with kids , or without, and you’ll find many of them in Albuquerque!

Give yourself a couple of days to explore Old Town and visit some of the great museums, like the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

Be sure to take the tram up to Sandia Peak. The 2.7-mile aerial tramway is the longest in the United States! 

From Albuquerque, head north to New Mexico’s capital of Santa Fe. Known for its adobe-style architecture, this historical city founded as a Spanish colony in the 1600s is as lovely as it is enchanting! 

Just northwest of Santa Fe, outside the town of Los Alamos, Bandelier National Monument is a fascinating look back in time.

In this national monument, you’ll find petroglyphs and cliff dwellings left behind by the Pueblo Indians, the indigenous tribe who originally settled the area. 

For a look at how the Pueblo live today, head to the Taos Pueblo next.

The pueblos one mile north of the town of Taos, is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States.

People have lived in this multi-story adobe building for more than 1,000 years! You can tour the pueblo, which is open to visitors except when tribal rituals take place.

300+ miles.

Ideally, give yourself about a week for this road trip through Northern New Mexico.

Denver to Aspen Loop

From Lori of Fitz 5 On the Go

The state of Colorado was made for epic road trips.  The scenery is just amazing and pretty non-stop.

Colorado’s many mountain towns are fun and welcoming places to explore and are packed with so many outdoor activities to enjoy.  

There are many great options for planning a loop from Denver.  Some can be done on a day trip, and others are more fun spread over a few days. 

For the most variety and activities in a shorter drive time consider going south to Colorado Springs, loop over to Salida then make your way north through Independence Pass. 

Take some time enjoying Aspen then stop by Glenwood Springs for fun activities before going back to Denver.

Summer or early fall is the best time for this trip before some of the roads are closed due to snow.

First, stop in Colorado Springs, where popular activities include Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, the Incline, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Olympic training center, and the Broadmore.

From there, head to Salida and Buena Vista.

On the way to Salida stop by the Royal Gorge.  This amazing viewpoint is not great for those with a fear of heights but it’s beautiful.

The area has a train, a suspension bridge, and several other activities including a Skycoaster. 

After enjoying a night in Salida, head north toward Leadville.

Leadville can make a nice little stop to explore an old mountain town and get some lunch but the main attraction of the day will be Independence Pass just south of Leadville.  

Driving Independence Pass in the fall  is likely one of the most beautiful drives in the country.

As a mountain road, it is closed in the winter and no large vehicles are allowed.

Independence Pass ends in beautiful Aspen. A stop to Aspen is not complete without seeing the Maroon Bells.

To make your way back to Denver, head north toward I-70 and stop for lunch and activities in Glenwood Springs.

Glenwood Springs has a fabulous hot spring as well as a mountaintop adventure center. 

At minimum plan to stay a night in Salida and one night in Aspen. 

If you only have a weekend then consider cutting the trip in half and making a smaller loop. 

The full loop would be most enjoyable with planning a night in Colorado Springs, 1-2 nights in Salida, and at least 2 nights in Aspen.

The Extraterrestrial Highway

From Audrey of That Backpacker

For a one-of-a-kind southwest road trip that you won’t soon forget,  drive Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway !

Located in south-central Nevada and spanning a total of 98 miles between the towns of Warm Springs and Crystal Springs, State Route 375 is considered a bit of a pilgrimage for those who believe in alien life!

But even if you’re not a believer, this is still a fun road trip worth doing.

The Extraterrestrial Highway is punctuated by desert landscapes, lonely roads, and some rather unusual attractions.

Some places not to miss include ET Fresh Jerky where you can buy alien-themed snacks including bottles of Martian soda, the Extraterrestrial Highway sign which is plastered with stickers from intrepid adventurers who have completed the drive, and the Alien Research Center where you can hear stories of paranormal desert activity.

You should also visit the Black Mailbox where people leave all sorts of mementos and letters to aliens, and the Little A’le’inn Motel featuring a pick-up truck towing a UFO and a green alien welcoming all earthlings.

It’s important to note that although Area 51 is also located in the area, it is strictly off-limits.

There are numerous signs to remind you that no video, no photography, and no droning are permitted, so save yourself the trouble.

Though this road trip can be completed in a day, you can break it up with a stay at the infamous Little A’le’inn Motel, home to all things extraterrestrial.

You may also want to consider driving the ET Highway as part of a bigger Nevada road trip with a small detour through Valley of Fire State Park.

Las Vegas to Cathedral Gorge State Park

From Daria of The Discovery Nut

Cathedral Gorge State Park is a natural wonder located in Central Nevada near Utah’s border that makes you feel like you landed on Mars. 

The park is located about 3.5 hours by car away from Las Vegas , the nearest big city, and the remote location of this place and lack of facilities, coupled with the lonely drive in the desert make for an incredible experience.

Cathedral Gorge State Park remains an undiscovered gem full of otherworldly views, amazing hiking trails, and great opportunities for photography.

It’s one of those hidden gem Southwest road trips from Las Vegas that no one talks about, and if you want to see it before it gets discovered, you need to do it now. 

Visiting Cathedral Gorge is pure magic at any time of the year.

Unlike many other popular places in the southwest USA, this state park is uncrowded and offers an amazing quiet space with fantastic landscapes.

With no big stores, chain hotels, or restaurants in the area, this is the ultimate getaway for adventure lovers.  

I recommend spending at least one day at the park and camping under the clear dark skies.

However, if you would rather stay at a hotel, the nearby town of Panaca has a couple of accommodations.

Big Bend Country Road Trip

While all of Texas may not culturally fall into the Southwest, the western part of the state does–and a Big Bend Country road trip is among the best road trips in the Southwest USA.

Make your way to the rugged, isolated, and utterly beautiful Big Bend National Park to kick off your trip.

While you’re there, hike the stunning Santa Elena Canyon, ascend into the Chisos Mountains via the Lost Mine Trail , and soak in natural hot springs along the Rio Grande.

From there, head to Big Bend Ranch State Park to experience one of the most scenic drives in the USA.

Head a couple of hours north, and some of Texas’ most beloved small towns are waiting for you, including Alpine, Fort Davis (where you can experience some of the best stargazing in Texas at the McDonald Observatory), Marathon, and Marfa.

With wild beauty, a huge variety of landscapes, great food, and even excellent art installations, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Texas’ Big Bend Country–just be prepared for long driving distances along the way.

About 1000 miles round trip, starting and ending in El Paso.

We recommend setting aside at least one week for this Southwest road trip route.

Classic Southwest USA Road Trip from Page, AZ

From James Ian of Parks Collecting

One of the best road trips in the Southwest USA is a loop from Page, Arizona that takes in a variety of natural and cultural icons.

Starting in Page, head to Monument Valley.

Stop off at the Navajo National Monument, where you can walk on the easy paved 1.3-mile Sandal Trail to the Batatkin Cliff Dwelling overlook for views of your first cliff dwelling on the trip.

After arriving in Monument Valley around noon, head down the Monument Valley road for a self-driving tour. 

The 17-mile scenic drive loops through the valley past many of the major buttes and mesas that make this area so famous.

In the late afternoon, if you still have some energy, hike the Wildcat Trail around West Mitten.

The next day, take a Navajo-led guided tour back into the valley, where you can visit the backcountry and learn more about the Navajo people and culture.

After you leave Monument Valley, take a couple of hours to drive through the beautiful Valley of the Gods before arriving in Moab in the late afternoon. 

Moab is the adventure capital of the world, and you can arrange to go canyoneering, rock climbing, mountain biking, or white-water rafting. Then head to nearby Arches National Park and do all the major hikes in the park.

Next up is a  visit to Mesa Verde National Park , where you will want to spend a couple of days visiting the cliff dwellings, hiking to petroglyphs, and exploring the area. 

After you leave Mesa Verde, stop for a photo at Four Corners, where you can have your limbs in four states at once!

Drive on to Canyon de Chelly, where you will want to spend a full day enjoying the views and hiking down into the canyon.

On the drive from there back to Page, you will pass through the Hopi reservation.

It is worth spending half a day on a tour with a Hopi guide to see more of the area and learn about Hopi culture.

Back in Page, don’t miss the mind-blowing Antelope Canyon and stunning Horseshoe Bend !

I recommend allowing ten days for this trip.

This will give you time to explore each of the parks/ areas and learn more about the cultural and natural environment along the way.

Trail of the Ancients

From Megan of Red Around the World

One of the most unique road trips in the Southwest is the  Trail of the Ancients  through Southeast Utah and Southwest Colorado.

It passes tons of amazing scenery but really features ancient Anasazi ruins throughout the Four Corners Area.

This is a particularly great Southwest road trip itinerary for history buffs and hikers!

Start your road trip in Cortez, where you can start making your way through some of the best places to visit in the Southwest.

Some of the highlights are Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, and Valley of the Gods, but there are tons of smaller stops along the way, too. 

Some of those include Natural Bridges National Monument, Edge of the Cedars State Park, Upper Sand Island Petroglyphs, House on Fire Ruin, Butler Wash Ruin, Goosenecks State Park, Four Corners National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, and more.

Diriving Distance

About 300-400 miles, depending on stops.

I would recommend spending about 7-10 days on the Trail of the Ancients.

If you have a full 2 weeks to explore, that’s even better.

Zion National Park to Sedona Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

From Allison of She Dreams in Alpine

If you’re looking for a quick Southwestern road trip that packs a whole lot into a relatively short drive, head from Zion National Park in Utah to Sedona, Arizona.

Although Zion is the start of your road trip, it’s actually hard to leave this magical place.

From the epic Angel’s Landing hike to The Narrows slot canyon, if you’re up for adventure, you will have an amazing time here.

Don’t worry, when it’s time to hit the road, your next stop of Kanab has plenty to offer.

If you’re lucky enough to score permits, hike to the incredible swooping sandstone of The Wave.

Or, take some time to explore the beauty of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Then head east on Highway 89 to Lake Powell, where you can take a rest day or two. Chill in the lake before heading south.

Stop at the photogenic Horseshoe Bend , then make your way to the Grand Canyon .

Bask in the breathtaking views from the rim, or challenge yourself to hike to the bottom – just know that means you also have to hike back out!

Next, make your way to Flagstaff, and enjoy the Southwestern city life in the lively downtown area. Finish your road trip in the red rock paradise of Sedona.

You can hit the trails again on some of the awesome hikes in Sedona , take an off-road Jeep tour, or pamper yourself at a spa.

You’ll definitely be ready for some relaxation by the end of this road trip through the Southwest USA!

With all the incredible outdoor places to explore along the way, you should plan at least a week for this adventurous road trip.

You could easily make it longer if you wanted to spend more time hiking around Zion, the Grand Canyon, and Sedona.

Salt Lake City to Phoenix

From Samah of God and Wanderlust

Absorb the extraterrestrial beauty of the southwest with a road trip from Salt Lake City, UT to Phoenix, AZ.

Salt Lake City is made for the adventurous at heart.

Explore Red Butte Garden, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and the Great Salt Lake itself. A scenic mountain backdrop is always included.

Skiing and other snow sports are possible in nearby Park City.

Drive south to Moab and hike your way to the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. Camp under the Milky Way in Monument Valley situated on protected Navajo land.

Ride a horse among the red rocks and buttes and pretend to be in the Wild West. Visit Forrest Gump Point at the crack of dawn to avoid the rush of cars.

From here head to Zion National Park and then Page, AZ.

Check the infamous Angels Landing off your list, kayak in Lake Powell, and hike to Horseshoe Bend.

Become mesmerized by the cave formations of Antelope Canyon.

At last, you arrive at the Grand Canyon. It’s magnificent. The Bright Angel trail will guide you right into the Canyon.

Sedona is still to come. It’s the most beautiful city you’ll lay eyes on. Hot air balloons illuminate against the sun’s glow. Devils Bridge and Doe Mountain offer spectacular views.

Phoenix will eventually bring a calm end to your southwest road trip itinerary.

Its mellow, laidback atmosphere will help relax after your breathtaking journey through the southwest.

Road Trip Length

We recommend at least 2 weeks to explore various cities, do activities and make stops along the way.

Las Vegas to Monument Valley

From Hannah of Hannah Henderson Travel

For a point-to-point overview of some of the most popular Southwest road trip stops, drive from Las Vegas to Monument Valley!

Your first stop outside of Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam.

This impressive man-made damn along the Colorado River marks the border between Nevada and Arizona.  

Head southeast along Hwy-93 towards Kingman, and be sure to visit the Historic Route 66 Museum.  

If you have time, take a detour and visit Oatman, an old mining town where wild burros (donkeys) roam free throughout the town.

The next leg of the road trip takes you along a small section of Historic Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman.

Enjoy the kitsch rest stop at Hackberry and eat lunch at the Road Kill Café .  The replica Wild West town in Seligman is a fun attraction for families too.

Continue to head east along the I-40 and then up to the Grand Canyon.  There are Grand Canyon hikes to suit many levels, educational talks, and unparalleled views.

Stay overnight at one of the rim-side cabins and witness the incredible sunset and sunrise.

The final leg of your journey will take you through some of the most captivating  desert landscapes in Arizona , onwards north towards Monument Valley.  

The land becomes more arid and sparsely populated, and you will get picture-postcard views.  

Your final stop is Oljato-Monument Valley, a Navajo Nation Tribal Park.  This valley of red rock formations is a soul-shaking place to end your road trip.  

Three to five days is a good length of time for this road trip between Las Vegas and Monument Valley.  

You can do the journey in 3 days minimum, but 5 days would offer you more time to explore the by-ways and scenic stops along the way.

LA to Las Vegas Road Trip Itinerary

From Dhara of Roadtripping California

An  LA to Las Vegas road trip  can be done along several different routes, but you can’t go wrong with a route that includes some of the choicest scenery in the Sierra Nevada as well as the spectacular Death Valley National Park in California.

Admittedly, this is a longer route that involves a little bit of a detour, but for travelers with enough time on their hands, this Southwest national parks road trip itinerary cannot be beaten.

Highlights of the itinerary include the scenic Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, and Mount Whitney, and the spectacular sights in Death Valley National Park.

The Alabama Hills consist of beautiful rock formations nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The national scenic area is popular for hiking, dirt road driving, photography, camping, and night sky viewing.

At Lone Pine, you can also drive the road that goes part way up Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the contiguous United States.

The road is open in the summer and fall until snow accumulations close it.

Of course, you can also hike to the peak, either as a grueling day hike or as an overnighter, with a permit.

In Death Valley National Park, the main sights can be found along the road that runs through the park, the one you will be taking to get to Vegas.

If you do the road trip in the cooler months of the year, you can hike. When it’s hot, you can drive through the park and stop briefly at viewpoints for photos.

The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are fun for kids and adults.

At Badwater Basin, you can have your photo taken by the sign for the lowest point in North America. Spectacular views await at Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View.

Once you are done exploring the park, it’s a quick drive to Vegas!

We suggest three days or more for this road trip.

With more than three days, you can spend more time hiking, and also explore the northern part of Death Valley National Park.

Denver to Moab

From Julia of The Cure for Curiosity

One of the best road trips in the Southwestern USA takes you from the snow-capped mountains of Denver, Colorado to the red canyons of Moab, Utah. 

During this epic  road trip from Denver to Moab , you’ll be able to see some of the best scenery the United States has to offer.

As you travel, you’ll pass through many charming small towns, complete with great hiking, hot springs, and of course panoramic views.

Start your trip in Denver, the capital of Colorado, and make your way to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Here you’ll find some stunning mountain views and world-class hiking.

Continue your trip through the renowned ski towns of Breckenridge and Vail, exploring the quaint city centers and everything they have to offer, from skiing to mountain roller coasters and free gondola rides.

The next stop is Glenwood Springs, famous for its hot springs as well as the beautiful hike to Hanging Lake.

If you have the time, you can also detour down to Aspen to check out the popular Maroon Bells, the most photographed mountains in North America.

From there, make your way through Colorado wine country in Palisade, CO to the Colorado National Monument.

This is the last stop before crossing into Utah and making your way into Moab.

Moab is the perfect end destination for a road trip as you can spend days exploring the local sights that bring droves of tourists to the area, like Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park.

While the drive itself can easily be done in just one day, you’d miss a lot of the fun stops along the way.

It’s best to plan about a week for this road trip to have plenty of time to explore Denver, the stops in between, and Moab.

LA to Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks

From Ciara of Wellness Travel Diaries

Los Angeles to Bryce Canyon National Park— a red rock road trip experience — is a beautiful and classic Southwest USA itinerary for those wanting to escape and indulge in the unique rock formations found in Utah.

It’s a serene drive that takes about 8 hours from LA to Bryce Canyon. Add an extra two hours for a detour to Zion National Park

Here’s how to make the best of your time when road tripping from LA to Bryce Canyon and Zion .

Starting in Los Angeles, California hop on the freeway heading north toward Las Vegas. On route, you’ll find Death Valley about an hour or so off the freeway for a quick day trip.

Take another quick pitstop, right off the freeway at Eddie’s World for clean bathrooms and exquisite snacks.

Once you reach Nevada, stay the night in Las Vegas to explore the famous strip where the downtown lights, lit up the midnight sky.

It’s about four hours from LA (depending on traffic), and marks the halfway point to Bryce Canyon.

Continue toward Utah for another 160 miles to reach the first destination: Zion National Park.

Hike the beautiful trails such as Angels Landing (5.4 miles out and back) and Watchman Trail (3.3 miles out and back).

Hop back in the car for another 80 miles to reach the second destination: Bryce Canyon.

Explore the picturesque hoodoos by taking the Rim Hiking Trail (1-11 miles; it’s not a loop so hike the distance you choose) or Fairyland Loop (8 miles out and back).

Pick your route by deciding which park you’d like to visit first, then enjoy!

About 530 miles — this includes the stop in Zion National Park.

While the drive from California to Utah can be done in one day, there are several fun pit stops along this route.

It takes about seven hours to drive from Los Angeles to Zion, and then about two hours from Zion to Bryce Canyon.

To fully explore these natural wonders 6-8 days would be ideal, and allows you to split your time equally between both parks.

Phoenix to Taos to Road Trip

From Polina of Bucket List Places

One of the best itineraries to explore by car in the states is through Arizona and New Mexico.

If you are doing a winter  ski road trip itinerary , this can also be done in reverse starting in Taos.

Fly into Phoenix and rent a car (or RV for even more fun)! Then head south and stop by Saguaro National Park to view the iconic cactus after which the park is named.

From there head to White Sands National Park in New Mexico and sled down some sand dunes.

This park is vast and can be explored for the day or for multiple days if you would like to hike amongst the sand dunes.

Then head to the city to check out Albuquerque’s bustling nightlife.

In contrast, the next stop on the itinerary is Santa Fe, a beautiful historic city that looks like it is stuck in the past.

Stroll the streets and marvel at the beautiful architecture. Visit the delicious restaurants in town or get your culture on at the numerous art galleries.

Your final stop is Taos where you can view the historic Pueblan village, enjoy the delicious restaurants in town, and hang out in the historic town square.

In the wintertime, make sure to hit the slopes! 

We suggest a minimum of one week to enjoy the beautiful destinations on this road trip itinerary. 

Route 66 (Southwest Portion)

From Stephanie of Oklahoma Wonders

While Route 66 stretches from Chicago to the east to Los Angeles and Santa Monica in the west, Route 66 is the Great American Road Trip of your dreams.

Of course, when people think of driving Route 66, or the Mother Road as it’s commonly called, they think of diners and motels in the Midwest, but by the time the route crosses the border from Oklahoma into Texas, you’re officially in the part of the drive where southwestern scenery and magnificent landscapes take over.

There’s nothing more iconic than a Route 66 sign in front of a tiny Arizona town or the eye-catching Cadillac Ranch installation in Amarillo.

There are so many  things to see on Route 66 , but in this part of the country make sure to visit Petrified National Forest National Park, take a day trip to the Grand Canyon, and even venture up to Monument Valley.

The total distance of Route 66 is just under 2,500 miles, but you can easily visit only a portion on a Southwest USA road trip.

You can spend months exploring Route 66!

With a week or less, we recommend picking 1-2 states to explore.

San Jose, CA to Escalante, UT Loop

From Jyoti at Story at Every Corner

The road trip from San Jose to Escalate is an excellent way to get out into nature and have a fun outdoor vacation, and features plenty of of classic Southwestern landscapes along the way.

The drive is about 12 hours plus additional time for stops.

Along the route, you’ll find many parks, camps, Mojave National Preserve, and Las Vegas. 

The little town of Escalante is surrounded by five great national parks of Utah and many recreational areas and national monuments.

You could do day trips to national parks but there are many incredible hikes around Escalante to slot canyons, waterfall trails, and natural formations .

You could easily spend 10 days in Escalante and still have many hikes remaining to be explored.

You would definitely want to do day trips to Bryce Canyon National Park , Burr Trail, Capitol Reef National Park, Dixie Forest, and Arches National Park . 

1640 miles.

10 days will be a reasonable amount of time for this round trip.

Planning a Southwest road trip soon and eager to keep planning?

You can browse all of our USA blog posts here , or check out these guides:

• The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
• Colorado Bucket List: 25 Cool Places to Visit in Colorado
• The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 50+ Road Trip Essentials You Need
• 3 Days in Las Vegas: The Perfect Weekend in Vegas Itinerary
• 9 Best Things to Do in Page, AZ (+ Nearby!)

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

We’re on the road right now – join in on the fun and follow @thebrokebackpacker on IG!

• Meet the Team
• Work with Us
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Scandinavia
• Philippines
• South Korea
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Budget Travel
• Work & Travel
• The Broke Backpacker Manifesto
• Travel Resources
• How to Travel on $10/day

Home » North America » USA » Best Road Trips in Southwest (Insider Guide for 2024)

Best Road Trips in Southwest (Insider Guide for 2024)

Is there a single place on the planet that begs for a ‘road trip’ any more than the American Southwest? We certainly can’t think of any! Geographically speaking, the Southwest is one of the most diverse parts of the country. Spanning six states, you’ll encounter all kinds of deep red canyons, desert plateaus, and lush alpine vistas.

The trick to making the most of everything this region has on offer is to plan a good, old-fashioned roadie. Public transport isn’t the best in these parts, and of course, it claws away at your sense of freedom.

But, where to begin? There’s so much to see – you must be thinking, how can I plan a road trip in the Southwest that lets me see a bit of everything? Well, keep scrolling. We’ve created four itineraries so you can have the best road trip in the Southwest to suit your timeframe and budget!

Do You Want to Travel FOREVER??

Pop your email in below to get a FREE copy of ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day!’.

Why Roadtrip in the Southwest?

Southwest road trip route 1: ultimate southwest national park roadie, southwest road trip route 2: historic route 66, southwest road trip route 3: the rockies and beyond, southwest road trip route 4: canyon explorer, driving in the southwest, what to pack for a road trip in southwest, final thoughts on the best road trips in the southwest.

Why take a road trip in the Southwest, you might wonder? The US is a pretty big country to visit , and when it comes to road-tripping, there’s no shortage of options. Well, here’s why:

• National Parks: Some of the greatest national parks in the US of A are right here in the Southwest. You’ve got the Rockies, Zion, Monument Valley. Did we miss one? Oh yeah, the Grand Canyon!
• Camping: What’s number one on your list of Southwest road trip essentials? A tent, of course. Fling one in your rental, and you can turn this into a real wilderness quest.
• Real Wild Wild West: You’ve got abandoned ghost towns, saloons, and stark desert plateaus. A road trip in the Southwest slides you right into a John Wayne movie.
• Phenomenal Scenery: That’s the main reason for a road trip, right? The scenery in the Southwest is a total freak show, in the best kind of way.
• Outdoor Activities: Nothing beats getting out and about and connecting with nature. Fortunately, the Southwest gives you bucketloads of awesome hikes and activities to spike your adrenaline.

Alright, now that’s out of the way, it’s time for the fun stuff. We’ve put our heads together to give you four fabulous Southwest road trip ideas!

Ultimate Southwest National Park Roadie – 10 days

Historic route 66 – 8 days, the rockies and beyond – 5 days, canyon explorer – 5 days.

• From: Las Vegas
• To: El Paso
• Total Distance: 1,200 miles
• Top Road Trips Stops: Valley of Fire State Park, Zion National Park, Monument Valley, White Sands National Park,  Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell

Want to hit four states and see some of the best national parks in the US? Then you definitely need our ten-day Southwest vacation trip planner. Beginning in Sin City, we’ll hit the road before we flutter away our gas dollars.

This is a long drive, stopping off at some of the most iconic parks in the whole country. But we’ve broken it up so that there’s as much adventuring as driving! We’ll navigate 1,200 miles of backcountry and small towns between Vegas and El Paso. Our road trip from Las Vegas takes you through deserts, mountains, canyons, ghost towns, and much more.

Road Trip Highlights: 

• Camp in the Zion National Park
• Check out some vintage road signs from the historic Route 66
• Stand in four states at the same time
• Raft down the Colorado River
• Sled down the soft dunes of the White Sands National Park

Day 1-2: Las Vegas to Zion National Park (4 hours)

Your ultimate Southwest road trip begins in the one and only Sin City! Those bright lights will become a distant memory as you cruise through dusty desert landscapes of the I-15. You’ll get your fix of red rock formations and petrified trees with a short hike at the Valley of Fire. Then, we’ll continue to tonight’s accommodation – who’s game for camping?

Book a spot for two nights. This gives us a full day to explore Zion National Park on the second day. There are countless trails to choose from , including the so-called scariest hike in the US, Angel’s Landing. Alternatively, let’s get our feet wet and hike the Narrows trail through the river.

• Best Stops: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, The Neon Museum, Valley of Fire State Park, Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area
• Where to Eat: Lil’ Wagon Tacos, Affogato West, Black Bear Diner, Stage Coach Grille, Oscar’s Cafe
• Where to Stay: Super8 by Wyndham Zion Hurricane National Park ($), Watchman Campground ($) Hotel Zion ($$)

Day 3: Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon (1 hour 20 minutes)

Rise and shine. If you’re an early bird, you can wake early and watch the sunrise over Zion Park. If you’ve camped, there’s really no excuse not to!

Today we head to Bryce Canyon. This is a slight detour, but these bizarre hoodoos are worth it, trust us. What we love about Bryce Canyon is that we can explore the sights entirely by car. There are plenty of hikes, but we won’t judge you if you choose the auto-tour option. We can drive ourselves through the park or hop on the free shuttle if you fancy saving some gas money.

• Best Stops: Bryce Canyon, Rainbow Point, Farview Point, Natural Bridge
• Where to Eat: Stone Hearth Grille, Bryce Canyon Pines, Valhalla Pizza
• Where to Stay: Bryce Canyon Resort ($), North Campground Bryce Canyon ($) ($$)

Day 4:  Bryce Canyon to Page (2 hours 35 minutes)

We have a very pretty drive ahead today as we cross over into Arizona. It’s a short journey, but there are plenty of sights to stop for, so be sure to leave enough time. We can even check out a cave was once used as a speakeasy, believe it or not. If you’re the romantic type, this region is incredible for stargazing.

• Best Stops: Paria Ghost Town, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Moqui Cave, Star Party, Lone Rock Beach, The Toadstools, Little Hollywood Land (Kanab)
• Where to Eat: Jakey Lee’s Coffee Shop and Bakery, State 48 Tavern, Driftwood Lounge
• Where to Stay: Rodeway Inn at Lake Powell ($), Red Rock Motel ($$)

Day 5: Page to Monument Valley (2 hours 30 minutes)

Welcome to Arizona, the third state on our epic Southwest US road trip. There are plenty of things to do around Page : Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are two must-sees on this Southwest road trip itinerary. Let’s squeeze in some kayaking or a stand-up paddleboarding session on Lake Powell, or rafting down the Colorado River!

Once we’ve dried off, the drive to our next destination is pretty desolate – we’ll take the road through the desert. We can take a motel, but you should know that camping in Arizona is where it’s at.

• Best Stops: Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam Lookout, Navajo National Monument
• Where to Eat: Blue Coffee Pot Restaurant, Pizza Guys, Amigo Coffee, Reuben Helfin Restaurant
• Where to Stay: Mokee Motel ($) The View Campground ($), Kayenta Monument Valley Inn ($$)

Day 6: Monument Valley to Gallup (3 hours)

The Navajo’s Nation’s Monument Valley is a soaring plateau of towering sandstone buttes. If you’re a Western movie buff, you’ll recognise these from the silver screen. Forrest Gump fan? Punch the GPS coordinates 37.101393, -109.990973 into the satnav.

What’s also pretty awesome is that the park straddles Utah and Arizona, so you can hop across the state lines while you explore. For a bit of vintage charm, you could stay in the historic El Rancho Hotel tonight once we get to Gallup.

• Best Stops: Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Four Corners Monument
• Where to Eat: Denny’s Diner, Genaro’s Cafe, Aurelia’s Cafe
• Where to Stay: Travelodge by Wyndham Gallup ($), Yellow Navajo Hogan ($$) El Rancho Hotel ($$$)

Day 7: Gallup to Albuquerque (2 hours)

Gallup is a small city on Historic Route 66. If you want to buy a few souvenirs, the city is famed for its arts and crafts. As we head eastwards today, we’ll follow the iconic old highway itself. We’ll stop off to snap old neon signs and abandoned gas stations along the way. The Acoma Pueblo is a cool stop where we can take a guided tour around the community.

Let’s aim to be in Albuquerque by lunch, so we can explore the city. There are plenty of museums in town if you fancy dipping into Southwest history, or you can stretch your limbs by rowing at Tingley Beach instead. Feeling flush? Let’s splash out on a hot air balloon ride.

• Best Stops: Red Rock Park, Acoma Pueblo, Bowlin’s Old Crater Trading Post
• Where to Eat: Whistle Stop Coffee Room, Padilla’s Mexican Kitchen
• Where to Stay: Econo Lodge Midtown Albuquerque ($), La Quinta by Wyndham Albuquerque West ($$)

Day 8-9: Albuquerque to Lincoln National Forest Park (3 hours 40 minutes)

Before we leave Albuquerque, one thing we shouldn’t miss is the phenomenal view from the Sandia Peak Tramway. That’ll give us a sprawling panorama of the whole city, plus 11,000 square miles of New Mexico wilderness!

And then, farewell to city comforts; we’re heading deep into the lush greenery of the Lincoln National Forest. Choose to camp for a few nights, or check into the local hostel.

We’ve planned something exceptional to wrap up our road trip in the Southwest! The White Sands National Monument is a vision after all the rusty red rocks we’ve seen so far. There is a mix of hikes to choose from that range from 20 minutes to 3 hours. Or get an adrenaline boost by hiring a sledge and swooshing down the dunes!

• Best Stops: Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque Old Town, Tingley Beach, Cloudcroft, White Sands National Monument
• Where to Eat: Western Bar & Cafe, Rebecca’s at the Lodge, Rustic Cafe
• Where to Stay: Lincoln National Forest campground ($), Cloudcroft Hostel ($), Days Inn by Wyndham Alamgorado ($$)

Day 10: Lincoln Forest National Park to El Paso (2 hours 20 minutes)

Before we part ways, we’ll make our final state border crossing and travel into Texas. The Franklin Mountains State Park is a great stop on the way and is fantastic for mountain biking, rock climbing, and hiking.

And then, finally – El Paso concludes our road trip from Las Vegas. This is a cultural gem where we can experience the best of Southwestern charm with a splash of Mexican spirit! There’s a ton of things to do in El Paso so make sure to stick around for a day or two.

• Best Stops: Welcome to Texas sign, Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, Franklin Mountains State Park
• Where to Eat: Milagro Coffee y Espresso, Tacos el Troquero, L&J Cafe
• Where to Stay: Red Roof Inn PLUS + El Paso East ($), Inspira Hotel ($$) Beautiful Stylish Casita ($$)

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

• From: Oklahoma City
• To: Phoenix
• Total Distance: 1,027 miles
• Top Road Trips Stops: Cadillac Ranch, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, Sedona

Yup, the Historic Route 66 technically no longer exists. However, you can still trace the route of Mother Road through the American Southwest. And it still makes a killer road trip. But planning a road trip in the Southwest that covers the whole 2,500 miles of the Main Street of America gobbles up your vacation days. That’s why we’ve taken just a slice of the route.

Our road trip from Oklahoma City navigates a stretch of that legendary highway, which we’ll break up with stops in small towns. Rather than heading into California, we go south to culminate with some breathtaking natural wonders in Arizona.

Road Trip Highlights:

• Cruise past relics of the Historic Route 66, including neon signs, abandoned gas stations, ghost towns, and fascinating museums
• Check out the auto-art installation of Cadillac Ranch
• Take a dip in a sinkhole in the middle of the New Mexico desert
• Explore the natural wonders that are the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest
• Take a tour in one of the iconic pink jeeps of Sedona

Day 1: Oklahoma City to Amarillo (3 hours 52 minutes)

Get comfy; we’ve got a decent stretch of road to cover as we start our road trip from Oklahoma City. Let’s visit a couple of Route 66 relics in Oklahoma City first – duck into a museum if you feel like it. Then, off we go.

Today’s all about soaking up the nostalgic charm of the legendary highway. We’ll stop to check out relics like the oldest gas station in Texas. There are a couple of museums where you can browse old memorabilia to break up the drive!

• Best Stops: Milk Bottle Grocery, Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma Route 66 Museum (Clinton), National Route 66 Museum (Elk City), Lucille’s Historic Gas Station (Hydro), Phillips 66 (McLean), Wonderland Park
• Where to Eat: Aubrey’s Fish & Ice Cream, Lucille’s Roadhouse Diner, Jo Taco
• Where to Stay : Red Roof Inn Amarillo West ($), Updated and Modern Studio in Downtown Amarillo ($$) Zo’s Relic ($$$)

Day 2: Amarillo to Santa Rosa (2 hours 30 minutes)

After breakfast, we’ll freshen up our Instas with some snaps of the spray-painted cars at Cadillac Ranch. Belt up for a drive through the New Mexican desert. We’ll grab a coffee at the aptly-named Midpoint Cafe and pose with the neon sign of the historic Blue Swallow Motel.

The Route 66 ghost town of Glenrio is a worthy pit stop before we reach Santa Rosa. Let’s cool down with a dip in the natural phenomenon that is the Santa Rosa Blue Hole. This sinkhole is filled with water; if you’ve brought your PADI licence along, you can even scuba dive!

• Best Stops: Cadillac Ranch, Santa Rosa Blue Hole, Glenrio, Welcome to New Mexico sign, Route 66 Auto Museum
• Where to Eat: Midpoint Cafe, Kix on 66, Blue Swallow Motel, Comet II Drive In & Restaurant
• Where to Stay: Casa del Leon ($), La Quinta by Wyndham Santa Rosa ($$)

Day 3: Santa Rosa to Albuquerque (1 hour 46 minutes)

We can stretch our legs in the Santa Rosa Lake State Park or indulge in some watersports once we’ve had our coffee. Shortly before we reach today’s final destination, we can have a quick stroll in the Canyon Estates.

Once we park up in Albuquerque, take your pick of cool things to do. We can hire a rowing boat down at Tingley Beach. Or if we have some spare cash, sign ourselves up for a hot air balloon ride. Let’s catch the sunset at the Sandia Peak Tramway.

• Best Stops: Santa Rosa Lake State Park, Lewis Antique Auto & Toy Museum, Canyon Estates Trailhead, Sandia Peak Tramway
• Where to Eat: Sierra Blanca Brewing Company, Mary & Tito’s Cafe, Antiquity Restaurant
• Where to Stay: Days Inn by Wyndham Albuquerque West ($), Danish Modern Mini Luxury Suite ($$)

Day 4-5: Albuquerque to Holbrook (3 hours 20 minutes)

We’ll power on to Holbrook today, with a stop off in Gallup – a historical city which is handy for souvenir shopping. Oh yes, don’t forget to factor in some treats for loved ones back home in your Southwest vacation trip planner!

To make things easier, we’ll book into a motel in Holbrook for two nights. That way, we can spend the next few days exploring two of Arizona’s finest natural wonders, hiker’s heavens . The Petrified Forest is the only national park that contains a segment of the Historic Route 66. It’s an enchantment of colourful ancient trees – another haven for photographers! Meanwhile, an hour’s drive brings us to the intriguing badlands of the Painted Desert.

• Best Stops: Gallup, Historic Armco Gas Station (Gallup), Petrified Forest, Painted Desert
• Where to Eat: El Rancho, Genaro’s Cafe, Healing Grounds Coffee Shop
• Where to Stay: 66 Motel ($), Campsite @ Big Spin Ranch, Petrified Forest ($), The White Buffalo Casita ($$)

Day 6-7: Holbrook to Sedona (2 hours)

If that wasn’t enough excitement for you, we have even more natural wonders a mere two-hour drive west! But first, we’ll make a pitstop in the Route 66 city of Flagstaff and check out a few more sights. We’ll also have a gander around a crater formed by a meteor, before catching the sunset from Airport Mesa.

Stay overnight in Sedona for two nights so we can experience this adventurer’s playground.  Take your pick from desert jeep tours, horseback riding, rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking. There’s even a massive natural waterslide! If you ask us, Sedona is what makes this a contender for the best road trip in the Southwest.

• Best Stops: Meteor Crater National Landmark, Walnut Canyon, Amtrak Train Station Route 66 mural, Slide Rock State Park, Devil’s Bridge Trail, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock
• Where to Eat: Mother Road Brewing Company, Criollo Latin Kitchen, Diablo Burger
• Where to Stay: Sedona Camping Gear ($), Wonder View Grotto ($$), Newly Built Tiny Home with Awesome Views ($$)

Day 8: Sedona to Phoenix (2 hours)

We’ll drive south via Cornville and stop off at a vineyard for lunch. You might want to duck out of being today’s designated driver if you want to sample the local wines.

As we approach our final destination, we can check out a couple of exciting natural attractions around Phoenix before we explore the city. And relax, that concludes our road trip from Oklahoma City.

• Best Stops: Red Rock State Park, Cornville, Old Town Scottsdale, Desert Botanical Garden, Papago Park, Goldfield ghost town
• Where to Eat: Page Springs Cellars, Thanks a Latte Esporess Cafe, Los Taquitos
• Where to Stay: Quality Inn Phoenix ($$), Urban Guesthouse in Uptown Phoenix ($$$)

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

• From: Denver
• To: Salt Lake City
• Total Distance: 746 miles
• Top Road Trips Stops: Rocky Mountain National Park, Glenwood Springs, Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Great Salt Lake

Despite taking less than one week to complete, this road trip from Denver takes you through a decent chunk of Colorado and Utah. We’ll make Salt Lake City our final destination.

