southwest usa travel guide

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.

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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.

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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

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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 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. 

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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

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• 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!

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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.

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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!

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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.)

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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!

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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.

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These phOtos are GORGEOUS!

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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THANKS FOR READING

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American Southwest

• 3 Other destinations
• 4.1 Landscape
• 4.2 History
• 4.3 Climate
• 6.1 By plane
• 6.3 By train
• 7 Get around
• 9.1 Winter sports
• 9.2 Water sports
• 9.3 Bicycling
• 9.4 Hiking and backpacking
• 9.5 Hunting and fishing
• 9.6 Camping
• 12.1.1 Dust storms
• 12.1.2 Rain and flash floods
• 12.2 Hiking
• 12.3 Heat and summer weather
• 12.4 Forest fires
• 12.5 Desert wildlife

The American Southwest contains more than its fair share of natural wonders: Grand Canyon , Arches National Park , and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are only three of the most famous natural attractions that draw people from all over the world. The region is home to a wonderful and vibrant mix of Anglo, Latino, Hispanic, and American Indian traditions making it one of the more diverse and interesting corners of America with regards to history, landscape and culture.

States [ edit ]

The Navajo Nation is a reservation that overlaps areas of three of these states.

Note: Parts of California , Colorado , and Texas are usually considered to be part of the "Southwest", but they appear in other travel guides.

Cities [ edit ]

• 35.116667 -106.616667 1 Albuquerque – the largest city, transportation hub, and economic center of New Mexico.
• 32.314028 -106.779806 2 Las Cruces – home to New Mexico State University and close to the Mexican border.
• 36.169167 -115.144722 3 Las Vegas – "Sin City", the lavish, indulgent destination for all manner of extravagant entertainment, including gambling and other vices.
• 33.448333 -112.073889 4 Phoenix – the capital of Arizona, a huge city in the desert.
• 39.526111 -119.812667 5 Reno – Las Vegas' lesser-known cousin is the "Biggest Little City in the World", with plenty of gambling, resorts, and other entertainment.
• 40.75 -111.883333 6 Salt Lake City – the capital of Utah and of the Mormon Church, host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and a starting point for Utah's breathtaking outdoor attractions.
• 35.666667 -105.966667 7 Santa Fe – the capital of New Mexico with history, architecture, and a thriving art scene.
• 32.221667 -110.926389 8 Tucson – Arizona's second city, a blend of cultures in the midst of scenic desert landscapes.

Other destinations [ edit ]

• 38.728056 -109.54 1 Arches National Park
• 37.6283 -112.168 2 Bryce Canyon National Park
• 38.1669 -109.76 3 Canyonlands National Park
• 32.175278 -104.443889 4 Carlsbad Caverns National Park
• 36.0553 -112.122 5 Grand Canyon
• 36.983333 -110.1 6 Monument Valley
• 32.25 -110.5 7 Saguaro National Park
• 32.779722 -106.171667 8 White Sands National Park
• 37.202619 -112.98785 9 Zion National Park

Understand [ edit ]

Landscape [ edit ].

Contrary to the Southwest's image as a sprawling desert, it is one of the most geographically diverse regions in the United States. Beginning at the high elevations of the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains the landscape descends into dramatic bluffs and mesas before emptying out on the flatlands of the Rio Grande. The dry climate and dramatic red rock landscapes help tie the region together despite the dramatic differences in elevation.

History [ edit ]

Human settlement in the Southwest dates back over 12,000 years, and is preserved today by the rock art, cliff dwellings, and other archaeological remains found throughout the region. The Pueblo (sometimes known as the Anasazi) people inhabited the area for well over one thousand years, but disappeared during the 12th or 13th century AD. The Athabascan people (Navajo and Apache) began arriving as early as 1000 AD and remain the largest indigenous group in the area to this day. In the 1500s Spanish explorers arrived and remained a dominant military force for nearly three hundred years. The area became part of Mexico in 1821 after Mexico won its independence from Spain. By the mid-1800s the expanding United States established a presence, and in 1848, after a war with Mexico, much of the area became United States territory. The colonization was commemorated in the legends of the Old West .

In the post-war years , the Southwest has seen become part of the prosperous Sun Belt, with newcomers both from north and south, for gambling, mining, technology industry, and retirement.