Along the way, we’ll explore some of the finest state parks and mountain ranges in the whole Southwest, including the lush Colorado Rockies. Our itinerary prioritises the scenic routes over the fastest – so we get to see the most epic landscapes this region has on offer!

If you want to tackle this trip during winter, let’s factor some skiing into our itinerary. You might want to add an extra night to accommodate this.

• Hike in the rugged snowcapped wilderness of the Colorado Rockies
• Mountain bike in one of Utah’s legendary national parks – Canyonlands or Arches
• Explore fascinating ghost towns
• Raft your way down the Colorado River
• Take in the epic landscapes of the Great Salt Lake itself

Day 1: Denver to Estes Park (1 hour 20 minutes)

Ticked off whatever you wanted to see in the city? Cool, let’s rev the rental and start our road trip from Denver. We’ll kick off the road trip with the alpine glory that is the Rocky Mountain National Park (the Rockies to their friends). Today, we’ll take the fastest route (Highway 36), so we have as much of the day as possible for the park.

Once we make it to Estes Park, we’ll grab lunch then follow the scenic loop through the majestic mountains. This takes around four hours, but we’ll be in and out of the car. In terms of hiking, there are hundreds of trails to choose from.

We vote for the Bear Lake Loop, Ute Trail, Mount Ida or Chasm Lake. These are relatively short and pack in some of the best scenery in the region. Let’s hop on the tramway, too, and take in the views from Prospect Mountain.

• Best Stops: Golden Gate Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park Aerial Tramway
• Where to Eat:  Salto Coffee Works, Sweet Basilico Cafe, Coffee on the Rocks, Trailhead Restaurant
• Where to Stay: Rocky Moutain National Park campgrounds ($), Murphy’s River Lodge ($$), Cozy Shepherd’s Tent in Aspen Grove near RMNP ($$$)

Day 2: Rocky Mountain National Park to Glenwood Springs (2 hours 30 minutes)

Let’s tackle a short morning hike before we hit the road. This time, take the peak-to-peak scenic byway out of town. This way, we can drive right through the mountains and past a number of ski resorts. If we’re in a 4X4, we’ll take a detour to Dakota Hill.

Once we get to Glenwood Springs, we can wander along the Colorado River. Or, for something more adventurous – let’s go rafting or book a canyon swing. Cycling along the Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail is another option, perfect for summer. And of course, we must take a dip in the hot springs. Accommodation in town is pricey, so let’s stay in a cheaper guesthouse and get a day pass to the springs instead.

• Best Stops: Rocky Mountain National Park, Loveland Ski Resort, Vail Ski Resort, Dillon Reservoir, White River National Forest, Glenwood Caverns
• Where to Eat: Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea – Roastery cafe, Abbey’s Coffee, Glenwood Canyon Brewclub
• Where to Stay: Rodeway Inn Glenwood Springs ($$), Glenwood Springs Cedar Lodge ($$)

Day 3-4: Glenwood Springs to Moab (4 hours 40 minutes)

With the gorgeous Rocky Mountain National Park in our rear-view mirror, we’ll cruise west into the realm of canyons. For the most scenic route, skip I-70 and drive through the mountains. It’s longer but much prettier, with even more mountains to ogle. We can stop off in towns like Paonia and Delta for coffee to break it up.

Rejoin I-70 at Redlands. Let’s turn off onto state route 128 so we can check out the ghost town, then follow the scenic drive through Dewey. The Fisher Towers trailhead is a pleasant two-hour hike to stretch our legs and catch the sunset. There are lots of places to stay around Arches National Park , which is a great base for exploring the area for a couple more days.

• Best Stops: Gunnison Gorge/Black Canyon, Cisco Ghost Town, Fisher Towers,  Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point State Park, Arches National Park
• Where to Eat: Black Bridge Winery, Berg Harvest Mercantile and Cafe, Doghouse Espresso
• Where to Stay: Moab Valley RV Resort & Campground ($), Adventure Inn Moab ($$), OK RV Park Glamping Tipi OK56 ($$$)

Day 5: Moab to Salt Lake City (5 hours)

Squeeze in any last activities you fancy, top up the gas tank, and northwards we drive. We’ll take the scenic road, past the San Rafael Swell and up through the Manti-La Sal National Forest.

If you stay an extra night in SLC, hang onto your rental and take a day trip to either the Wasatch or Oquirrh mountains. And, of course, don’t miss the opportunity to plunge into the Great Salt Lake and see how well you float!

• Best Stops: Green River State Park, Spring Canyon ghost town, San Rafael Swell, Utah Lake State Park, Temple Square
• Where to Eat: Green River Coffee, Tangerine Eatery, Happiness Within, Guru’s Cafe,
• Where to Stay: Park City Hostel ($), Cozy Tiny House ($$), Ellerbeck Mansion Bed and Breakfast ($$$)
• Total Distance: 563 m
• Top Road Trips Stops: Grand Canyon National Park, Slide Rock State Park, Airport Mesa, Goldfield ghost town, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

If you’re looking for short ‘n’ sweet Southwest road trip ideas, this one gives you tonnes of sights without chewing up all your annual leave.

Our 5-day road trip itinerary takes you to some of Arizona’s best natural wonders, starting with a canyon you’ve possibly heard of.

• Savour the hues of one of the most alluring wonders of nature, the Grand Canyon
• Tackle the gruelling but rewarding Humphrey’s Peak track – the highest point in Arizona
• Stun yourself with the rust-red delights of Sedona
• Experience fragments of the Historic Route 66
• Throw in a tent and camp for a real Wild West adventure

Day 1-2: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Village (4 hours)

Pick up your rental in Sin City, load up the snacks and say farewell to Nevada – we’re crossing over to Arizona.

The drive starts off as barren as you might expect as we cruise through the desert landscape of Nevada. Once we cross the state line into Arizona, things start getting greener. We’ll stop off to take photographs and aim to squeeze in a short hike in the Kaibab National Park, where we can camp tonight.

Whichever accommodation you decide on, book for two nights so you can spend the entire second day exploring the Grand Canyon South Rim.

• Best Stops: The Neon Museum, Hoover Dam, Liberty Bell Arch, Willow Beach, Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum, Kaibab National Park
• Where to Eat: Coffee Cup Cafe, Cruiser’s Route 66 Cafe, Rutherford’s 66 Family Diner, Plaza Bonita
• Where to Stay: Kaibab National Forest campgrounds ($) Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel ($$), Nomad’s Pad Grand Canyon: The Grand Nomad ($$$)

Day 3: Kaibab National Forest to Flagstaff (1 hour 20 minutes)

If you have the energy for a strenuous hike, we’ll tackle the Humphrey’s Peak trail this morning. This affords us fabulous views from Arizona’s tallest peak. Access depends on the weather – the route is only accessible when it hasn’t snowed. Pick up snacks from Tusayan if so, breakfast options are limited around here.

Afterwards, we’ll check out the youngest volcano on the Colorado Plateau. The Bonito Vista Trail and Lava Flow Trail are gentle, easy options to recover from this morning’s antics. Then, onwards to Flagstaff for the night. If you can still move your legs, let’s go line dancing at the Museum Club.

• Best Stops: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Humphrey’s Peak, Walnut Canyon National Monument
• Where to Eat: Brandy’s Restaurant & Bakery, Tourist Home All Day Cafe,
• Where to Stay: Econo Lodge Flagstaff Route 66 ($), Western Hills Motel ($$), Sage Yurt – A Cozy Nature Getaway ($$)

Day 4: Flagstaff to Sedona (50 minutes)

We have a short drive this morning, which is for the best because Sedona is one of the best towns in the whole of Arizona. Let’s make the most of it!

The town is cradled by 1.8 million acres of national forest land and buttressed by four wilderness areas and staggering mesas. There’s plenty of scope for thrill-seekers; take your pick from desert jeep tours, horseback riding, rafting, rock climbing and mountain biking. Whatever we do, we can’t miss the sunset from Airport Mesa.

Accommodation is a bit pricier in Sedona, so if you’ve brought your tent along, now’s its moment to save you a few bucks.

• Best Stops: Slide Rock State Park, Devil’s Bridge Trail, Airport Mesa, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
• Where to Eat: Air Cafe, SaltRock Kitchen, 89 Agave Cantina
• Where to Stay: Cave Springs Campground ($), Days Inn by Wyndham Sedona ($$), Newly Built Tiny Home with Awesome Views ($$)

Day 5: Sedona to Phoenix (3 hours 30 minutes)

For our final day, we will take the scenic route to Phoenix through the Saguaro cactus-studded desert that forms the Tonto National Forest. There, we’ll get out to see what’s considered to be the largest natural travertine formation in the world.

After that, we’ll stop off in Payson for lunch, the so-called ‘Heart of Arizona’. The landscape here isn’t what you expect from the cactus state. Clasped by the Mazatzal Mountains and dense forestry, it’s got much more of an alpine vibe. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a final brew in Arizona’s largest city. For a quiet place to stay after a long day of driving, consider staying at a vacation rental in Scottsdale .

• Best Stops: Montezuma Castle National Monument, Payson, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Old Town Scottsdale, Desert Botanical Garden, Papago Park, Goldfield ghost town
• Where to Eat: Pinon Cafe, Common Grounds Coffee House, Virtu Honest Craft,
• Where to Stay: Red Roof Inn Phoenix – Midtown ($$), Cozy Desert Oasis ($$)

Renting a vehicle is the best way to explore the Southwest. That could be a regular car, a 4X4, or even a campervan/RV.

Renting a Vehicle in Southwest

Renting a vehicle is one of the most popular ways for domestic and international tourists to explore the region. In general, US motorists drive conservatively. For many of the itineraries in our Southwest vacation trip planner, you’ll be in the backcountry, away from the city traffic.

You must have a valid driver’s licence to rent a vehicle in the Southwest. If you hold an overseas licence, you will need an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) too. You should check the requirements as per your passport country.

You may pay a couple of additional fees on top of the car hire rate. Factor in the following charges when planning a road trip in the Southwest.

• Young Renter Fee: You must be aged 21 or over to rent a car in the Southwest. If you are under 25, you may have to pay a ‘young renter fee’. The average cost of this is $20 per day, but it can vary from state to state.
• One-way Rental: All our road trips originate and finish in different cities. You’ll most likely be asked to pay a drop-off fee. This should be included in your quote.
• Additional Driver: Unless the additional driver is your spouse or domestic partner, you will pay a fee to add a second driver. This varies depending on the state and company.
• Deposit: You will need to pay a deposit/bond when you pick up your rental. This must be paid on a credit card and is usually $200-$300.
• Insurance: Another of your Southwest road trip essentials is sturdy insurance. We recommend not purchasing insurance from your rental – these guys always inflate the prices. Instead, check out an independent insurance company, such as RentalCover.com. Their rates are much friendlier.

Don’t have a car? Well, we’re going to have to sort that out! Use  rentalcars.com  to find the best deals on the web and save heaps of cash!

Road Rules in the Southwest

As with everywhere, the US is subject to road rules. And yes, they do take things seriously, like speeding, driving under the influence, and travelling without a seatbelt!

When you plan a road trip in the Southwest, here some of the weirder rules that may catch you off-guard.

• Whatever you do, don’t miss your exit in Arizona. Reversing down a public road is against the law.
• If you fancy our road trip from Denver, request a non-black car. According to an old law, driving a black car on a Sunday is illegal.
• Stick to a trusty automobile while road-tripping across Nevada. If you decide to ride a camel down the highway, you’ll be smacked with a fine.
• Put your comic down while driving through Oklahoma. Reading about Batman’s latest exploits while driving is a fineable no-no.
• It is illegal to make hand-held phone calls and send texts while driving in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. Neighbouring states are likely to instigate similar rules in the near future.

On a more serious note, remember that every state in the US sets its own road laws. When crossing into different states on your road trip in the Southwest, do check each state. Also, as you cruise closer to the Mexican border, don’t be surprised if Border Police wave you down. They might ask to check your documents and trunk. It’s pretty common.

And don’t forget, they drive on the right in the US!

Insurance in the Southwest

Before you hit the road, we just want to swoop in again with nobody’s favourite topic. One of the ultimate Southwest road trip essentials is insurance for your rental car. Yes, you can buy this from your hire company. But you can save a decent bit of cash by using an independent insurance provider.

In the US, you are required to purchase liability insurance and a damage waiver. Often, this is packaged up as Collision Damage Waiver/Loss Damage Waiver. This covers damage, theft and loss of use of the rental vehicle and usually amounts to a maximum of $30 per day.

Roadside assistance is an optional extra that may come in handy for your Southwest road trip itinerary. There are long stretches between gas stations in the backcountry! Rental companies typically charge $10-$15 per day for assistance. It’s worth shopping around with companies like RentalCover.com to find a plan that covers the lot in one deal.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

If you’re not careful, Southwest’s wilderness will smack ya to next Monday.  There are six road trip essentials I never go traveling without:

1. First Aid Kit : Even if you don’t plan on doing anything extreme on your trip, like hiking, climbing, or other extreme sports, you never know what could happen. You could cut yourself while cooking, smash a finger in a car door, or burn yourself on a hot radiator. A first aid kit will be able to handle most of these minor situations.

2. Aux Cord : One of the only things to do on a long car ride by yourself is to listen to music or a podcast. Since most people use their phones as an MP3 player these days, an auxillary cord is crucial to preserving your sanity. If there is no auxiliary port in your car, buy a radio transceiver or use a portable speaker.

3. Phone mount :  It’s very dangerous to be looking down at your phone while driving. If you need to have access to your phone, for maps and what-not, buy a mount for it. This way, you can keep your eyes on the road and your phone won’t be far from your field of view.

4. Headtorch : Every backpacker should have a head torch! A decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples, or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must. Currently, I’m using the Petzl Actik Core rechargeable headlamp – an awesome piece of kit! Because it’s USB chargeable I never have to buy earth polluting batteries.

5. Roadside Emergency Kit : Just like you never know what could happen to yourself , one never knows what can happen to their car . A vehicle can mysteriously fail, break, run into a ditch; all that and then some. Most emergency kit include a pair of jumper cables, a tow rope, a set of essential tools, and ties.

6. Toiletry Bag : I always travel with a hanging toiletry bag as it’s a super-efficient way to organise your bathroom stuff. Well worth having, whether you are hanging it from a tree whilst camping, or a hook in a wall, it helps to have quick access to all your stuff.

For plenty more inspiration on what to pack, check out my full road trip packing list.

Well, that brings us to the end of our top four Southwest road trip ideas! We hope you’ve found your perfect itinerary. Now all you need to worry about is creating an epic soundtrack for your own road trip in the Southwest!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Colleen Kinsey

Share or save this post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.

• WORK WITH US

Photo Presets

The Mandagies

The Perfect 10-Day American Southwest Road Trip Itinerary (14+ Gorgeous Desert Stops!)

Post Summary: Everything you would ever want to know about planning and executing an epic Southwest road trip itinerary.

The American Southwest.

This classic American road trip is packed full of iconic Southwest locations, Instagram-worthy stops , and incredible natural wonders.

We’d even go far enough to say that it’s a must-do for all Americans at least once in their lifetime!

Planning a route this large and complex can get a little crazy and overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate American Southwest road trip itinerary to help set your plans in motion.

We’re sharing the best route to take and even breaking it down into smaller bite-sized trips.

No matter how many days you have for your Southwest US road trip itinerary, we’re sharing how you can still have the maximum amount of fun!

The Ultimate American Southwest Road Trip

This post is a compilation of many trips we’ve taken to some of our American Southwest bucket list destinations . We’re constantly updating this post as we explore more, so keep coming back for more Southwest USA inspiration in the future!

Where Is The American Southwest?

The American Southwest area is a broad term with borders that depend on the person you are talking to!

In a large, encompassing stroke, it would cover Southern California, Southern Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and sometimes even Western Colorado.

It’s a unique area of the United States that showcases vast deserts, red rocks, cool ecological formations, and so many unique and natural landscapes.

Covering all these areas on an American Southwest road trip would require weeks off of work and tons of planning. Stay tuned as we tell you how you can break up your trip into smaller loops for a more manageable trip!

What’s The Best Way To Get Around On My Southwest Road Trip?

The best way to plan and execute a Southwest Road Trip itinerary is certainly by car. Traveling around the Southwest by car will give you the most freedom, and the ability to change plans on a whim if you feel like it! Being one of the most famous west coast road trips , you’ll want to have the freedom to change plans on a whim and drive were you wish.

Our favorite way to get around the Southwest is by renting a campervan. If you are wanting to try our van life, we recommend renting a campervan through Outdoorsy , because it’s kind of like Airbnb but for campervans! You can pick anything from Airstreams to Sprinter Vans to Vintage VW Westfalias. There are so many to choose from, and they come fully insured so you can worry less and explore more!

Finding Camping Spots In The American Southwest

Are you planning to go camping on your Southwest road trip route? Make sure you download the #1 camping app, The Dyrt ! The Dyrt is one of the best road trip planner tools , with tons of features to help you find the perfect camping spots on your trip!

The pro membership unlocks essential tools like their Road Trip Planner (to find the best campsites along your route) and the offline search features to find camping spots without cell service. Try the pro membership for 30 days free!   Click here and use the code  Mandagies  to unlock your 30-day free trial .

Where Do I Start My Southwest Road Trip?

There are many potential starting points for a southwest road trip , and we’ve created ours to be in an enormous loop so you can really start wherever is most convenient for YOU!

However, you may not have time for a mega trip like this one. That’s why we’ve split our route into many smaller routes, to target more specific areas of the American Southwest if you choose to do so.

Here are a few options below to help you pick the best southwest road trip that’s right for you!

The Utah National Parks Trip

Starting Point:  Las Vegas, Nevada.

Total Driving Time:  19 Hours there and back – 1,082 miles

Highlights include locations like Temple of the Sun and Moon, Delicate Arch , Angeles Landing hike (Zion National Park), and more!

This trip includes five US National Parks , lots of hiking, and red rock landscape.

Don’t want to drive back the way you came? Make it a loop and make your way south through Monument Valley and Page, Arizona. This way you can see Horseshoe Bend and even Antelope Canyon!

Click here to see our full detailed road trip route to all five Utah National Parks.  

The Southern California Loop

Starting Point: Los Angeles or San Diego, California

Total Driving Time:  35 hours in a loop drive – 1,200 miles total

This Southern California road trip route includes driving parts of the iconic Highway 395 route , visiting at least two US National Parks (Death Valley and Joshua Tree).

There is also a potential extension to three more (Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park)!

This trip will bring you through major cities, scorching deserts, and incredible views of the Eastern Sierras. Best driven in the springtime to avoid super-hot days, it’s an iconic area to explore in the Southwest USA.

If you are hoping to begin your southwest road trip from Los Angeles, this route is a great place to start!

The Grand Canyon / Desert Loop

Starting Point: Las Vegas, Nevada

Total Driving Time:  18 hours 30 minutes hours in a loop, 1,100 miles total

This route is perfect for lovers of the red landscape of the American Southwest.  Some of the most popular adventures in this area are road trips to the Grand Canyon, so you’re in good company if you like this southwest road trip route!

The red rocks of Valley of Fire State Park, the deep crevasses of the Grand Canyon , and amazing hikes in Sedona are any outdoor enthusiast’s dream.

Driving the Grand Canyon and Desert Loop will have you spending a lot of time outside.

Make sure to know some camping essentials like where to find free camping spots , how to sleep in your car , and easy meals to make on the road !

The Mega American Southwest Road Trip

Total Driving Time:  37 hours in a loop, 2,144 miles total

***This is what we’ll be covering below. Keep reading!***

In this post, we’re going to cover a Southwest road trip route that covers every ‘major’ stop. (Note: We really can’t cover EVERY SINGLE STOP, so we’re trying out best to cover the highlights! 

Every major desert, national park, and hidden place we can think of will be included!

If you spent one day in each of these included locations, this Southwest USA trip would take you a little over two weeks.

We’re sharing the largest itinerary so that you can see all your options, and custom fit your route to however long and far you’d like to travel!

All The Best Stops On A Mega Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

Again, this American Southwest road trip guide below includes ALL the stops.

If you are hoping to break it down into a more in-depth trip around just one area, scroll back up to see examples of our bite-sized itineraries!

1. Alabama Hills

Alabama Hills Recreational Area is an area east of the Sierra Mountains in Southern California. It’s managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and its sole purpose is to be for the enjoyment of the people. Yay!

This place is chock-full of amazing rock climbing, desert hikes, interesting natural arches, and so much more. There are even free camping spots pretty much anywhere and everywhere, so you can sleep and play all in one place.

Alabama Hills is also the site for over 150 movie filming locations including American Westerns like Round-Up and The Long Rangers, and more recent films like Django Unchained and Iron Man.

Note: Alabama Hills is mainly dirt roads, so 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for travel.

Movie Flat Road is generally in acceptable condition for all vehicles, but take caution after heavy rainfall. The rain may cause ruts in the road or even wash it away completely. Check the weather before you venture out!

Read More: Exactly How To Find Movie Road – (That Famous Instagram Spot In Alabama Hills)

2. Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is not only the largest national park in the US , but it’s also the hottest, driest, and lowest elevation one too!

Despite its morbid name, Death Valley is actually home to many species of wildflowers, desert animals, and plants that can withstand the harsh environment. The Death Valley NPS Website even has a calendar for blooming wildflowers and the best times to visit to see them.

We recommend spending a night or two in the park. You can reserve traditional camping spots at Recreation.Gov or pop into the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and ask for free backcountry roads for camping.

Highlights of Death Valley National Park:

• Badwater Basin  – The lowest point in North America.
• Zabriskie Point – Colorful hills in all directions.
• Devil’s Golf Course – Rough, rocky terrain as far as the eye can see.
• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes – The quintessential view people expect at Death Valley. A vast area of sand dunes as tall as 100 feet, perfect for wandering in the evening.
• The Racetrack – Death Valley’s most peculiar site. Stones seem to move and make tracks in the dirt.

Read More: 24 Hours in Death Valley – How To See Death Valley in One Day

3. Valley of Fire State Park

You thought Nevada was just casinos and bright lights? Think again!

Directly around Nevada (in all directions!) are incredible desert landscapes and opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature.

This part of the Southwest is particularly popular for rock climbers, so if you fancy that you should plan more time in your trip to hang around Las Vegas. Las Vegas actually has a large rock climbing community, so if you wanted to train for rock climbing in a controlled environment, this would be the place to try it!

Have a little bit more time? Consider spending a few extra days in Sin City! There are tons of adventurous  things to do in Las Vegas for couples , including romantic hot air balloon rides, attending shows, and experiencing some fine dining! You deserve it after all that time hanging out in the desert dirt!

One of these amazing state parks near Las Vegas is Valley of Fire State Park – an outcrop of fiery red Aztec sandstone jetting out of the earth. The park covers over 40,000 acres of land and is at its best and brightest during sunrise and sunset.

Some of the best attractions at Valley of Fire State Park include:

• Rainbow Vista – color-streaked rocks with a great view
• Atlatl Rock – ancient petroglyphs
• Elephant Rock – natural arch shaped like said animal
• Mouse Tank Road – epic road with surrounding red rocks (that road you see all over social media!)
• White Domes Trail – beautiful view, best at sunrise
• Fire Canyon/Silica Dome – great sunset views
• Arch Rock – natural arch, conveniently on the side of the road
• Fire Wave – beautiful streaks of color on a short, easy trail

If you find yourself driving through Las Vegas on your Southwest road trip, we highly recommend visiting Valley of Fire State Park! The entry fee per day is $10.00 per vehicle, and $20.00 for overnight camping.

4. Zion National Park

Zion National Park is one of the most popular Utah national parks to visit on any Southwest road trip.

This is because it’s usually the closest to any starting point you may have (especially if you’re starting in Las Vegas, Phoenix, or California).

With over 4.5 million visitors per year, there are tons of activities to do like biking, hiking, cave exploring, and camping!

Planning out your days in Zion National Park are of the utmost importance. Because cars aren’t allowed in the park, you’ll be riding around on scheduled shuttles with all the other crowds in the park.

If you are visiting during a busy season or busy time of day, it’s important to arrive early and avoid long queues for the buses.

Zion National Park HACK: If you want to hike in a location before the shuttle begins for the day, we know of friends who have rented bikes for the week in Zion.

Bikes will give you more freedom to come and go from trailheads without waiting for the busy shuttle times and dealing with crowds. You can easily rent bikes at Zion Outfitter.

Travelers Tip: Stay outside of the park at hotels in Hurricane, UT for a budget-friendly stay. You’ll need to drive into the park every day, but it’s not too far of a drive, and the views are great!

If you really want to stay closer to the park, we highly recommend booking accommodations in Springdale, Utah  at least 6 months in advance or booking your camping spots very early. Accommodations near the park fill up FAST in high season!

Best Hikes and Attractions In Zion National Park:

• Angels Landing Hike (Difficult To Challenging)
• The Narrows (Canyon hike)
• Emerald Pools Trail
• Canyon Overlook Trail
• Kolob Canyons
• Weeping Rock
• Riverside Walk
• West Rim Trail

Best (And Scariest) Hike in Zion National Park: Angels Landing

5. Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is located in Utah, one of the “Mighty Five” Utah National Parks . It’s often paired with Zion National Park because of their proximity to one another.

This park is unique for its bright orange hoodoos,  which are tall skinny spires that form at the bottom of a dried up basin after thousands of years of erosion.

There are many opportunities to hike down in the basin and next to these towering hoodoos. Some of the most iconic hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park include:

• Queen’s Garden Loop  (most iconic Bryce features) – 2.6-mile loop
• Rim Trail (Best for sunrise and sunset) – entire length is 5.5-miles with multiple stopping points
• Mossy Cave Trail  – 0.9 miles out-and-back trail
• Navajo Trail  – 1.3-mile loop
• Swamp Canyon Loop – 4.1-mile loop
• Tower Bridge Trail – 3.4-mile out and back trail
• Fairyland Loop Trail – 8.0-mile loop
• Riggs Springs Loop Trail – 8.5-mile loop
• Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail – 5.5-mile loop

Because of its high elevation (8,000 to 9,000 feet depending on your location), Bryce Canyon stays cold nearly year round.

In January, temperatures barely rise above freezing at 15-37 degrees Fahrenheit, and its hottest month (July) sits between 53-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

That being said, we suggested earlier that the best time to make a southwest road trip itinerary would be between March/April or October/November. We still think this is true, but you should definitely add warm clothes to your southwest USA packing list.

If you’re packing light, here’s what we suggest you bring for warm clothes at the very minimum for visiting Bryce Canyon:

• Lightweight Down Jacket
• Thin, e-tip gloves (trust us, these are a lifesaver)
• Down-filled throw blanket

6. Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden gem on any adventurous southwest road trip. Located in central Utah, this park’s unique feature is a wrinkle in the earth called the “ Waterpocket Fold “, which runs north to south for nearly 100 miles.

This formation has created some interesting details in the area. Deep canyons, monoliths, and rocky reefs are waiting to be explored here!

To take your trip to the next level , we suggest reading our post about getting to Cathedral Valley to visit the Temple of The Sun And Moon . It’s a journey you won’t soon forget.

These towering twin rock monoliths are a two-hour drive down a dirt road – but well worth the detour! Just make sure to have a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle, and/or very confident driving skills.

It also doesn’t hurt to stop by the ranger’s office before heading out –  the rangers can tell you about the current road conditions.

Around Cathedral Valley is also a great place to camp. BLM land surrounds most of the park, so you can find a free camping spot just outside the national park borders and wake up in the valley!

(Just remember that camping IN the park is not permitted unless you have a backcountry permit or are in a designated camping spot!)

Here are some iconic things to do in Cathedral Valley:

• Hike The Grand Wash
• Drive The Backroads to Cathedral Valley
• See The View At Gooseneck Overlook

In Capitol Reef National Park, you’ll get a good perspective of the landscape of the American Southwest!

READ MORE: What To Expect On Your Trip To Capitol Reef National Park

7. Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is the sister park to Arches National Park . Canyonlands and Arches are right next to one another, so travelers usually come to the Moab area and visit both parks in one trip.

This park is divided up into three sections: The Island In the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze areas. Island In The Sky is the most accessible for all cars, has amenities like bathrooms and water, and has some of the park’s best overlooks.

If you’re hoping to spend one day in Canyonlands, we suggest coming to the Island In The Sky and leaving the other sections for a longer trip. There is plenty to see in this section, with tons of overlooks, short hikes, and attractions.

This part also includes the famous Mesa Arch , which looks incredible during sunrise!

It’s also important to note that there is little if any cell service in the park. Make sure to pick up a park map, or download an offline map from Google to help you get around.

Camping? Moab can be a good home base if you’re searching for an Airbnb or a hotel. However, if you want to rough it a little bit, there is tons of BLM land around the area where you can camp for free!

Read our complete guide to finding the perfect free camping spot in the USA . We’re sharing researching tips, best practices and so much more!

Highlights of Canyonlands (Must-See Spots In The Park):

• Candlestick Tower
• Grand View Point
• Green River Overlook
• Shafer Canyon Overlook
• Upheaval Dome
• Buck Canyon Overlook
• Dead Horse Point (Outside of the park but accessible from the same main road!)

Click here to find the best spot to watch the sunset in Canyonlands National Park!

8. Arches National Park

Arches National Park is one of the most visited of the “Mighty Five” Utah national parks. We also think it’s an essential stop on your Southwest road trip itinerary!

Here, you can experience iconic American landmarks like Delicate Arch, Double Arch, and the Windows Loop.

It’s possible to experience this park’s main attractions in a day, and the highway is set up to show you all the highlights. We wrote a post about the 10 best hikes to take in Arches National Park, and they are easily accessible and doable in 24 hours!

We suggest coming to this park early – the entrance line can get extremely long starting at 9:00 am!

Best Hikes In Arches National Park (See here for the complete list!) :

• Delicate Arch (least crowded during sunrise)
• Fiery Furnace (permit required)
• Double Arch
• Windows Loop
• Devil’s Garden Loop

Read More: How To Spend One Day In Arches National Park

9. Monument Valley

Monument Valley will be nearly everyone’s iconic assumption of what the landscape of the American Southwest looks like.

Want to reach that famous Forrest Gump Road? It’s a bit outside the official Oljato-Monument Valley area.

Starting from the town of Mexican Hat, drive west on Highway 163 towards Monument Valley to catch a glimpse of the towering pinnacles in the distance.

There are a few spots to pull over and snap a few pics of the road. Just be sure to look out for traffic both ways!

Camping Tip: There is BLM land all around Monument Valley, but do your research before heading out to search for your next spot. Read up on any specific rules for Native American reservation land, and what is allowed in these specific areas.

Read More:  Exactly How To Find Free Camping In The USA

10. Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon

Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are often coupled together because of how close they are to one another!

The town of Page was just a quick stop on our Southwest Road trip itinerary, but if you’re looking to spend more time here, check out these amazing things to do in Page, Arizona !

It’s important to note the time zone change from Page, Arizona. It’s very confusing – especially if you have tours reserved in the area.

Be sure to confirm any scheduled events or reservations you may have. As a last resort, consider arriving an hour early (rather than being an hour late!).

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in Page, Arizona. It’s split into two sections: “Upper Antelope Canyon” and “Lower Antelope Canyon”.

This place is growing in popularity, so it’s important to book Antelope Canyon tours online and reserve your spot in advance.

You can take a sightseeing tour, or spend a little more time in the canyon on a Photographer’s tour. The route is the same, the only difference is that the photography tour is longer.

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is an extremely picturesque bend in the Colorado River, located just outside of the city of Page, Arizona.

There is lots of grief about the Horseshoe Bend area being overcrowded. Yes, in recent years this place has received a lot of social media attention, thus creating a large and fast influx of visitors before the state could build proper infrastructure.

Regardless, we still think it’s an incredible place to see with your own eyes.

We recommend coming during sunset, even though this is by far the most popular and crowded time.

Just know that you will be sharing it with a lot of other people, and arm yourself with patience and grace. And remember, they are coming to experience its beauty just like you!

11. Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park is the quintessential activity for any adventurous southwest road trip.

Spanning 277 miles long and 18 miles wide at some points, the Colorado River has been carving this canyon for thousands of years!

If you are looking to see the highlights of the Grand Canyon, we recommend visiting the South Rim. This area is the most accessible to all vehicles and includes campgrounds, visitors centers, and more accommodations nearby.

Here are some of the best viewpoints in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon:

• Mather Point
• Mohave Viewpoint
• Moran Point
• Desert View Point
• Yavapai Point

Want to stay longer in this amazing part of the southwest? Try planning an unforgettable trip to Havasu Falls ! This incredible backcountry area in the southwest requires permits and quite the hike in, but in the end you’ll be rewarded with some of the most beautiful waterfall views on earth!

Read More: Experience a Grand Canyon National Park Sunset

12. Sedona, Arizona

Love hiking in the desert? This eclectic town in the middle of Red Rock State Park is a perfect place to reconnect with your mind, body, and soul.

We’ve written an incredibly in-depth guide to hikes in Sedona and what to expect on these beautiful trails!

Soldier’s Pass Trail : This hike features lots of interesting attractions. Some highlights include the Seven Sacred Pools, Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole, and cave entrances.

Cathedral Rock Hike : One of the most popular hikes in Sedona, Cathedral Rock trail is a popular location to watch the sunset. Towering spires, sharp cliff edges, and a little climbing will bring you to some of the most incredible desert views!

Devil’s Bridge Trail : Devil’s Bridge is a natural sandstone arch that’s accessible by a 4.2-mile hike. The best time to visit is during sunrise and sunset when the red landscape glows!

The Birthing Cave Trail : This short hike leads you to one of Sedona’s beautiful caves on the side of a mesa!

Trail Tip: These southwest hikes can get really hot in the middle of the day! We recommend taking on these trails in the early morning, or during sunset/late evening for some cooler weather. See our Sedona packing list for seasonal tips and tricks!

Read More: 5+ Incredible Hikes In Sedona, Arizona You Need To Experience

13. Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park has it all – desert vibes, interesting landscape, beautiful cholla gardens, and so much more.

It’s located east of Los Angeles, neighboring with the resort town of Palm Springs.

It’s most well known for its namesake, the Joshua Tree , which cover much of the park’s landscape. Unique boulder piles like Skull Rock (see photo below) combined with the high desert shrub make this place a unique part of any southwest road trip.

There are several types of accommodations near Joshua Tree National Park.

You can find tons of free camping spots around the park, wilderness areas within the park (with the proper permits) and campgrounds to be as close as possible to the attractions.

If you are into glamping, you’ve got to check out the insta-famous Joshua Tree House by Sara and Rich. Their picture-perfect home is close to the park, with all the luxurious amenities of a desert oasis. (Also, get $40 off your first booking with this code!)

Read More: Gorgeous Places To See In The American Southwest

14. San Diego, California

Oh, the options are endless in San Diego! This is where we began our Southwest road trip itinerary, but this is not where we ended it. However, if you want to drive all the way up the coast on a California Coast road trip , this is a great place to start that journey.

With the endless cafes, ice cream shops and restaurants to discover, there’s also a ton of amazing natural beauty to explore around San Diego .

Here are a couple of spots we were lucky to see on our latest trips:

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (La Jolla, California)

With over 8-miles of trails in this park by the ocean, you can explore as much or as little as you’d like. Torrey Pines is a preserved site with rugged cliffs, rare pine trees, and incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.

You can come to join a 1-hour ranger-guided tour of the park on weekdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Visitors Center. Spaces are limited to 10 people per day!

California State Beaches

What’s a trip to sunny California without visiting the Pacific Ocean? Below are some of our favorite beaches to explore. Call it a last hurrah or celebration on finishing your epic Southwest road trip! Congratulations, you!

• Moonlight State Beach
• Cardiff State Beach
• Torrey Pines State Beach (North and South Shore)
• South Carlsbad Beach
• Coronado Beach and Dog Park

Nearby: How To Spend A Fun Weekend In West Hollywood, California

Our 10-Day Southwest Road Trip Route

Looking for a day-by-day itinerary through the southwestern region of the US? Here’s what our exact southwest road trip itinerary looked like during our last journey around this corner of the USA.

Again, driving around the southwest US can be as short or as long as you want it to be! There are endless things to explore, so if your time is limited here’s a 10-day southwest road trip itinerary we suggest you follow.

This way, you can dip your toes in a ton of different areas, and then return to your favorites on a future trip!

Day 1: Alabama Hills, California

Day 2: Death Valley National Park (See our 24 Hours In Death Valley Itinerary !)

Day 3: Valley of Fire, Nevada

Day 4: Zion National Park

Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park

Day 6-8: Sedona, Arizona

Day 9: Joshua Tree National Park

Day 10: Torrey Pines, San Diego, California

Frequently Asked Questions About Driving Around The Southwest USA

Still have questions about your upcoming road trip? Here are some of the most common questions around planning a southwest road trip itinerary:

How Do I Get Around On A Trip In The American Southwest?

Unfortunately, we don’t live in any of those Southwest cities listed above. If you’re like us, you’ll probably be flying into the cheapest airport you can find, which will depend on the type of route you want to take!

If you need help finding cheap flight deals, you can track destinations with Skyscanner and buy when tickets are the cheapest!

We suggest flying into large airports to get the best deals on flights. Large airports mean there are more flights coming in per day, which means more people can book and they won’t be in such high demand.

Here are the major cities this mega Southwest itinerary will pass through – all are great starting points for your road trip around the American Southwest.

• Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – PHX)
• Las Vegas, Nevada (McCarran International Airport – LAS)
• Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles International Airport – LAX)
• San Diego, California (San Diego International Airport – SAN)

RENTAL CARS:

Looking to go camping during your Southwest road trip? We did too! There are TONS of areas in the southwest perfect for free camping , so you can have an epic trip on an epic(ly cheap) budget!

To make your car camping adventure as cozy as possible, we’d suggest renting a car that can fold the backseats down completely flat.

That way, you can pack your sleeping bag and sleeping pad and snuggle up in the back for a cozy (and free) place to sleep on your southwest road trip.

Looking For A Camper Van or RV?

One of our favorite places to look for RVs for rent is a place called Outdoorsy . It’s kind of like Airbnb for recreational vehicles. People will lend their camper vans, mobile homes, and more for travelers like you!

It’s fully insured, and an awesome way to save money on the road and get the full road trip experience. Click here to browse their huge selection!

What’s The Best Time Of Year For A Southwest Road Trip?

In our opinion, we think the best time of year for a perfect Southwest road trip would be between the months of March and April.

This is when most of the snow has melted in the spring (except for in Bryce Canyon !) but the desert weather is not yet too hot.

We also think that between October and November is a good time to plan your southwest road trip itinerary.

The weather is getting cooler from the summer, and most families have children back in school, so crowds are less than the peak summer season.

This Isn’t The End…

Didn’t see your favorite American southwest destination in this blog post? That’s because we haven’t explored there yet!

We can’t wait to do some more driving around the Southwest US. As we explore more destinations, we’ll be updating this post with more information. Keep coming back!

Are you planning your own amazing Southwest road trip? Tell us about the stop you are looking forward to the most!

10 Amazing Destinations in the American Southwest

The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip

How To Spend One Day In Death Valley National Park

5 Amazing Hikes In Sedona, Arizona You Need To Explore

How To Find Movie Road In Alabama Hills, California

The Ultimate Pacific Coast Road Trip Itinerary

How To See Big Sur, California In One Day

After way too many years of working and raising children I have the opportunity to do something I love and travel the country. All back roads and amazing places. Just found your blog and most of my planning is very similar to what you do. After reading about your adventures, my biggest concern is being shut out of places I want to see because my trip will be fluid and I really don’t want to rush to a place. There is no way I can set something up six months in advance. Maybe a month would work do me. I plan on going for two years. Entire country except for the heartland. Any advice? Below you ask for a website. I’m just getting to it.

Hi Eric! Thanks for the comment! What do you meaning being shut out of places?

We are planning on doing part of this in September. So so excited! One thing we did notice is a lot of campsites close from mid/late September for the winter.

Hi Nicola! I hope you have the best time! And depending on the parks, the campsites are generally open through October, especially in the warmer southwest climates. You could also try apps like iOverlander that show you forest roads to camp for free, year-round if the road conditions permit!

The Grand Circle is the ultimate US Southwest road trip

Sep 14, 2020 • 6 min read

White Pocket at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona © Getty Images

Driving the Grand Circle can take up to three weeks, but a spectacular eight-to-10 day portion centers around the Grand Canyon and features bold colors, fascinating geological shapes and textures and living history of our indigenous culture at every turn. Amidst views, hikes and grandeur, it includes stops in town for local art, cuisine and culture and where to sleep at night. Here’s how to hit the road for the best of the Southwest. 

The Grand Circle consists of five Southwestern states – Arizona , New Mexico , Colorado , Utah and Nevada – and has America’s largest concentration of national parks and monuments. It’s perfect for a majestic road trip of scenic byways, sheer cliffs, and purple, orange and indigo mesas. 

Parowan & Cedar City, Utah

Parowan is home to the first pioneer settlement in Utah, heritage museums, as well as famous landmarks such as the geometric petroglyphs at Parowan Gap. These ancient symbols were carved into cliff faces along the same path that local people have used for centuries. 

Take a 23 minute drive “downtown” to Cedar City, Utah, and relax after hiking with a wine tasting at IG Winery & Tasting Room , featuring world-class signature blends. Be sure to try one of the famous cinnamon rolls in Parowan Cafe , which are made fresh every morning and can sell out by lunch.  

Kanab, Utah  

Both Parowan and Kanab, Utah, are ideal basecamps for the Grand Circle’s natural wonders. 

One of them, Peekaboo Slot Canyon is a 10-minute drive from Kanab and needs an arranged tour. It is less crowded than the more well-known slot canyon at Upper Antelope (your next stop), but requires some rock scrambling, including about a 12ft hike to enter. The narrow, swirled arches are carved out of sandstone created by centuries of water rushing and are every shade of orange, depending on the sunlight.

Head to “downtown” Kanab for dinner at Rocking V , an eclectic art gallery/cafe for creative dishes. Sleep at Red Canyon cabin, which is set in a quiet area on the edge of town, but close enough to walk to the visitor center. 

If you can afford it, splurge on a flightseeing trip in the morning to get to your next destination for an incredible air tour of Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend and endless views of erosion-sculpted deep gorges weaving in and out of the shimmering blue lake.  

Upper Antelope Canyon: Page, AZ 

Page is located directly on Lake Powell. Just four miles out of town is the most photographed slot canyon in the world, Upper Antelope Canyon ( currently closed ). Reservations are required here with a licensed guide , and tours are limited. The soft polished red sandstone has swirls of red, white, tan and pink and the walls glow as the dust particles drift in the shafts of sunlight. It’s highly Instagrammable and simply stunning.  

Grab dinner at Lake Powell Resort and Marina’s waterfront spot, Driftwood for views, high-end burgers, and sustainable seafood. Book a lakefront room for lodging, a small Native American inspired room loaded with upscale amenities and chairs on the patio to enjoy the lake’s breathtaking sunset views. 

Grand Canyon, AZ

At last, your centerpiece. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and over a mile deep from the river to the rim in some spots – the largest canyon in the world. If you like, you can bicycle around the edge, or simply hike the many trails. 

Highlights on the Southern Rim include Desert View Point and Watchtower, Moran, Lipan and Grandview Point. As you gaze at the scenery, make sure to take a look around at the viewpoint buildings too, such as the 70ft tall Desert View Watchtower ( currently closed ), designed by architect Mary Colter . Arrive before 11am for cooler temperatures, less traffic and fewer lines.

Drive downtown to Grand Canyon Village and dine at the internationally recognized 117-year-old El Tovar located in the historic hotel. Many a president and celebrity has dined here. Sleep at Yavapai Lodge in the national park, which lets you walk or bus about a mile to the South Rim. 

Flagstaff, AZ

Drive 30 miles on historic Route 66 to get to the Wupatki National Monument , an old Indian cliff dwelling between the Painted Desert and Ponderosa highlands, outcropped on red rock across miles of prairie. 

Only a mile out of town is where dwarf planet Pluto was discovered, the 125-year-old Lowell Observatory ( open only to private groups ). This is the world’s first International Dark Sky City. Gaze at the sea of stars, moon and planets for night or day tours.

Just off Route 66,  grab dinner at Tourist Home All Day Cafe , a renovated 1926 house, for an upscale Hash Bowl and drive less than a mile to sleep at Hotel Monte Vista another 20’s era landmark replete with live music, all day happy hour, two swanky lounges, lots of ghost stories and a room as charming as the historic lobby.  

Sedona is a well-known crystal and art lover’s New Age healing paradise, but it’s also an outdoor haven surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest. Amidst red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests are numerous trailheads in the city to access Sedona’s stunning red rocks.

Drive seven miles south of uptown Sedona and start at Bell Rock for its bell-shaped striped earth-toned mesas. There is a vortex, said to be a zone of spiritual healing energy, near the breathtaking Chapel of the Holy Cross built by owner and rancher Marguerite Brunswig Staude which sits high atop the red rocks.

Sleep at Sky Ranch Lodge for the best views of the city and walk to Mesa Grill for southwestern inspired cuisine and stellar skyline views. Don’t leave without crystals and jewelry from the outdoor mall, Tlaquepaque.   

Driving into this small town you will see some of the most spectacular views in Arizona. Then, downtown is art gallery hopping, or a juicy ghost tour as Jerome was once the “wickedest town in the West” with brothels, opium dens and saloon gun fights replete with potential paranormal phenomenon.

Founded in 1876 and once a copper mining boom town of 15,000 it turned into virtual ghost town (population: 50 people) after the mines closed in 1953. Artists moved in and now the winding switchback streets are now filled with painters, writers, musicians and historians.

Eat at the Haunted Hamburger , for local draft beers, cocktails and supposedly hammer-yielding ghosts. Stay at the perhaps spirit-filled former hospital Jerome Grand Hotel with gorgeous views, gilded artwork, burgundy walls, fine dining and captivating views. Get up in the morning for your last stop. 

Prescott, AZ

This mile-high city lies in the middle of pinon pine-covered Prescott National Forest, and has more than 15 distinctive hiking and biking trails where you can stretch your legs. Definitely hike Thumb Butte which is only a three and a half mile drive from downtown, but can get crowded. Parts are steep, but there are panoramic views of the city and neighboring mountains.

For a waterfront oasis, you can fish and boat at Watson Lake , which is only a four miles from downtown. Head back downtown for art, performances and dining – we recommend Murphy’s Prescott for elegant but moderately priced seafood. Sleep at the historic Grand Highland Hotel as it sits on Whiskey Row, which is just as famous as the town. 

You might also like: 

Now's the time to plan a fall road trip to these national parks The Grand Canyon: how to get the most from a short trip National Parks: Top 10 US travel experiences

This article was first published January 2020 and updated September 2020

Explore related stories

Wildlife & Nature

Jun 18, 2022 • 10 min read

From Old West neighborhoods to inspiring museums to stunning natural attractions, Colorado Springs has something to cater to every traveler.

Jun 14, 2022 • 8 min read

Mar 17, 2022 • 8 min read

Mar 16, 2022 • 5 min read

Dec 1, 2021 • 8 min read

Nov 4, 2021 • 7 min read

Nov 25, 2020 • 5 min read

Nov 17, 2020 • 10 min read

Sep 18, 2020 • 4 min read

Jul 22, 2020 • 7 min read

A two-week southwest USA road trip itinerary

Posted on Last updated: March 26, 2024

Discover the perfect 14-day/two-week southwest USA road trip itinerary – featuring National Parks, scenic drives, stunning views, famous film locations and quirky roadside attractions.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

The USA is the spiritual home of the road trip. Think long straight roads disappearing over the horizon, roadside diners and quirky motels. And probably the most iconic US road trip destination is the southwest USA. Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Arches National Park, Route 66 – even if you’ve never visited the southwest before you’ll still feel like you already know it from films and TV shows, from Thelma and Louise to Tombstone .

So if you want to hit the road, here’s my perfect itinerary for a two-week southwest USA road trip, taking in the highlights across five states, six national parks and something like 2000 miles – with details of what to see and where to stay along the way.

Southwest USA road trip map

A note on driving times and distances

Driving times listed are based on Google Maps estimates and don’t include stops along the way. The road conditions in the southwest vary hugely so the same mileage can take totally different amounts of time. Daily driving distance/time figures cover getting from place to place and don’t include the drives within National Parks en route.

Day 1: Arrive in Las Vegas

Arrive into McCarran International Airport, which is only 15 minutes’ drive north of the city, and take a taxi or shuttle to your hotel. There are a huge amount of things to see in Las Vegas and you only have a brief stop here, so choose a few of the highlights.

Don’t miss the Bellagio fountains which are illuminated at night, and catch a show on the Strip – there are usually a few different Cirque du Soleil shows as well as a mix of magic acts, music tributes and big-name artists. You will need to book ahead for really popular shows but you can bag other last-minute tickets from Tix4Tonight outlets.

Where to stay in Las Vegas: There are so many hotel options in Vegas , but as you only have one night, I’d recommend staying in the central Strip. That way you’re right at the heart of the action and don’t have to waste time in the city’s crazy traffic. Paris Las Vegas, Vdara, Caesar’s Palace, the Venetian and Flamingo are all really central – prices vary hugely though so it’s worth shopping around and being flexible about where you stay.

Day 2: Las Vegas to Zion

Spend the morning exploring Las Vegas. You can travel the world along the Strip – watch gondoliers at the Venetian, climb the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York, see the pyramids at the Luxor, visit the Bellagio’s botanical gardens and scream your head off on the rides on top of the Stratosphere.

Or you can head up to Fremont Street for a taste of Old Vegas. This historic district has retro casinos and a zipline running right down the street. You can also see vintage signs at the Neon Museum and find out about the city’s Mafia story at the Mob Museum.

After lunch, pick up a hire car (it’s worth comparing prices between picking up a car on the Strip or at the airport to find the cheapest deal) and start your southwest USA road trip. It’s a good idea to stock up on a few supplies before you leave – like water, drinks and snacks. There’s both a Walmart and a Whole Foods really close to the airport.

Then leave the city behind and take Highway 15 north for 153 miles/2.5 hours towards Zion National Park. Don’t forget when you’re planning your timings that Utah is in a different time zone to Nevada, so you will lose an hour along the way.

Total driving: 153 miles/246 kilometres – approx 2.5 hours

Where to stay in Zion: The nearest hotels to Zion are in Springdale, but for something a bit different you can camp out in style on the edge of the National Park at Under Canvas Zion *. These luxury glamping tents come with proper beds, a mix of private and shared bathrooms, and some have wood-burning stoves. The view of Zion’s red rocks are the main attraction, but there’s also a restaurant with a fire pit to toast marshmallows on.

Day 3: Zion National Park

From the camp it’s 20 miles/35 mins to the entrance of Zion National Park. Private vehicles aren’t allowed in the park from March to October, so you’ll need to leave your car at the visitor’s centre and catch the shuttle bus. If you’re reasonably fit and the weather is good, you can tackle one of Zion’s big hikes – Angels’ Landing or The Narrows .

The adventurous Angels’ Landing hike (5.4 miles/4 hours) takes you up vertigo-inducing chained paths bolted into the cliffs for spectacular views from the top. Or the Bottom Up section of the Narrows (4–10 miles) takes you along a narrow river slot canyon – you need to wade along the river bed though so it’s best done on a warm day.

For something gentler, catch the shuttle to the Emerald Pools Trail for an hour-long walk to the lower pool and another hour to the upper pool. Head back to Zion Lodge, where there’s a café and picnic area if you want to stop for lunch before catching the next shuttle.

Stop off at Weeping Rock for a short walk to the cascades, then get the shuttle to the end of the road for the two-mile-long Riverside Walk. Leave the park and make the 77-mile/1.5 hour drive to Tropic via Route 9 – the Zion–Mount Carmel scenic drive. It runs through the original 1920s tunnel and past the strange rock formations at Checkerboard Mesa.

Total driving: 97 miles/156 kilometres – approx 2 hours 5 mins

Where to stay in Tropic: Just off Scenic Byway 12, Bryce Country Cabins * in Tropic are one of the closest places to stay for Bryce Canyon. Ours was small but perfect formed, with two queen-sized beds, an en-suite bathroom and small kitchenette. With all that pine they look a bit Alpine, with heaters and blankets to keep you warm on a cold night.

If it’s sunny there are tables and chairs out the back and barbecues you can borrow if you want to cook for yourself – or The Pizza Place a few minutes away does takeaway pizzas.

Day 4: Bryce Canyon National Park

Tropic is only 10 miles from the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, so you can get there early and spend a full day exploring . Follow the 18-mile-long scenic drive around the park, starting in the Bryce Amphitheater area. Park up at Sunset Point and follow the Rim Trail for a mile along to Sunrise Point, a good place to get down into the canyon.

Get up close to the hoodoos on one of the hiking trails. The Queen’s Garden Trail from Sunrise Point is the easiest at just under two miles, or there’s the steeper 1.5-mile Navajo Loop Trail from Sunset Point. You can also combine the two into a longer route.

After your hike, drive on around the edge of the amphitheatre to the viewpoints at Inspiration Point, Bryce Point and Paria View. Then leave the Bryce Amphitheater area and head out along the road to the furthest point at the Rainbow Point viewpoint.

There are plenty of places to stop for a picnic with a great view along the way – my favourites were the arch at Natural Bridge, the two towering hoodoos at Agua Canyon and the wide views from Rainbow Point. Then leave Bryce Canyon National Park and head south down Highway 89 towards the town of Kanab (77 miles/1.5 hours).

Total driving: 87 miles/140 kilometres – approx 1 hour 40 mins

Where to stay in Kanab: You can’t really do a US road trip without spending at least one night in a proper motel. Quail Park Lodge * in Kanab looks straight out of the 1950s from outside, but inside its 13 rooms have been refurbished and updated.

The motel comes with lots of nice extras – like vintage bikes you can borrow, a pool in summer, a glass of wine on arrival, morning pastries and fruit, and free international phone calls. It’s an easy walk into town for dinner – we liked Rocking V Cafe , an art-filled space that specialises in slow food with a good range of vegan and gluten-free options.

Day 5: Best Friends Animal Society

The southwest USA is all about the natural beauty, but for something a bit different, you can spend the morning volunteering with animals at Best Friends Animal Society . Their base at Angel Canyon is just 10 minutes outside of Kanab, and is the biggest no-kill animal sanctuary in the US with over 1600 cats, dogs, pigs, rabbits, horses and parrots on site.

You can choose which animals to spend time with. We spent our morning feeding and stroking cats but you can also socialise dogs, groom horses or even walk a potbellied pig.

After lunch at the centre, follow Highway 89 to the east on the 80 mile/1 hour 20 min drive to Page, across the border in Arizona. Just before you get there you’ll reach Lake Powell and the spectacular Glen Canyon Dam, where there’s a visitors centre and viewpoint.

You can then either take a sunset cruise around Lake Powell or head to Horseshoe Bend – a perfect meandering arc of the Colorado River that cut its way down through the sandstone over million of years. It’s 5 miles south of Page on Highway 89, between mileposts 544 and 545, with a short sandy walk to the canyon rim and a dramatic 1000-foot drop to the river.

Total driving: 97 miles/156 kilometres – approx 1 hour 50 mins

Where to stay in Page: The Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel * unsurprisingly has a great view of Lake Powell, and a pool and hot tub to relax in in summer. It’s fairly standard chain hotel in style but has a good location with spacious rooms and breakfast is included. Page gets busy so it’s a good idea to book well in advance. There are a few places to eat nearby – El Tapatio is recommended for its giant portions of Mexican food.

Day 6: Antelope Canyon & Monument Valley

Head 8 miles/15 mins out of Page to one of the southwest’s most recognisable spots – Antelope Canyon. This slot canyon is famous for its curving red rock walls with those super-photogenic beams of light filtering through. The only way you can visit the canyon is on a tour *, and they’re hugely popular so book as soon as you can.

There are two sections – the Upper and Lower Canyon. The Upper Canyon is where you’ll see the light beams, which are best in the mornings. But beware the canyon can get crowded, and the flood risk means that tours are often cancelled if it rains.

Carry on along Highway 98 then take the 160 north-east on the 116 mile/2 hour drive to another southwest icon – Monument Valley . North of Kayenta, huge rock buttes emerge out of miles of empty desert scrubland, coloured in vivid shades of gold, orange and pink.

They’re named after their shapes, so you can try and spot the Mittens, the Thumb and the Totem Pole. Inside the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park there’s a visitors centre and a 17-mile scenic drive which takes you through the rock formations. It’s unpaved and pretty rough, so it’s best done in a 4×4 and takes at least two hours with photo stops.

Total driving: 124 miles/200 kilometres – approx 2 hours 15 mins

Where to stay in Monument Valley: There’s not much around Monument Valley, but both The View and Goulding’s Lodge * have fantastic views of the rocks, and it’s well worth staying the night just to watch the amazing sunrises and sunsets. Both have a mix of hotel rooms and cabins, with balconies looking out over the valley, as well as camping spots and Navajo restaurants (but note that alcohol is prohibited on Navajo land).

Day 7: Arches National Park

Leave Monument Valley behind in the morning and head back into Utah, following Highway 191 to Arches National Park (151 miles/2 hours 40 mins). The park has the world’s largest concentration of rock arches, with over 2000 of all shapes and sizes.

Start your Arches exploration at Park Avenue Viewpoint, then drive to Balanced Rock, where a short circular path runs around a precariously perched rock. Then turn off towards the Windows Section of the park for the short walks to Double Arch (half a mile) and around the loop passing the North and South Windows and Turret Arch (one mile).

Drive back to the main road then take the turn off to the right towards Delicate Arch – famously pictured on Utah’s license plates. The route out to the arch is one of the best hikes in Arches National Park and covers three miles, with some steep sections along the way. It’s best done in late afternoon during the summer as there’s not a lot of shade.

Or if you’re short on time you can follow the lower one-mile path to Delicate Arch Viewpoint instead, where you get a great view of the arch across the canyon. Then drive 5 miles/20 mins to the town of Moab, where you’ll be spending the next two nights.

Total driving: 156 miles/251 kilometres – approx 3 hours

Where to stay in Moab: Moab’s a popular spot so book accommodation well in advance at weekends. The eco-friendly Moab Springs Ranch * is surrounded by trees and streams. They have two types of accommodation – studio bungalows and two/three-bedroom townhouses. And there’s a pool, hot tub and campfire. Moab’s quite sprawling though so you may have to drive to get to places to eat – the Moab Brewery is worth a visit.

Day 8: Canyonlands National Park

Take the 30 mile/35 minute drive to Moab’s other local (and less well-known) National Park – Canyonlands . The park is is divided into three sections, but if you want good views then concentrate on the Islands in the Sky district, which is the most accessible area. Stop off at the visitors centre first where there’s a short walk out to the Shafer Canyon Overlook.

Then drive on to Mesa Arch where there’s a half-mile walk out to an arch on the edge of a cliff. The road then splits – take the right fork to Upheaval Dome, where there’s one viewpoint after a mile’s walk out onto the dome and a second viewpoint a mile further on.

Then backtrack to the junction and take the left fork and follow the road out to the end at Grand View Point, stopping off at the Green River and Buck Canyon overlooks on your way for some of the park’s most spectacular views. On your way back to Moab, stop off at Dead Horse State Park, where one of the classic US road trip movies was filmed.

When Thelma and Louise drive off the edge of the Grand Canyon at the end of the film, it’s really Dead Horse Point State Park (supposedly named for a gory tale of horses being left to die of thirst on a corral above the river). Then head back to Moab for a second night.

Total driving: 70 miles/113 kilometres – approx 1.5 hours

Day 9: Mesa Verde National Park

Leave Moab behind and head south on Highway 191 – though it’s worth making a quick stop at the quirky Hole n’ the Rock along the way. About 20 mins out of town, this bizarre house has been carved out of a sold rock face. Then cross over into Colorado on the 491 and follow the road towards Mesa Verde National Park (145 miles/2 hours 50 mins).

This area was home to the Ancestral Puebloans 1000 years ago who built houses in the side of the cliffs. You can only visit most of the cliff houses on ranger-led tours. So stop off at the visitors’ centre to book an hour-long tour of either Cliff Palace, the largest cliff house, or Balcony House where you climb through tunnels and up ladders.

Then drive the winding road up to Mesa Verde’s plateau, stopping off at the overlooks on the way to take in the views. The park’s biggest concentration of sights is in the Chaplin Mesa area. Call in to the Chaplin Mesa Museum to learn about the Puebloans.

There’s also a lookout over Spruce Tree House, the best-preserved cliff house (closed to visitors after a rockfall). Then drive the six-mile Mesa Top Loop where there are stops at short walkways to pit houses, the Sun temple and great views of the cliff houses across the valley. Finally drive back to Highway 60 and 56 miles/1 hour 15 mins to Durango.

Total driving: 200 miles/322 kilometres – approx 4 hours

Where to stay in Durango: O-Bar-O Cabins was my favourite stay on this southwest USA road trip. These log cabins are 20 minutes outside of Durango in a lovely peaceful pine forest. There are nine different cabins, our Birdnest was the smallest but was beautifully designed, with a full kitchen, terrace and grill – plus a shared riverside hot tub. It’s a way from anywhere so stock up on food for the night, or head into Durango.

Day 10: Santa Fe

Head east out of Durango to Highway 160 and then travel south on the 84 along the edge of the Carson National Forest on your way to Santa Fe (212 miles/3 hours 45 mins). Then spend the afternoon exploring Santa Fe – it’s one of the oldest cities in the US which has a unique mix of Native American and Hispanic cultures.

Take a history and food walking tour * around the old town’s characteristic adobe buildings. Soak up the sunshine in the Plaza, shop for silver and turquoise Native American jewellery outside the Palace of the Governors, check out the miraculous staircase in the Gothic-style Loretto Chapel and call in at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis.

Santa Fe is a real hub for artists, and there are hundreds of studios and galleries running along the half-mile-long Canyon Road, as well as museums dedicated to folk art, Indian art and the painter Georgia O’Keefe. There’s also the trippy Meow Wolf, a immersive art experience that’s a bit like walking into a video game.

Take a walk to the city’s regenerated railroad district, where old warehouses have been converted into galleries and restaurants. And don’t miss the city’s Mexican food and margaritas – Santa Fe is justifiably famous for both.

Total driving: 212 miles/341 kilometres – approx 3 hours 45 mins

Where to stay in Santa Fe: The Old Santa Fe Inn * is classic New Mexico style with lots of dark wood, local art and big bunches of dried chilies hanging outside. We stayed in a traditional kiva room with a king-sized bed, sitting area, fireplace and jacuzzi bath.

There’s a free breakfast buffet every morning, Starbucks tea and coffee in the lobby all day, and free cookies or chips each afternoon. The hotel is a short walk from the plaza, where we headed up onto the terrace at the Rooftop Pizzeria for blue corn pizzas and local beers.

Day 11: Route 66

You can’t really have a US road trip without driving a stretch of The Mother Road – Route 66. The route’s longest driving day covers 412 miles on your way to Sedona in Arizona, where you spend the next two nights. First leave Santa Fe and head to Albuquerque where you join the I-40, the interstate which follows some of old Route 66.

There are a few good places to stop off along the way. Petrified Forest National Park is made up of fossilised trees dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. Or the Meteor Crater is the world’s best preserved meteor impact site, stretching nearly a mile across.

You can still see some of the vintage-style diners, motels and petrol stations which lined the old Route 66, like in Winslow Arizona (one for the Eagles fans). At Flagstaff, leave Route 66 and head south to Sedona on Highway 89A – the Red Rock Scenic Byway. It runs through Coconino National Forest then zig-zags down into Oak Creek Canyon with beautiful views.

Total driving: 412 miles/663 kilometres – approx 6 hours 15 mins

Where to stay in Sedona: The Sky Ranch Lodge * is a bit out of town on Airport Mesa but has spectacular panoramic views – it’s worth staying there just for the sunsets. Rooms are motel style with most having balconies and there’s a pool and jacuzzi in the gardens. There’s no restaurant at the hotel but the Mesa Grill is only a few minutes’ walk away (located inside Sedona tiny airport) and does tasty southwest dishes.

Day 12: Sedona

Spend the day exploring Sedona , a southwest town with a spiritual side. It’s said there are vortexes in the red rocks around town – sacred spots where energy flows radiate the Earth’s power. Whether you believe it or not, the rocks are spectacular to look at.

Take the seven-mile Red Rock Loop scenic drive to see the most famous vortexes: Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock. Don’t miss the unique Chapel of the Holy Cross too – a 1950s Catholic chapel that looks like a Bond villain’s lair. Or head out on a Sedona hike and visit Slide Rock State Park for swimming and sliding down an 80-metre rock chute.

There are also a few good half-day trips from Sedona, depending on what you’re interested in. There’s the ghost town of Jerome which is 28 miles away. This old copper and gold mining town was known as the ‘Wickedest Town in the West’ in the 1890s. The saloons and brothels have closed but you can still see a lot of the historic buildings.

Or the Verde Valley Wine Trail has nine different vineyards to visit. And if you don’t have time to get out to the wineries, you can also try local wines at Sedona’s Art of Wine .

Day 13: Grand Canyon

Leave Sedona and head back to Flagstaff and then travel north to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim (114 miles/2 hours 15 mins). Drive out to Desert View for that first breathtaking look down into the canyon and the watchtower observation deck. Then head on to the visitor centre where you can leave your car behind and catch the free shuttle.

There are a few different shuttle routes – the blue route takes you from the visitor centre to the village, and from there you can catch the red route, which is a loop stopping off at some of the most scenic lookout points along Hermit’s Rest Road.

There are walking trails along the rim, but it’s also worth heading down into the canyon to get a closer view of it from a different angle. There’s not enough time to make it all the way to the bottom in half a day, but you can do a shorter walk like the three-mile hike along the South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Point or the hike along the Bright Angel Trail as far as 1.5 Mile Resthouse. Then head to one of the viewpoints for that perfect Grand Canyon sunset.

Total driving: 114 miles/183 kilometres – approx 2 hours 15 mins

Where to stay at the Grand Canyon: Flagstaff is the closest place to the Grand Canyon which has a decent selection of hotels, but it’s still 90 minutes away. So we spent the night at the Bright Angel Lodge , which is right inside the park. It’s a 1930s timber lodge with a mix of hotel rooms and cabins – the cheapest options have a shared bathroom. There’s a café and a steakhouse-style restaurant on site and those amazing views just outside.

Day 14: Depart Las Vegas

Catch sunrise over the Grand Canyon before making your way back to Las Vegas. It’s a 275-mile/4.5-hour drive, so if you have an evening flight you should have time to stop off at Lake Mead along the way to see the Hoover Dam.

The dam is a seriously impressive piece of engineering at 220 metres tall and up to 200 metres thick. There’s a visitor centre where you can find out how it was built as well as taking a look at the generators. Then from the dam it’s only 30 miles/40 mins back to the airport in Las Vegas and the end of your southwest USA road trip.

Total driving: 275 miles/426 kilometres – approx 4.5 hours

Save for later

You might also like

12 of the best southwest USA scenic drives

Does a US National Parks Pass save you money?

Where to stay on the Las Vegas Strip – whatever your budget

Tuesday 13th of February 2024

Hi, this is a great article! Do you think we could do this trip in August or would it be too hot? Thanks

Lucy Dodsworth

Wednesday 14th of February 2024

Thanks – it is very hot in some places on the route in August (e.g. Las Vegas is in the 40ºC/104ºF range) but other areas like Bryce Canyon are more reasonable (27ºC/78ºF) but may get some thunderstorms. It is also peak holiday season so book well ahead.

Wednesday 21st of December 2022

Wow, really amazing article. Thanks for putting this together! Would it be possible to skip Santa Fe and Albuquerque? It seems to be a very large chunk of the drive and I don't like driving that much. I'm also not very interested in Santa Fe and would rather spread out the other visits a bit. I checked and I could go from Durango to Sedona in ~6h (340 miles). Would this make sense or is there another route you would recommend? Thanks!

Wednesday 28th of December 2022

Yes of course you can definitely adapt the route – Durango to Sedona would work well.

Friday 26th of August 2022

Really fabulous read, would you know of any person who can do this trip for a solo female traveller from India I don’t want to join any Tours Groups but I’d rather do it on my own and like you I would also love to volunteer for the animals

Sunday 28th of August 2022

Hi, if you're happy driving then it shouldn't be a problem to do the trip solo.

dustin graves

Saturday 6th of August 2022

great trip however you missed the san juan skyway loop on the million dollar hwy in Colorado. its just north of your itinerary on hwy 550 heading from Durango up through Silverton and ouray on to Ridgway then around to telluride. I've been almost everywhere on that loop that you showed us but you simply missed the best part of Colorado. huge mountains and old mining towns. no point in getting that close to the san juan skyway loop and not taking it. anyways just my opinion

Monday 8th of August 2022

Hi Dustin – I didn't have time to fit it into this itinerary as there as a lot of ground to cover, but it is mentioned in my top southwest USA scenic drives post though! https://www.ontheluce.com/my-top-southwest-usa-scenic-drives/

Tuesday 26th of July 2022

I am in the middle of drafting our itinerary and this is so helpful, thank your very much! When it comes to car rental, would you say that a "normal small" car can do the job or is it best to rent a SUV? Thank you

Wednesday 27th of July 2022

Hi Delphine, we booked a normal car but ended up getting given a small SUV but think it would've been fine in a normal car other than the road around Monument Valley which we didn't want to even chance in the SUV as it was very rocky.

The Ultimate USA Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

This page contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info.

The American Southwest is one of the best places for a road trip with its epic red rock scenery, long empty roads, and numerous national parks.

Our Southwest road trip focused on nature (with a fun night in Las Vegas at the end) and was one of our favourite travel experiences.

We hiked through freezing rivers and vibrant slot canyons, gazed into the depths of the Grand Canyon and out at the otherworldly hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, and were constantly in awe of the magnificent landscapes.

In this post, I share our detailed Southwest road trip itinerary with ideas for trips of 5 to 10+ days. I also include a map, tips on making the most of your trip, and suggestions on where to stay.

Our Southwest USA Road Trip at a Glance

Other southwest road trip ideas, tips for a southwest road trip, map of our usa southwest road trip, best southwest road trip itinerary, more usa posts.

Here’s where we visited on our Southwest road trip, which starts and ends in Las Vegas and includes three states and three national parks.

• Zion National Park, Utah – Stay at Cable Mountain Lodge in Springdale.
• Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah – Day trip from Zion.
• Page, Arizona – Stay at an Airbnb .
• Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – Stay at Thunderbird Lodge on South Rim.
• Sedona, Arizona – Stay at Wilde Resort .
• Las Vegas, Nevada – Stay at Bellagio Hotel .

Back to Contents

We had 18 days for our Southwest trip and travelled at a leisurely pace with a week each in Zion and Sedona.

As most people don’t have that long, here are my itinerary suggestions for various lengths of time.

All start and end in Las Vegas, which is convenient for the route and often has the cheapest flights and rental cars in the area.

5 Day Southwest Road Trip

• Zion National Park – 2 nights
• Page – 1 night
• Grand Canyon National Park – 1 night
• Las Vegas – 1 night

If you only have a short trip, you can still see many highlights on this Southwest road trip loop from Las Vegas.

This route is 692 miles and involves 12 hours of driving. Most driving days are 2-3 hours long with one longer 4+ hour journey on the last day.

If you don’t want to visit Antelope Canyon or prefer to do a long hike into Grand Canyon, skip the night in Page (you’ll still pass through) and add an extra night in Grand Canyon.

7 Day Southwest Road Trip

• Zion National Park – 3 nights (including a day trip to Bryce Canyon NP)
• Grand Canyon National Park – 2 nights

This 1 week road trip from Las Vegas follows the same route as the 5 day trip but at a more relaxed pace.

With an extra night in Zion, you can spent one day in Bryce Canyon NP on a day trip.

An extra night in Grand Canyon means you’ll have time to do a longer hike into the canyon.

10 Day Southwest Road Trip

• Zion National Park – 4 nights (including a day trip to Bryce Canyon NP)
• Sedona, Arizona – 2 nights

If you have 9 or 10 days for your American Southwest road trip, you can follow our complete itinerary.

This route is 975 miles and involves 18 hours of driving.

As above, most driving days are 2-3 hours long with one longer 4+ hour journey on the last day. The Zion to Bryce Canyon day trip is 1 hour 45 mins each way plus driving in the park.

If you only have 9 nights, reduce your Zion stay to 3 nights or skip Page.

California Add-On

If you are on a longer trip, you could add on more Utah National Parks ( Arches , Capitol Reef , and Canyonlands ), which we’d love to do next time.

Or you could start and/or end your trip in California, which is not far from Las Vegas.

We started our trip in California and ended in Las Vegas. We flew into Los Angeles, travelled around Southern California, and eventually drove from Death Valley National Park to Zion (a 5-hour drive) for the start of the Southwest portion of our road trip.

Some of our favourite places in California that work well with this trip are:

• Death Valley National Park – We used Beatty, Nevada as our base, which is 2 hours from Las Vegas.
• Joshua Tree National Park – 3.5 hours from Las Vegas.
• Palm Springs – 4 hours from Las Vegas, 50 minutes from Joshua Tree.

Read our post on the best things to do in Southern California for more tips.

A good route for this extended Southwest national park road trip would be Los Angeles – Joshua Tree – Death Valley – Zion and continue with the itineraries above.

• Rental Car – We use Rental Cars to find the best deals. Picking up your car from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas is the most convenient location for this route. Or in Los Angeles, if you are starting in California.
• Google Maps – We used this app for all our directions. Make sure to save the area you’ll be visiting offline, as there isn’t always mobile signal.
• Time Zones – Keep in mind that you change time zones when crossing between California/Nevada (Pacific Time) and Utah (Mountain Time). So when you drive from Las Vegas to Zion the time will move one hour ahead. Arizona is more complicated. It’s in Mountain Time but does not observe daylight saving time like Utah, so from mid-March to early November it’s the same as Pacific Time. In winter, it’s the same as Utah.
• America the Beautiful Pass – As this route covers at least three national parks, it’s worth buying the America the Beautiful annual pass for $80. You only need one as it’s valid for everyone in your vehicle. Buy it in advance from REI to save time or get one from the first park you visit. Available for domestic and international visitors.
• AllTrails+ Subscription – The AllTrails app is a fantastic resource that we use to find hiking trails around the world. We used it a lot on this trip and upgraded to the AllTrails+ annual plan so that we could save trail maps offline. This prevented us from getting lost on many occasions, so I highly recommend it.
• Best Time of Year – If you can, avoid doing this trip in the summer when it’ll be busy and very hot. Spring and autumn are better for mild weather and lower crowds. Our trip was in February and we loved this quieter and cheaper time of year. Yes, we had some snow, but with the right clothes, hiking was comfortable. Some places like Zion and Las Vegas were sunny and mild.

Zion National Park, Utah

Las Vegas to Springdale Drive: 2.5 hours / 160 miles (257 km) Note: Utah is one hour ahead of Nevada.

The Journey to Zion

This Southwest road trip loop starts and ends in Las Vegas. The most convenient place to pick up your rental car is Harry Reid International Airport/LAS (previously called McCarran Airport) if you fly in.

The journey to Zion National Park takes under three hours, so if you arrive early and have the energy, you could stop on the way at Valley of Fire State Park .

The park looks gorgeous with massive red sandstone formations. On a quick stop, you could drive scenic White Domes Road and hike the unique but easy Fire Wave Trail (allow 40 minutes).

Sadly, we didn’t have the energy for the park as we had driven from Death Valley , but we will return.

Once you enter Utah, the scenery transforms with bright orange dirt and red mountains. The closer you get to Zion, the more spectacular it is.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the US and for good reason—it is absolutely spectacular!

It’s like a cross between the desert scenery of Death Valley or Joshua Tree (red rocks and cacti) and the epic scale of Yosemite with soaring rugged mountains.

Zion is greener than the desert parks, though, and we loved the combination of red cliffs and evergreen forest, all against the big blue skies.

The highlight of the park is Zion Canyon, which was carved by the Virgin River leaving sheer walls of colourful Navajo sandstone towering up to 3000 feet above the river.

Here are a few things to know about Zion:

• Zion Canyon is the main area – The scenic drive through it only takes about 20 minutes (longer on the shuttle), but there are many hikes along the way.
• It’s crowded – The park has become very popular so expect trails to be crowded (an early start is a good idea). Avoid the summer if possible. In February, it was fairly quiet.
• You may need to use the shuttle – For most of the year, you can’t drive into Zion Canyon and must take the free shuttle bus . From December to February (except for holidays), the shuttle doesn’t run, so we were able to drive in, which made our visit easier.
• You need a permit to hike Angels Landing – Zion’s most notorious trail now requires a permit. You can enter a lottery a few months in advance or the day before. See the Zion NP website for details.