Climate [ edit ]

The region experiences the full range of climate extremes from 100-125°F (38-52°C) in the summer down to sub-zero in the northernmost regions in the winter. The dry, cold conditions in the northern mountainous regions make for excellent skiing, while the desert heat is perfect for those looking to escape winter's bite.

Talk [ edit ]

Although English is the predominant language spoken throughout the Southwest, Spanish is also common among Hispanic populations throughout the region. Most of this region was once under the rule of Spain and Mexico , and also has large immigrant populations from Mexico and Latin America . Numerous indigenous tribes throughout the region speak a myriad of languages; however, this is a trait most particularly observed within reservation boundaries. Linguistic diversity is more prevalent in larger metropolitan areas. The larger national parks and museums in the region provide signage and reading materials in other common languages such as German , French and Japanese .

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

The region's primary airports are in:

• Albuquerque -- hub for Southwest Airlines, served by most majors, nominally an "international airport" but no nonstop international flights.
• Las Vegas -- another Southwest Airlines hub, some international service (on other airlines).
• Phoenix -- home base and largest hub for Southwest Airlines, as well as a major hub for American Airlines; a major airport with service to a number of international destinations; Tucson also has limited international service.
• Salt Lake City -- major hub for Delta Air Lines, service to many international destinations.

By car [ edit ]

Entry from Mexico is surprisingly limited given the length of the region's Mexican border. New Mexico has border crossings at Santa Theresa, Columbus and Antelope Wells, of which the small town of Columbus is the only 24-hour port of entry; most traffic entering New Mexico from Mexico arrives via the 4 border crossings at El Paso , Texas, just outside the state. Arizona has border crossings at Douglas , Nogales and (outside) Yuma , with a few others that may or may not be open at any given time.

Major highways entering the region from other parts of the United States all have their western entries to the region from California (note that produce brought into California from Arizona is subject to inspection). East- and north-side entry points are:

• Interstate 10: from Texas at Las Cruces , New Mexico.
• Interstate 15: from Idaho near Salt Lake City.
• Interstate 25: from Colorado near Raton , New Mexico.
• Interstate 40: from Texas in empty country in eastern New Mexico.
• Interstate 70: from Colorado in eastern Utah.
• Interstate 80: from Wyoming near Salt Lake City.

I-17, I-25 (north end), I-40, I-70 (east end) and I-80 (east end) are all subject to occasional delays or closures in the winter owing to snowfall, as they go over mountainous country en route to (and within) the Southwest.

By train [ edit ]

Amtrak has three routes running through the Southwest, all of which run east-west connecting California to cities in the east. The California Zephyr cuts across Utah and Nevada, running roughly parallel to I-70 and I-80, stopping in Salt Lake City and Reno. The Southwest Chief runs through New Mexico and Arizona, parallel to I-40 west of Albuquerque with stops near Santa Fe and in Albuquerque and Flagstaff . Finally, the Sunset Limited zips through the small southwestern corner of New Mexico and across southern Arizona, with a stop in Tucson.

Get around [ edit ]

The southwestern United States was the first region extensively served by Southwest Airlines, which began as a Texas-only low-cost (and low-frills) carrier before expanding first into the Southwest and now into most of the U.S. Southwest is notable for its widely distributed network of minor hubs in contrast to the hub-and-spokes approach used by most airlines in the United States. Not only as a result of Southwest's approach, but also because its competitors in the region have adopted its ways to some extent, the major cities of the region tend to be connected very well by air, and fares are relatively low. Intra-regional air service to the lesser cities can be much more expensive, due in part to the fact that Southwest has no agreements with commuter airlines that service the smaller airports.

The imposing obstacle of the Grand Canyon limits road and rail traffic within the region. South of the Grand Canyon, Interstate highways 10 and 40 connect New Mexico and Arizona cities reasonably conveniently. I-40 basically follows the route of historic Route 66 in the region. I-80 serves a similar function for Nevada and Utah.

However, getting from north to south or vice versa by road is a more challenging proposition. No railroads make this connection, and the few highways that connect Arizona to Utah or eastern Nevada are minor, generally two-lane, lightly traveled, and frequently far from traveler services. If you're driving north-south from Arizona, pay careful attention to your fuel level, and make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition. I-15 runs southwest to northeast from Barstow, California through Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City across Utah. I-17 runs in Arizona between Phoenix and Flagstaff. I-19 connects Nogales and Tucson. New Mexico is bisected north-south by I-25, which runs from I-10 in Las Cruces though Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Denver into Wyoming.