These are our favourite things to do in Zion:

• The Narrows – Hiking in the river through a stunning red rock canyon is one of our favourite ever experiences. With the right gear, you can even hike it in winter and avoid the crowds. See my guide to hiking the Zion Narrows in winter for everything you need to know.
• Canyon Overlook Trail – Don’t miss this fairly easy, one-mile return trail with spectacular views 1000 feet above Zion Canyon. It’s in the east side of the park not on the shuttle route. Go early to get parking.
• West Rim Trail – Angels Landing requires a permit and looks absolutely terrifying. We skipped it, but it’s still worth hiking up the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout (4.2 miles return), where the scary part starts. You don’t need a permit for this section and you’ll still have gorgeous views. Even better, continue along the West Rim Trail as far as you like for more views and solitude.
• Riverside Dining at Zion Canyon Brew Pub – A burger and beer in the sun by the river is just what you need after a strenuous hike.

See our guide to Zion National Park in winter for details on our favourite hikes and more tips.

Where to Stay for Zion National Park

Zion National Park is very accessible as it’s next to the small outdoorsy town of Springdale.

There’s one hotel in the park—Zion Lodge—but it’s expensive. When the shuttle is running, it might be worth staying here to be able to walk to some trails, but we felt Springdale was close enough.

We stayed at Cable Mountain Lodge , which has a superb location next to the park’s entrance. We often walked or ran into the park along the Pa’rus and Watchman trails.

The mountain views are stunning, there’s a pool and hot tub, and it’s right on the river (with chairs to enjoy on the beach).

All rooms have kitchenettes, so they are ideal for families and those who want to self-cater.

We booked the Luxury Suite, which I wouldn’t describe as luxurious, but it was comfortable and we appreciated having a separate bedroom. Ask for a second-floor suite for the best mountain views.

Check prices for Cable Mountain Lodge here.

Or search for more accommodation in Springdale here.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Springdale to Bryce Canyon Drive (Each Way): 1 hour 45 mins / 85 miles (137 km)

While you could add a night near Bryce Canyon National Park to this road trip, we did a day trip from Zion to avoid changing hotels.

I highly recommend visiting Bryce—it feels different from Zion with the unique Bryce Amphitheater filled with eroded spires of rock called hoodoos.

See our one day in Bryce Canyon itinerary for everything we did.

Bear in mind that Bryce Canyon is at a much higher elevation than Zion (8000 feet vs 4000 feet), so it will be colder, especially in winter. On our visit in February, it was 14ºF (-10ºC)!

We loved seeing the park sprinkled with snow, and with plenty of layers, we were warm enough to hike. Kahtoola Microspikes for our shoes were useful on some icy sections of trails.

On a Bryce day trip, we enjoyed the scenery at various drive-up viewpoints including Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point.

Our highlight was hiking into the canyon for a closer look at the hoodoos on a variation of the Queen’s Garden/ Navajo Loop Trail .

We parked at Sunset Point, walked along the rim to Sunrise Point, and then headed down the Queen’s Garden Trail (the easiest trail down).

We added on a short section of the Peekaboo Trail (you could do the full loop), then climbed back out on the Two Bridges Trail.

This 4.5-mile loop took us 2.5 hours, but you can make it shorter or longer. It’s a special trail that’s worth the moderate effort.

Page, Arizona

Springdale to Page Drive: 2 hours 15 mins / 117 miles (188 km) Note: During daylight saving time (summer), Arizona is one hour behind Utah. In winter, it’s the same time.

We reluctantly left Utah behind (we will return!) for the fairly short drive to Page in Arizona. On the way you pass through the beautiful east side of Zion NP.

We didn’t make many stops on the way except for the Wahweap Overlook on the edge of Page for a look at Lake Powell , a huge manmade reservoir on the Colorado River.

Page is a small town surrounded by desert. Honestly, after Zion, we didn’t find it that exciting. I think it’d be better in the warmer months when you can swim and kayak in the lake.

There are a few beautiful sights that make Page a popular stop on a Southwest road trip.

If you don’t want to visit Antelope Canyon and have limited time, you could just make a quick stop in Page on your way to the Grand Canyon .

Horseshoe Bend

Page’s easiest attraction to visit is Horseshoe Bend , a viewpoint of a meander in the Colorado River that was made famous by Instagram.

There’s a $10 fee to park at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook Parking Lot. From here it’s a 1.5-mile return walk, which took us about 10 minutes each way to the viewpoint. Be prepared for heat in the warmer months.

It is a beautiful view, but the crowds were overwhelming.

It’s also tricky to choose the right time for photography. Sunrise and sunset can be stunning, but to see the sandstone cliffs lit up, you’ll need to visit at midday (not advised in summer).

We went at 9am (two hours after sunrise in February) and it was still mostly in shadow.

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is Page’s biggest draw. These series of slot canyons are on Navajo land just outside town and feature incredible colours and swirling rock formations.

You can only visit on a guided tour and advance bookings are essential.

The most popular and expensive tour is to Upper Antelope Canyon , which features light beams at midday from April to September. Tours at peak times sell out months in advance.

Lower Antelope Canyon is a little quieter but more challenging to experience (you have to climb down ladders).

As both slot canyons have become incredibly busy and must be booked far in advance, we decided on the newest canyon, Antelope Canyon X .

This is much easier to get a booking for and is cheaper than the others, but on a holiday weekend, it still felt very busy to us. Lower and Upper Canyons look much worse, though.

Whichever canyon you choose, don’t expect a peaceful experience, but it is worth it.

Antelope Canyon X is the most beautiful slot canyon we’ve seen. The narrow canyon walls tower above you in vibrant shades of red and orange, the ripples and swirls created by millions of years of flood erosion.

On the 1.5-hour tour, you visit two short canyons, both with different shapes. The walk down is easy, but there’s a slight incline on the way out. We didn’t find it at all difficult.

Where to Stay in Page

We stayed in this two-bedroom Airbnb house in a residential area of Page. It was comfortable, well-equipped, and a short drive to all the local attractions.

Search here for hotels and motels in Page .

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Page to Grand Canyon Village Drive: 2 hours 25 mins / 133 miles (214 km)

The Grand Canyon is, of course, a Southwest must see. The immense canyon was formed by the Colorado River and is 277 miles long and up to a mile deep.

The South Rim is the most visited part of Grand Canyon National Park, and this is where we went as the quieter North Rim is closed in winter.

We had 24 hours in the park and found that a good amount of time. With an extra night, you could do a longer hike, though.

Desert View Drive

From Page, it’s an easy two-hour drive to the park’s east entrance at Desert View , where you can start the scenic Desert View Drive .

There are many easy viewpoints you can stop at on the way to peer into the canyon. Our highlights were Navajo Point and Lipan Point .

Our absolute favourite viewpoint was at Shoshone Point , but it requires a 20-minute walk each way (2.3 miles return). This is not marked on the park map (find it on Google Maps), so it’s much quieter—we had it to ourselves.

At the end of the road, you reach Grand Canyon Village , where the visitor centre and accommodation are located.

Hermit Road

From the village, you can continue to more viewpoints on Hermit Road. Note that from March to November you can only access this road by shuttle bus .

We were able to drive and stopped at Hopi Point and Mohave Point (our favourite). On a weekday winter morning, we found it quieter here than on Desert View Drive.

You can also walk a section of the rim at any point (the shuttle makes it easier to do a one-way hike).

South Kaibab Trail

The Grand Canyon is set up for cars, and you can easily visit many vistas without walking more than a few feet.

But our favourite experience was walking into the canyon. If you are very adventurous, you can walk all the way to the river, but this requires an overnight stay at the bottom (camping or Phantom Ranch ) and is not recommended in summer.

There’s no need to go all the way down to enjoy stunning views, though.

We hiked the South Kaibab Trail from Pipe Creek Vista to Ooh Aah Point , a 3.4-mile round trip (1.8 miles in the canyon), which took 1.5 hours with 689 feet of elevation gain.

The South Kaibab Trailhead is located on Yaki Point Rd, which is closed to private vehicles. You can take the shuttle, or as we did, park at Pipe Creek Vista and walk 15 minutes on an easy trail on the edge of the rim.

We started at 7.30am and it was so lovely to enjoy the canyon in peace on our way down. It was busier on the way up, so I recommend an even earlier start.

For an extra 3 miles return, you could continue down to Cedar Ridge (I wish we’d done this). Just make sure to remember it’s a lot harder to hike back up!

Where to Stay for Grand Canyon National Park

We chose to stay in Grand Canyon Village within the park so we could get an early start. The park lodges book up early, and the only one with availability was Thunderbird Lodge .

It has a fantastic location on the edge of the South Rim close to Bright Angel Trailhead, but it’s basic motel accommodation at high prices. We didn’t have a view on our ground floor canyon side room (request a higher floor), and we had to wait 90 minutes to check in.

If you manage your expectations, it’s fine for a night, but if you want higher quality accommodation, book far ahead (up to a year) for El Tovar or Bright Angel lodges instead.

Alternatively, you could stay 15 minutes outside the park in Tusayan. Search for Tusayan hotels here .

Sedona, Arizona

Grand Canyon to Sedona Drive: 2 hours / 113 miles (182 km)

We drove from Grand Canyon to Sedona via Flagstaff and the winding, very scenic Oak Creek Canyon .

Sedona feels different from anywhere else on this road trip. It has a small town feel and is surrounded by vivid red sandstone towers and buttes that look especially gorgeous in the golden light of early morning or late afternoon.

While there are definite desert vibes, it’s by no means barren with plenty of greenery from cypress, juniper, and pine trees.

Many people come here for the spa resorts or spiritual energy (it’s home to sacred vortexes), but for us, Sedona was all about hiking.

There are over 200 trails within a 20-minute drive of town, and we enjoyed every one we did, although we did find the trails fairly busy (and parking is often an issue).

The America the Beautiful NPS annual pass comes in useful for many of the trails in Sedona as they are in the Coconino National Forest. Other areas may have separate fees.

Our top three hikes in Sedona were:

• Soldier Pass and Brins Mesa Loop – If you start this 5-mile loop at Jordan Road Trailhead early, you’ll reach Seven Sacred Pools before the crowds. The rest of the hike is just as awe-inspiring.
• Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock Loop – An easy but rewarding 3.7-mile loop around impressive rock formations including Bell Rock (which you can climb).
• Fay Canyon – A gentle 2.3-mile out-and-back walk into a lush green canyon beneath towering red cliffs. It’s worth scrambling up the rocks at the end for a panoramic view.

See our detailed guide to the best easy hikes in Sedona for more ideas and tips.

Where to Stay in Sedona, Arizona

We stayed in West Sedona, which is quieter and cheaper than Uptown Sedona but close to many trails.

Wilde Resort and Spa is near a busy road, but the grounds are beautiful. There’s a heated pool (warm enough for me to swim in the snow!), two hot tubs, and plenty of comfortable seating around firepits.

Rooms are stylish and comfortable. Try to get one with a mountain view.

Check prices for Wilde Resort here or search for more hotels in Sedona here .

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sedona to Las Vegas Drive: 4.5 hours / 280 miles (450 km) Note: Nevada is one hour behind Arizona in winter. During daylight saving time, the time is the same in both states.

It’s a fairly long drive to Las Vegas. We didn’t make any major stops, but you do pass the Hoover Dam , where you could stop to walk over it or sign up for a tour at the visitor centre.

After a month in national parks, Las Vegas came as a shock with the neon lights, noise, and crowds of the Strip. Simon loved the pure tackiness of it all, while I suffered sensory overload.

We spent the last night of our road trip drinking cocktails in the hotel pool (it was so much hotter in Las Vegas) and wandering through casinos (the Venetian’s canal is worth seeing).

We won money on the slot machines then promptly lost it at the blackjack table, but Simon proudly made it all back (and more) in the Bellagio’s poker room.

Where to Stay in Las Vegas

With just one night in Las Vegas, we wanted to make the most of it, so we stayed at the iconic Bellagio Hotel and had no regrets.

The heated pool was great for relaxing (if busy), and the view from our Fountain View King Room was incredible.

We loved being able to watch the extravagant Bellagio Water Show from the comfort of our room—more than 1000 fountains sway and soar to music and lights.

Explore more beautiful US national parks in our other guides:

• Zion National Park in Winter: Best Hikes and Tips
• Hiking the Zion Narrows in Winter: A Beginner’s Guide
• One Day in Bryce Canyon: A Perfect Day Trip from Zion
• 15 Incredible Things to Do in Death Valley National Park
• 14 Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park
• The Best 3 Day Yosemite National Park Itinerary
• 23 Best Things to Do in Southern California
• 23 Unmissable Things to Do in Big Island, Hawaii  (including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
• 25 Best Things to Do in Maui, Hawaii  (including Haleakalā National Park)

If you enjoyed this post, pin for later!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. By clicking the Submit button, you give consent for us to store your information for the purposes of displaying your comment and you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy .

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

22 Mind-Blowing Things to See on an American Southwest Road Trip

04/08/2021 by Kristin Addis 56 Comments

The American Southwest is hands-down one of the best road trips in the world. The baby blue waters, deep canyons, curious rock formations, and deep oranges make it feel otherworldly at times.

This road trip itinerary is based on the famed Grand Circle trip with a few variations on the theme thrown in. You can pick and choose and do this in a week and a half, or spend months and see everything on this list. Choose your own adventure.

Gear up, because this is one of the finest adventures in the wild west!

Table of Contents

Getting Started

This itinerary begins in Los Angeles, California. You can start it in Las Vegas, Phoenix, or Salt Lake City if you prefer. This is a ‘choose your own adventure’ type of itinerary.

I went with a camper van from JUCY ( you can compare options incl. Jucy here ) which had a sink with a water tank, a comfortable bed, a full kitchen, and a solar panel to keep me charged when I was otherwise off the grid. It was a convenient way to do this since I never had to set up a tent, could pack up and drive easily every morning, and could cook and eat anywhere and everywhere. I also encountered some rain on my trip and rain in a camper van is a non-issue but in a tent it can be most uncomfortable.

Much of the land in Utah, Arizona, and even parts of California is BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land which means it’s public and free to camp as long as you’re not visible from the road and you leave no trace. That’s what makes a camper van such a good deal and one of the best ways to see the American Southwest! You’ll see me reference this throughout the article.

Here’s a video with some of the best adventures:

By the way, I did most of this trip alone, so don’t despair if you don’t have anyone to go with. The solo aspect of this trip made it all the more magical. Without further ado, here’s the fabulous itinerary:

Nevada is typically synonymous with the booming nightclubs, dazzling lights, and poker tables of Sin City. While I’m a big fan of the strip for a girl’s trip, I also know that there’s much more to Nevada than just Las Vegas. The surroundings can be beautiful as well, and if on a trip where your aim is to appreciate the natural beauty, you’re still in luck in gorgeous Nevada.

1. Seven Magic Mountains

Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone off of Highway 15 just before Vegas if coming from Los Angeles. It’s a series of, you guessed it, seven stacks of brightly painted rocks meant to symbolize the midway between the natural and the artificial which are the mountains and the highway. It’s meant to stay only through the end of 2021, so stop by while you can!

It’s only a slight detour off of the 15 and it probably only cost me 20 minutes total to pull off and see them. If driving on the 15 from Los Angeles you’ll see the sign for the turnoff about 15 miles before reaching Las Vegas and can navigate there using Google maps as well .

2. Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon

Since I only had about a week to get through my whole itinerary, I figured the best way to finally see the famed Grand Canyon would be to skip the crazy long drive and crowds and to fly right into it at sunset. Fast, easy, and in style! But if you’re starting in Arizona, don’t worry, we’ll talk about driving to it as well later in the post.

After the Magic Mountains I got a quick bite to eat and headed to Maverick Helicopters for their Wind Dancer sunset tour which departs from the strip during golden hour, lands in the Grand Canyon for champagne, and flies back to the strip at sunset, just as everything on the strip is lighting up.

I had always expected that the Grand Canyon would be quite grand (and it was) but what really surprised and impressed me was how beautiful the scenery we flew over to get there was. It’s an incredible way to get a glimpse of some remote and desolate areas that you wouldn’t otherwise see, plus it packs a lot of great experiences into just a few hours. It’s one of those splurge experiences that’s oh so worth it.

Here are some other helicopter tours available:

• Grand Canyon Dancer Helicopter Tour from South Rim
• From South Rim: Grand Canyon Spirit Helicopter Tour

3. Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire is a state park in Nevada and my first overnight of the trip. After the helicopter ride, I continued the additional hour to the first come, first serve campgrounds within the park boundary and settled in for the night, waking for sunrise the next morning.

The park entrance is regulated with an honesty box to collect the $10 park fees and $20+ camping fees if you arrive after dark like I did. It was also totally empty around sunrise, so it felt like I had the park more or less to myself in the early morning hours. That was pretty cool! That being said, you might prefer a guided hiking tour .

• Recommended sights:  Seven Sisters, Elephant Rock, Beehives, and Fire Wave Trail (if you have more time).
• Camp:  Check space at campsites within state park or alternatively camp on BLM land just outside of the east park entrance.

– Read More –

Want to see northern Nevada too? Check out the Weirdest Road Trip in the USA

Our complete Nevada Guide

Southern Utah is simply one of the best areas in the American Southwest with its canyons, bright orange rock, and unique formations.

In Utah, you’ll see an overwhelming amount of options for camping, hiking, biking, canyoning, kayaking, etc. Unless you can spend months here, you’ll have to make some heart-breaking decisions between which parks to see and which to skip. Some, like Zion and Bryce are mega famous and will be packed with people, and others, like Grand Staircase-Escalante, you just might get all to yourself.

4. Zion National Park

Zion is one of the most popular national parks in the United States and a must-do on your southwestern road trip.

The main park is accessed by park shuttles that start running around sunrise and end around sunset. They change depending on time of year so check here before making plans. I stayed near Zion for two nights and hiked the Watchman Trail, Observation Point, and Upper Emerald Falls and enjoyed all of them. Sadly, The Narrows was closed due to too much water, but that is one of Zion’s most popular hikes and I was sad to miss it.

I had visited Zion 10 years prior and did the Angels Landing Hike. Even back then, with far fewer visitors, it was a hectic trail with the narrow drop-offs and hand chains, though the ending view is breathtaking. As an alternative, Observation Point instead is an 8-mile trail that looks down on Angels Landing and provides an epic view. More on that here .

• Recommended sights:  Observation Point, Overlook Trail, Emerald Pools, The Narrows, Angels Landing
• Camp:  Campgrounds book out months in advance around Zion, and first come, first serve spots are usually snatched up too. There is BLM camping in the eastern part, or you can camp at the Zion Canyon Campground and RV Resort owned by Ferber Resorts which is walking distance to the park, has some riverside spots, and costs $44/night (plus tax) with showers, Wi-Fi, and toilets.

5. Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce is known for its famous hoodoos, the natural amphitheater, and the sunrise and sunset viewpoints. It’s also quite a bit higher in elevation than Zion, so bundle up!

If you’re squeezed for time, you could do one hike in Zion and head out to Bryce the following day to do one hike and catch a sunset/sunrise. On the other hand, if you want to take it all in, consider this 3-hour sightseeing tour that includes stops at Thor’s Hammer, the Cathedral, and the Natural Bridge.

• Recommended sights:  Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Queen’s Garden, Bryce Amphitheater.
• Camp:  There are several first come, first serve campgrounds in Bryce which you can get information on when entering the park.
• Click here to find it on the map.

6. Scenic Highways 12 and 25

From Zion, take the road through the tunnel and out of the park onto scenic Highway 12 for one of the best drives of your life – seriously! Leave some time to stop at the scenic overlooks and parks like Bryce and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument because they are more than worth stopping off at.

If national park crowds are not your thing, hiking and camping around this area is a great alternative, and it’s one of my favorites of the whole trip.

7. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

I can’t say enough good things about the Grand Staircase-Escalante. It’s an area of over 1 million acres of protected land that has so many adventures inside of it that it would take a lifetime to scratch the surface.

The biggest differences between this area and the national parks is most of the trails in the Grand Staircase-Escalante will be accessed via dirt roads, some of which will be 4×4 only. There will rarely be services, like running water, paved trails, bathrooms, and electric hookups. The benefit is almost no crowds, free camping in the wilderness, and natural areas that are no less impressive.

I did the Coyote Gulch trail in one day via the sneaker route, which does involve using a rope to climb down a 250-foot vertical rock and navigating by GPS, but it was also one of the best camping and hiking experiences of my life. More on that here.

• Recommended sights: Zebra Slot Canyon, Peek-a-boo Canyon, Spooky Slot Canyon, Coyote Gulch, Devil’s Garden. Here’s a guided Slot Canyon tour if you are interested!
• Camp: Find BLM camping off of dirt road offshoots and drive for long enough that you’re not visible from the road. This is what I always did in Grand Staircase-Escalante as it’s free and legal.
• Click here to find it on the map .

Utah’s Secret Places, the Perfect Off the Beaten Path Itinerary

The Perfect Utah National Parks Itinerary

8. Capitol Reef National Park

After Coyote Gulch, Capitol Reef is a fantastic stop. There’s a popular scenic drive, but to head off the beaten path, I highly suggest going out to the Temples of the Sun and the Moon. If you have a 4×4 high clearance vehicle then the Caineville Wash Road should be no problem for you as long as it hasn’t rained recently. If in a sedan, ask at the National Park office to see what the road conditions are.

• Recommended sights: Temples of the Sun and the Moon, Queen Bee rock formation, Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook.
• Camp:  There’s first come, first serve camping at Cathedral Valley Campground which, at least when I visited, was free.

9. Goblin Valley State Park

This will be a detour off of Highway 24 though it needn’t be a super long one. Once you enter the state park ($15 fee) you’ll see it’s not particularly large, though giving yourself time to walk among the goblins from the overlook would be wise. There’s also camping available in the state park and it’s worth noting they have nice bathrooms!

10. Sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park

Just outside of Moab, Utah, Dead Horse was one of the most impressive views I saw on this trip and I can’t believe it’s not more popular. The cost to get in is $15 and it’s a pretty small park, but the views at sunset are incredible!

While the main viewpoint at Dead Horse Point will have a few people around in the summer months, in the winter as pictured above, you could get it all to yourself. The majority of the view was totally open and there are plenty of spots where one could enjoy it in privacy. In the photo above, I’m perched on a rock above the cliffs over the viewpoint. Wowzers!

To see more of the last three places mentioned, check out my Utah’s Hidden Places video:

• Recommended sights: Dead Horse Point and if you have time, walk to it from the Visitor Center.
• Camp: Find BLM camping off of dirt road offshoots and make sure you’re not visible from the road. You’ll have to find a spot outside of the state park. Since I was already in the area, I decided to camp on BLM land between Dead Horse and Canyonlands National Park. You will see some ‘no camping’ signs, but most of them will say ‘no camping for the next 1/3 mile.’ After that, you’re free to camp. Just watch out for potholes in the dirt tracks.

11. Sunrise at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park

Mesa Arch is easily the most famous feature of Canyonlands National Park, particularly at sunrise. Everyone wants to get a shot of that sun lighting up the arch and the sweeping view of the canyon below. I recommend getting there an hour or more before the sunrise if you want an optimal spot for photos. This one was taken from the right side of the arch.

12. Arches National Park

After my Mesa Arch sunrise, I drove to Arches National Park to check out some arches quickly before continuing on. This park is crazy popular. It’s also home to the Delicate Arch which you see on the Utah state license plate.

The photo above is of The Windows, which is an easy offshoot within the park where you can see several arches at once.

• Recommended sights: The Windows, Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace (must register for this the day prior at the visitor center), Devil’s Garden. You can read more about the best hikes in Arches here. 
• Camp: Find BLM camping off of the 313 towards Canyonlands.

13. Needles Overlook

Since you’ll be passing by, the Needles Overlook on the way to Valley of the Gods is vast and gorgeous. It’s an easy drive-up viewpoint that will take about an hour roundtrip. I would only do this if you have the time to and wouldn’t have to cut something else that’s important to you, since there are a lot of epic views on this trip!

14. Valley of the Gods

The Valley of the Gods was an impromptu discovery for me when I saw it off the side of the road and elected to check it out. I’m glad that I did, because this sparsely-visited valley has RED rock formations, in layers of color reaching up towards the sky.

This is a great spot to see the sunset and camp for the night, as it’s BLM land and there’s plenty of free, leave-no-trace campsites to choose from.

Take the Valley of the Gods road offshoot and connect with the 261 to come back to the 163.

First Name:

Next you’ll make your way to Arizona, which is just as impressive as Utah with it’s deep canyons and impressive rock formations.

15. Canyon de Chelly

This national monument is a reasonably big detour if you’re short on time ( check if it’s open first ). However if you can spare an extra afternoon, I’d suggest taking a look because you won’t see as many people as you will in the other spots on this list, and it has some ancient cave drawings you can take a short hike to as well as several beautiful overlooks like this one, Spider Rock.

16. Lake Powell

Lake Powell is such a lovely lake and the perfect jumping off point for some of the most famous things to see in Arizona.

• Camp : There’s a BLM spot outside of Paige. Just be careful not to go into the deep sand, as I saw two cars get towed out of there!

17. Horseshoe Bend

I wondered if Horseshoe Bend could look as amazing in person as it does in photos – but it does!

It’s a quick walk from the parking lot to the overlook. I did it in flip flops.

Be sure to get there early if you want to stake out a good spot for the sunset. There are plenty of boulders on the cliff edge that you can perch on until the sun sets, and I can’t think of many better places to hang out, either!

18. Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon

Like Horseshoe Bend, the Antelope Canyon is worth it to see in person. Those swirling red rocks are so unique.

They are also popular. I still can’t decide if I loved or loathed the experience because it’s so crowded in there! You’ll have a hard time if you’re claustrophobic, which I am!

I did both the upper and lower and both are worth seeing (I have a comparison written here ), as the lower tends to have more colors and the upper has those famous light beams, but only at certain times of day. Gear up and prepare for the crowds, do your breathing exercises, and don’t forget to look up.

Check here to see if the canyon is open or not at the moment.

19. The Wave or White Pocket

The next most famous stop in Arizona is usually The Wave, famous for the wave-like shape and color of the rock. Only 20 people get permits to see The Wave each day, and you’ll need to apply at 9am the day before in Kanab, Utah. Since I was in Page, I opted to see White Pocket instead which almost nobody else was visiting.

While the wave would be amazing to see one day, White Pocket will blow your mind, too. I suggest booking with Kanab Western Adventures  to experience this hike, which is accessed via a sandy 4×4 road. More on the experience here.

20. Grand Canyon

You can’t say you saw the American Southwest without seeing the grandest canyon of them all. The southern entrance is even more impressive than the northern IMHO, with dozens of drive-up overlooks. I loved going for sunset!

On your way, you’ll see roadside stalls offering hand-made Navajo jewelry for sale. I highly recommend pulling off and checking one out!

21. Havasu Falls

If you’re up for an overnight backpacking trip and can secure the permits (which you must do in February, more on that here ), this bucket list item is SO worth seeing. There are several waterfalls to hike to, along with canyon hikes, and more.

I love Sedona so dang much! If you’re into energy healing, the whole of Sedona is considered a vortex. There are hundreds of hiking trails, impressive rock formations, and healing modalities on offer.

You can read all you need to know about the best things to do in Sedona here .

Check out my recent solo trip there:

There’s so much more to Arizona than we’ve listed here, including the Petrified Forest, Phoenix, and more. Read our full Arizona Itinerary here .

Over one week, over two thousand miles, lots of sunrises and sunsets, nights full of stars, and sore legs, this was my American Southwest itinerary. It’s one of the greatest adventures I’ve had, and I’m sure it will be for you, too.

With some experiences you can get to yourself, and some you’ll have to share, this is the perfect mix of solitude while still experiencing the popular must-sees.

– Want to add more states on? –

The Perfect New Mexico Itinerary

The Ultimate Colorado Itinerary

Happy road tripping!

What Does an American Southwest Road Trip Cost?

Southern utah’s secret places.

*Some of the companies mentioned here are partners who helped make this article possible, and some links are affiliate links. Anything you purchase through these links helps keep this site running at no extra cost to you!

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

 subscribe to our newsletter

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Ijana Loss says

05/31/2017 at 7:19 am

This sounds like an awesome trip, I would love to do a trip like this sometime! Aside from having to book a couple places ahead that are really popular, like Zion, it seems like it would be possible to wing the whole thing too. I hate structuring hiking based trips, I like being able to hike random places on a whim. What season did you do this in? Obviously a winter trip wouldn’t be recommended unless you know how to drive in the snow, but I wouldn’t care for summer because of crowds and heat. Spring or fall would work, yes?

Kristin says

05/31/2017 at 2:59 pm

I totally winged the whole thing actually, and it was OK! I think May is a very popular month as well (I just finished the trip, I’m current with my blog now 😉 but the locals all say that the fall is the best time of year.

Ylvalie says

06/01/2017 at 7:38 am

Your pictures are fantastic!

Jeric Danao says

06/01/2017 at 8:23 pm

Wow this content is admirable. You already had me with the off-the-grid solar panel source, lol. Just giving up some of that freedom vibe as you relax and appreciate every destination’s hotspot. Thank you for sharing this!

Rebecca says

06/02/2017 at 11:24 am

Now sooooo much more excited – we’re heading to Utah tomorrow! Great pics and thanks for these tips.

Shannon says

06/02/2017 at 11:46 am

This trip looks awesome Kristin. Thanks for sharing. I have a SW itinerary on my list: Havasupai – Sedona – Antelope Canyon. You definitely saw and did a lot in one week! Those pics though?! Really amazing.

06/02/2017 at 1:43 pm

I totally missed Havasupai and Sedona and it broke my heart! So many hard decisions to make there!

06/03/2017 at 8:05 pm

Wow! Those photos are amazing!

I’m totally adding the American Southwest to my list. Just wondering, any idea/thoughts/knowledge on dog friendly or not? I’d love to bring my boys but not sure if it would be worth it for them.

Rough numbers, what would you recommend for money to do a trip as you did?

06/04/2017 at 7:49 am

I think it depends on which parks you visit if you’d want to bring a dog along. A lot of the trails I did would not be appropriate for dogs either but you can probably find options!

My main cost was gas since I free camped almost everywhere. I’ll do a budget post soon!

Maggie says

06/11/2017 at 3:33 am

Great post! It’s amazing how beautiful the American Southwest is. I grew up in Arizona and it’s embarrassing how little I’ve seen of it compared to what I’ve seen of the rest of the world! Given me some serious wanderlust for my own backyard!

Next time you’re in the area, you should definitely check out Sedona. I lived there for a little bit and it is absolutely beautiful. The Tonto Natural Bridge in central AZ is also really worth visiting and I don’t think it gets enough credit compared to the everything else AZ has to offer.

06/11/2017 at 6:36 am

It broke my heart that I didn’t have time for Sedona. I drove right by it! Had to make some tough choices but I do want to go back.

Lindsay says

07/12/2017 at 8:01 am

Hi Kristen – I’d like to learn more about this since my boyfriend and I are planning on following your itinerary in September. Jucy RV isn’t available out of Las Vegas during our dates, which we’re planning on doing and my boyfriend isn’t into the whole hiking & sweating everyday, & then not showering …so we might end up going with a suped up RV for $300ish/day which I’d prefer not to if we can shower at campsites. Can you let me know which campsites you stopped at and the amenities they have? He would like to shower daily but I’d be fine w every other day. Also, is it cool at night for sleeping? I’m assuming the campervan has AC but don’t want to leave it running all night. Also, would you recommend purchasing the unlimited miles option?

Thanks! Lindsay

07/13/2017 at 2:31 am

In most campsites you can find hookups and be fine. I just didn’t use campsites and free camped instead. It’s cold at night usually! Yes I’d do unlimited miles for this particular itinerary.

Anonymous says

07/31/2017 at 7:42 am

Thanks! We did unlimited miles with Escape campervans and we’re going to get one of those bag showers!

Nichole says

07/12/2017 at 9:19 am

My husband and I just decided this weekend to fly out to Utah in October and rent a camper van. I can’t wait and the more I read I just keep getting more excited. Is it easy to know when you’re on public lands to camp? This will be my first trip west so I don’t really know what to expect.

07/13/2017 at 2:30 am

You can look up maps before you go but yeah, it’s usually pretty clear, at least it was to me.

10/16/2017 at 5:46 pm

Don’t be sad about missing Havasupai. A permit is required to go there. Permits for all of 2017 became available on Feb 1, 2017 and were gone in days. It isn’t a drive by destination. It’s a 10 mile hike in, an overnight and a 10 mile hike out.

Your helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon didn’t take you to the national park which is 5 hours by car from Las Vegas. Helicopters don’t have that kind of range. You went to what is called the west rim and it isn’t even inside the national park boundaries. Cebe

10/17/2017 at 12:16 am

I wouldn’t mind the hike in, to the falls or the actual Grand Canyon!

10/21/2017 at 6:09 pm

Try 70 in Utah as well. My husband drives a truck and we came in through Salt Lake and leaving went on 70 past 4 or 5 of the canyons. To say breathtaking is an understatement. I was in years from the beauty. Have never seen so much in one day. Simply amazing!!! I’ve been home almosy a month and still havent gone through my pictures.

10/22/2017 at 6:10 am

Thanks for the tip!

11/21/2017 at 2:47 pm

Great write-up and pictures. A map would be most helpful.

11/22/2017 at 1:01 am

Under each place I’ve linked a map 🙂

Harish K says

12/02/2017 at 1:57 pm

Hi Kristin,

I am a big fan. I am following the above itinerary, but landing in Las Vegas and starting from Zion. I plan on going the Christmas week. I see weather not too bad, but would you suggest it?

Also, keep doing what you are doing, you are a great inspiration for people like me!

Thanks Harish

12/03/2017 at 5:13 am

If there is snow in Zion and the narrows are iced over that will be magical. Just be prepared for road conditions to potentially be icy.

Jenifer De Figueiredo says

01/02/2018 at 6:38 pm

This is amazing! I’ve been wanting to do this trip with the family for a few years now. My parents took my sister and I when we were 8 and 10. Looking forward to it this summer! How many on foot miles would you say you were doing a day during this trip? We have four girls, ages 11-17. Not all of them are that athletic. Trying to gauge how much time we should give the trip while avoiding whining. I know they will love it, but I don’t want to kill them! 😉 We will also probably take the dog and RV it. Thank you so much for this post! It’s so helpful! 🙂

01/03/2018 at 2:22 am

You can do shorter hikes in Zion than observation point, like the emerald pool, which is very nice. If you are RVing then you would probably skip Coyote Gulch as well, which were my two longest days. Dead Horse is one you drive up to, and if you do White Pocket with Mike that’s not much walking either, plus it’s so engaging and beautiful since the rock formations are all so unique and different, they won’t even notice how far they’ve gone!

Giovanni says

03/28/2018 at 8:44 am

Thanks for sharing this comprehensive and handy resource 🙂 By the way, what do you think are the best places to fly a drone for this trip? Thanks

03/30/2018 at 8:23 pm

It’s getting stricter with time, but definitely not in the national parks, and for State Parks like Dead Horse, only at certain times of year.

Ronald says

05/15/2018 at 9:14 pm

Hello, I love your post! I’m thinking of doing almost the same roadtrip as you very soon; however it was frustrating because my friend dropped out last minute. Did you feel lonely at all going solo on the road? I just want to get your thoughts bc I’m a little hesitant to just do this roadtrip with no company. I feel like it’s just a different dynamic than solo backpacking and staying at hostels, which I’ve done in the past and you always meet people. Thank you!

05/16/2018 at 1:50 am

I actually LOVED it and still think of it as one of my best trips ever. I met people sometimes at the free BLM campsites, as well as just randomly on trails and once in a parking lot of a campsite where I was showering. I got to talking to that guy, invited him to watch the sunset at Horseshoe bend with me, then we even met up again when I was in Chiang Mai in January. I was surprised by how many people I met. I also spent a lot of time alone and I loved that too. Being alone in the desert is profound. Go for it!

05/20/2018 at 11:03 am

Hi Kirsten,

I’m so glad I found your post after typing “solo road trip USA” in Google. ?

Will be solo tripping for my last 5D4N from LAX – am planning to drive from Las Vegas to antelope canyons & Horseshoe bend, spend a night then go onto Moab for the arches & another night before driving onto SLC for one more night then fly back into LAX for my flight back home. (LAX – LV – Page – Moab – SLC – LAX)

Just slightly worried for the 4+ to 5 hour drive each leg… (Friends say I’m crazy & told me to just join the tours to Antelope canyons & forgot abt the rest) but your post is very assuring! I wasn’t planning on getting an RV though, just a compact car & stay at the town motels etc.

Were there any instances where you were too knackered to drive after doing the hikes? Just worried that the heat might zap me out – will be going in a mths time (June!)

Thanks in advance for your sharing.

05/20/2018 at 11:23 am

I had a camper van which was convenient since it allowed me to stay out near the entrances to the parks but motels would be fine too! You’ll spend all morning getting from point A to B, that’s the main thing. I feel like you’d have so little time in each place it might be better to pick either Page or Moab and give yourself one full day without driving in one of them. I’d pick Moab, personally. I also had breaks here and there when I didn’t have a super long drive, and that made it enjoyable for me. However if you really want to see it all, then do it girl! Antelope Canyon and horseshoe bend aren’t really hikes, and you can see a lot in Arches without hiking either.

06/24/2018 at 3:06 pm

We’re planning a similar trip this fall, so your post will come in really handy as we really start to plan. Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas!

06/24/2018 at 11:55 pm

Sabhay says

08/21/2018 at 5:38 pm

Which drone do you use for photography? Would you be able to tell me the model number?

08/21/2018 at 9:42 pm

It’s a DJI Mavic Pro 🙂

Emily Wethington says

11/12/2018 at 6:13 pm

My family and I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Which airport do you recommend to fly into that is close enough to one of these parks besides LAX?

11/12/2018 at 11:58 pm

You could also do Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.

02/12/2019 at 7:37 am

My family is flying into Las Vegas for the first week of April. We are planning on driving to the Grand Canyon first for an overnight stay then onto Zion for a couple days before ending up in Park City. Do you have any suggestions for hikes and sight seeing for this short trip that would maximize the time?

02/12/2019 at 10:18 am

I really like Observation Point in Zion: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/zion-observation-point/

02/26/2019 at 11:04 pm

Oh wow this looks AMAZING. Bookmarking this post so I can use as reference for when the day finally comes and I visit all these places! Goblin Valley looks awesome!

Sylvia Koss says

04/07/2019 at 2:54 pm

Beautiful. We are planning visiting south Utah in July. Flying to Salt Lake City and renting a car not camper. We don’t have much time only 5 days, what’s your recommendation? Thanks in advance

04/07/2019 at 4:03 pm

Check out Moab!

Keith Miller says

05/24/2020 at 2:21 pm

I read your adventures you wrote about and must say it brings back memories. I travel the whole US for one year. Been just about everywhere there is to go, especially the west and up to Canada. Based out of Aspen. I want to take my girlfriend to these places. She’s been in Europe and other places but not our beautiful USA. Your trip and story was awesome. Thank you for sharing. We just did a 6 day New England’s fall colors experience last October 12-18th from Boston thru Mass. NH. Vt. Me. and it was perfect timing. AirB&B each fantastic place. It was the most color I’ve ever experienced, every scenic highway throughout Certainly a must do!!! Again, loved your share.

05/25/2020 at 9:29 am

thanks Keith! I agree there’s soooo much to see in the US. I hope you guys get to explore soon.

Melissa Hardy says

09/12/2020 at 7:32 pm

This is so well organized!! Thank you for sharing all of this! My family did a seven day adventure around the Grand Canyon ending the Southern rim and went to many of these stops. We are planning another trip after all the Covid craziness passes. We wanted more time everywhere we went. Vegas was a whirl wind, we landed at 9 PM, got our rental car, checked into the Luxor and quickly drove over to the fountains before their last showing at midnight! I packed a lot in our itinerary but did a lot of research prior to going. We didn’t want to miss anything!! I will also share my blog in case you are interested or anyone else 🙂

10/10/2020 at 10:39 am

I love this part of the world and keep revisiting it too!

Yung Chen says

09/13/2020 at 12:10 pm

Dear Kristin:

Wonderful writing and many useful information. Please update your Google map links. Most of your writing’s map links are not working!

Keep up the good work!

They’re all working for me! LMK if there’s anything specific that isn’t working for you 🙂

Tiffany Carr says

10/04/2021 at 9:12 am

Hello, My plans to take my seniors on one last big trip before college got detailed last year so attempting to plan something more nature, simple, budget friendly and full of one time life experiences. Just started to follow your blog that I found. Our daughter is headed to Thailand in August of 2022 to teach English, so buying your book for her birthday. Debating between flying into Utah or Colorado. Want to rent a camper/van for the 3 of us. No agenda, just drive from airport for 3-5 days and back to airport.

What would be your best recommendation as to where to fly into, drive around/camp for 3-4 days? Hiking, swimming in natural springs and viewing God’s creation being the goal.

Ps. Should I get kitchen equipment with the van or place to grab at least one meal a day? We can improvise the other 2:) Thank you!!

10/11/2021 at 1:25 pm

Hmm it probably depends on where you can actually rent the van. I’d look into that first and plan from there!

Lynn Kirkland says

01/14/2022 at 5:47 am

Love your blog. So much information and secret little places to visit Love it. Great pictures and video.

We are planning a trip in April and we will include several of your adventures in our trip. The free camping information was great.

01/14/2022 at 1:36 pm

Yay glad you found it helpful! It’s my favorite place in the world. Enjoy.

Earnest Bijen says

05/11/2023 at 2:48 am

This American Southwest road trip itinerary is absolutely incredible! From the iconic landscapes of Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon to the charming towns of Sedona and Santa Fe, this itinerary is packed with some of the most beautiful and fascinating places in the region. I especially love the idea of hiking in the Narrows of Zion National Park and exploring the unique geology of Bryce Canyon. Road trips are such a wonderful way to explore a new destination, and this itinerary provides a great mix of nature, culture, and adventure. Thank you for sharing this comprehensive guide to exploring the American Southwest!

05/13/2023 at 6:21 am

glad you like it!

American Southwest Road Trip Guide: 8 Day Itinerary

Use this American southwest road trip guide that’s an 8 day itinerary for visiting New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. There are so many US southwest vacation ideas to see unique deserts, mountains, and canyons carved by rivers.

You US Southwest adventure will introduce you to a land of stark contrasts, captivating landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a curious explorer, a road trip through the Southwest will undoubtedly present an unforgettable journey of discovery and awe.

Planning a Southwest USA road trip is by far the best way to see and experience everything this region has to offer.

This 8-day road trip guide includes things to do, what to pack, and where to stay as you travel through the southwest region of the US!

Be sure to grab the Road Trip Packing List that includes items for comfort, organization, eating, and first aid to make the family vacation a success. You’ll also receive a Road Trip Itinerary to plan the day-to-day schedule of the trip!

This site contains affiliate links which means WE may receive commissions for purchases made through these links. We only provide links to products we actually use and/or wholeheartedly recommend! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full Disclosure Policy.

Planning your southwest road trip.

This article was written by Jennifer Wolff, one of our contributing writers:

“As a school teacher from Southwest Michigan, I look forward to summer road trips exploring the US with my wonderful daughter! I’m drawn to geological features and the American Southwest has so many to admire! Here’s the 8-Day Southwest Itinerary that my daughter and I took in July.”

National Parks Pass

Our Southwest road trip itinerary has you visiting 6+ national parks, all of which charge a per-car entrance fee. The best way to save money is to buy a National Parks Pass.

You can  buy the pass through REI  before you go (they will donate 10% of sales to the National Park Foundation), or you can get it when you arrive at the first National Park.

The pass is good for one year at any site managed by the National Park Service. The US National Park pass is a good deal and will save you $50+ just on this road trip.

Water, Water, Water!

Carry plenty of water with you when traveling around the Southwest US. Dehydration is serious, especially during the summer. Keep extra water in a cooler in your car (we like the Koolatron that doubles as a fridge in our hotel room too). Use a hydration pack when hiking. Fill it every chance you get – most national parks will have water bottle filling stations.

What to Pack for a Southwest US Trip

You must be prepared for a road trip around the American Southwest. There are long stretches of road with no services for gas, food or lodging. There are sporadic small towns that may not offer services or they aren’t open at ‘normal’ hours to the public.

Cell service is random to non-existent in more remote areas around the Southwest. There are many National Parks that also don’t have cell service, gas, food or lodging.

What you pack for a Southwest road trip will depend on the time of year, the locations you visit, and the activities you will do – use our National Parks Packing Lists as a guide.

Here’s a small list of the items you really must have when driving around the Southwest US. Check out the full list of family road trip items to pack .

• Maps – download a map beforehand – cell service may not be available for long stretches of road (we use a road atlas as a backup as well)
• Water – reusable water bottles
• Food – healthy road trip snacks
• Roadside Emergency Kit
• Sunscreen & Hat
• Clothing – layers for variations of temperature and weather

USA AUDIO TOURS (GuideAlong)

“Download the app to your phone – no cell or wifi service needed. Based on your GPS location, the app takes you on a guided tour of the area and points out all the interesting features and stops. It’s like having a guide in the car with you.”

• American Southwest Road Trip Guide

You’ll find must-see Southwest National Parks and state parks to visit on this detailed vacation itinerary.

DAY 1: Albuquerque to Flagstaff

Stops along the way:

• Petrified National Park
• Winslow, Arizona

Albuquerque, NM to Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – 3 hours drive time

We decided to start and end our Southwest Road Trip in Albuquerque, New Mexico since my brother lives there.

Before arriving at Petrified Forest National Park , I had been missing the landscape of the Badlands from last summer’s vacation. The first stop at Petrified Forest reminded me of the landscape of Badlands National Park and brought the biggest smile to my face!

I had also been quite tense flying from Michigan to New Mexico and then driving from Albuquerque to Petrified National Park. Seeing the beautiful landscape of the American Southwest relaxed me immediately.

The layers of different colors making up the landscape of Petrified Forest National Park (and Painted Desert) were just beautiful. The deposited layers are quite diverse with some areas a more orange color and other areas are a more blueish color.

We spent about 3 hours exploring the park, and could’ve stayed longer, but the weather took a wicked turn so we left in an attempt to beat the oncoming monsoon. If I ever go back to Petrified Forest, I would get there earlier, hope for good weather, and hike more trails.

SOUTHWEST US ROAD TRIP TIP: Be aware of the weather during the summer monsoon season in the southwestern region of the US.

Petrified Forest to Winslow, Arizona – 1 hour drive time

One of the best parts of a road trip is stopping at fun and quirky places. When you drive through Winslow, you must take a photo on the corner. You know, for the song “Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona” by the Eagles.

Winslow to Flagstaff, AZ – 1 hour drive time

Our Southwest US itinerary included a stop at the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark on our way from Winslow to Flagstaff, but the monsoon storm prevented us from going.

ROAD TRIP TIP: Be flexible and prepared to make adjustments due to unexpected weather, construction, etc.

• Hotels in Flagstaff, Arizona
• Things to do in Flagstaff, Arizona

DAY 2: Flagstaff to Page, AZ

• Grand Canyon South Rim
• Grand Canyon Desert View Drive
• Little Colorado Overlook

Flagstaff, AZ to Grand Canyon National Park, AZ – 2 hour drive time

Since we were still on Michigan time, it was easy to get up early each day. We highly recommend starting out early to avoid the crowds and heat that are inevitable on an American Southwest road trip in the summer.

Our first stop today was the South Rim of  Grand Canyon National Park . The South Rim is open all year. The easiest and fastest way to get around and see the Grand Canyon is to take the scenic Kaibab Rim Shuttle Bus. It’s the only way to access the South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point.

There is a Hermit Road Shuttle bus that operates most of the year. It stops at 9 canyon overlooks along the scenic 7 mile Hermit Road. We decided to spend a bit of time in the Village area to explore Mather Point and hike the rim trail for a bit.

Our itinerary for the day had us driving to Page, Arizona so we set out along Desert View Drive headed toward the Watchtower.

Mather Point to Desert View Watchtower – 35 minute drive time (with NO stops!)

Each viewpoint along Desert View Drive offers something just a bit different from all the others. It’s definitely worth the time to stop at each viewing point on Desert View Drive along the way! The watchtower is really neat inside. Be sure to climb to the top.

Desert View Watchtower to Page, AZ – 2 hour drive time

On our way to Page we stopped at the Little Colorado Overlook. It was a nice place to get out of the car to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery.

SOUTHWEST ROAD TRIP TIP: Dehydration is serious in the summer months. Make a point to drink water at all the stops you make on your Southwest road trip. Keep water in a cooler in the trunk!

• Hotels in Page, Arizona
• Things to do in Page, Arizona

Day 3: Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon

Page, az to horseshoe bend – 10 minute drive time.

Nothing says American Southwest like a photo of Horseshoe Bend .

We got up EARLY to hike to Horseshoe Bend, arriving at the trailhead at 7 am to avoid the crowds and heat.

CARRY WATER with you on the hike since there is no shade along the 1.25 mile roundtrip hike that takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour.

Since we had a scheduled tour at Antelope Canyon the same morning, we didn’t stay long at Horseshoe Bend.

Horseshoe Bend to Antelope Canyon, AZ – 30 minute drive time

Visiting Antelope Canyon was a must on our Southwest Road Trip itinerary. We participated in the regular Dixie Ellis tour of Antelope Canyon  (they offer a teacher discount.) Even though we had made an online reservation, we still had to wait in line to check in and then again before our tour time was called.

Once our tour was called we walked over to another waiting area. The tour guides are quite knowledgeable about camera phones and gave advice on how to take the best photos. Our guide also took our photos and made sure no one was in it.

Plan on shuffling through the canyon because it is packed with people!

Be sure to LOOK UP! The canyon is so spectacular, but it’s also amazing to look up and see the height of the canyon.

I think Antelope Canyon is incredible, but be sure to pack your patience and plan on your tour time running much later than expected. It doesn’t matter which tour company you book with because they both enter from the same location.

ROAD TRIP TIP: Always be aware of the TIME ZONE as you travel. The time zone in Page, Arizona is NOT THE SAME as Antelope Canyon only 5 minutes away. 

BOOK ANTELOPE CANYON TOURS

Day 4 – Bryce Canyon National Park

Page, az to bryce canyon national park, ut- 2.5 hour drive time.

Bryce Canyon National Park , Utah was everything I thought it would be… and then some! I absolutely love the hoodoos and colors!

We arrived early and hiked the Queen’s Garden – Navajo Loop trail , starting from Sunrise Point. The trails goes past Queen’s Garden and connects with the Navajo Loop. 

Hiking UP the Wall Street switchbacks to the top of the canyon is a workout. We were pretty tired by the time we were done, but it was worth every single step!

Again…BRING LOTS OF WATER and start EARLY. It gets very hot in the summer, there is not much shade, and the end of the trail climbing those switchbacks is a workout! 

Our horseback riding experience through Bryce Canyon was the BEST horseback riding experience ever! Riding into the canyon on horseback was quite intimidating, but once I put all my confidence in that horse, I felt like I could enjoy the ride so much more!

I was surprised how different the canyon looked once we got to the bottom because it was full of trees!

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY: There are so many things to do at Bryce Canyon National Park  – next time, I would get to Bryce earlier and plan to spend two days to hike more trails.

I would also stay at a hotel closer to Bryce Canyon so I wasn’t driving to and from Page, Arizona. We left Bryce and went back to our hotel in Page because I wanted to drive through Monument Valley on our way to Moab, Utah.

• Bryce Canyon Places to Stay
• Bryce Canyon Hotels
• Bryce Canyon National Park Camping

BOOK BRYCE CANYON TOURS

Day 5 – Page, AZ to Moab, UT

• Monument Valley
• Goosenecks State Park
• Wilson Arch
• Hole N” The Rock

Page, AZ to Monument Valley, UT – 2 hour drive time

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located in a remote area on the Utah/Arizona border. This destination was another must-see on our American Southwest road trip.

I am so glad I rented a Jeep because the drive through Monument Valley was rough! It’s a 14-mile graded dirt road that takes you past scenic spots like The Mittens, Three Sisters, John Ford’s Point, Totem Pole, and more.

There are also tours where Navajo guides can take you deeper into the Valley that you can’t do on your own.

We enjoyed stopping at all of the scenic spots as we drove along the road, and even ate fry bread and purchased jewelry at one location.

It took about 2 hours to drive though Monument Valley and stop at all of the scenic pullouts.

If I were to return, I would go horseback riding through Monument Valley .

BOOK MONUMENT VALLEY TOURS

After leaving Monument Valley we drove through the iconic Forrest Gump spot. I was shocked at how many people were standing in the road trying to the perfect picture.

Monument Valley to Goosenecks State Park, UT – 35 minutes drive time

Goosenecks State Park, Utah was a quick stop on our way to Moab. Driving along the road to get to Goosenecks made me wonder if I was still on Earth because it looked so different and I hardly passed a car for miles! I was happy to see a dozen cars in the parking lot when we arrived – it was nice to see people!

Take the time for the short drive to Goosenecks. It’s unlike any other stop along your road trip in the Southwest. The area is so much larger than I expected! It’s really neat to see how erosion creates incredible winding rivers.

We discovered on this trip that Utah State Parks are fun to explore and photograph.

Goosenecks State Park, UT to Moab, UT – 2+ hour drive time (with 2 stops)

When you travel around the American Southwest by car, you find gems along the way. We came across two on our drive toward the adventure town of Moab, Utah .

Wilson Arch is a fun place to stop, stretch your legs and hike around the arch. Remember to stay hydrated!

You’ll pass by Hole N” The Rock , a 5,000 square foot home home carved out of a huge rock. There’s a gift shop, trading post and small petting zoo.

It was nice to spend some down time in Moab. We really enjoyed the Buffalo Bleu Cheese pizza at Zax! BEST pizza!!

There are all types of lodging in and near Moab from budget-friendly hotels to higher-prices resorts. You’ll also find vacation rentals, a hostel, campgrounds and RV parks.

• Moab hotels
• Moab Camping
• Glamping in Moab

Day 6 – Moab, Utah

Places we visited:

• Arches National Park
• Dead Horse Point State Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Moab Giants

Moab, UT to Arches National Park, UT – 10 minute drive time

Arches National Park  has over 2,000 natural stone arches and cool rock fins and large balanced rocks.

Out of all the  Arches National Park hiking trails , we really wanted to hike to Delicate Arch. We got up early and made it to the trailhead at 7 am.

It’s best to hike to Delicate Arch in the morning so you get a parking spot and avoid the full sun and heat as much as you can. The hike is 3.2 miles roundtrip. It took us about 1.5 hours. I think they say 1 hour per mile to hike out west due to the increase in elevation. 

Since the hike to Delicate Arch took most of our energy for the day, we didn’t attempt any more trials. Instead we drove to all the lookout points to enjoy the unique landscape of the park.

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY: I would plan on spending at least 2 days at Arches next time, especially to focus on the Arches National Park photography !

• Arches National Park Travel Guide
• Arches Packing List

BOOK ARCHES NATIONAL PARK TOURS

Arches National Park to Dead Horse Point State Park, UT – 35 minute drive time

Dead Horse Point State Park , Utah is located at the end of a mesa 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, on the edge of Canyonlands National Park. You can see endless views of the river and surrounding canyons.

I loved Dead Horse Point! It’s amazing to see the way water erodes at a canyon over time and creates a horseshoe-type shape.

We enjoyed walking the trails, climbing the rocks and taking photos at Dead Horse Point.

Dead Horse Point State Park to Canyonlands (Island in the Sky), UT – 15 minute drive time

Canyonlands National Park , Utah is actually comprised of three Districts. The closest one to Moab, and the one we chose to visit, is called Island in the Sky.  Needles Canyonlands is about 55 miles south of Moab.

The landscape at each viewpoint along the Island in the Sky scenic drive is different. Take the time to stop, hike and explore as many as you can.

• Grand View Point
• Green River Overlook
• Buckhorn Overlook

The trail to Mesa Arch is a quick, easy hike (.5 miles roundtrip). The arch is right on the edge of a 500-foot cliff and it’s one of the most iconic views in Canyonlands.

There are many things to do, see and photograph at Canyonlands Island in the Sky . It’s hard to narrow down your itinerary when you only have a short amount of time to explore.

BOOK CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK TOURS

Canyonlands to Moab Giants near Moab, UT – 30 minute drive time

We LOVE dinosaurs and spent about an hour at Moab Giants just outside town in the middle of a 100 degree day!

We packed lots of water, but Moab Giants clearly cares for their visitors because they have misting stations, drinking fountains, and canopies set up to give you a break from the sun . There is also a vending machine about halfway through the trail.

It’s a half mile loop trail with so much to see and learn along the way. The life-size dinosaurs and footprint castings are impressive and help you understand the incredible size of these magnificent creatures!

BOOK MOAB UTAH TOURS

Day 7 – Moab, UT to Albuquerque, NM

• Mesa Verde National Park
• Four Corners Monument

Moab, UT to Mesa Verde, CO – 2 hour drive time

One of the most amazing stops on our Southwest US road trip was visiting  Mesa Verde National Park.  The park was developed to preserve and interpret the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people.

Mesa Verde is quite cool! I found it interesting that people decided to live at the top of the mountain.

We spent 2-3 hours at Mesa Verde stopping at all of the scenic spots. Next time I would plan to be there longer and take a guided tour of the Cliff Palace . 

• Mesa Verde Lodging and Camping

BOOK MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK TOURS

Mesa Verde, CO to Four Corners – 1 hour drive time

If you’re road trip across the US Southwest takes you close to the Four Corners Monument area, you probably should stop.

With that being said, everyone else thinks the same thing which made for a LONG line.

The line moved somewhat slow because people want to get lots of poses in all four states. We skipped the line and took a photo from one of the elevated platforms.

Four Corners to Albuquerque, NM – 4 hour drive time

We drove to Albuquerque to spend the night.

• Hotels in Albuquerque, NM

BOOK ALBUQUERUQUE TOURS

Day 8 – Albuquerque, NM Area

Places we stopped:

• Bandelier National Monument
• El Santuario De Chimayo Historic Site

Albuquerque, NM to Bandelier National Monument – 2 hour drive time

The next morning we visited Bandelier National Monument and explored the area for about 3 hours. It’s relatively small but packed with history.

I was so impressed with the landscape and wilderness in Bandelier. We loved climbing all of the ladders and looking at early civilization sites.

Half way through the Main Loop Trail, you must either turn back toward the visitor center or continue another half mile to Alcove House. We decided to walk the additional distance. In order to get to the Alcove House we had to climb 4 separate ladders 140 ft to the top.

One thing to consider when visiting Bandelier is that you can only get to it by a Shuttle bus during the summer months.

Bandelier National Monument to El Santuario De Chimayo Historic Site, NM – 1 hour drive time

After Bandelier, we drove over to El Santuario De Chimayo Historic Site .

I wanted to see the church while I was close to it since I probably won’t be in the area again any time soon.

CLICK TO SHOP FOR US NATIONAL PARK GUIDES & MAPS

Plan a Southwest US Vacation

• US Southwest Vacation Ideas
• Southwest USA Road Trip Ideas
• Summer Vacations in the Southwest

National Parks Packing Lists

Use our US National Park Packing List   to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting any time of year! Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!

Similar Posts

20+ Road Trip Toys For Babies

20+ Road Trip Toys For Toddlers

20 Delicious Homemade Road Trip Snacks

40+ Road Trip Accessories to Pack Before You Hit the Road

20 Recipes to Make Road Trip Snacks For Adults

Ultimate List of Road Trip Snacks and Food

36 comments.

Is it worth doing this type of trip if you can do very little hiking?

Yes! Many of the National Parks and State Parks in the southwest provide “scenic drives” to see the landscape from the car, parking lot, or a short walk to the overlook.

Amazing trip, I love visiting parks.

• Pingback: Funtastic Friday Link Party #373 | Simply Beautiful By Angela

This trip looks amazing! Visiting from the imparting grace link up.

Oh wow! My brother lives in Albequerque and we had thought of going in spring break but with a family of 6 plane tickets right now and renting a car are too high. But seeing this, we may want to plan a road trip like this. This is amazing and my family would love it! http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

Road trips are the perfect way to travel right now for sure! And spring is the perfect time to visit the Southwest! Enjoy your trip!

Could I make a suggestion: Your trips are super and really helps us know where and what we want to see on our trip next year. I wish you would add a map of each trip in the beginning so we can visualize the trip and see where we might make deviations. Thank you for your great work.

That’s a great idea, thank you. We’ll work on adding that!

Thank you for great trip plans.

What a perfect post at a perfect time for me to find it. We will be starting in Albuquerque for the International Balloon Festival in October and then to the Grand Canyon, to Moab and back to Albuquerque. We will not be able to hit all the spots on your trip due to time constraints but since I didn’t know anything when starting my planning-this about plans my whole trip for me. Thank you for your details, hints and tips.

Now I need to compare your recommendations to Geocaches along the way to narrow our itinerary down. Thank you-I’m so excited that October seems forever away..

You will have so much fun on this trip, and yes, October seems far away, but will be here before you know it! Let us know if you have any questions, although we aren’t geocaching experts. We appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon has been on my list for awhile, but I never knew about Bryce Canyon National Park. Wow it looks so beautiful. Almost reminds me of Jordan. The US has some truly fascinating sceneries

The US has such diverse landscapes to see. Hope you can make it to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend soon!

Your photos look stunning, the landscapes are really incredible! The horse riding trip looked fun too, something I’ve never tried. I’d love to do this roadtrip – as you can imagine, being from the UK, there aren’t too many long roadtrips we can do before we reach the end of the country! Teehee!

Road trips from the UK sound so exciting because you get to visit so many countries!

Your horseback ride has me totally dreaming over here!! What an awesome trip you put together!

Horseback riding among the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon is a MUST do if you ever visit this National Park!

Wow I would love to take this road trip I am obsessed with the Southwest ! So much that we are planning to move to Las Vegas soon!]

Great post and have a fabulous year of travels!

You will have so many places to explore living in Vegas – how exciting!

I could not have read this post at the most perfect time. I am doing a road trip to these same areas in 2 weeks. Thank you!

Your experience in 2 weeks might be a bit different. It won’t be hot like it is in the summer. Be prepared for cold and even snow. Have fun!

This is so helpful, thank you! My friend lives in the States and we want to go on a road trip together at some point so I will definitely be sending her this! So much great practicality advice! I love the sound of the Desert View Watchtower and Antelope Canyon looks absolutely stunning! Those rock formations! It reminds me a little bit of road tripping through Outback Australia (although very different types of rock)!

Let us know if you have any questions. We would love to take a trip to the Outback one day.

The American Southwest is easily one of my favorite places on the globe. Such rich geography and well-preserved remains of the first nations. It is such a wonderful dreamland. And how awesome that the author gets to take a roadtrip like this with her daughter.

It’s one of our favorite locations as well. Seeing the native american ruins is so amazing!

Nice post. It is very useful and informative. Thanks a lot for sharing this blog.

What a trip stunning scenery and lovely photosgraphs.

I’ve been to almost all of these places, but seeing the photos makes me ache to return to each and every one….there’s something so special about the Southwest. I was actually at the Meteor Crater this week – it’s less spectacular than other places on your list, but worth a stop if you are already passing by!

We always try to see the things near our road trip travels, and were a bit sad not to see Meteor Crater, but knew it wasn’t a deal breaker 🙂

Thank you so much for linking to our site, HorseshoeBend.com! You did exactly the right thing by going early for cooler temperatures and minimal crowds. Hope you get a chance to return to the area when you can spend more time and explore some of the area’s beautiful “alternate” slot canyons and perhaps enjoy a boat tour to Rainbow Bridge! Take care and happy travels 🙂

We hope to return to do more for sure!

Amazing! Would love to do the horse back riding tour.

Horseback riding is always a fun way to see these destinations.

Hi Jamie, what an awesome road trip! It brings back beautiful memories of our trips through Grand Canyon and many amazing parks in Utah and Arizona – Zion NP, Bryce NP, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona… but there a few we still need to visit. This is a great post for me to keep handy for later. Thanks for putting it together.

There is always so much to see in these states for sure! We have more to visit as well.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

USA Southwest Road Trip – 4 Week Van Life Itinerary

Planning a USA Southwest road trip?

With several states to explore, many unique landscapes, beautiful national parks, and fun-fuelled activities, you simply can’t pass up this adventure of a lifetime.

I spent 4 weeks traveling around the southwest USA in a campervan and visited the states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.

While there are different ways to go interstate and explore the States, traveling by campervan is simply the most fun, enjoyable, and affordable option you can go for.

If you’re planning a month-long Southwest USA road trip or a bit shorter than that, this is the travel guide for you.

I’ll go through where to rent a campervan, the best possible route, what to see and do in the different southwest states, and many more details you need to know. 

Before starting this ultimate 4-week southwest road trip itinerary, make sure to pack these useful travel accessories for a road trip .

Table of Contents

QUICK ANSWERS: USA SOUTHWEST ROAD TRIP

Before we dive into the itinerary, here are some quick answers to the most frequently asked questions from first-time visitors.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO ROAD TRIP SOUTHWEST USA?

First and foremost, let’s talk about the best months to do a Southwest USA road trip.

The southwest states can be visited all year long but it’s best to travel during the summertime.

That being said, you’ll find very crowded national parks and you’ll have to pre-book many attractions, hikes, and campsites in advance.

On the other hand, autumn and winter are less crowded but the weather is much colder and some roads and mountain passes may be closed due to snowfall.

A plus side is you don’t have to pre-book campsites as it’s possible to get same-day reservations.

All things considered, the best period of time to go on a southwestern road trip is the shoulder season – from April to May and September to October.

You’ll have pleasant weather, crowds won’t be as big as in the summer, and you can go hiking on the way without pre-booking.

WHERE CAN I RENT A CAMPERVAN?

I personally rented my campervan with Travellers Autobarn as they are one of the most reputable, affordable, and top-rated campervan rental companies in the US.

What I particularly liked about Travellers Autobarn is that they offer pick-up locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Denver, and Seattle so you can rent a van pretty much anywhere on the west coast.

Also, each of their campervan rentals is fully liveable meaning you won’t need to book any accommodation on your road trip.

Needless to say, this is a massive cost-effective way to do road trips in the Southwest.

The vans come fully equipped with a seating area and table that transforms into a double bed. There’s also a fridge/freezer that runs on solar, a gas stovetop, microwave, kitchen sink with running water, cooking utensils, bedding, a heater for the winter, USB power outlets, 24V power when hooked up to electricity, lots of storage, and many more great features.

Did I mention that they offer free unlimited miles when you rent any of their campervans, RVs, or minivans?

Click here to check different vehicle options, rates, and availability.

WHAT ARE THE BEST CAMPING SPOTS IN SOUTHWEST USA?

There are many paid and unpaid campsites throughout the Southwest where you can park your campervan for a night or two during your Southwest itinerary.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can free camp in many places such as BLM land and some gas stations that will allow you to use the parking lot for 24 hours or so.

It’s worth noting that you can also spend the night in a Walmart parking lot but bear in mind that fewer and fewer stores allow nomads to park for the night.

If you happen to be in the middle of nowhere with no proper place to spend the night, make sure not to park on private properties or where you see the sign “No Trespassing”.

I recommend checking the overnight parking spots across America on OvernightRVparking .

For those who would prefer to stay at private campgrounds with electricity hook-ups and facilities like hot showers, toilets, and swimming pools, you can expect to pay anywhere between $30 USD – $70 USD per night.

To make a reservation at a campground inside a national park, you’ll first need to create a free account on the recreation.gov website and book online in advance before arriving.

I also recommend using the FreeRoam app on your mobile or laptop to find all the best paid and unpaid campsites on your southwest itinerary.

Explorest is another great app tailored for photographers to find the best photo locations in the US and worldwide.

WHAT APPS TO DOWNLOAD FOR A SOUTHWEST ROAD TRIP?

In such a digital world, it goes without saying that certain mobile apps will make your life easier, especially on a southwestern road trip. These are the apps that you can’t start your journey without:

• Roadtrippers
• HotelTonight

These apps are well worth downloading. Find a clean restroom on the go, listen to your favorite tunes, discover the most affordable gas stations and much more.

HOW MUCH DOES A SOUTHWEST USA ROAD TRIP COST?

It goes without saying that a south west USA road trip will likely cost you a fair bit of money.

Of course, you’ll have the time of your life visiting some of the most beautiful places on Earth but you should get properly prepared budget-wise.

Your whole budget for a USA Southwest road trip should be between $175 and $250 per day including the campervan rental costs (or accommodation), gas, food, drinks, activities, and entrance fees to national parks.

Gas tends to be very expensive on the west coast and I recommend you download GasBuddy as mentioned above to save some precious dollars on the go.

Lastly, getting a National Parks Pass is a great tip that will potentially save you lots of money and I’ll explain more in-depth about this in the following paragraphs.

Need A Travel Money Card?

Wise offers multi-currency cards that can be used worldwide and you’ll save $ on transaction fees.

Get a Wise card today for FREE!

SHOULD I GET A USA NATIONAL PARKS PASS?

Whether you want to go hiking around the southwest coast or take a selfie at some great Instagrammable spots, the National Parks Pass is something you should consider.

For only $80 per year, you’ll get to enter all National Parks in the United States.

This is a must-have simply because you won’t pay anything since all fees are included, including the parking fees for day use.

For instance, the entrance fee for Zion National Park is $35 for a private vehicle, and the same for Yosemite National Park . This sums up to $70 or almost the equivalent of the annual National Parks Pass.

Of course, if you only plan to visit one park on your road trip, it’s not convenient to purchase one. But for more than 1 national park, it’s definitely worth the investment and it’s overall a great way to discover the Southwest part of the USA.

SOUTHWEST USA ROAD TRIP ROUTE

There is no wrong or right way to road trip southwest USA, though for the sake of this guide and to help you plan your southwest itinerary, this is the clockwise route that I took starting and ending in Los Angeles.

• Los Angeles (campervan pick-up)
• Pacific Coast Highway & Big Sur / 3 days
• San Francisco / 2 days
• Yosemite National Park / 2 days
• Sequoia National Park / 1 day 
• Las Vegas & Valley of Fire / 3 days
• Zion National Park / 3 days
• Bryce Canyon National Park / 1 day
• Monument Valley / 1 day
• Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon / 1 day
• Grand Canyon South Rim / 2 days
• Sedona / 3 days
• Joshua Tree National Park / 2 days
• SoCal (San Diego, Laguna Beach, Newport) / 2 days
• Los Angeles (Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood) / 2 days

Have you got travel insurance for your trip?!

We all know accidents can happen and having Heymondo Insurance will save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.

Heymondo offers low-cost Travel Insurance to keep you covered on all your adventures.

LOS ANGELES

After getting to Los Angeles, I picked up the campervan from Travellers Autobarn in LA, went grocery shopping to stock up the fridge in the van, and immediately headed north along the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).

The first few days of the road trip, I spent visiting the most stunning spots on the Pacific Coast Highway, including Big Sur and other coastal surf towns, which I’ll go through in this guide.

Following a month-long trip, I spent the last 2 days of my road trip in Los Angeles, and I recommend doing the same.

Be sure to visit Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood, and Sunset Boulevard among other famous places.

Read on till the end of this post to know exactly how to enjoy your time in LA, but for now, let’s kick off this 4 week van life itinerary with the Pacific Coast Highway and Big Sur.

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY & BIG SUR

California is known for its warm weather, for world-famous coastal towns like Malibu, and for its scenic Pacific Coast Highway and Big Sur.

The drive to Big Sur is around 6 hours from Los Angeles.

There are endless places to visit along the Pacific Coast Highway but the most worthy ones I’ve listed below:

• Santa Barbara
• Morro Bay (surf beach)
• San Simeon (Elephant Seal Vista Point)
• Big Sur (Ragged Point, Slates Hotsprings, Mcway Falls, Bixby Creek Bridge)
• Santa Cruz Beach
• Redwoods State Park

SAN FRANCISCO

When traveling to the West Coast, San Francisco is simply an unmissable city that is worth staying in for a least a few days.

Here, there’s something for everyone from foodies to tech addicts and curious wanderers of all ages.

San Francisco plays home to some of the most famous landmarks in California such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Fisherman’s Wharf.

These are the best things to do and see in San Francisco:

• Witness the sunset at Golden Gate Bridge
• Spend some time on Lombardo Street
• Take a day tour of Alcatraz Island
• Enjoy the views of the Twin Peaks
• Test your taste buds at Ferry Building Marketplace
• Go swimming at Ocean Beach

Pssst! Check out this AWESOME travel bag!

The Nomatic 40L is the best travel bag on the market, perfect for weekend trips or month-long adventures!

Featuring multiple compartments for clothes, shoes, laptop, water bottle, RFID-protected pocket, and more.

It’s designed to fit the maximum size allowed for carry-on luggage, so you’ll never have to spend money on check-in baggage again!

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

A Southwest USA road trip wouldn’t be complete without visiting the world-famous Yosemite National Park.

Located just over 170 miles from San Francisco, it’s one of the most worthy places to include in your itinerary.

Yosemite is always open and you’ll have to pay a $35 entrance fee per vehicle which is valid for 7 days unless you purchase the annual National Parks Pass ahead of time.

Once in Yosemite, there are a few things you can do and I recommend spending three days inside the park to see the most impressive sites, which are:

• Tunnel Viewpoint
• El Capitan Bridge
• Swinging Bridge
• Yosemite Falls
• Glacier Point (for sunset)
• Taft Point (for sunset)

Of course, with so many photo spots in Yosemite National Park , don’t forget to bring your camera!

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

The Sequoia National Park is another incredible place to visit on your Southwest USA road trip.

Situated around 80 miles from Fresno, CA, Sequoia National Park is mostly famous for its humungous trees.

Among all of them, you’ll find the General Sherman Tree – the largest tree in the world standing at 275 feet and measuring 36 feet in diameter.

Naturally, there’s much more to do in the park and these are the activities you can’t miss:

• Visit the famous General Sherman Tree
• Sequoia National Park’s Tunnel Log
• Drive through Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
• Photograph the beautiful Tokopah Falls
• Hike up to Mount Whitney
• Unwind at Crescent Meadow

The BEST Affordable Camera For Travel

If you’re on the hunt for a professional camera for traveling, check out the Canon G7 X Mark II .

This tiny camera fits in your pocket, captures high-quality photos and videos, and has Wi-Fi so you can instantly transfer to your phone!

LAS VEGAS & VALLEY OF FIRE

Las Vegas and Valley of Fire are two of the most unmissable places to visit on your southwestern road trip.

Discover the most entertaining city in the world and then spend a day exploring the Valley of Fire.

The Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas, boasts resorts all around, countless casinos, and shopping malls on every corner with lots happening during the night.

It’s also a great destination to celebrate your birthday , engagement, or anniversary.

These are the best things to do in Las Vegas:

• Go Casino-hopping
• Get tickets to a Broadway show
• See the famous Bellagio fountain display
• Helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon
• Take a photo at the Las Vegas sign

VALLEY OF FIRE

The Valley of Fire is known for its petroglyphs and petrified trees dating back over 2,000 years. The most worthy hikes are the White Domes, Atlatl Rock, and Mouse’s Tank Hike.

Apart from being a lovely location, it has many campsites fully equipped with grills and water, shaded tables, and trails all around for those willing to be more adventurous.

The entrance fee to the Valley of Fire is $10 per vehicle per day while overnight camping will set you back $20 per night.

Things to do and see in Valley of Fire:

• Mouse’s Tank Rd Viewpoint
• Walk through the White Domes
• Stop quickly to see the Beehives 
• Do a quick 1-mile hike to Rainbow Vista
• Photograph the Instagrammable Fire Wave

The BEST reusable water bottle for travel!

The GRAYL GeoPress is a top-rated reusable water bottle perfect for backpacking, hiking, and traveling.

It allows you to purify water from anywhere and keeps you safe from all waterborne diseases.

Get a GeoPress today and never buy single-use plastic bottles again. Mama Earth will thank you for it!

ZION NATIONAL PARK

One place you must see at all costs on your Southwest US road trip is Zion National Park.

Zion is hands-down one of the most breathtaking destinations in the world, and I don’t say that lightly!

The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle and this is valid for 7 days. Of course, when planning a longer road trip around the United States, I recommend getting the annual National Parks Pass to save some money.

After getting here and taking in the stunning Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, the next best thing you can do is go hiking.

The two best trails Angels Landing (which you will need to get a permit for) and The Narrows – both are famous for the stunning views you see on the way. But that’s not all…

These are the top things to do and see in Zion:

• Canyon Junction Bridge Viewpoint
• Court of the Patriarchs’ Viewpoint
• Angels Landing Hike
• Observation Point
• Big Bend Viewpoint
• Temple Of Sinawava
• The Narrows Hike

Bear in mind that some trails are closed during the winter such as the Kolob Terrace Road and The Narrows.