Outside the major cities you will most likely have to rely on a car, but despite the reputation of the Southwest in general as a very car centric region, Salt Lake City actually has decent (by US standards) public transit. Other southwestern cities however, do live up to that reputation and touring this part of the United States without a car can be a challenge bordering on the impossible.

See [ edit ]

The Southwest is best known for its stunning scenery. The terrain is incredibly varied. You might find yourself driving through a desert landscape of red rock, and within a few hours you'll wind up climbing into the mountains. Some of the most striking sights are National Parks, protected from development and offering easy access to some of the most stunning attractions - parks like Carlsbad Caverns N.P., Grand Canyon N.P., Bryce Canyon N.P., and Zion N.P.

While known for its incredible natural beauty, the Southwest also has many historical sites. Throughout Arizona and New Mexico are reminders of the Native American culture, from the ruins of great pueblos in Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona, Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico, and Mesa Verde in nearby Southwestern Colorado , to the thriving culture in communities still inhabited, like Taos Pueblo in Taos , New Mexico. The Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico from Albuquerque to Taos was the site of some of the first permanent European settlements in the country, and many towns in the area hold on to their Spanish roots, with the town plan of a central plaza and an adobe church overlooking it, surrounded by small adobe homes. On the other hand, in Utah (particularly all of Northern and Central Utah and the Dixie region) most of the historical sites are based around the Mormon Pioneers who transformed what many considered to be an uninhabitable wasteland into a thriving oasis of farmland and neatly planned cities and towns.

Do [ edit ]

Winter sports [ edit ].

Considering the vast deserts and red rock landscapes that the Southwest is so well known for, it may seem hard to believe that this region offers some of the best skiing in the country, gifted by the varied terrain and exquisite powder. Salt Lake City, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is about 60 miles from nearly a dozen ski and snowboarding resorts in the Wasatch Range just to the east. Utah also has a couple of smaller but far less crowded resorts, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of North Central New Mexico offer a handful of resorts, notably Taos Ski Valley near Taos.

There are also many opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in most of the forests of the region, scattered throughout Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Water sports [ edit ]

While you won't find any good places to surf or sail, the Colorado River and its two man-made reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead , offer a chance for boating, kayaking, and white-water rafting through the canyons and expanses of red rock. Other rivers in the region give further opportunities for rafting, like the Rio Grande near Taos.

Bicycling [ edit ]

Cycling is hugely popular in the Southwest, from touring and road cycling to mountain biking, from high mountain valleys to rugged red rock landscapes. You can find a decent bike shop in just about every decent-sized town. Just keep in mind that nearly all National Parks have strict restrictions on just where you can bike, and some National Forests have their own rules as well.

Hiking and backpacking [ edit ]

The majority of the Southwest is public land, and just about anywhere you go you'll find a trail. All of the National Parks offer a range of trails, from easy, paved walks to strenuous hikes. Most of the trails in the National Forests are well-marked and traverse long distances, great for overnight backpacking. Bureau of Land Management property is a bit hazier - if there isn't a well-marked trail, be cautious as you could wind up entering private land. Be sure to prepare for any hike: pack lots of water, apply sunscreen, and watch for rapidly changing conditions.

Hunting and fishing [ edit ]

With the exception of salt-water fishing, this region offers just about every kind of recreational fishing there is, from renting a boat and casting in the middle of a lake to fly-fishing in mountain streams. The region also offers excellent hunting opportunities for both large and small game. Be sure to check the local laws and regulations before you do anything, though.

Camping [ edit ]

The Southwest offers thousands of camping opportunities which can be enjoyed year round. Choose your destination wisely. Camping in the summer months will be too hot in the desert, however the mountains will offer cool camping possibilities. In the late fall through early spring is the time to visit the deserts. The spring can be especially rewarding with the wildflowers.

Eat [ edit ]

For the most part you can find a diner or a place selling "American Food" in any town, and in most places you should be able to find a fast food chain , be it a regional or national one. In the larger cities cuisine options tend to open up, and in the largest cities you can find just about any form of cuisine you may be looking for.

New Mexico has a distinctive cuisine of its own, characterized by chile ( chile , not chili) peppers, pork, beans, blue corn, and other common ingredients. Any town anywhere in New Mexico will have a diner selling both American and New Mexican food, and specific recipes may vary. Wherever you go, you will probably be asked the question "Red or Green?". What this means is what kind of chile you want on your dish, red chile (which tends to be the hottest) or green chile.

The Native Americans in the area also have a cuisine of their own, and you may find local restaurants specializing in frybread, Navajo tacos, cornbread, or posole.

Drink [ edit ]

Be warned that alcoholic beverages are forbidden in the Navajo Nation and in many other American Indian pueblos and reservations. Note that many Mormon-owned restaurants do not serve coffee, tea, or alcohol. There are many other drinks to have there.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Driving [ edit ].

Common sense should be applied to any problems you may face. The desert is beautiful, but it does not suffer fools kindly. Cell phone coverage is extremely spotty outside of urban areas, and while it's usually possible to use a cell phone from the interstate highways, this is nowhere close to universally true. Also, many areas of the Southwest can be as much as two hundred miles from the nearest tow truck, so be prepared. Have a spare, a jack, and a lug wrench, not to mention a full gas tank, blankets and extra water for use in an emergency. Winter nights can be bitterly cold in the desert, especially at higher altitudes, even at times when the daytime temperatures are quite hot.

Dust storms [ edit ]

Some areas experience dust-storms where visibility is almost nil. While usually brief, dust storms need to be taken seriously as they can quickly decrease visibility. Similar as with blizzard "whiteout conditions", multiple-car collisions are unfortunately a rather common occurrence in dust storm "brownout conditions" in the southwest, as drivers underestimate or disregard their reduced visibility.

If you see a dust storm while driving:

• Turn on your headlights and slow to an appropriate speed.
• If you can safely avoid it, do not enter the dust storm.
• If you need to pull off the road, get as far to the right as possible, going even beyond the shoulder into the ditch if possible.
• Turn off the car, headlights and parking lights, set the parking brake, and keep your foot off the brake pedal - go dark, otherwise other drivers may think you're a car in motion and likely rear-end you.

Rain and flash floods [ edit ]

During summer, typically central Arizona and New Mexico do experience heavy rainstorms, called monsoons. While these may be brief in any given area, the heavy rain can cause flooding in low-lying areas. If you find yourself driving during one of these storms:

• Slow down: road surfaces are slick from the water, but also the oils especially if it's the first rain of the season.
• If you need to pull off the road, get as far to the right as possible. Turn off the car, headlights and parking lights, set the parking brake, and keep your foot off the brake pedal - go dark, otherwise other drivers may think you're a car in motion.
• Pay attention to hazard signs and roadblocks. If you see a sign that says "Do Not Cross When Flooded", take it seriously and find another way. In some states and municipalities, any motorist who drives around barricades into a flooded stretch of roadway may be charged for the cost of his or her rescue. In Arizona this is commonly known as the "Stupid Motorist Law" .
• Don't cross rain-swollen washes. You could get caught in a flash flood, and you don't know what's under the water. That guy out there who seems to be only ankle-deep in water may be standing on the roof of his pickup truck.
• Most of these summer monsoon rainstorms are accompanied by lightning; some bring hail. Take proper precautions.

Hiking [ edit ]

If you choose to enter the desert to go hiking or sight-seeing, wear comfortable shoes with a tread and bring water. Natives to the area are disdainful of those who are lost or injured while hiking or exploring. Many desert and mountain areas do not have cell phone reception; it is vital to bring maps and tell someone where you will be going and when you expect to return. Hiking during the day is often a poor choice, due to the intense heat, it's better to start around dawn when it is cool.

Also, it is best to hike during the earlier part of the day, as thunderstorms tend to develop suddenly during the afternoon. Don't enter narrow canyons or dry river beds if rain or storms are in the forecast. In the event you encounter inclement weather conditions, seek high ground immediately! When it does rain in the desert, it can be quite heavy and come real fast. Thunderstorms can cause flash flooding in canyons and other low laying areas, even if it is not raining in the immediate vicinity.

Heat and summer weather [ edit ]

It is not uncommon for people to become very ill in the intense heat, or even die. It is vital to constantly drink water in the summer. If you're feeling thirsty, you're already behind on your water intake. Restaurants will give small cups of cold tap water for free (in moderation) and most establishments will be sympathetic and give cups for water, even if they do not sell it. Some restaurants will want to sell you bottled water, but you can ask for a glass of tap water.