This is worth noting if you’re willing to travel here during the winter months when there are fewer crowds.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Nestled in a remote area between Las Vegas and Denver, Bryce Canyon National Park is another destination you’ll want to add to your southwest itinerary.

The views around the park are breathtaking, to say the least, and you won’t regret spending some time here.

To be more specific, these are the must-do and see in Bryce Canyon:

• Sunrise Point
• Sunset Point
• Navajo Loop Trail
• Queens Garden Trail
• Thors Hammer
• Wall Street
• Inspiration Point

Just like other National Parks, the entrance fee to Bryce Canyon National Park is $35 per vehicle – valid for 7 consecutive days.

While temperatures can be rough during the winter, it is probably the best time of year to come as the combination of red canyons and snow takes the whole experience to the next level.

Also, it won’t be as crowded as in the summertime and that is definitely something to consider.

Take Your Photos & Videos To New Heights!

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is the most affordable, user-friendly drone camera suitable for all levels!

This travel-sized drone captures 4K/60fps video, 48MP photo, and has 34 minutes flight time.

MONUMENT VALLEY

Monument Valley is a remote red-sand desert popular for being one of the most photographed places in the whole world and for its loop drive made of 11 stops.

It’s located on the Utah/Arizona border and it’s open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm and 8.00 am to 2.00 pm during the winter.

National Parks Passes are not accepted at Monument Valley and you’ll have to pay a $20 entrance per vehicle or $10 per person. Children aged 9 and younger can enter for free.

If you park and sleep here for the night, make sure to wake up early to see the sunrise as it’s one of the most incredible experiences you can have on your USA Southwest road trip.

The valley doesn’t have hiking spots compared to the national parks above but it’s well worth the drive to get here and experience all Monument Valley has to offer.

Some of the best things to do and see at Monument Valley include:

• Forrest Gump Point
• Monument Valley View (located at the visitor’s center)
• Monument Valley Scenic Drive Loop

HORSESHOE BEND & ANTELOPE CANYON

Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are two remarkable landmarks that you’ve probably already seen in movies, on social media, or even on TV and they are not to be missed on your road trip in southwest USA.

HORSESHOE BEND

Starting with Horseshoe Bend, you’ll need to pay $10 per vehicle at the entrance and then walk down a short trail to take in the breathtaking views from any angle.

It’s best visited for sunrise or sunset and you’ll get to photograph one of the most beautiful scenes you’ve ever witnessed.

ANTELOPE CANYON

On the same day, before or after Horseshoe Bend, you can also visit Antelope Canyon . The canyon is divided into 2 areas – the lower and the upper Antelope Canyons.

In order to visit this canyon, you’ll need to join a tour with a guide as you can’t go by yourself.

Tours start in Page, the nearest city, and you’ll be taken in a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guide through the sand until you reach the canyon.

Bear in mind that, during the ride, sand gets everywhere on your face, in your nose, and mouth, and I recommend covering up.

All in all, Horseshoe Bend and the Antelope Canyon are incredible locations and you should bring one of these best cameras for landscape photography to capture the entire experience.

GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM

It goes without saying that the world-famous Grand Canyon should definitely be on your USA Southwest road trip itinerary.

The South Rim is open all year long and it’s easiest to visit this side of the canyon as opposed to the North Rim when coming from Horseshoe Bend.

There are so many great things to do and viewpoints to see in the Grand Canyon South Rim such as:

• Desert View Watchtower
• Navajo Point
• Moran Point
• Grandview Point
• Powell Point (for sunset)
• Walk or bike through Hermit Road

Check Out This Must-Have Travel Accessory!

When arriving in a new country, not being able to charge your phone and gadgets is a nightmare.

Equip yourself with a Universal Travel Adapter which works in 150+ countries around the world.

Sedona is a mecca for adventurous travelers looking to go hiking and enjoy the views of the famous red rocks.

You will find hundreds of hiking trails and jeep tours that lead up to some fantastic landscapes, while those who want an extra bit more immersion can head out on their own with Red Rock State Park as their destination.

The entrance fee to the Red Rock State Park will cost you $5 for the day, $15 for seven days, or $20 for an annual pass and there’s just a lot to do here including:

• Schnebly Hill Vista Overlook
• Devil’s Bridge Hike (for sunrise)
• Birthing Cave
• Boynton Canyon Trail
• Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
• Scenic Helicopter Tour
• Twin Buttes Trail
• Chapel of the Holy Cross
• Bell Rock & Courthouse Trails
• Yavapai Vista Point (for sunset)
• Cathedral Rock Hike (for sunrise)
• Airport Mesa Viewpoint (for sunset)

But Sedonians have much more than just geology going on, in fact, the city is also known for its world-class wines and you should make sure to do the Verde Valley Wine Trail.

You’ll find lots of wineries on the way and some will even be the perfect spot to have a picnic or catch a sunset.

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

Joshua Tree National Park is a place where you can feel the magic in every inch.

It’s like something straight out of a movie with its Joshua trees and almost lunar landscape made up of giant granite boulders and rolling mountains.

Whether you’re looking for a serene escape from the hustle and bustles of city life or are seeking out new adventures in nature, there is no shortage when it comes to activities that can be enjoyed at Joshua Tree National Park.

As a whole, these are the nicest activities at the park:

• Keys View (for sunset)
• Hidden Valley Nature Trail
• Barker Dam Nature Trail
• Cholla Cactus Garden Trail

The entrance fee will set you back $30 per vehicle and $15 per person on a bike or on foot.

If you previously purchased a National Parks Pass, this is the moment to use it and you’ll get to enter for free.

SOCAL (SAN DIEGO, LAGUNA BEACH, NEWPORT)

If there was only one spot to choose from in the whole of the southwest, this is a must.

SoCal, or South California, should definitely be on your itinerary and you can go visit the famous San Diego, Laguna Beach, and Newport.

The distance between the most southern point, San Diego, to Newport Beach is less than 2 hours (or 90 miles) and you can spend some time in each location for one day only.

Of course, a full day only allows you to scratch the surface but, if you want to discover more of SoCal, here are the best things to do in each place.

THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO:

• Balboa Park
• Belmont Park
• Coronado Beach
• Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
• San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
• Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

THINGS TO DO IN LAGUNA BEACH

• Heisler Park
• Laguna Beach Walks
• Crystal Cove State Park
• Crescent Bay Point Park
• Pacific Marine Mammal Center

THINGS TO DO IN NEWPORT

• Witness the whales on a cruise
• Go shopping at Lido Marina Village
• Spend some time in Newport Beach
• Visit the amusement park on Balboa Island
• Unwind at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Keep Yo’ Sh*t Organized!

Packing cubes are a traveler’s best friend, perfect for organizing your shirts, pants, underwear, and more!

Shacke Pak Cubes make packing easier and leaves extra space in your bag to fit more essentials.

LOS ANGELES (VENICE, SANTA MONICA, HOLLYWOOD)

Los Angeles has something for everyone, whether you’re looking to explore the city’s culture or take in some outdoor activities. 

There are plenty of places to visit in Hollywood but you should certainly not miss Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier, one of the most popular attractions on Route 66 .

Apart from that, you’ll find endless activities and tours of stunning beaches, delicious cuisine, great nightlife, and entertainment.

To fully embrace what Los Angeles has to offer, I recommend you stay at least three full days at the end of your Southwest USA road trip to end the journey on a great note.

These are the best places and attractions you’ll find in Los Angeles:

• Venice Beach
• Santa Monica Pier
• Hollywood Boulevard
• The Hollywood sign
• Hike at the Runyon Canyon Park
• Rent a bike and head to Echo Park Lake
• Enjoy local delicacies at Grand Central Market
• See the views from the Mount Wilson Observatory

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE USA

When visiting the States, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

Must-Have Travel Essentials

Hidden money wallet.

Keep your cash and other valuables safe with this anti-theft hidden money wallet!

Reusable Water Bottle

The GRAYL GeoPress is the best reusable bottle that allows you to purify water from anywhere!

Travel Backpack

The Nomatic Travel Backpack has 20+ innovative features, perfect for everyday use!

Quick-Dry Travel Towel

The most compact, lightweight, and quick-dry towel for traveling!

Portable PowerBank

Keep your phone, laptop, and accessories charged while you’re on the go with the Anker PowerBank!

FINAL THOUGHTS – SOUTH WEST USA ROADTRIP

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about road trips in the southwest USA, please leave a comment below this post and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

Search and book accommodation worldwide.

Compare and book cheap flights to anywhere.

Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.

Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.

Search all rental cars in your next destination.

Need travel insurance for your next trip?

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically .

Many thanks!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail.

Work with us

Support the site

Plan Your Trip

Travel guides

Destinations

Hotel guides

Find best tours

Travel Gear

Travel resources

How to start a blog

Photography guides

Follow On Socials

© 2024 Jonny Melon Adventure Travel Blog. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms | Sitemap

• North America
• South America
• National Parks
• Work with Me

How to Plan a Southwest Road Trip + Itineraries | USA

SUGGESTED SOUTHWEST TRIP ITINERARIES

A Southwest road trip is Americana at its best. Picture yourself driving along desert roads, sometimes for hours on end. Highways snake between burnt red canyons, beside acres of geological anomalies you can’t quite imagine until you’ve seen them for yourself. Your Southwest road trip itinerary may have you passing through tiny towns with names like “Tropic” and “Beaver” and diners slinging Navajo tacos alongside more classic greasy spoon fare.

Roadside motels promise grand views, but really they’re really just uncomplicated establishments in the middle of nowhere. They’re meant to be slept in but not stayed in. Motels that always seem to cost $79 (and they’ll tell you so on a giant sign outside) and you’ll get shampoo and lotion, but never conditioner.

There are truck stops and lonely strip clubs and billboards crowding the otherwise empty horizon. You’ll see tumbleweeds and roads that lead to nowhere and the iconic yellow signs warning of bighorn sheep crossings.

But, of course, the real reason to undertake a road trip through Utah, Arizona, and the rest of the American Southwest is the National Parks. Parcels of land so precious, that they’ve been blocked from developers that have been allowed to build housing complexes and middle-of-nowhere malls throughout the rest of the country. Legendary parks like Grand Canyon and Utah’s “The Big Five” (Zion. Bryce. Arches. Capitol Reef. Canyonlands.) The Southwest is a quintessential part of any  US National Parks road trip .

Are you looking to plan your own Southwest road trip? I did the damn thing in 2019 and it was so worth it. Here’s everything you need to know to make it happen including suggested road trip itineraries, a road trip map, tips for planning your trip, plus other road trip planning advice.

BEFORE YOU GO

Choose your route.

There are five national parks in Utah (Zion, Bryce, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands). On top of that, there are tons of national monuments (Bears Ears, Dinosaur, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge, Cedar Breaks, and Grand Staircase-Escalante, to name a few) and plenty more state parks and federal lands worth checking out. You may also want to throw in some sights in northern Arizona like the  Grand Canyon  or  Coyote Buttes or southern Colorado. It goes without saying that you might not see everything in the American Southwest in one sweep. While fully customizable, I’d recommend at least a two-week itinerary to get the most out of your Arizona and Utah road trip.

So, where should we begin? Grab a guidebook  or check out some of our featured Outlandish National Park Guides . Destinations with buttons below link to a more detailed article.

Recommended Time: 3-6 days

Recommended Time: 2 days

Recommended Time: 2 day s

GOBLIN VALLEY

Recommended Time: 1 day

Recommended Time: 3 – 6 Days

Recommended Time: 3-5 days

GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE

Recommended Time: 1-3 day s

Recommended Time: 2 Days

DEAD HORSE POINT

Focus on one park at a time and look at photos, watch videos, or check out things to do. Narrowing down your list of parks can be easy if you already know where you want to go, and very daunting if you don’t. If you fall into the second camp, ask yourself:  how long do you have? What states are interesting to you? What season are you traveling in? What’s your overall budget for the trip?

SOUTHWEST ROAD TRIP MAP

To get you started, we made a Southwest Road Trip Map with some of our favorite points of interest, sample road trip itineraries, nearest airports, and driving directions. You’ll find more info on these suggested itineraries throughout this post.

5-Day Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

Hey, you speed demon. Sure you can’t spare a few more days? If you’re really on a tight timeline, plan your trip around parks that are close enough together that you don’t spend your whole trip driving from one place to the next.

Suggested Route (from Las Vegas) : Grand Canyon National Park > Grand Canyon National Park > Zion National Park > Bryce Canyon National Park

One Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

One week is enough to see some of the highlights of the Arizona and Utah National Parks while also squeezing in a backpacking night or two. I recommend getting the long drive out of the way on your first day and working your way backward!

Suggested Route (from Las Vegas): Bryce Canyon National Park > Capitol Reef National Park > Grand Staircase Escalante National Park > Zion National Park > Zion National Park > Grand Canyon National Park

Two Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

Two weeks is plenty of time to take things slow. If you want to experience more backcountry or dither, this is the perfect amount of time! Below is a rough suggestion assuming you’ll be doing some backpacking trips. If you’re driving back to Las Vegas at the end, you might want to reconsider the order.

Suggested Route (from Las Vegas): Grand Canyon National Park > Grand Canyon National Park > Zion National Park > Zion National Park > Bryce National Park > Bryce Canyon National Park > Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument > Capitol Reef National Park > Dead Horse Point State Park > Arches National Park > Canyonlands National Park via Goblin Valley State Park > Canyonlands National Park > Canyonlands National Park

MAPPING IT OUT

Once you’ve made a long list of everything you’re interested in, start your map in Google My Maps . Drop a pin on all the parks and sites you want to visit to get a general sense of how far apart things are. Take a guess on how many days you want to spend in each park and estimate your drive-time between destinations.

From there, you can start booking your priority campsites and permits. Bookings are somewhat complicated, so be sure to stay organized! Start dropping dates into an Excel sheet or labeling reservations in your inbox. You’ll want to leave plenty of time between destinations so you can set your cruise control and enjoy the ride!

Depending on how your bookings play out, you might have to make some cuts. You might also get to add in some smaller parks or attractions between stops if you’ve got a particularly long driving day.

Please note: There will be long stretches of road where you don’t have service. Be sure to download your maps for offline use or have a paper map in the car in case you need it.

HOW TO START PLANNING

You should start looking into your Southwestern road trip about 6 months out, if possible. Reservations for NPS campsites and lodges almost all open 3-6 months in advance. If you’re planning backcountry travel, the permits are usually reservable 3-6 months out, too. Reservations for the most popular campsites and hikes sell out within seconds of going online (no exaggeration!). So, if you have your heart set on something specific, do your research early and set a calendar reminder so you don’t miss out.

Already late?  Some parks have walk-up campsites and permits available for that very reason. There are also plenty of campgrounds and hotels outside of the park boundaries and hikes that don’t require backcountry permits. You should always be able to find a hike and a campsite, even if they’re not the exact ones you had in mind.

Read more: How to Plan a US National Park Road Trip

ROAD TRIP RESOURCES

The US National Parks are hugely popular during the summer months. Expect crowds and limited availability if you’re going between June and August. But don’t forget that Utah and Arizona are in the desert. The summer is when temperatures are hottest, and you’ll have to plan your days accordingly.

Locals will tell you best time to visit the national parks in Utah and Airzona are during the shoulder seasons. Spring and fall mean sunny days with moderate temperatures. There will also be fewer tourists! The only drawback traveling during the shoulder seasons is that some roads and trailheads will be closed while water levels are high.

BUDGETING & COSTS

Even if you’re planning to camp out, a Southwestern road trip will cost more than you think.

Some costs you’ll want to factor in for your own trip are park entrance or your  America the Beautiful Pass , vehicle costs, gas, food & drink, entertainment, gear, campsites & accommodation, and permits. For the sake of example, our three-week Southwestern road trip cost $1,500 in 2019. This was mostly camping and self-prepared food with a few motel nights and 3-4 meals out each week. We also had the benefit of traveling with our own vehicle and splitting many of our costs in half.

Read More:   How Much Does a US National Parks Road Trip Actually Cost?

ROAD TRIP PLANNING

Own vs rental car.

If you own a car…

There’s no doubt you’ll be putting a lot of miles on it. Before leaving on your trip, schedule to have it serviced. Get the tires rotated, the oil changed, the fluids topped, the brake pads tested, and everything else you can think of. You’re guaranteed to be in remote areas on parts of your trip, and you’ll want your car to be in the best possible shape to survive it.  Just to be on the safe side, you might want to upgrade your insurance policy, get a AAA membership, and gear up your car with a roof box and emergency supplies.

If you’re renting a car …

There are lots of reasons to go with a more-beastly-than-usual rental car for this trip. You’ll do best with a high-clearance, 4WD vehicle since some of the trailheads are off sandy or rocky roads. You’ll also want trunk space if you’re traveling with a lot of gear. It’s wise to expect rain and even snow (as late as May, in Bryce!) so you’ll want tires with extra grip. Here are a couple of rental car or campervan companies I can recommend:

Hertz has 27 pickup locations in Utah and their car rentals are competitively priced (starting from about $50 per day including tax). They also have a program for drivers aged 20-25 who are unable to rent a car from other major agencies. Check prices and availability on hertz.com .

Escape Campervans offer fully equipped campervans which can be a really fun way to travel! While they don’t have 4WD or get as good of gas mileage, you might be able to save by having an indoor spot to sleep on the nights you may have splurged on a hotel.

Before booking your rental car, be sure to ask about total cost (incl. airport fees, additional drivers, mileage, etc.) and insurance coverage. Give it a scan to check for any existing damages and be sure to return the car with a tank of gas to avoid the surcharge.

Utahns have a reputation to be some of the worst drivers in the US. And hey! No offense. This is based on accident and violation reports, rather than personal experience.

Generally speaking, the law says to stick to the right lane except when passing. Keep an eye on the speed limit and don’t go too far over the limit. But road etiquette? That’s a whole separate issue. If someone is riding your bumper, pull over to let them pass (though a passive-aggressive wave is recommended). Don’t be a looky-loo! Be sure to pull over if you want to look at something, and use your turn signal long before dipping into a pull off.

Be sure to travel with a full tank of gas, gallons of water, and emergency supplies. There will be long stretches of road without much development or passing cars, so it’s good to be as self-sufficient as possible.

Another important note is that you must have a valid driver’s license to drive in the US. This can be a state drivers license, or if you’re a foreign driver, your valid driver’s license and passport are sufficient. You’ll only need an International Drivers Permit (IDP) if you plan to drive for more than 3 months.

HITTING THE ROAD

The best part about mapping out your Southwest road trip itinerary ahead of time is that all the hard parts are over by the time you finally go. The adventure of this kind of trip then changes with the weather. The detours. The wildlife sightings and road closures. You do your best to prepare, then whatever the hell happens will happen.

Got questions about your Southwest road trip itinerary? Ask me in the comments below! And if you’re traveling in Utah…

You Might Also Like

Taylor record.

I'm Taylor and this is Travel Outlandish. I’m an independent traveler kind of like you. I believe we deserve better than crowds of people and manufactured experiences when we explore. Whether you're going into the wild on a backpacking trip or planning a weekend in a foreign city, you'll find everything you need to plan something awesome on Travel Outlandish. Thanks for stopping by!

Alex Howell

It really was a great way to travel these desert lands, I imagine the great experience it was, I hope to live it soon, by the way, I think it’s silly what Trump did to reduce the park.

Hey Alex. Silly is definitely one word for it! Thanks for reading and hope you get the chance to experience it for yourself.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Notify me of new posts by email.

Discover more from Travel Outlandish

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Travel Guide

The Ultimate Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary

Published: October 17, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Fanechka Hart

• Car Rentals
• Travel Destinations
• Travel Tips
• United States

Introduction

Embarking on a road trip is an exhilarating and immersive way to explore the vast and diverse landscapes of the Southwest USA. From the glittering lights of Las Vegas to the stunning red rock formations of Arizona and the cultural heritage of New Mexico, this road trip itinerary promises to provide an unforgettable adventure.

The Southwest USA is known for its breathtaking natural wonders, rich Native American history, and vibrant cities. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, history buff, or just seeking a thrilling escape, this road trip offers a perfect blend of stunning scenery, outdoor activities, and cultural exploration.

Spanning 14 days, this itinerary will take you through iconic destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Arches National Parks. You’ll also have the opportunity to delve into the fascinating history and unique arts scene of New Mexico’s Santa Fe and Albuquerque, and explore the vibrant cities of Austin and San Antonio, Texas.

Each day of the road trip will offer a unique and exciting experience, from hiking through breathtaking canyons to exploring ancient cliff dwellings and indulging in delicious regional cuisine. So, buckle up, turn up the music, and get ready to embark on the ultimate Southwest USA road trip.

Day 1: Las Vegas, Nevada

Your Southwest USA road trip begins in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Known for its dazzling lights, world-class entertainment, and bustling casinos, Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps.

Start your day by exploring the famous Las Vegas Strip, a 4-mile stretch of iconic hotels, resorts, and casinos. Marvel at the architectural wonders of the Bellagio, The Venetian, and the MGM Grand. Take a stroll through the themed resorts, where you can visit a replica of the Eiffel Tower, take a gondola ride in Venice, or witness the volcano eruption at The Mirage.

If you’re a fan of live shows, Las Vegas offers a plethora of options. From Cirque du Soleil performances to magic shows and iconic headliners, there’s something for everyone. Be sure to book your tickets in advance for the best seats.

No trip to Las Vegas is complete without trying your luck at the casinos. Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or a novice looking for some fun, the casinos in Las Vegas have everything you could want, from slot machines to table games.

After a day of exploration and entertainment, indulge in the city’s diverse culinary scene. Las Vegas is home to renowned celebrity chef restaurants, buffets with an abundance of international cuisines, and food trucks offering unique flavors. Don’t forget to try a famous Vegas buffet for an extravagant dining experience.

As the night falls, experience the dazzling nightlife of Las Vegas. From glamorous nightclubs to rooftop bars with stunning views of the city, there are endless options to keep the party going. Catch a mesmerizing fountain show at the Bellagio or watch the light show at the Fremont Street Experience.

After an exhilarating day in Las Vegas, relax and recharge at one of the many luxurious hotels on or near the Strip. Whether you choose a grand resort or a boutique hotel, you’re guaranteed a comfortable and memorable stay.

Day 1 in Las Vegas sets the stage for an unforgettable road trip ahead. Take in the glitz and glamour of this iconic city before hitting the road tomorrow to explore the natural wonders of the Southwest USA.

Day 2: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

On day 2 of your Southwest USA road trip, you’ll embark on a journey to one of the most breathtaking natural wonders on the planet – the Grand Canyon. Located in Arizona, the Grand Canyon National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit destination for any nature lover.

As you make your way to the Grand Canyon, prepare to be awestruck by the vastness and beauty of this iconic landmark. The drive from Las Vegas takes around 4.5 hours, and you’ll pass through picturesque desert landscapes along the way.

Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon National Park, you’ll be greeted by jaw-dropping views that will leave you speechless. The canyon stretches for 277 miles and is up to 18 miles wide, with depths reaching over a mile. Marvel at the colorful layers of rock that have been carved by the Colorado River over millions of years.

There are numerous viewpoints along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, each offering a unique perspective. Be sure to visit popular spots like Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and Desert View Watchtower, where you can soak in the panoramic vistas and capture memorable photos.

To truly experience the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, consider hiking one of the numerous trails in the park. The Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail are popular options that offer stunning views and various difficulty levels. Remember to bring plenty of water, wear suitable footwear, and hike within your comfort level.

If you prefer a bird’s-eye view, consider taking a helicopter or airplane tour over the Grand Canyon. These tours provide a unique perspective and allow you to witness the immense scale of the canyon from above.

As you explore the Grand Canyon National Park, keep an eye out for wildlife such as bighorn sheep, elk, and even California condors. The park is also a stargazer’s paradise, with minimal light pollution and clear skies offering incredible views of the night sky.

After a day of awe-inspiring exploration, find accommodation either within the national park or in nearby towns such as Tusayan or Williams. Whether you choose a rustic cabin or a cozy hotel, you’ll have the opportunity to wake up to stunning views of the Grand Canyon.

Day 2 at the Grand Canyon is filled with wonder and natural beauty, leaving you with memories that will last a lifetime. Tomorrow, you’ll continue your road trip with more breathtaking destinations in store.

Day 3: Monument Valley, Utah

On day 3 of your Southwest USA road trip, you’ll head north from the Grand Canyon into the enchanting landscapes of Monument Valley. Located on the border of Arizona and Utah, Monument Valley is famous for its iconic towering red sandstone buttes and mesmerizing desert vistas.

The drive from the Grand Canyon to Monument Valley takes approximately 2.5 hours, offering ample opportunities to soak in the beauty of the rugged southwestern scenery along the way.

As you enter Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the backdrop of a classic western film. The unique rock formations, sculpted by centuries of erosion, stand as silent sentinels against the vast expanse of the desert.

One of the best ways to appreciate the grandeur of Monument Valley is by taking a guided Jeep tour through the park. The knowledgeable Navajo guides will share their rich cultural heritage, point out iconic landmarks such as the Mittens and Three Sisters, and offer insights into the history and significance of the area. Don’t forget your camera, as you’ll encounter picture-perfect vistas at every turn.

For a truly memorable experience, consider booking a sunrise or sunset tour. Watching the sun cast its golden hues over the sandstone formations is a sight you won’t soon forget. The changing light creates a magical and ethereal atmosphere, enhancing the natural beauty of the valley.

If you have more time, you can explore the 17-mile scenic drive, which takes you along a well-maintained dirt road through the heart of Monument Valley. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to stop at designated viewpoints and witness the monumental beauty up close.

For those seeking a deeper connection with the land, consider visiting the Navajo Nation Museum in nearby Window Rock. Here, you can learn about the history, art, and culture of the Navajo people, gaining a deeper appreciation for the heritage of the region.

After a day of exploration in Monument Valley, make your way to one of the nearby accommodations or campground options. Sleeping under the starry desert sky provides a unique and serene experience that complements the natural wonders surrounding you.

Day 3 in Monument Valley is sure to leave you in awe of the breathtaking landscapes and the rich cultural heritage of the Navajo Nation. Get ready for more incredible destinations as your Southwest USA road trip continues tomorrow.

Day 4: Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Day 4 of your Southwest USA road trip takes you to two incredible natural wonders in Arizona – Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. These unique formations showcase the power of water in shaping remarkable landscapes.

Begin your day by heading to Horseshoe Bend, located just outside of Page, Arizona. This breathtaking overlook offers a panoramic view of the meandering Colorado River as it carves its way through the sandstone cliffs. From the parking area, take a short hike to reach the edge of the canyon and be prepared to be mesmerized by the sheer magnitude and beauty of the Horseshoe Bend. Take in the views and capture stunning photos of this iconic formation.

After visiting Horseshoe Bend, make your way to nearby Antelope Canyon, one of the most photographed slot canyons in the world. Antelope Canyon is divided into two sections – Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Both sections offer different experiences and unique photographic opportunities.

If you choose to visit Upper Antelope Canyon, you’ll witness the famous light beams that filter through the narrow cracks in the canyon walls, creating a surreal and ethereal atmosphere. The smooth sandstone walls, sculpted by wind and water over thousands of years, create a photographer’s paradise. To visit Upper Antelope Canyon, you’ll need to book a guided tour as access is limited.

Alternatively, Lower Antelope Canyon offers a more intimate and adventurous experience. Descend a series of ladders to explore the narrow passageways, twisted rock formations, and vibrant hues that redefine natural beauty.

Both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours are led by experienced Navajo guides who can provide insights into the geology, history, and cultural significance of the canyons. Be sure to book your tour in advance, as they can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons.

After exploring these awe-inspiring natural wonders, make your way to the nearby town of Page, Arizona, where you can find various dining options and accommodations. Reflect on the day’s adventures and prepare for even more incredible destinations that lie ahead on your Southwest USA road trip.

Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Day 5 of your Southwest USA road trip takes you to the otherworldly landscapes of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Known for its unique geological formations called hoodoos, Bryce Canyon offers a surreal and captivating experience for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

As you enter the park, you’ll be greeted by a panorama of crimson-colored spires, towering rock formations, and natural amphitheaters. The main scenic drive, which stretches for 18 miles, provides access to numerous viewpoints and hiking trails.

Begin your exploration of Bryce Canyon with a stop at Sunrise Point. As the name suggests, this viewpoint offers a stunning vista of the park, especially during sunrise, when the hoodoos are bathed in warm, golden light. Take a moment to admire the breathtaking panoramic views and snap some memorable photos.

For a more immersive experience, venture down into the canyon on one of the park’s hiking trails. The Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop trail is a popular choice, offering a moderate hike that takes you through majestic hoodoos and unique rock formations. Marvel at the intricate details and vibrant colors as you navigate the winding trails.

Another must-see spot in Bryce Canyon is Bryce Point, which provides a sweeping view of the surrounding amphitheaters and the vast expanse of the park. As the sun sets, the changing colors of the rock formations create a mesmerizing display that will leave you in awe.

If you have more time, consider exploring other viewpoints and trails in the park, such as Inspiration Point, Fairyland Loop, or the famous Queens Garden-Navajo Loop combination hike. Each offers its own unique perspective and showcases the fascinating geology of Bryce Canyon.

After a day of exploration, relax and recharge in the Bryce Canyon area. You’ll find accommodations ranging from rustic lodges within the park to cozy cabins and hotels in the nearby towns of Bryce Canyon City and Tropic. Enjoy a hearty meal and reflect on the natural wonders you’ve witnessed during the day.

Your visit to Bryce Canyon National Park will leave you with a sense of awe and wonder. The surreal landscapes and captivating formations will make for unforgettable memories on your Southwest USA road trip.

Day 6: Zion National Park, Utah

Day 6 of your Southwest USA road trip takes you to the majestic Zion National Park in Utah. With its towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and lush greenery, Zion offers a captivating blend of natural beauty and thrilling outdoor adventures.

As you enter Zion National Park, prepare to be amazed by the stunning scenery that surrounds you. The park is known for its iconic landmarks, such as the towering formations of Angels Landing and The Narrows, which provide breathtaking hiking experiences.

Begin your day by driving along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, a 6-mile road that offers panoramic views of the park’s stunning landscapes. Along the way, you’ll pass by the famous Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, carved into the rock formations and leading to the eastern side of the park.

One of the must-see attractions in Zion is Angels Landing. This challenging hike takes you along a narrow ridge with sheer drop-offs on both sides. The reward at the end is a panoramic view of the park and the feeling of standing on top of the world. The hike is not for the faint of heart, but the stunning vistas make it a truly unforgettable experience.

If you’re looking for a less strenuous hike, consider exploring the Emerald Pools trails. This series of interconnected trails takes you through lush vegetation, past waterfalls, and to serene pools nestled within the canyon walls. It’s a perfect option for those seeking a peaceful and scenic walk.

Another popular Zion experience is hiking The Narrows, a slot canyon where you walk through ankle-deep to waist-deep water along the Virgin River. This unique adventure immerses you in the beauty of the canyon as you navigate through the narrow twists and turns. Be sure to rent the appropriate gear, such as water shoes and walking sticks, for a safe and enjoyable journey.

For a more leisurely exploration, take the Zion Canyon Shuttle, which stops at various trailheads and points of interest within the park. This allows you to explore different areas of the park at your own pace.

After a day of outdoor adventures, unwind and relax in the charming town of Springdale, located just outside the park entrance. Enjoy a delicious meal at one of the local restaurants and rest up for more exploration on the remaining days of your Southwest USA road trip.

Day 6 in Zion National Park immerses you in the natural beauty and thrilling experiences this iconic park has to offer. You’ll leave with a deep appreciation for the wonders of the Southwest USA.

Day 7: Arches National Park, Utah

Day 7 of your Southwest USA road trip takes you to the stunning landscapes of Arches National Park in Utah. Known for its iconic red rock formations and natural sandstone arches, this national park offers a surreal and awe-inspiring experience.

As you enter Arches National Park, you’ll immediately be greeted by incredible geological wonders. The park is home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, including the famous Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double Arch.

Begin your day by driving along the Arches Scenic Drive, a 36-mile roundtrip that offers access to the park’s main attractions. Marvel at the fascinating rock formations, which have been sculpted by wind and erosion over millions of years.

The most iconic and recognizable arch in the park is Delicate Arch. This 3-mile roundtrip hike takes you through a desert landscape to a magnificent freestanding arch, perched on the edge of a sandstone bowl. The hike can be challenging, so make sure to bring plenty of water and wear appropriate footwear.

Another must-visit area in Arches National Park is the Devil’s Garden. This section of the park boasts a collection of stunning arches, including Landscape Arch, which spans a remarkable 290 feet. You can explore the area by following the Devil’s Garden Trail, which offers different loops and varying levels of difficulty.

For a unique sightseeing experience, drive to the Windows Section, where you’ll find the North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. Take a short hike to admire these impressive formations up close, and capture incredible photographs against the scenic backdrop of the red desert landscape.

As you trek through Arches National Park, keep an eye out for wildlife such as desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, and various species of birds. The park’s diverse ecosystem supports a remarkable array of flora and fauna.

After a day of exploration, make your way to the nearby town of Moab, where you can find a range of dining options and accommodations to suit all budgets. Reflect on the day’s adventures and prepare for more incredible destinations as your Southwest USA road trip continues.

Day 7 in Arches National Park will leave you in awe of the natural wonders and unique geological formations found within this desert paradise. Take the time to appreciate the remarkable beauty and tranquility of this incredible place.

Day 8: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

On day 8 of your Southwest USA road trip, you’ll journey to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, where you’ll immerse yourself in the fascinating history and ancient cliff dwellings of the ancestral Pueblo people.

Mesa Verde National Park is home to some of the most well-preserved archaeological sites in North America, offering a glimpse into the lives and culture of the Native American inhabitants who thrived here over a thousand years ago.

Start your exploration of Mesa Verde at the park’s visitor center, where you can pick up maps and get information on the park’s various attractions. Here, you can also join ranger-led tours, which provide unique insights into the history and significance of the cliff dwellings.

One of the must-see sites in Mesa Verde is the world-famous Cliff Palace. This magnificent cliff dwelling is the largest and most well-known in the park, with over 150 rooms and numerous kivas (ceremonial rooms). To visit Cliff Palace, you’ll need to join a guided tour, as access to the site is restricted and the tours provide valuable information about its history and construction.

Other cliff dwellings worth exploring include Balcony House, Spruce Tree House, and Long House. Each offers a unique glimpse into the lives of the ancestral Pueblo people and showcases their impressive architectural skills.

If you’re interested in hiking, Mesa Verde offers several scenic trails that showcase the natural beauty of the park. The Petroglyph Point Trail is a popular option that takes you through a scenic canyon to a panel of ancient petroglyphs, showcasing the artistic expression of the ancient inhabitants.

As you explore Mesa Verde, keep an eye out for the diverse wildlife that calls the park home, including mule deer, coyotes, and a variety of bird species. The park’s unique ecosystem is also home to many beautiful wildflowers, especially during the spring and summer months.

After a day of immersing yourself in the rich history of Mesa Verde, find accommodation outside the park in nearby towns such as Cortez or Mancos. Enjoy a relaxing evening, reflecting on the remarkable cliff dwellings and the ancient stories they hold.

Day 8 at Mesa Verde National Park offers a captivating journey back in time, providing a deeper understanding of the region’s ancient inhabitants and their remarkable architectural achievements. Get ready for more exciting destinations as your Southwest USA road trip continues.

Day 9: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Day 9 of your Southwest USA road trip takes you to the enchanting city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Known for its rich history, vibrant art scene, and unique blend of cultures, Santa Fe offers a captivating experience for visitors.

Start your day in the heart of Santa Fe’s historic district, the Plaza. This picturesque square is surrounded by adobe buildings and is the cultural hub of the city. Take a leisurely stroll around the Plaza, visit the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, and explore the numerous art galleries and boutiques that line its streets.

For a deeper appreciation of Santa Fe’s art scene, visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, dedicated to the iconic American painter who found inspiration in the region’s landscapes. The museum showcases a collection of her works and offers insights into her life and artistic process.

Indulge in the unique blend of flavors that Santa Fe has to offer by trying the local cuisine. Santa Fe is renowned for its New Mexican cuisine, which combines traditional Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences. Don’t miss the chance to savor delicious dishes such as green chile stew, enchiladas, and sopapillas.

Immerse yourself in the rich Native American culture by visiting the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Through its exhibits, you’ll learn about the diverse Native American tribes of the Southwest region and their artistic traditions.

No visit to Santa Fe is complete without exploring the historic Canyon Road, a street lined with art galleries, studios, and sculpture gardens. Take your time to admire the diverse array of artwork, from traditional Native American crafts to contemporary pieces.

For a taste of Santa Fe’s spiritual side, visit the Loretto Chapel. This historic chapel is famous for its miraculous spiral staircase, which was built without any nails. It’s a fascinating architectural wonder that captivates visitors from around the world.

As the day comes to a close, witness a mesmerizing Santa Fe sunset from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains or take in the stunning vistas from the nearby Cross of the Martyrs. The panoramic views of the city at dusk are truly breathtaking.

Find accommodation in Santa Fe, whether you prefer a historic adobe inn or a modern boutique hotel. Reflect on the beauty and charm of Santa Fe and the experiences you’ve had so far on your Southwest USA road trip.

Day 9 in Santa Fe offers a delightful blend of history, art, culture, and culinary delights. Get ready for more captivating destinations as your Southwest USA road trip continues tomorrow.

Day 10: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Day 10 of your Southwest USA road trip brings you to the vibrant city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, this city offers a perfect blend of tradition and modernity.

Start your day in Old Town Albuquerque, the historic district of the city. This charming neighborhood is filled with adobe buildings, quaint shops, and art galleries. Take a leisurely stroll through the streets, explore the San Felipe de Neri Church, and visit the Albuquerque Museum to learn about the city’s past.

For an awe-inspiring experience, visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. This center celebrates the Native American cultures of New Mexico and offers exhibits, dance performances, and traditional art. Learn about the deep-rooted traditions, history, and unique customs of the Pueblo peoples.

Albuquerque is also known for its stunning natural landscapes. Head to the Sandia Mountains and take the Sandia Peak Tramway for panoramic views of the city and the surrounding landscapes. If you’re up for a hike, there are numerous trails that offer breathtaking vistas and opportunities to immerse yourself in nature.

Indulge in the flavors of New Mexican cuisine at one of the many restaurants in Albuquerque. Try dishes such as green chile stew, stacked enchiladas, or delicious tamales. Don’t forget to sample the famous New Mexico green and red chile sauces, which add a unique and spicy flavor to any meal.