Sunburn is a serious risk, even for people who are very dark. If you are not familiar with incredibly hot, dry, desert climates, it is vital to apply sunscreen every 45 minutes. Sunburns can range from uncomfortable to serious damage requiring medical attention. Burns also mark you as a tourist or non-native to the area.

Despite the intense heat, it is good to wear very thin layers of clothing that cover as much skin as possible: long sleeves and long pants such as of breathable, quick-dry fabrics. Sunglasses and hats with a wide brim and neck shade are also recommended. Americans in the Southwest value air conditioning; some stores, restaurants, and movie theatres will be cooled to temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Forest fires [ edit ]

Under no circumstances light fires except where specifically posted, even in forest areas that do not seem at first glance particularly dry. This includes campfires, fireworks, and cigarettes (unless you are in an established area). The southwest is vulnerable to massive fires sweeping across several states; these often start from a single match or small campfire. These large fires destroy homes, entire towns, wildlife, and huge swaths of forest. Anyone who starts fires, accidentally or on purpose, will get no sympathy and probably no mercy either.

Desert wildlife [ edit ]

Coyotes are a desert animal, similar in appearance to a small wolf or dog. They are extremely intelligent and have adapted to also live in urban areas where they eat garbage. They travel in packs and can interbreed with dogs. They are often considered pests or nuisances and can be seen at night. Do not approach or disturb them - they are wild animals. They rarely attack humans, preferring to run, but cornering one or approaching pups is a good way to get hurt.

There are poisonous animals in the desert. Rattlesnakes often live in cool ledges or hidey-holes outside away from people. Do not stick your hand in a place you cannot see (say, onto a ledge while rock climbing). They often "rattle" as a warning before they strike, a very loud sound similar to that of a baby rattle. If you hear a rattle stop what you are doing immediately. Their bite is both painful and venomous, it's imperative you immediately seek medical care. Rattler bites can be fatal.

Scorpions are small arachnids with a large tail that curls over their body into a stinger. Common in the Sonoran Desert, the bark scorpion is light brown. They range in size from the palm of your hand to the size of a paperclip (3 in, 8 cm). They also hide in cool places, such as linen closets and shoes. Their sting ranges from mildly irritating to extremely painful. Check your shoes before putting them on by turning them upside-down and banking them, like you're trying to get sand out of them. If you are stung, seek medical attention or call the national Poison Control hotline (+1 800-222-1222). A person should see a doctor if they have severe conditions, such as difficulty swallowing, or symtoms that worsen within 2-3 hours of the sting. It is very unlikely to be fatal.

Black widows are a form of spider common to this area. They are often shiny, black, with a large or swollen abdomen with a red hourglass figure on it. They build webs and hide in areas such as corners, under beds, and again, in shoes. Their bite is extremely painful and poisonous, unlikely to cause death but can cause damage.

Africanized bees are common in this area. Africanized bees are extremely territorial and aggressive, they build their hives in any undisturbed area - awnings of houses, old cars, trees, and so on. Do not harass these bees or approach a hive. They will swarm and give chase for up to a mile; diving under water does not dissuade them. An individual sting in unpleasant and painful, multiple stings can lead to death.

Fire ants are also found in the area, both urban and rural areas, including residential yards. Watch for anthills if you choose to sit on the ground or lay an object on the ground. They build hives underground with few signs on the surface. They are often a dull red color. Their sting is painful. If the hive is disturbed or threatened, they will attack en mass. Leave the area immediately and treat the stings with minimal medical care as soon as possible.

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Southwest USA

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Lonely Planet's Southwest USA is our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the region has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Marvel at the Grand Canyon, experience unbeatable nightlife in Las Vegas and visit world-class museums in Santa Fe; all with your trusted travel companion.

Inside Lonely Planet's Southwest USA Travel Guide

Lonely Planet's Top Picks- a visually inspiring collection of the destination's best experiences and where to have them

Itineraries help you build the ultimate trip based on your personal needs and interests

Local insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - whether it's history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, politics

Eating and drinking get the most out of your gastronomic experience as we reveal the regional dishes and drinks you have to try

Toolkit - all of the planning tools for solo travelers, LGBTQIA+ travelers, family travelers and accessible travel

Colour maps and images throughout

Language - essential phrases and language tips

Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah

ISBN: 9781787016552

Edition: 9th

Publication Date: September 2023

Writers: 

Balfour, Amy C

Balsam, Joel Benanav, Michael Bremner, Jade Jones, Jay

432 pages, 61 maps | Dimensions: 128mm width × 197mm height

Next edition due: August 2025

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!

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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.

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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.

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The Southwest Travel Guide

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The Southwestern desert states of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada stretch from Texas to California, across an elemental landscape ranging from towering monoliths of red sandstone to snowcapped mountains, on a high desert plateau that repeatedly splits open to reveal yawning canyons. This overwhelming scenery is complemented by the emphatic presence of Native American cultures and the palpable legacy of America’s Wild West frontier.

Brief history

Each of the four Southwestern states remains distinct. New Mexico bears the most obvious traces of long-term settlement, the Native American pueblos of the north coexisting alongside former Spanish colonial towns like Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Taos. In Arizona, the history of the Wild West is more conspicuous, in towns such as Tombstone, site of the OK Corral. More than a third of the state belongs to Native American tribes, including the Apache, Hopi and Navajo; most live in the red-rock lands of the northeast, notably amid the splendour typified by the Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley.

The canyon country of northern Arizona – even the immense Grand Canyon – won’t prepare you for the compelling desertscape of southern Utah, where Zion and Bryce canyons are the best known of a string of national parks and monuments. Moab, between majestic Canyonlands and surreal Arches in the east, is the top destination for outdoors enthusiasts. Nevada, on the other hand, is nothing short of desolate, though gamblers are lured by the bright lights of Las Vegas.

You can count on warm sunshine anywhere in the Southwest for nine months of the year, with incredible sunsets most evenings. Although “snowbirds” flock to southern Arizona in winter, elsewhere summer is the peak tourist season, despite air temperatures topping 100°F, and the awesome thunderstorms that sweep through in late summer, causing flash floods and forest fires. By October, perhaps the best time to come, the crowds are gone and in the mountains and canyons the leaves turn red and gold. Winter brings snow to higher elevations, while spring sees wild flowers bloom in the desert.

The Southwest’s backcountry wildernesses are ideal for camping and backpacking expeditions. It’s vital to be prepared for the harshness of the desert: always carry water and if you venture off the beaten track let someone know your plans.

Unless you have your own vehicle, many of the most fascinating corners of the region are utterly inaccessible. Scheduled public transport runs almost exclusively between the big cities – which are not at all the point of visiting the region.

Among the earliest inhabitants of the Southwest were the Ancestral Puebloans. While their settlements and cliff palaces, abandoned More than seven centuries ago, are now evocative ruins, their descendants, the Pueblo peoples of New Mexico and the Hopi in Arizona, still lead similar lifestyles. From the fourteenth century onwards, the incoming Navajo and Apache appropriated vast tracts of territory, which they in turn were soon defending against European immigrants. The first such, in 1540, were Coronado’s Spanish explorers, fruitlessly searching for cities of gold. Sixty years later, Hispanic colonists founded New Mexico, an ill-defined province that extended into much of modern California and Colorado. Not until 1848 was the region taken over by the United States. Almost immediately, outsiders began to flock through on their way to Gold Rush California.

Thereafter, violent confrontations increased between the US government and the Native Americans. The entire Navajo population was rounded up and forcibly removed to barren eastern New Mexico in 1864 (though they were soon allowed to return to northeastern Arizona), while the Apache, under warrior chiefs Cochise and Geronimo, fought extended battles with the US cavalry. Though the nominal intention was to open up lands to newly American settlers, few ever succeeded in extracting a living from this harsh terrain.

One exception were the Mormons, whose flight from persecution brought them by the late 1840s to the alkaline basin of Utah’s Great Salt Lake. Through sheer hard work, they established what amounted to an independent country, with outlying communities all over the Southwest. They still constitute more than sixty percent of Utah’s population and dominate the state’s government.

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The Top 13 Destinations in the Southwestern US

Jamie Killin is a freelance contributor to TripSavvy. She began writing for the site in July 2020. She is an experienced cuisine and travel writer whose work has been published by national media outlets including Business Insider and Thrillist. 