For a dose of history and architecture, visit the historic neighborhood of Nob Hill. This charming area is known for its retro neon signs, boutique shops, and trendy restaurants. Enjoy the laid-back ambiance and explore the unique local businesses.

If you have time, visit the Albuquerque Biological Park, which consists of the ABQ BioPark Zoo, the Albuquerque Aquarium, and the Rio Grande Botanic Garden. The zoo showcases a diverse range of animal species, the aquarium offers a fascinating look at aquatic life, and the botanic garden showcases a variety of plants native to the region.

As the day winds down, take a moment to appreciate the stunning Southwestern sunset. Settle in for the evening at one of Albuquerque’s charming accommodations, whether it’s a cozy bed and breakfast or a modern hotel.

Day 10 in Albuquerque allows you to explore the city’s rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. Prepare for more excitement and adventure as your Southwest USA road trip continues tomorrow.

Day 11: White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

On day 11 of your Southwest USA road trip, you’ll venture to the unique and mesmerizing landscapes of White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Known for its vast expanse of pure white gypsum sand dunes, this national monument offers a surreal and otherworldly experience.

As you arrive at White Sands National Monument, you’ll be greeted by a seemingly endless stretch of pristine white sand dunes. This surreal landscape forms the largest gypsum dune field in the world, creating a stunning contrast against the clear blue sky.

Explore the monument by driving along the main road that winds through the dunes. Marvel at the constantly shifting shapes and patterns created by the wind, and take in the unique beauty of this natural wonder.

Embark on a hike into the heart of the dunes to fully immerse yourself in the magic of White Sands. The Alkali Flat Trail offers a challenging 5-mile loop that takes you through the vast dune field, allowing you to appreciate the pure beauty and serenity of the area.

For a more leisurely experience, bring a sled or a sand saucer to glide down the dunes. The soft, powdery sand provides the perfect surface for an exhilarating adventure. You can rent sleds at the Visitor Center or bring your own.

As you explore the dunes, keep an eye out for the unique and resilient plant and animal life that call this harsh desert environment home. The white sands provide a stark contrast against the vibrant colors of desert-adapted vegetation, and you may even spot tracks of nocturnal animals that leave their imprints in the sand.

Don’t miss out on the chance to witness the stunning sunset over the dunes. As the sun sinks below the horizon, it casts a warm golden hue on the sand, creating a breathtaking spectacle of colors. Capture the moment and enjoy the tranquility of the desert as the day comes to an end.

After a day of exploring and experiencing the otherworldly beauty of White Sands, return to nearby Alamogordo or Las Cruces for a comfortable night’s rest. Reflect on the remarkable landscapes you’ve encountered and anticipate the adventures that await on the remaining days of your Southwest USA road trip.

Day 11 at White Sands National Monument offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the mesmerizing beauty of the gypsum sand dunes. Prepare for more incredible destinations as your Southwest USA road trip continues tomorrow.

Day 12: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Day 12 of your Southwest USA road trip takes you to the remarkable underground world of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. With its vast limestone caves and stunning geological formations, Carlsbad Caverns offers a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience.

Begin your day by descending into the depths of the caves. The park offers both self-guided and ranger-guided tours, providing different perspectives on the incredible underground world.

Start your exploration at the Natural Entrance, a winding path that takes you gradually down into the cave. As you descend, the temperature and humidity change, creating a unique and immersive experience.

Marvel at the mesmerizing stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and other intricate formations that adorn the cave walls. The Big Room, known as the “Grand Palace,” is the largest chamber in Carlsbad Caverns and offers a breathtaking display of underground beauty.

If you’re up for a more challenging adventure, join a ranger-led tour to explore the less accessible areas of the cave, such as the King’s Palace or the Spider Cave. These tours provide a deeper understanding of the cave’s geology and offer the opportunity to witness rare and delicate formations up close.

For a unique experience, consider attending a Bat Flight Program at dusk. Carlsbad Caverns is home to a vast colony of Mexican free-tailed bats, and every evening, they emerge from the cave in waves to hunt for insects. Witnessing the spectacle of thousands of bats soaring into the night sky is a truly remarkable sight.

After exploring the wonders of the caves, take a break and enjoy a picnic or hike on the surface trails in the park. The Chihuahuan Desert landscape surrounding the caverns is dotted with cacti and desert wildlife, offering a stark contrast to the underground marvels.

As the day comes to an end, head to the nearby town of Carlsbad or neighboring Guadalupe Mountains National Park to find accommodations for the night. Reflect on the extraordinary beauty and geological wonders of Carlsbad Caverns as you prepare for the final leg of your Southwest USA road trip.

Day 12 at Carlsbad Caverns National Park introduces you to a whole new world beneath the surface. The awe-inspiring caves and incredible formations will leave you with lasting memories. Get ready for the final chapter of your Southwest USA adventure.

Day 13: Austin, Texas

Day 13 of your Southwest USA road trip takes you to the vibrant city of Austin, Texas. Known for its live music scene, eclectic culture, and thriving food scene, Austin offers a perfect blend of entertainment, art, and Texan hospitality.

Start your day in the heart of downtown Austin and visit the iconic Texas State Capitol. Take a guided tour to learn about the history and architecture of this magnificent building, which stands as a symbol of Texas pride.

Afterward, explore the vibrant South Congress Avenue, known as SoCo. This bustling street is lined with trendy shops, vibrant murals, and unique local businesses. Don’t miss the chance to snap a photo in front of the “I love you so much” mural or sample some mouth-watering food from the food trucks that dot the area.

For a dose of nature, head to Zilker Park, a sprawling green space located along the banks of the Colorado River. Take a walk or rent a paddleboard or kayak to explore Lady Bird Lake. If you’re visiting during the summer months, cool off in Barton Springs Pool, a natural spring-fed swimming pool located within the park.

Austin is often referred to as the Live Music Capital of the World, so be sure to catch a live performance at one of the many music venues in the city. From iconic honky-tonks to dive bars and concert arenas, there’s always a show to be enjoyed. Check out the entertainment listings to find a performance that suits your taste.

Indulge in the diverse culinary scene of Austin. From mouth-watering barbecue joints to upscale restaurants offering innovative cuisine, the city is a food lover’s paradise. Don’t forget to sample some Tex-Mex dishes, including mouthwatering tacos and sizzling fajitas, for a true taste of Texas.

As the day winds down, venture to the lively Sixth Street, known for its vibrant nightlife. Explore the bars, clubs, and live music venues that line the street, and soak in the energetic atmosphere that fills the air.

Find accommodations in one of Austin’s unique neighborhoods, whether it’s the trendy East Side, the historic Hyde Park, or the bustling downtown area. Rest up for the final day of your Southwest USA road trip as you savor the memories made in this dynamic city.

Day 13 in Austin offers a blend of live music, vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and outdoor adventures. Get ready to hit the road tomorrow for the final stop on your Southwest USA adventure.

Day 14: San Antonio, Texas

On the final day of your Southwest USA road trip, you’ll explore the rich history and vibrant culture of San Antonio, Texas. Known for its iconic riverwalk, historical sites, and diverse attractions, San Antonio offers a perfect ending to your adventure.

Start your day by visiting the iconic Alamo, the site of the historic battle during the Texas Revolution. Explore the exhibits and learn about the brave defenders who played a pivotal role in shaping Texas history. Take a moment to reflect on their legacy and the significance of this historic landmark.

Continue your journey along the San Antonio Riverwalk, a charming pedestrian pathway lined with shops, restaurants, and scenic views. Take a leisurely stroll, hop on a riverboat tour, or savor a delicious meal at one of the many riverside eateries. Admire the beautifully landscaped gardens and the vibrant ambiance that defines this iconic attraction.

For a taste of local culture, visit the historic Market Square, also known as El Mercado. This bustling Mexican marketplace offers a vibrant atmosphere with colorful shops, food stalls, and live entertainment. Explore the unique artisan crafts and indulge in authentic Mexican cuisine.

No trip to San Antonio is complete without a visit to the stunning San Antonio Missions. These UNESCO World Heritage sites include missions like Mission San Jose, Mission Concepcion, and Mission San Juan. Immerse yourself in the history, architecture, and religious significance of these beautifully preserved Spanish colonial structures.

For a panoramic view of the city, head to the observation deck of the Tower of the Americas. From this 750-foot tall tower, you’ll get a breathtaking 360-degree view of San Antonio and its surroundings.

As the day winds down, take a peaceful stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden in the beautiful Brackenridge Park. Get lost in the serene paths, vibrant floral displays, and tranquil ponds of this hidden gem.

Find accommodation in one of San Antonio’s inviting neighborhoods, such as the historic Riverwalk area, downtown, or the vibrant Pearl District. Reflect on the incredible experiences you’ve had throughout your Southwest USA road trip and savor the memories made.

Day 14 in San Antonio marks the end of your Southwest USA adventure. Celebrate the diverse culture, rich history, and natural beauty that define this remarkable city. As you bid farewell, cherish the moments and look forward to planning your next unforgettable journey.

Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of your unforgettable Southwest USA road trip. Over the course of 14 days, you’ve embarked on a journey through vibrant cities, breathtaking natural wonders, and rich cultural heritage.

From the glittering lights of Las Vegas to the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Bryce Canyon, you’ve witnessed the sheer beauty and diversity of the Southwest region. The ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and the underground wonders of Carlsbad Caverns transported you back in time, while the vibrant cities of Santa Fe, Austin, and San Antonio immersed you in art, music, and culinary delights.

Throughout your road trip, you’ve tasted mouth-watering regional cuisine, explored unique cultural sites, and hiked through stunning landscapes. You’ve witnessed breathtaking sunsets, experienced the thrill of adventure, and created timeless memories along the way.

The Southwest USA offers an abundance of natural wonders, historical sites, and lively cities to explore. Each destination has its own unique charm and attractions, ensuring that every day of your road trip is filled with excitement and discovery.

As you reflect on this incredible journey, remember the awe-inspiring moments spent gazing into the depths of the Grand Canyon, hiking through the surreal landscapes of Bryce Canyon, and witnessing the rich Native American heritage in Santa Fe. Think back to the vibrant energy of the music scene in Austin, the underground wonders of Carlsbad Caverns, and the cultural vibrancy of San Antonio.

Your Southwest USA road trip has been a remarkable adventure, showcasing the diversity and beauty of this captivating region. As you return home, carry the memories of this journey and the experiences that have left a lasting imprint on your heart.

Remember, the Southwest USA is a vast and ever-evolving destination, offering countless opportunities for exploration and discovery. So, continue to seek new adventures, embrace the natural wonders, immerse yourself in the vibrant cultures, and make new memories as you embark on future journeys.

Thank you for joining us on this incredible road trip through the Southwest USA. We hope that these 14 days have left you with a deep appreciation for the beauty, history, and magic that this region has to offer.

Safe travels and until we meet again on another remarkable adventure!

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

• Boutique Hotels
• Vacation Rentals
• Packing Lists
• Trip Planning
• Travel Gear
• Adventure Travel
• Bucket List Travel
• Budget Travel
• Luxury Travel
• Solo Travel
• Weekend Travel
• Photography Print Shop
• Amazon Shop
• Camera Gear

The Best Southwest USA National Parks Road Trip Itinerary

I decided to take an impromptu road trip through the Southwest USA this past month to visit some National Parks I’ve never seen! I hit the road with a general route mapped out but ultimately decided to “wing it” this trip. And it ended up being the best road trip I have ever gone on!

I’m sharing my complete 10-day Southwest USA National Parks road trip itinerary below. Keep reading to learn more about the stops I made, which parks I skipped and which parks are worth it, and what I would do differently if I had actually planned ahead.

If you plan on visiting multiple southwest national parks on your road trip, I recommend getting the annual pass:

You can view all national park pass options here

(Keep in mind: This itinerary is relatively fast-paced. I was on a mission this trip to see as much as I possibly could with the time I had off work, so I didn’t stay in any one place for more than 2 nights. If you opt to travel at a slower pace, give yourself an extra day at any of the locations below to give yourself plenty of time at each stop.)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rylie | Bucket List + Adventure Travel (@wanderfullyrylie)

————— More on the Blog —————

Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: All the Essentials You’ll Need (+ Free Checklist!)

10 Underrated Summer Travel Ideas in the US

How to Travel More with a Full Time Job

Travel Essentials for Women: Must-Haves for Any Packing List

Best Camera Gear For a Travel Blogger: All My Photography Essentials

• Free Road Trip Checklist

Get your road trip checklist PDF freebie here!

Here is the best 10-day National Parks road trip itinerary through the Southwest USA:

Day 1: death valley national park, day 2: las vegas, nevada, day 3: valley of fire state park, day 4: zion national park, wildland gardens - joseph, utah, mystic hot springs - monroe, utah, day 6: capitol reef national park, day 7: arches national park, day 8: canyonlands national park, days 9-10: return home loop through arizona - flagstaff, sedona, & scottsdale, california:, new mexico: .

I started my Southwest national parks road trip from Orange County, California - so for me Death Valley National Park was a great starting point. I got up early on Day 1 to get a head start on the road and I'm glad I made this an early day. The heat was already in triple digits by 10am - the valley clearly lives up to its name! I definitely recommend doing any of the hikes here first thing in the morning.

If you're driving from Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is another good starting point!

--------------- Read More ---------------

A Complete Travel Guide for Visiting Joshua Tree, California

I was in Las Vegas, Nevada for 2 nights while I mapped out the rest of my week and mostly laid low at my hostel to escape the heat.

Looking back, I would have skipped over Vegas to give myself more time to explore of the Southwest national parks. But I think that this would also be a good starting point for the road trip - especially if you're flying in from other parts of the country.

I woke up early to catch the sunrise in the Valley of Fire before heading onward into Utah. And although it's not a national park, it is definitely worth adding into your southwest road trip.

Valley of Fire State Park has some absolutely stunning views and is a scenic drive all on its own. The early morning hours is the best time to see the glowing "fiery" colors of the red rocks. I got to see a family of bighorn sheep this morning while they were strolling for breakfast!

Zion National Park is one of the best national parks and is an absolute a must-see for any road trip through the Southwest USA. It definitely lives up to the hype!

I was here on a holiday weekend and knew it was going to be crowded, so I opted for a sunrise hike to get an early start on the day. This ended up being the only hike I could do before the crowds entered the park - by 10am there was no parking anywhere. But the hike up to Canyon Overlook sunrise point was well worth waking up early for.

If I had more time, I would have loved to explore more of the hiking trails in Zion. And would have also included Bryce Canyon National Park into this Southwest road trip itinerary. Bryce Canyon is only about an hour drive from Zion and is well worth the visit!

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Zion National Park in Utah

A Guide for Hiking Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park

Day 5: Glamping & Hot Springs

I decided to detour a bit from visiting parks to spend a much-needed day off from hiking. I found the cutest AirBnB in Joseph, Utah where you can go glamping under the stars!

This AirBnb is located on a farm called Wildland Gardens and the hosts were incredible. They even stopped by to gift me a freshly picked watermelon from their garden.

AirBnB: Glamping at Wildland Gardens in Joseph, Utah

Nearby are the Mystic Hot Springs located in Monroe - Such a hidden gem in Utah and I couldn't recommend this place more. I stopped here for a morning soak before heading back out on the road again.

Mystic Hot Springs is a natural hot spring, accommodation, and event venue! You can learn more about what they offer and purchase soaking passes on their website.

Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe: Southern Utah's Bathtub Hot Springs

In my opinion, Capitol Reef National Park is one of the more underrated national parks in the Southwest USA. I actually ended up choosing to visit here instead of Bryce Canyon because I received more recommendations for Capitol Reef!

I stayed 1 night in Teasdale and the next day got up to explore the park before continuing my drive to Moab.

This motel I found on AirBnb was incredible! Cactus Hill Motel is located on a family-owned, 100-acre ranch in Teasdale and is only a 15 minute drive away from Capitol Reef. Linda and her family are the sweetest hosts and I couldn't have found a cozier accommodation.

Where to Stay: Cactus Hill Motel in Teasdale, Utah

Moab, Utah might have been my favorite part of this Southwest national parks road trip. I stayed in Moab for 2 nights to give myself a full day to explore both Arches and Canyonlands. Arches National Park is the closest to Moab of the two and was only a 10 minute drive from my hotel in the downtown area.

Moab felt like my return back into civilization on this road trip - There's so many restaurants and shops downtown and I would have loved to stay here longer.

Where to Stay: Moab Valley Inn

Best Hikes in Arches National Park - 5 Easy Trails You Can't Miss

Canyonlands National Park ended up being one of my favorite stops on this entire road trip. I think it's one of the best Southwest national parks and I highly recommend going early for the sunrise! I think I definitely saved the best for last when it comes to sunrises this trip, which is saying a lot because they were all stunning.

The drive into Canyonlands looks like a painting - it's so majestic in the early hours of the morning. I almost wasn't sure if I was actually awake or still back in my hotel bed just dreaming about it.

I spent the morning in the Island in the Sky district, which is the easiest to navigate by car. Catch the sunrise at Shafer Trail Viewpoint , or head out for a short hike to catch it at Mesa Arch - just know this viewpoint will be crowded as it's super popular.

One Day in Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky District

To return back home to Southern California from Utah I decided to drive through Arizona for the last weekend of my trip. I stayed 1 night in Flagstaff and spent the next day driving through Sedona . From there I drove into Scottsdale and stayed there 1 night before making my way back home.

My last day was spent mostly on the road and covered the longest leg of the trip - the return home from Scottsdale to OC. But for these days of the trip you could even include Grand Canyon National Park and Saguaro National Park on your Southwest national parks itinerary.

Additional Southwest National Parks:

Although I wasn't able to explore all the National Parks in the Southwest, here are more options that are worth mentioning for your itinerary:

• Saguaro National Park
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Petrified Forest National Park
• Oljato - Monument Valley
• Lake Powell
• Cathedral Rock
• Channel Islands National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Pinnacles National Park
• Sequoia National Park
• Kings Canyon National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park
• Great Basin National Park
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park
• White Sands National Park
• Bandelier National Monument
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Big Bend National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Goblin Valley State Park
• Dead Horse Point State Park
• Zebra Slot Canyon
• Buckskin Gulch
• Coyote Gulch
• Goosenecks State Park
• Hovenweep National Monument
• Grand Teton National Park
• Yellowstone National Park

Have you done a road trip through the Southwest USA National Parks? Share your favorite routes and national parks with me in the comments below!

--------------- More USA Road Trips ---------------

Big Sur Road Trip: The Best Stops for Your Drive Along CA Highway 1

Hot Springs in Pagosa Springs, Colorado: A Complete Guide

Desert Oasis, Found: The Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs, California

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Pin this for later -

The Gal Behind the Blog

Hi I'm Rylie - Welcome to my corner of the internet!

I'm a solo traveler & photographer turned full-time corporate travel agent - born and raised in Southern California but now based in Colorado.

YOU'LL ALSO LOVE

[…] freeing as hitting the open road! I started doing a lot more road trips myself last year after my solo trip through the Southwest, and since then it has definitely become one of my favorite ways to travel. Over the past few trips […]

[…] quickly became one of my all-time favorite national parks during my road trip through the Southwest USA last year. I during my road trip I spent 2 days in Moab (giving myself one day for Arches National […]

[…] is truly a unique outdoor bathtub soaking experience in southern Utah. I stopped here during my solo road trip through the Southwest last year in between hopping through different national parks, and I couldn’t be happier […]

[…] The Best Southwest USA National Parks Road Trip Itinerary […]

[…] more of the beauty of California and have been on a road trip kick since last year’s solo journey through the Southwest to visit more national parks. Being out in nature has always been my favorite way to recharge and play with my camera, and this […]

[…] access my camera while wearing it and stays comfortable on my back. I took this bag with me on my solo road trip through the Southwestern USA and have explored 6 National Parks with it already, and have zero […]

[…] this one easy to carry around with me on my adventures. This is the tripod I used throughout my solo road trip through the Southwest and have hiked through 6 different national parks with it so far – and have no […]

[…] currently it’s easy to feel stuck. Which is why last year I decided to go on a spontaneous solo road trip through the Southwest to scratch the travel […]

[…] Arches National Park is home to some of the best hiking and sunrise spots in Moab, Utah. So much so that Arches ended up being one of my favorite parks on my roadtrip through the Southwest. […]

[…] Read more: The Best Southwest USA National Parks Road Trip Itinerary […]

[…] was just one stop during my 10-day solo road trip through the Southwest USA and I am so glad I didn’t skip […]

These phOtos are GORGEOUS!

Thank you so much, Gabriella! 🙂

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign me up for the newsletter!

Sign up for my Newsletter

& receive exclusive content and travel inspo sent right to your inbox!

Joshua Tree Travel Guide

48 Hours in San Francisco

Santa Barbara Day Trip Itinerary

Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, Utah

Southwest USA National Parks Road Trip

Big Sur Road Trip: Best Stops Along Highway 1

how to execute a Spontaneous Trip

Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur

1 Day in Canyonlands National Park

Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion Hiking Guide

Best Easy Hikes in Arches National Park

15 Things to Do in Big Bear

adventure guides

YOUR NEXT road trip

EXPLORE California

• >", "name": "top-nav-watch", "type": "link"}}' href="https://watch.outsideonline.com">Watch
• >", "name": "top-nav-learn", "type": "link"}}' href="https://learn.outsideonline.com">Learn
• >", "name": "top-nav-podcasts", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.outsideonline.com/podcast-directory/">Podcasts
• >", "name": "top-nav-maps", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.gaiagps.com">Maps
• >", "name": "top-nav-events", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.athletereg.com/events">Events
• >", "name": "top-nav-shop", "type": "link"}}' href="https://shop.outsideonline.com">Shop
• >", "name": "top-nav-buysell", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell">BuySell
• >", "name": "top-nav-outside", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.outsideonline.com/outsideplus">Outside+

Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Already have an account? >", "name": "mega-signin", "type": "link"}}' class="u-color--red-dark u-font--xs u-text-transform--upper u-font-weight--bold">Sign In

Outside watch, outside learn.

• >", "name": "mega-backpacker-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.backpacker.com/">Backpacker
• >", "name": "mega-climbing-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.climbing.com/">Climbing
• >", "name": "mega-flyfilmtour-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://flyfilmtour.com/">Fly Fishing Film Tour
• >", "name": "mega-gaiagps-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.gaiagps.com/">Gaia GPS
• >", "name": "mega-npt-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.nationalparktrips.com/">National Park Trips
• >", "name": "mega-outsideonline-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.outsideonline.com/">Outside
• >", "name": "mega-outsideio-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.outside.io/">Outside.io
• >", "name": "mega-outsidetv-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://watch.outsideonline.com">Outside Watch
• >", "name": "mega-ski-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.skimag.com/">Ski
• >", "name": "mega-warrenmiller-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://warrenmiller.com/">Warren Miller Entertainment

Healthy Living

• >", "name": "mega-ce-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.cleaneatingmag.com/">Clean Eating
• >", "name": "mega-oxy-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.oxygenmag.com/">Oxygen
• >", "name": "mega-vt-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.vegetariantimes.com/">Vegetarian Times
• >", "name": "mega-yj-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.yogajournal.com/">Yoga Journal
• >", "name": "mega-beta-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.betamtb.com/">Beta
• >", "name": "mega-pinkbike-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.pinkbike.com/">Pinkbike
• >", "name": "mega-roll-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.rollmassif.com/">Roll Massif
• >", "name": "mega-trailforks-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.trailforks.com/">Trailforks
• >", "name": "mega-trail-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://trailrunnermag.com/">Trail Runner
• >", "name": "mega-tri-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.triathlete.com/">Triathlete
• >", "name": "mega-vn-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://velo.outsideonline.com/">Velo
• >", "name": "mega-wr-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.womensrunning.com/">Women's Running
• >", "name": "mega-athletereg-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.athletereg.com/">athleteReg
• >", "name": "mega-bicycleretailer-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.bicycleretailer.com/">Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
• >", "name": "mega-cairn-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.getcairn.com/">Cairn
• >", "name": "mega-finisherpix-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.finisherpix.com/">FinisherPix
• >", "name": "mega-idea-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.ideafit.com/">Idea
• >", "name": "mega-nastar-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.nastar.com/">NASTAR
• >", "name": "mega-shop-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.outsideinc.com/outside-books/">Outside Books
• >", "name": "mega-veloswap-link", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.veloswap.com/">VeloSwap
• >", "name": "mega-backpacker-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.backpacker.com/">Backpacker
• >", "name": "mega-climbing-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.climbing.com/">Climbing
• >", "name": "mega-flyfilmtour-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://flyfilmtour.com/">Fly Fishing Film Tour
• >", "name": "mega-gaiagps-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.gaiagps.com/">Gaia GPS
• >", "name": "mega-npt-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.nationalparktrips.com/">National Park Trips
• >", "name": "mega-outsideonline-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.outsideonline.com/">Outside
• >", "name": "mega-outsidetv-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://watch.outsideonline.com">Watch
• >", "name": "mega-ski-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.skimag.com/">Ski
• >", "name": "mega-warrenmiller-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://warrenmiller.com/">Warren Miller Entertainment
• >", "name": "mega-ce-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.cleaneatingmag.com/">Clean Eating
• >", "name": "mega-oxy-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.oxygenmag.com/">Oxygen
• >", "name": "mega-vt-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.vegetariantimes.com/">Vegetarian Times
• >", "name": "mega-yj-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.yogajournal.com/">Yoga Journal
• >", "name": "mega-beta-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.betamtb.com/">Beta
• >", "name": "mega-roll-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.rollmassif.com/">Roll Massif
• >", "name": "mega-trail-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://trailrunnermag.com/">Trail Runner
• >", "name": "mega-tri-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.triathlete.com/">Triathlete
• >", "name": "mega-vn-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://velo.outsideonline.com/">Velo
• >", "name": "mega-wr-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.womensrunning.com/">Women's Running
• >", "name": "mega-athletereg-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.athletereg.com/">athleteReg
• >", "name": "mega-bicycleretailer-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.bicycleretailer.com/">Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
• >", "name": "mega-finisherpix-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.finisherpix.com/">FinisherPix
• >", "name": "mega-idea-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.ideafit.com/">Idea
• >", "name": "mega-nastar-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.nastar.com/">NASTAR
• >", "name": "mega-shop-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://shop.outsideonline.com/">Outside Shop
• >", "name": "mega-vp-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.velopress.com/">VeloPress
• >", "name": "mega-veloswap-link-accordion", "type": "link"}}' href="https://www.veloswap.com/">VeloSwap

2-FOR-1 GA TICKETS WITH OUTSIDE+

Don’t miss Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, and more at the Outside Festival.

GET TICKETS

OUTSIDE FESTIVAL JUNE 1-2

Don't miss Thundercat + Fleet Foxes, adventure films, experiences, and more!

Want to Road-Trip Across the American Southwest? This Is How We’d Do It.

A longtime resident of the Southwest shares her favorite ways to see this region’s geological wonders, surreal sunsets, and wide-open spaces

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Edward Abbey, who immortalized the Southwest in his writing, would be turning over in his grave in Cabeza Prieta Wilderness west of Tucson, Arizona, if he knew that Arches National Park had to temporarily close its gates in mid-October because capacity was maxed out. The famous monkey wrencher saved a special venomous wrath for the kind of tourist who drove from one viewpoint to the next only to snap a photo and move on.

But Abbey, who was a ranger at Arches, in Utah, for two summers in the 1950s (when it was still a monument), also understood that there’s no better region than the Southwest, a place of mind-bending geology, impossibly living fauna, ferocious wide-open spaces, sublime light, and millennia of human history, to clear the mind and make peace with the soul.

I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for 18 years, love the Southwest, and believe everyone can benefit from the solace and adventure these majestic landscapes provide. We all, however, need to grapple with how to responsibly recreate within them. If you choose to wander, this wide-ranging southwestern road trip starts and ends in Tucson and hits icons and off-the-beaten-path places, providing an itinerary to the best of the region. It’s ridiculous how much jaw-dropping splendor there is on this trip.

In the words of Abbey: “For god sake folks… take off those fucking sunglasses and unpeel both eyeballs, look around; throw away those goddamn idiotic cameras… stand up straight like men! Like women! Like human beings! And walk—walk—walk upon our sweet and blessed land!”

Might we politely add: leave no trace, BYO water, and respect those who came before you.

1. Route: Tucson, Arizona, to Patagonia, Arizona

Distance: 64.8 miles

Your base camp: patagonia.

Patagonia, a no-frills mining and ranching town 20 miles north of the Mexican border, cropped up in the middle of Pima, Tohono O’odham, and Apache territory in the late 19th century. It has been a beloved destination for birders almost ever since.

Adventures in Patagonia

• Hikers and trail runners have easy access to the summits of 9,456-foot Mount Wrightson and the historical fire lookout station at the top of 6,373-foot Red Mountain.
• What has more recently put Patagonia on the map is its mountain bike and gravel cycling, with 30 miles of new singletrack right from downtown on the Temporal Gulch Trail and endless miles of dirt roads in the San Rafael Valley. Take note: the Spirit World 100 gravel road race takes place the first weekend of November and sells out fast.
• Visit the Paton Center for Hummingbirds outside of town. They have documented 247 bird species.

Where to Stay

The Gravel House is built for small groups of cyclists, with a straw-bale house that sleeps six and a wood-framed studio that sleeps two. Both have kitchens and share outdoor space to wrench on bikes or celebrate post-ride with a cocktail.

Where to Eat and Drink

• Chef Hilda at the Patagonia Lumber Company serves a delicious menu, filled with Sonoran specialties like fresh tamales, carne adovada tacos, and barbacoa.
• The new Queen of Cups restaurant and winery offers fresh pasta dishes and three house-made wines on the menu.

The Best Detour

Tucson’s Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a must-stop destination for travelers who want to learn more about the fragile yet resilient ecosystem they are traveling through. A highlight includes daily Raptor Free Flights, where birds only native to the Sonoran Desert, like the Chihuahuan raven, Harris’s hawk, and great horned owl, fly free while an expert describes their attributes, habitats, and behaviors.

2. Route: Patagonia, Arizona, to Big Bend National Park, Texas

Distance: 624 miles

Your base camp: terlingua, texas.

It might take you a few days to get to Terlingua because there are a lot of fun detours along the way (see below). But the wait is worth it. This town, once 2,000 inhabitants strong and rich with cinnabar from which miners extracted mercury in the late 19th century, now stands by its claim as one of the most popular ghost towns in Texas, with 110 residents.

Adventures in Terlingua, Texas

• Sitting six miles west of the entrance of Big Bend National Park , Terlingua offers easy access to all the 801,163-acre park has to offer, including rafting or kayaking the Rio Grande River, hiking the Chisos Mountains, or road cycling its low-traffic paved highways.
• Just west of Terlingua is the storied mountain biking in Big Bend Ranch State Park, including the challenging 59-mile Fresno-Sauceda IMBA Epic route, known for long, steep, technical, and rocky climbs and descents. Heavy rains have washed out much of the park’s trails, so check in with Desert Sports , whose owners Mike Long and Jim Carrico (a former superintendent of Big Bend) provide a wealth of knowledge about where and where not to go, and offer shuttles, guides, and equipment.

Willow House founder Lauren Werner settled in the Chihuahuan Desert of far-West Texas to create an austere, cool, and comforting oasis for artists and others longing for open spaces and an unbridled night sky. Twelve private casitas that look like modernist concrete cubes all have stunning views of the Chisos Mountains. Guests can bring their own provisions to grill outside or cook in the main house’s gourmet kitchen, then retreat to the privacy of their own front porch to cozy up under an Alpaca throw and gaze up to the heavens.

Stop at the Starlight Theatre Restaurant and Saloon, sit on the front porch and sip a beer, then head inside for tequila-marinated Texas quail, a Scorpion margarita, and a rollicking night of live music.

• Chiricahua National Monument 131 miles northeast of Patagonia. Stretch your legs on the 7.3-mile-long Heart of Rocks Loop that surpasses the most unusual formations in the monument, including the aptly named Pinnacle Balanced Rock, which looks like it might topple over any second.

• Three hundred eighty-two miles east of Chiricahau is New Mexico’s White Sands National Park, home of the world’s largest gypsum sand dunes. Take a ranger-guided hike to Lake Lucero to understand how the dunes are formed. Bring a tent and grab a backcountry permit at the visitor’s center (available the day of camping only) to sleep among the dunes, preferably under a full moon.

3. Route: Big Bend National Park, Texas, to Taos, New Mexico

Distance: 570 miles

Your base camp: taos, new mexico.

I’ve spent many days hiking, mountain biking, and skiing in the stunning land around Taos. To the west of the small town, the Wild and Scenic Rio Grande River has sliced like a hot knife through layers of volcanic basalt and ash, 800 feet below the Rio Grande Rift Valley. To the east, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains top out at 13,161-foot Wheeler Peak, the tallest point in New Mexico. In the middle sits a town of roughly 6,000 artists, cowboys, skiers, free spirits, and others. By far the most established are the Puebloan people, who have continuously lived here for more than 1,000 years.

Adventures in Taos, New Mexico

• Respectfully visit the Unesco World Heritage site of Taos Pueblo , the main part of which was constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D, centuries before the first Spanish explorers arrived in 1540 in search of the fabled golden cities of Cibola. The visit will help contextualize other historical gems in town like the Kit Carson House and Museum, which the famed trapper, frontiersman, and explorer bought in 1843.
• Eighteen miles northeast and 2,200 feet above Taos is the base of Taos Ski Valley , one of the steepest alpine resorts in the country. In the summer it’s an excellent base from which to launch a hiking expedition to the top of Wheeler Peak via the 8.5-mile out-and-back trail that passes Williams Lake. Power down the peak before 4 P.M. to polish off a 32-ounce stein of German beer and a plate of Sauerbraten Wiener schnitzel at the iconic Bavarian Restaurant back at the base.
• The 12.7-mile loop trail at Horsethief Mesa northwest of town is a good lower-elevation option for intermediate mountain bikers.
• For more of a challenge, and time commitment, shuttle or hitchhike east on U.S. 64 to Valle Escondido for the start of the South Boundary Trail , a 30-mile singletrack challenge that tops out at 10,729 feet. Some of its gnarliest rocky descents are at the very end.
• For experienced whitewater paddlers and rafters who want a thrill, the Taos Box offers Class IV rapids at the depths of the 800-foot Rio Grande Gorge. Lower down the river is the Racecourse, a mellower section of Class II-III rapids, perfect for a half-day journey for kids as young as five. New Mexico River Adventures offers half-day, full-day, or overnight options on both sections of the Rio Grande and other rivers nearby.

Where to Stay 

Kick in the nostalgia in one of the 21 vintage trailer units dating between 1951 and 1972 at Hotel Luna Mystica a couple of miles north of Taos in El Prado on the wide-open Hondo mesa. Across the road are the ever-flowing tap beers at Taos Mesa Brewing; above is a blanket of stars.

Five minutes west of downtown Casa Gallina is a cluster of five classic and colorful Southwest casitas sandwiched between verdant gardens fed by two acequias, part of the town’s historic agricultural district. Each casita has a kitchen in which guests can cook freshly picked vegetables and eggs gathered daily from the 30 to 40 free-range hens, owner Richard Spera’s “girls,” that roam the property.

• Manzanita Market in downtown Taos is the more accessible little sister to the Love Apple restaurant, the latter being one of the most coveted reservations in the region. In addition to deliciously healthy meals, Manzanita serves up small batches of ice cream made from local organic cream, eggs, seasonal fruits, and handmade caramel.
• The Love Apple is housed in a 19th-century chapel and serves northern New Mexico specialties, like red chile enchiladas made with local, organic ingredients. I try to eat here whenever I’m in Taos. Make a reservation for sure.
• Meanwhile, Medley , so named for its D.C. and L.A. expat chefs Wilks and Colleen Medley, offers a craft cocktail menu that is as mouth watering as the tantalizing comfort food they serve.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park , 235 miles north of Big Bend, is worth the time for a visit, especially when you contemplate how long it took to create the 120 known caves. The process began 265 million years ago with the calcareous sponges, algae, and lime-rich mud that formed the underwater reef in the Permian Sea that once covered this region. The largest cave open to the public is Carlsbad Cavern, which stretches 30 miles long and opens into the 8.2-acre Big Room, the biggest cave chamber by volume in North America.

4. Route: Taos, New Mexico, to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

Distance: 271 miles

Your base camp: gunnison, colorado.

This four-hour drive pushes the northern limits of what is technically considered the Southwest. There’s a more well-trodden southern Colorado route from Taos that shoots through Durango, and that’s the best bet to take if you’re traveling in winter when the Gunnison area can be hampered by heavy snow and seasonal closings.

Adventures in Gunnison, Colorado

• In the summer, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park , 61 miles west of the town of Gunnison, is a must-see. The 48-mile-long, 2,722-foot-deep canyon is not the longest or deepest in North America by a long shot. But its two-billion-year-old vertical black gneiss walls have been almost inaccessible for millennia, even to the Ute, the first inhabitants of this region.
• Most of the national park’s annual 308,000 visitors (for comparison, Grand Canyon National Park receives almost five million annual visitors) choose to view it from its north or south rims. The six-mile-long unpaved North Rim Road has six overlooks, some of which offer the best views to the canyon’s near vertical walls. Those who choose to can hike down on one of six wilderness trails—three on the north rim and three on the south rim—all of which require a permit obtained from the visitor’s center on the south rim.
• Expect routes into the canyon that lack stairs and switchbacks and descend 2,000 feet in the course of a mile. It’s essential to come prepared to tackle these tough routes with water, food, and the appropriate clothing for changeable weather. The payoff is some of the best trout fishing in the state on the Gunnison River. All rainbows are catch and release and the brown trout daily limit is four.
• Easier to access and closer to Gunnison is Curecanti National Recreation Area . In addition to containing 19 miles of the Black Canyon, it also has four reservoirs, including Blue Mesa, the state’s largest body of freshwater. All this liquid makes for a utopian setting for standup paddlers, kayakers, and kitesurfers. Lake Fork Marina, 26 miles west of Gunnison on Blue Mesa Reservoir, rents kayaks and SUPs. The 3.5-mile round-trip Dillon Pinnacles hike, on the northside of Blue Mesa Reservoir, is great for kids and trail running and offers open views of the aquamarine water and its namesake 600-foot volcanic formations.
• Hartman Rocks Recreation Area three miles south of Gunnison has 45 miles of singletrack, 45 miles of dirt roads, and countless crags—a haven for mountain bikers, gravel cyclists, and rock climbers. Three trails, Sea of Sage, Lost Dog, and Broken Shovel, are wide enough for hand cyclists. No place in town offers rental bikes—leftover inventory and staffing shortages from the pandemic—but Tomichi Cycles can tune your bike and point you toward their favorite trails.