The American Southwest, often known to the rest of the world more for its Old West history than its incredible natural sights, is a sprawling region from Arizona to Oklahoma that’s home to lakes, caves, meteor sites, canyons and one-of-a-kind rock formations unlike those found anywhere else on the planet.

The Grand Canyon alone boasts nearly five million visitors from across the globe every year, but there are several other notable sites yet to be discovered by ambitious travelers. From the avid adventurers to the casual explorers, most southwest destinations offer something for everyone – from strenuous hikes and gravity defying bridges to million-year-old histories.

Here are just a few of the top destinations the region has to offer.

Horseshoe Bend

TripSavvy / Kathleen Messmer 

The cliff above Horseshoe Bend near the northern border of Arizona offers a look at one of the most iconic views of the southwest where the Colorado River bends around a massive rock formation. It is accessible by a short, yet steep, hike. While most visitors hike up to view the thousand-foot drop, it is also possible to view the natural wonder with a 30-minute scenic flight or Colorado River rafting trip.

Grand Canyon

TripSavvy / Alisha McDarris

The Grand Canyon, housed in Arizona, is one of the most visited attractions in the United States. The canyon was formed by The Colorado River over the course of millions of years, creating a formation that is 277 miles long, and in some places up to 18 miles wide. The canyon offers tours for every interest and activity level, from helicopter tours, bus tours, and bike tours to raft trips and hikes. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is another extremely popular way to discover the canyon, offering a thrilling way to look down into the canyon through a glass walkway.

Monument Valley

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove 

Monument Valley on the Utah-Arizona border is home to some of the best-known rock formations in the Southwest, including the Mitten Buttes. The most popular way to experience the views is with the Valley Drive, a 17-mile dirt and gravel driving loop that can be self-driven without four-wheel drive. The other self-guided option is the Wildcat Trail hike, which is a 3.2-mile loop circling some of Monument Valley’s most popular buttes. There are also guided driving tours and hiking tours that explore less-traveled areas within Monument Valley.

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater is the world’s best-preserved meteorite impact site, giving visitors an up-close look at the 550-foot deep and nearly mile-wide hole left by a meteor crash approximately 50,000 years ago. Guests visiting the Arizona attraction can explore the crater on their own or learn the extensive history of the unique attraction through an interactive guided tour.

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is a 5,000-foot red rock formation in Sedona, Arizona, that has become one of the nation’s most photographed sites thanks to its majestic view and vibrant red coloring. The best way to experience the rock formation is by taking the short, moderately difficult 1.2-mile Cathedral Rock Trail hike.

Turner Falls

Turner Falls is Oklahoma’s largest waterfall offering stunning views, hiking trails, swimming areas, and even camping. While it’s most popular for summer recreation trips, it’s open during the winter months as well. You don’t need a tour of the falls to enjoy the incredible views, however there is a per-person, per-day cost to enter.

Royal Gorge

The Royal Gorge in central Colorado is a stunning, 1,200-foot deep and 10-mile long canyon naturally formed by the Arkansas River, that in recent years has been turned into a family-friendly amusement park. Visitors can immerse themselves in the gorge’s natural splendor thanks to a nearly 100-year-old bridge, as well as the peaceful aerial gondolas, a rollercoaster dubbed the “World’s Scariest Skycoaster,” and the thrilling Cloud Scraper Zipline positioned 1,200 feet above ground.

Hanging Lake

Hanging Lake within Glenwood Canyon is one of Colorado’s many natural wonders, known for its picturesque waterfalls flowing into an astonishingly clear lake formed by travertine to create a beautiful and geologically rare sight. Due to the fragility of the lake’s ecosystem, a permit is required to hike. The hike is short at about a mile, but not particularly easy due to the canyon’s steep and rocky terrain.

Caddo Lake on the eastern border of Texas is known for its unique and majestic views, amplified by its surrounding bald cypress trees draped with Spanish moss. Visitors can come for the day, set up camp, or rent a historic cabin to enjoy the variety of activities offered by the 26-thousand-acre lake. From easy hikes, to fishing and boat tours, there’s a lot to do around Caddo Lake, which is also known for its extensive wildlife.