Thirteen miles north of Gunnison, Campfire Ranch on the Taylor River offers ten well maintained, walk-in, tent-only campsites, each with tent pads, a picnic table, and fire ring. Nearby is free firewood, vault toilets, and a potable well water pump. To make the sites more inclusive to all, the ranch also offers on-site rental and demo camping gear, plus a 50 percent discount to actively enrolled college students.

• 1880s Tapas and Spirits in Gunnison serves an impressively authentic menu of the Spanish small plates. Pair Octopus a la Plancha with an eclectic array of cocktails.
• An espresso from Tributary Coffee Roasters a block down the road will get you going the next morning.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is roughly 100 miles north of Taos. The tallest sand dunes in North America rise 750 feet into the sky under the shadow of the surrounding snow-capped Rockies. The park has seven backcountry campsites along the 11-mile-long Sand Ramp Trail, an ideal spot to stretch your legs and then watch the Milky Way shimmer in the night sky.

5. Route: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado, to Escalante, Utah

Distance: 339 miles

Your base camp: escalante, utah.

Escalante is situated in the midst of everything: Bryce Canyon National Park , Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and lesser known state parks like Kodachrome Basin and Escalante Petrified Forest. A few hours farther are Zion and Capitol Reef National Parks . And between all of that bounty are unsung slot canyons closer to town and the nearby lakes, rivers, and trails within Dixie National Forest that covers the Aquarius Plateau, the highest timbered plateau in North America, topping out at 11,328 feet.

Adventures in Escalante, Utah

• The options seem endless in every direction, but a good shakedown hike is to Lower Calf Creek Falls, a six-mile round-trip effort that starts at the campground in the Calf Creek Recreational Area 15 miles east of Escalante. When the water is flowing, it cascades 130 feet over streaked Navajo Sandstone into a deep, refreshing pool.
• Escalante Outfitters offers guided fly-fishing to under-the-radar lakes and streams on the plateau and a fascinating and low-key natural history hike of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument that gives an excellent overview of the ecology, geology, paleontology, zoology, and archaeology of the region.
• Cyclists can stop in at Escalante Cyclery to rent a dual-suspension or e-mountain bike for the day or sign on for a multi-day road cycling tour to Capitol Reef National Park.
• Don’t be fooled by the “yurt” in Escalante Yurts , a mile and a half north of town. These seven year-round structures are luxurious, with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, heating, hot breakfast burritos, or other hearty eats brought to your door every morning, and a night sky that never seems to end.
• A few miles west of town off Highway 12s Yonder Escalante has Airstreams, tiny cabins, and plenty of space to park your own RV, car, tent, or camper. Communal areas include a luxurious spa-like bathhouse with heavenly hot private indoor-outdoor showers, an oversize pool, and a nightly movie at the drive-in.

A Bighorn Pizza (Kalamata tapenade, prosciutto, ham, goat cheese, and slow-roasted tomato) accompanied by any leafy salad enjoyed while people watching from the front patio at Escalante Outfitters is the ideal way to refuel and re-enter after an epic outdoor adventure. Inside the store, stock up on any last-minute essentials for hiking or camping.

You could add 57 miles to the journey and spend a week meandering through the 2,000-plus formations of Arches National Park . But we recommend giving beloved Arches and nearby Moab a rest and instead head north to I-70 to hit the trifecta of mountain bike trail networks between Palisade, Grand Junction, and Fruita , Colorado, which range from a breezy four-mile beginner Rustler’s Loop to the 12.1-mile rocky and technical Lunch Loop Trails to the epic 143-mile-long Kokopelli Trail that will eventually take you southeast back toward Moab.

6. Route: Escalante, Utah, to Tucson, Arizona

Distance: 581 miles

Your base camp: cottonwood, arizona.

Northern Arizona, with its Grand Canyon views, the mountain trails of Flagstaff, and the calming red rocks of Sedona, is anything but a secret. It’s especially imperative to tread lightly through this place that is the traditional home of at least 11 federally recognized nations. One way to disperse the tourism load is to stay 19 miles southwest of Sedona in the Verde Valley town of Cottonwood, so named for the willowy trees that line the Verde River.

Adventures in Cottonwood, Arizona

While it lacks the mystery and awe of Sedona’s red rocks, Cottonwood has its own allure, with the craggy peaks of the Mingus mountains to the west, hiking and cross country mountain biking on the 15-mile Lime Kiln Trail that links Dead Horse Ranch State Park to Sedona’s Red Rock State Park to the east; and exciting energy in the historic Old Town, which include multiple breweries, wine-tasting rooms, and restaurants.

The charming one-bedroom, one bath Casita Blanca at San Juan Ranch Airbnb in the heart of the Verde Valley, has desert and mountain views, a gas stove for chilly evenings, and is only a 15-minute drive to Old Town.

Colt Grill BBQ and Spirits on North Main Street in Old Town is legendary for its in-house smoked meats. There’s only one way to eat the delightfully messy pulled pork sandwich accompanied by a side of butter garlic fries: devour it. Expect elbow to elbow dining. Merkin Vineyards, which has a tasting room on North Main Street, sources 100 percent of their grapes from local Arizona growers.

Of the five million annual visitors at Grand Canyon National Park , only 10 percent take the road less traveled to the North Rim, the traditional homeland of the Southern Paiute. The North Rim Campground sits at 8,200 feet and is open from May 15 to October 15.

The payoff for this 80-mile out-and-back detour on dirt roads is unparalleled views and unpeopled access to the 28-mile-long round-trip North Kaibab Trail, the only maintained trail into the canyon from the North Rim. To see the most spectacular sunrise of your life, get up before dawn and hike 4.2 miles into Cape Final. The trailhead is off the Cape Royal Road.

Contributing editor Stephanie Pearson lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for 18 years, has written numerous travel stories for Outside , and is the author of the recent book 100 Great American Parks .

• Hiking and Backpacking
• National Parks

Popular on Outside Online

Enjoy coverage of racing, history, food, culture, travel, and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands.

• Clean Eating
• Vegetarian Times
• Yoga Journal
• Fly Fishing Film Tour
• National Park Trips
• Warren Miller
• Fastest Known Time
• Trail Runner
• Women's Running
• Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
• FinisherPix
• Outside Events Cycling Series
• Outside Shop

© 2024 Outside Interactive, Inc

Southwest USA Road Trip with Kids: Self-Drive Itinerary

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links to the products we earnestly love and recommend, meaning at no extra cost to you, we might make a teeny-weeny commission if you click on the link and decide to buy something. The money will be used to sustain this little cozy blog we call our virtual home.

The Southwest USA road trip is easily and decisively one of the best road trips in the USA . Our step-by-step American Southwest road trip itinerary with kids takes you through some of the most amazing and exquisite sites to be explored with kids.

Across Southwest USA…

miles and miles…

into the wild…

kids’ faces beaming with joy and excitement…

witnessing some of the best natural wonders of the world…

a road trip that isn’t only good but the best in the world !

Driving Through Southwest USA is Simply Transcendental

Southwest America is one of the best destinations for road-tripping. It’s, in fact, one great American road trip !

National Parks galore, Famed and Historic Route 66, deep-seated American history, rugged vistas, and carved horizons; all along the roads that traverse the states of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Read More: A Complete Guide to the US Tourist Visa from India

Southwest USA road trip takes you through some of the most amazing and beautiful canyons that are worth exploring. You’ll be amazed to see the sparkling show of colors put by the canyons.

It’s an unforgettable and utterly different road trip. Empty roads and gorgeous views take your breath away!

And you will be dazed as you discover the most unearthly places on the planet.

This ultimate American cross-country road trip was part of our 2-week long US trip itinerary.

It wasn’t possible for us to explore the entire Southwest USA because of the time restrictions so we chose some of the world’s most beloved and most traveled destinations in Southwest USA.

Read More: How to Discover South Florida in 5 Days

We traveled across Nevada, Arizona, and Utah ; unveiling the secrets, the treasures, and the experiences the southwest USA hides.

Why Take Southwest USA Road Trip with Kids?

Because it’s learning with fun.

Criss-crossing across the region with kids is challenging which ultimately makes them learn to face the hurdles with a smile on their faces.

Rewards override the challenges of course.

Hiking, biking, camping, wildlife, national parks, historical sites, and museums – there’s learning at every curve.

The vast open spaces and ever-changing landscapes of the American Southwest are super perfect for kids who love adventures and wilderness experiences.

Hiking the colorful rocky terrains, lying under the sky full of stars, sleeping in tents, shaking the dust off the clothes, joyfully putting bandaid on scraped-up knees, and collecting stories and lessons along the way – American Southwest road trip promises a world of adventure for kids.

Step by Step Itinerary for Southwest USA Road Trip

I’ve mentioned here a route and step-by-step itinerary that we’ve driven.

This is just one option to give a zest of what a self-drive itinerary in Southwest America looks like, and it can easily be redesigned.

I’m sure it will surprise and delight those who’ve never been to these places before…or for that matter who have been many times.

We boarded the American Airways early morning flight from Philadelphia to Las Vegas. And so the story goes…

Day 1: American Southwest Road Trip

Philadelphia (pennsylvania) to las vegas (nevada).

Route: Philadelphia > Las Vegas (By air – 5 hours 40 mins); Sightseeing and night stay at Las Vegas (LV)

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Starting Point for Our American Southwest Adventure

Las Vegas needs no introduction. The city is famous for its exuberance.

We chose Las Vegas as our starting point for various reasons; the first being that LV is known to be the gateway for exploring the wonders of Southwest USA, the second being that renting a car here is easier and cheaper than in other states of Southwest America, and last but not the least being that exploring Vegas was on top in my USA itinerary.

I would have done it anyway even if it wouldn’t have been the most desired base for traversing the Southwest USA region by road. Anyhow, I scratched it off my list.

Apart from being a perfect and the most fun base for American Southwest exploration, the sin city itself is worth a few days’ stay, as the mega-hotels and casinos alone are some of the most unusual in the world, plus it also offers outstanding acts and shows viz. Cirque du Soleil, Le Reve, etc., museums and exhibits, Adventuredome ( America’s largest indoor theme park ), and much more.

Yes!!! It’s called the entertainment capital of the world for a reason.

Is it for real? – you are sure to ask yourself once you step on the streets of LV.

Las Vegas is sort of like how God would do it if he had money. ~ Steve Wynn

Steve wasn’t really exaggerating when he said this, anyone who travels to Las Vegas will know.

Las Vegas with Kids

We reached LV at around 8 am local time and headed straight to our hotel to freshen up.

After stuffing our faces with all-we-could-eat delightful breakfast dishes, we were off to explore LV with kids, the otherwise no-go city for kids.

We were ready to bust the myth!

LV may not be the obvious choice for a family vacation but there are numerous kid-friendly things to do in Las Vegas. It’s not exactly what it’s thought of!

We strolled The Strip and the various kid-friendly exhibits, shows, and activities inside the resorts and mega-hotels that line the Las Vegas Strip.

What did we explore on the Las Vegas Strip?

• Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
• High Roller Observation Wheel
• Gondola Ride at The Venetian
• The Eiffel Tower outside the Paris Las Vegas Hotel
• The Big Apple Coaster and Arcade outside the New York New York Hotel
• The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel
• Waterfall Atrium at Palazzo
• Bellagio Dancing Fountains
• Fall of Atlantis and Aquarium at Caesars Palace
• Mirage Hotel Volcano Erupt, Aquarium, and Rainforest Atrium

All of this makes it one hell of a fun place to visit even with kids . Our kids were exhausted but not ready to go back to the hotel room.

Sin City can get expensive, so try to choose some of the many free things to do in Las Vegas!

I’m sure you’d want to read the best free things to do in Las Vegas with Kids.

Tips for Visiting Las Vegas with Kids

• Be aware that kids aren’t allowed in the gaming areas of casinos.
• Avoid visiting Fremont Street with kids.
• Roam the Las Vegas Strip between 5 pm to 8 pm; that way, kids will get to see the neon lights in full glory, but the true party crowd (adult stuff) will not yet be out.

Read More: A Guide to Getting Around Las Vegas with Kids

We rented a car from Las Vegas for our road trip across the southwest.

Day 2: American Southwest Road Trip

Las vegas (nevada) to seven magic mountains (nevada).

Route: Las Vegas > I-15 S and Las Vegas Blvd S > Seven Magic Mountains < Las Vegas; Night stay at Las Vegas (LV)

Las Vegas Sightseeing Off the Strip – Seven Magic Mountains

A quick 3O minutes drive south of Las Vegas took us to a quirky art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, Seven Magic Mountains .

In the middle of the Mojave Desert, the sight of the 7 pillars created by rainbow-colored boulder totems looks magical.

Please note that there’s no way to reach Seven Magic Mountains but a drive. There’s no admission fee. It’s  FREE  and open to the public.

Related Read: Best Day Trips from Las Vegas

Las Vegas Hotel Recommendation:   The Mirage, Las Vegas Strip

We stayed at The Mirage and loved everything about it. Las Vegas has a mind-boggling variety of resorts and hotels to choose from.

Click here to find the best deals on hotels in Las Vegas.

If you don’t want to rent a car or drive on your own, you still can explore the American Southwest’s wonders by joining one or two of the many wonderful guided tours available from Las Vegas .

Day 3: American Southwest Road Trip

Las vegas (nevada) to flagstaff (arizona).

Route: Las Vegas > I-515 S and I-11 S > Hoover Dam > US–93 S and I-40 E > Historic Route 66 > Flagstaff Hotel (Overnight stay)

It was time for us to leave the shimmering neon lights of Sin City and embrace the natural wonders of the Southwest.

We could see the joy and excitement on the kids’ faces as we headed for the ultimate wilderness experience.

Hoover Dam, Nevada

Distance to Hoover Dam from LV:  37.8 miles; 44 mins drive

One of the most extraordinary achievements of modern engineering also transpires to be fairly beautiful to look at.

The Hoover Dam built in the 1930s now supplies a wide Southwest USA region with hydroelectric energy.

The dam also confines beautiful Lake Mead on the Colorado River .

Flagstaff, Arizona

Distance to Flagstaff from Hoover Dam:  222 miles; 3 hours 30 mins drive

We chose a hotel for a night stay at Flagstaff because it is only 80 miles from the Grand Canyon and close to the other seven USA national parks and monuments.

Flagstaff can be your perfect home base to explore some of the most picturesque landscapes in the world. Did you know you can enjoy stargazing in Flagstaff ? Yes!

Hotel Recommendation:   Super 8 by Wyndham

Click here to get the best deals on hotels in Flagstaff, Arizona

Day 4: American Southwest Road Trip

Flagstaff (arizona) to page (arizona).

Route: Flagstaff > US-89 N > Sunset Crater Volcano > US-89 N and AZ-64 W > Grand Canyon > AZ-64 E/Desert View Dr and US-89 N > Antelope Canyon > AZ-98 W > Horse Shoe Bend > Page Hotel

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona

Distance to Sunset Crater from Flagstaff:  20.2 miles; 28 mins drive

Recognized as a U.S. National Monument, Sunset Crater is the youngest volcano in the US.

The volcano’s edge of red cinders and the lava flows near the cone seem to have cooled and hardened to a jagged surface.

Everywhere we walked, we were surrounded by black lava.

Two of the fascinating volcanic features that you’ll come across while exploring the park will be squeeze-ups and hornitos.

Entrance Fee: $25 per car or $20 per bike or $15 per bicycle valid for 7 days. It allows entry to both Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monument

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Distance to Grand Canyon from Sunset Crater:  94.3 miles; 1 hour 46 mins drive

Grand Canyon is certainly one of the widely recognized natural wonders of the world.

No trip to the Southwest is complete without it. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You can explore the Grand Canyon from the North, South, East, and West Rims, but on this route, you’re likely to visit the South Rim, the busiest but most accessible part of the canyon.

The South Rim is the most spectacular part as you’ll be able to drive along Desert View Drive , a 25-mile stretch of road that runs along the canyon’s edge, with views over the Colorado River.

It’s heavenly to spend a few moments on the edge of this colossal abyss, looking out across a precipice so expansive and so deep that you can’t see the end or bottom which makes you feel minuscule in comparison.

It’s an unassuming disparity to the fast-moving cities.

Every glimpse of the canyon has its own peculiar glow, hue, and outlook on the canyon’s labyrinthine topography.

The glories and the beauties of form, color, and sound unite in the Grand Canyon – forms unrivaled even by the mountains, colors that vie with sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrop, from cataract to bubbling fountain. ~ John Wesley Powell

Try to witness the canyon ablaze with shades at sunrise or sunset or both.

The South Rim is open year-round, though some trails can get icy in winter.

North Rim lodging and camping are available from mid-May through mid-October. Access to the North Rim is closed in winter due to snow.

Trail of Time at Yavapai Point and  Junior Ranger Program are recommended activities for kids at Grand Canyon.

If we had some more time, we’d probably got to see the stunning blue-green waters Havasu is famous for.

Unfortunately, it was not in the stars. We were off.

Hiking Havasu Falls tops my list of things to do in the American Southwest next time around. After all, there’s always a next time!

Entrance fee : $35 per vehicle or $30 per motorcycle valid for seven days.

Antelope Canyon, Navajo Land, Arizona

Distance to Antelope Canyon from Grand Canyon South Rim :  123 miles; 2 hours drive

Exquisite place you must see!

Visiting Antelope is so worth the time! As we got to see only Lower Antelope Canyon; I’m still curious about Upper Antelope Canyon.

Antelope Canyon is one of the most stunning, natural things I’ve ever seen in my life!

Once inside the canyon, the spectacle is almost mind-boggling.

It’s obvious to get mesmerized by the shapes and colors of the rocks inside the canyon!

And it’s quite impossible to depict the canyon; you got to stand in its presence to appreciate it.

Be aware that you can’t enter Antelope Canyon without a native Navajo guide.

Navajo Park Permit of $8 for 8 years and up is paid in addition to the tour fee.

Entrance Fee for Lower Antelope Canyon: $40 + $8 per adult, $20 per child (aged 8 to 12), and children aged 0 to 7 get free entry.

Entrance Fee for Upper Antelope Canyon: $52 + $8 per adult, $42 + $8 per child (aged 8 to 12), and $42 per child (aged 0 to 7)

11:30 am tours to Upper Antelope Canyon are a bit costly.

Read our complete guide to Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Distance to Horseshoe Bend from Antelope Canyon:  10 miles; 16 mins drive

We ended our day at Horseshoe Bend.

It was an enthralling experience to stand on the edge and witness the ever-changing hues in the bend.

It’s just about half a mile walk from the car parking to the lookout point.

There are no balustrade and entrance fees, just a divine chance to savor awe-inspiring sights!

Page, Arizona

Distance from Horseshoe Bend to Page Hotel:  2.5 miles; 10 mins

Hotel Recommendation:   Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Page Lake Powell

You can check other properties in Page, Arizona here.

We couldn’t visit Upper Antelope Canyon, Rainbow Bridge (the world’s largest natural bridge) and Glen Canyon but if you’ve time, you can stay at Page for another day or so and explore northern Arizona or can take a boat trip to Rainbow Bridge National Monument at Lake Powell near Page in Arizona.

Page (Arizona) to Panguitch (Utah) to Las Vegas (Nevada)

Route: Page > US-89 > Bryce Canyon > I-15 S > Las Vegas

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Distance to Bryce Canyon National Park from Page:  151 miles; 3 hours drive

It is one of the most remote national parks, and as a result, is significantly less crowded than a lot of the other parks in the southwest USA.

As far as the eye can see, you’ll witness hundreds of strange red geological structures, known as hoodoos.

The sunlight filters through the breaches in the rocks at sunrise and sunset, changing their shades from yellow to red, then purple.

Bryce’s signature hoodoo formations shimmer in shades which is literally fantastic!

There are many viewing points including Rainbow, Sunrise, and Sunset Points each with a slightly different perspective on the canyon.

Bryce Point is quieter and more serene.

The best way to do the drive is to proceed directly south, witness Rainbow and Yovimpa points from the highest part of the park, and then stop at the other viewpoints as you return north.

The best times to visit are from mid-April through mid-June and from early September through early November.

Both seasons bring a flare of hues. Plan well in advance because accommodations book up months ahead of time.

The night sky at Bryce is one of the darkest in the country, making for amazing star exhibits.

It is one of the best places in the country to go stargazing. Virtually no light pollution, and there isn’t much that can block your view.

Entrance Fee: $35 per car, $20 per bicycle or per person; and $30 per bike valid for seven days.

Read More: Bryce Canyon Itinerary – How to See Bryce Canyon in One Day

Another important point to know is about time zones. Utah switches between mountain standard time and mountain daylight time.

Arizona, however, remains on mountain standard time throughout the year. Meanwhile, the Navajo Nation operates on mountain standard time but observes daylight savings.

Why Traveling with Kids is the Best Thing in the World

PS: We couldn’t drive Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip (which includes all the 5 amazing national parks in Utah) but if you have time, you must include it as it’s one of the most iconic Utah road trips .

Drive back to Las Vegas

Off to LV to catch a flight to Orlando (Yes, now it was time for us to explore Orlando!)

Distance to Las Vegas from Bryce Canyon:  261 miles; 4 hours drive

We spent a relaxed evening in Las Vegas as we had a flight to Orlando the next morning. Our hotel, Palazzo was everything we could ask for after a tiring American Southwest road trip.

Hotel Recommendation: The Palazzo at The Venetian

This is the complete itinerary of my road trip!

By far the best road trip I’ve ever done in my life. I really can’t wait to return to this part of the world.

It’s a journey packed with untouched natural beauty , strange and wild roadside attractions, and vast open roads .

There are a lot of places to see out here and believe me, you won’t be able to do it all in one go.

Planning is essential to make the most of your Southwest USA travels.

The Best Time to Take the Iconic Southwest USA Road Trip

The ideal seasons to set out on the Southwest USA road trip are – Spring (mid-April through May) and Autumn (early September through mid-November).

Tips to Know Before You Plan an American Southwest Adventure

• Southwest USA road trip itinerary includes some of the best US national parks , it’s wise to get a National Parks Pass that gives entry to all the national parks to save money and hassle.
• Stuff your car with crates of water bottles especially if you are road-tripping in summer and Stock up from a supermarket.
• Many parts of the region are inaccessible unless you have your own car. Preferably, rent a car from car rental companies in Vegas. Don’t forget to compare rates before you book.
• Make sure to fill up the gas tank to avoid getting stuck at long secluded road stretches (you’ll get many.)
• Book well in advance because the region can get pretty busy because of its popularity especially on weekends and during a season.

What did we miss? Oh boy!

There are umpteen breathtaking and beautiful places that we missed out on and I would love to witness all of them when I revisit.

What else can you add to your American Southwest itinerary with more days on hand?

• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada
• Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
• Zion National Park, Utah
• Arches National Park, Utah
• Canyonlands National Park, Utah
• Coyote Buttes, Ut ah
• Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
• Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah
• Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona
• Red Rock State Park, Arizona
• Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona
• Saguaro National Park, Arizona
• Monument Valley, Arizona

I hope I’ve inspired you enough that you would definitely think of hanging out in the Southwest USA.

Oh, so you’ve already made up your mind to take a Southwest USA road trip! Great!

Let me help you plan your itinerary then. Shoot me the mail.

Was it helpful? Did I miss anything? I would love to hear about your ultimate road trip experience across the southwest USA or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

Save the Best American Southwest Itinerary to Pinterest

Anjali Chawla

18 thoughts on “Southwest USA Road Trip with Kids: Self-Drive Itinerary”

The pictures of Utah’s All America Road are stunning. I like the way you have covered the wilderness of Southwest America!! Looks like something my 9 & 11-year-old adventurers would love to do ?

Wow, such a detailed post Anjali. I’m sure it will help many of those who are planning to visit the States. And beautiful photographs along with the write-up making the post visually appealing. Awesome 🙂

What a wonderful description ..and the canyon is actually grand ..always wanted to do such road trip.. on my wish list now

I have an eye for long on this side of US but only until it falls under my budget one day…The itinerary looks to be perfect for the time in hand and is described with all details necessary..

I was enthralled by the opening lines and pictures. Nevada, Arizona, and Utah are among some of the places I wanna do in the USA and yeah road trip too is on my wishlist, specially after watching the movie Anjaana Anjaani. Very nicely written. ?

Hey Anjali..loved the write up, so detailed and yet so entertaining. Oh and the pictures are absolutely fantastic, my favourites – the lower antelope canyon and the horseshoe bend, absolutely stunning! This seems like the kind of road trips I seek out for all the time. Hopefully I’ll be able to do this circuit soon. Amen! May you have many more such travels to share with us. All the best!

Read your blog first time it’s amazing.how beautifully you hv described everything .the feeling was soo rooted that I felt I am there experiencing everything on my own .congratulations you are truly a star.do share all your blogs will love to experience them.

It’s so lovely to see families Travelling with kids…way to go girl…your kids are lucky…

Hi Anjali… loved the article and pictures. Couldnt stop reading and now craving for more. The article got over too soon and suddenly I was brought back to reality from the lovely road trip.

I absolutely loved the pictures. Your post is so detailed with itineraries and tips. I guess wandering down this beautiful road trip will also make me a kid!! 🙂

I’m always inspired when I read about families who travel with their children – I can’t wait to have children and travel with them as well! 🙂 Your kids are blessed and lucky! The itinerary is awesome. I lived in the US for 8 years and have seen quite a few of these places – definitely can vote for Bryce and the Horseshoe bend 🙂 !

your pictures are incredible! First of all, I love vegas, although my kids havent been! The SW is so beautiful I really need to get my family out that way to explore. We have a big SE US road trip coming up!

my kids just came in as I was reading this and now they’ve run to tell their dad they want to do this trip they loved your pictures so much! It’s fine as we just moved to Mexico and are planning a USA trip next year.

Despite having lived in the US for over 25 years of my life, I haven’t really explored much of the western side of the country. We will be moving back this summer for a few years, though, so a road trip through the southwest sounds like a great way to get reacquainted with my home country! 🙂 You picked a great route for a family road trip – although our daughter is now grown (16 in a couple months!), she still thankfully enjoys traveling with us so we’ll go this a go!

Wow! What an awesome trip. Id love to do this someday! Lots of highlights and the beautiful scenery is absolutely the most inspiring part. Thanks!

stunning your all pictures and article too really nice thanks for sharing n keep it up thanks a lot…!

We are planning a 2 week South West road trip with kids this summer, stopping off to renew our vows in Las Vegas. Was very pleased to find your kid friendly list of Vegas activities. We are also hoping to see Horse Shoe bend and relieved to know it is only a 30 minute walk from the car park (I think it’s going to be too hot for any kind of big hike). Very excited!

Oh wow! that’s exciting. It just reminded of our South west road trip that we enjoyed immensely. I am sure your kids are gonna have a great time. Yes, Horseshoe bend is beautiful, although we just missed the sunset. The Antelope Canyons are close by and are a great trip together. Do let us know if you have any queries. Good luck for your trip.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

© 2024 Travel Melodies. All Rights Reserved.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Road Trip USA: 12 Most Famous Routes To Travel In America

• Famous routes in the USA offer adventure, quirky roadside stops, and iconic diners for road trip enthusiasts craving exploration.
• Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, and the Florida Keys Scenic Highway are some of the most iconic road trips in the US, with breathtaking sights and delicious food stops.
• The Loneliest Road, the Alaska Highway, the Grand Circle, and the Oregon Trail provide unique and scenic routes through untouched wilderness, historic landmarks, and stunning landscapes.

From East to West and North to South, the United States is lucky to have numerous scenic highways and iconic roadways that are beckoning to be explored and perfect for road trips. Whether searching for breathtaking desert mountain ranges or vast misty forests, adventure, quirky roadside stops, and iconic American diners await travelers on these routes. Here are some most famous routes in the USA to travel for those with wanderlust, a yearning for exploration, and the desire to visit some of the best destinations in the US by road.

UPDATE: 2023/11/15 08:44 EST BY SUNIL PURUSHE

Two More Incredible Road Trips To An Already Outstanding List

America is truly a land of never-ending possibilities as far as epic road trips are concerned, and this list is richer by two more. From the East Coast to the Wild West, the United States of America is one of the best countries on Earth for a road trip. Drive safe!

Related: 10 Best Road Trips You Can Take Through The Scenic State Of Texas

Route 66: A Driving Adventure Along The Most Famous Road In The World

Over 2,400 miles across eight states, from Chicago, Illinois, to the Pacific Coast in Santa Monica, California.

Route 66 is one of the most famous road trips in the United States and a classic choice for travelers hoping to soak in Americana culture. Spanning from Chicago to California, Route 66 covers eight states and takes drivers through many historic landmarks and quirky roadside attractions, including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri; the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas; and the Santa Monica Pier in California.

• Popular sights: Ozark Mountains in Missouri, the Painted Desert in Arizona, and the Pacific Coast in California
• Popular food stops: Lou Mitchell's in Chicago, Illinois; the Ariston Café in Litchfield, Illinois; and the Midpoint Café in Adrian, Texas

Before traveling on the most famous road trip in the US, plan to add the best stops along Route 66 to visit on a road trip to the itinerary.

The Pacific Coast Highway: A Rocky Coastline, Striking Cliffs, And Unspoiled Beaches Make PCH One Of The Most Scenic Highways

650 miles on an epic west coast road trip from the north to the south of california..

The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as California State Route 1, is probably the most famous route in America to drive and stretches more than 600 miles across the California coast. The Pacific Coast Highway offers lots to see on the way and is a must-drive route for anyone seeking gorgeous ocean views, sunny weather, and carefree California vibes.

From the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, this route takes roadtrippers through some of California's most stunning and breathtaking sights.

• Popular sights: Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Point Lobos State Reserve, Big Sur State Park, and Pfeiffer Beach
• Popular food stops: Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, Hog Island Oyster Company in Tomales Bay, and The French Laundry in Yountville

The Florida Keys Scenic Highway: 110 miles Across The Islands Of The Florida Keys

Scenic images of dolphins swimming, manatees floating in the waters, and endangered birds gliding through the brilliant blue sky..

The iconic drive along the Florida Keys Highway is perhaps one of the most beautiful road trips in the US in terms of tropical scenery and sea views. The route takes travelers from Miami to Key West with incredible ocean sights all along the way. This road also takes roadtrippers through friendly small towns filled with quirky beach bars and laid-back Florida charm.

Outdoor lovers can spend the day swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving in Florida's pristine waters or exploring some of the beautiful parks in the area, which include the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo and the Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key. The Florida Keys are known for their fresh seafood, and travelers with a sweet tooth must try the area's famous specialty: Key Lime Pie.

• Popular sights: Key West Lighthouse, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, and the Indian Key Historic State Park
• Popular food stops: Hogfish Bar and Grill in Stock Island, the Conch Republic Seafood Company in Key West, and the Fish House in Islamorada

Related: The History Of Route 66, And Why You Should Be Visiting Its Museums

The Blue Ridge Parkway: "America's Favorite Drive," Through The Appalachian Mountains

469 miles of breathtaking scenery through shenandoah national park and the great smoky mountains national park..

Spanning 469 miles from Virginia to North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most famous road trips in the US, as it takes drivers through the majestic Appalachian Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway is filled with beautiful stops , and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy camping, hiking, and fishing in the beautiful state parks found along the route, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The region is filled with plenty of wildlife, and nature lovers might stumble upon black bears, deer, and birds of prey native to the area.

• Popular sights: Shenandoah National Park, Pisgah National Forest, Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mabry Mill in Virginia, the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in North Carolina
• Popular food stops: The BBQ Exchange in Gordonsville, Virginia; the Tupelo Honey Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina; and the Woodlands Barbecue in Blowing Rock

The Loneliest Road: Most Desolate, Yet Most Interesting

A road trip that touches colonial-era landscapes while passing through the wild west up to high-tech silicon valley..

The Loneliest Road is a perfect road trip route for lovers of the American Southwest and has become one of the most famous roads in America. This route belongs to the portion of U.S. Route 50 that runs through Nevada. The Loneliest Road got its name in 1986 when a travel magazine proclaimed there was absolutely nothing interesting along this route, conjuring up images of desolate landscapes and barren wastelands.

This route, however, is filled with captivating desert landscapes, historic ghost towns from Nevada's famed Gold Rush, and quirky roadside attractions.

• Popular sights: The Ruby Mountains, the Great Basin National Park, the Eureka Opera House, and the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
• Popular food stops: Middlegate Station in Fallon, Grandma's in Austin, and Racks Bar and Grill in Ely

The Alaska Highway: A Work In Progress For 75 Years

A magnificent road trip through the epic northern scenery, two-thirds of which lies in canada..

Running from British Columbia to Alaska, the Alaska Highway offers travelers a unique opportunity to explore some of North America's most untouched parts of wilderness. Nature lovers can marvel at epic mountain ranges, sparkling lakes, and vast forests filled with beautiful wildlife and flora.

Visitors can hike or camp in Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve. The Alaska Highway also offers travelers one of the best places in the entire world to see the surreal beauty of the Northern Lights during the winter months.

• Popular sights: Mile 0 Cairn in Dawson Creek, the Signpost Forest in Watson Lake, and the Big Delta State Historical Park in Delta Junction
• Popular food stops: The Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer and Fast Eddy's in Tok

The best time of year to drive the Alaska Highway is from late spring to early fall when the weather is warmer, and there are plenty of daylight hours. Travelers who are determined to travel the route in winter can still make the drive as long as they take extra precautions to keep warm and safe.

The Grand Circle: Some Of The Most Stunning Scenery Imaginable

An epic journey through five states and nine national parks..

The Grand Circle loop takes drivers through some of the most iconic national parks in the American Southwest. Visitors will be able to see the stunning views of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. A popular place to start this loop is in Las Vegas, where visitors can rest and refresh after a long road trip spent hiking, camping, and exploring some of the most beautiful views in the US along the way.

• Popular sights: Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Four Corners, Mesa Verde, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Valley of Fire
• Popular food stops: The Rocking V Cafe in Kanab, Utah; Red Iguana in Salt Lake City, Utah; and El Tovar Dining Room at Grand Canyon National Park

Related: Blue Ridge Parkway Vs. Skyline Drive: Which Is More Scenic?

Maine's Route 1: Over 500 Miles Of Pavement That Snakes Its Way Through New England

A perpetually evolving panorama of coastline, historic landmarks, and charming towns..

Route 1 takes travelers along Maine's rugged coastline, rustic seaside towns, and some of the best lobster shacks in the country. From Kittery to Fort Kent, this route features some of the most charming views of this New England state, including the Acadia National Park, Maine Maritime Museum, whale-watching tours, and some of the most famous lighthouses in America.

• Popular sights: Acadia National Park, Maine Maritime Museum, Portland Head Light, Pemaquid Point Light, and West Quoddy Head Light
• Popular food stops: Red's Eats in Wiscasset, Moody's Diner in Waldoboro, The Whale's Tale in Boothbay Harbor

The Great River Road: A National Scenic Byway And All-American Road Following The Mississippi For 3,000 miles

A collection of state and local roads that take the course of the mississippi river through 10 states of america..

The Great River Road is also among the most famous road trips US states have to offer; it follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana and features charming river towns, breathtaking views of the epic Mississippi River, and historic sites related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the American Civil War. This route is also one of the best road trips in the US for foodies, offering everything from Tennessee barbecue to New Orleans gumbo.

• Popular sights: Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi; the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri; and the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana
• Popular food stops: The Frostop Drive-In in New Orleans, Louisiana; The Blue Owl in Kimmswick, Missouri; and Fitz's Root Beer in St. Louis, Missouri

Related: Here's What Roadtrippers Should Know About The Loneliest Road In America

The Oregon Trail: America's Historic Road Trip Where 400,000 Pioneers Traveled From 1840 To 1880 In Wagons

Nearly 2,000 miles through mountains, valleys, and wild prairie on the historic route of america's first settlers..

Exploring The Oregon Trail is one of the most famous roads in America; it's a road trip made for history buffs and adults who spend their childhoods playing the popular video game. This historic route follows the path of the 19th-century pioneers who settled in the West, offering a fascinating glimpse into America's frontier past. There are plenty of museums on the route that tell the story of westward expansion, such as the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, Oregon.

Tourists can even visit pioneer cemeteries scattered along the Oregon Trail that shed light on just how grueling this journey was. Some of these cemeteries include the Whitman Mission National Historic Site in Walla Walla, Washington, and the Blue Mountain Cemetery in Prairie City, Oregon.

• Popular sights: Independence Rock in Wyoming, Chimney Rock in Nebraska, and Fort Laramie in Wyoming
• Popular food stops: The Oregon Trail Restaurant in Baker City, Oregon, and Fort Laramie Bed and Breakfast Cafe in Fort Laramie, Wyoming

Mighty 5: A Ride Into The Heart Of America's Red Rock Country

Driving through 5 national parks of utah for the most epic adventure..

Known to many as "The Utah National Parks Road Trip" or "Mighty 5 Road Trip", this famous US route is often considered the best road trip in America and, by some, even the best in the world. Drive through Utah's national parks with canyons stretching as far as the eye can see, soaring sandstone cliffs, fire-colored rock hoodoos, and thousands of dramatic arches, like the famous formations in Arches National Park .

• Popular sights: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Parks
• Popular food stops: Hell's Backbone Grill and Farm in Boulder, Capitol Burger in Torrey, Arches Thai in Moab, I D K Barbecue in Tropic

Olympic Peninsula Loop: a 300 Mile-Long Odyssey Through Stunningly Gorgeous Landscape

Winding around the perimeter of olympic national park, passing rugged mountain peaks, pristine alpine lakes, lush green forests, and scenic beaches..

Although packed with famous US highways that are seemingly made for road trips, few Washington drives are as iconic as the Olympic Peninsula Loop. The Olympic Peninsula Loop is 330 miles long and studded with countless sites to explore.

Although the loop can be covered in one day, to justify this road trip, travelers on the route can break the journey along many stops, such as the glassy Lake Cushman inside Olympic National Forest, Port Townsend known for its Victorian architecture, Lavender farms in the town of Sequim (pronounced “Squim”) and a historic lighthouse from 1857 inside Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. Seattle and Portland are two major cities accessible from the Olympic Peninsula Loop.

• Popular sights: Lake Cushman, Lighthouse inside Dungeness Refuge, Hoh Rain Forest, La Push, Ruby Beach, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent
• Popular food stops: Pellegrino's Italian Kitchen in Tumwater, Jean-Pierre's Three16 in Tumwater, Gardner's Restaurant in Olympia