Carlsbad Caverns

The Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico comprise more than 119 underground caves naturally formed by dissolved limestone. The awe-inspiring caves feature several areas to explore, with one of the most memorable being dubbed ‘Big Room’ which is 4,000 feet long and more than 600 feet wide. It is currently known as the fifth largest chamber in North America. To explore the 46,000 plus acres of caves, visitors can opt for self-guided access, audio guides or ranger-guided tours.

Jacob’s Well

Jacob’s Well is an approximately 13-foot-wide and 140-foot-deep underground cave in Hays County Texas, known for its dangerous diving conditions and breathtaking beauty. The almost perfectly circular natural well serves as a great place for tourists and native Texans alike to cool off in the 68-degree water and enjoy the outdoors during the summer. Entrance to the 81-acre natural area is free but expect to pay a swimming fee to fully enjoy the well during peak season. During the winter months, morning guided tours are available.

Valles Caldera

Valles Caldera in northern New Mexico is a 13-mile wide, circular depression caused by a volcanic eruption more than a million years ago. Today, it’s known for its seemingly endless meadows, winding streams and extensive wildlife. The area offers several hikes as well as biking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, and hunting. To learn more about the history of Valles Caldera, visitors can enjoy park ranger-led tours, or opt for a tour offered by one of the area’s outside agencies.

Antelope Canyon

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove

Antelope Canyon on the border of Utah and Arizona is one of the world’s most photographed natural wonders, known for its wave-like rock formations created by millions of years of water erosion. It is only possible to visit Antelope Canyon with a guided tour from one of the several authorized tour operators. Visitors can opt for the upper or lower canyon tours, either regular guided tours or photography tours. The lower canyon tours are generally less popular, as they are longer and provide fewer light beams. For the best views at either canyon, it’s recommended to visit during the summer months.

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Southwest USA Tours & Trips

Find the right tour package for you through Southwest USA. We've got 270 adventures going to Southwest USA, starting from just 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 170 days. The most popular month to go is September, which has the most number of tour departures. Read here about the best USA vacations .

250+ Southwest USA tour packages with 7,005 reviews

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7 Day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Camping Tour

A great 7 day trip to see the canyons with a fantastic guide Adriann who we had on our trip. Highly recommended!

• 5% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

7 day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Tour

The tour was fantastic. The group became friends quickly. Our guide, Hogan, was great! He was knowledgeable and had a great rapport with us. We had a great time!

Hiking Utah's Mighty 5

Charlie was an excellent guide. He fed us well and made everyday exciting. The hikes were breathtaking.

Best of Utah & Arizona National Parks

Fantasia trip with lots of great hiking and sightseeing opportunities.

• Christmas & New Year

Sedona, Monument Valley & Antelope Canyon – 3 days

Lorenzo was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Our driver Donald was awesome! Very professional and skilled. My children and I enjoyed our tour very much.

California Express - 3 Days

It was our first time using Tour Radar and we were extremely satisfied with the overall trip. Tour Guide was great and informational. Really got in everything plus more than we expected. Accommodations were good. Will definitely do again! Mona Largent/Robert Kemp

Mighty 5 From Las Vegas

This trip was amazing. This was a bucket list trip for my daughter and I. From the beginning when we met our tour guide, Dave showater to the end. Dave was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and did fantastic driving and picked fantastic restaurants along the way. I would highly recommend this trip. The parks were excellent.

Mighty 5 From Salt Lake City

This was a wonderful experience brought to life by a passionate and caring tour guide.

Western USA National Parks Loop

We had a wonderful tour. Our tour guide was John Harris, he did an outstanding job making sure everyone had a great experience, had enough water and went out of his way too accommodate everyone’s dietary needs. We would highly recommend taking this tour, leave all the worries to your tour guide just sit back be driven to all the parks with lunch and snacks provided each day. Great way to experience the parks.

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Vegas to San Fran

Best of the Canyonlands (7 Days)

Great. Our guide Stephen was excellent

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Coach / Bus

Exploring America's National Parks

It was a nice tour. The itinerary was good, perhaps have more time at each site. Pace quite rapid sometimes, just the time for photos. At the same time there was so much to see, the only way would have been to lengthen the trip which was already long. I would recommend this trip.

Canyons, Cities & National Parks: 14-Day West Coast Adventure featuring Grand Canyon, LA, Yosemite & San Fran

I’ve just come back from the Coyote West Coast tour and it was brilliant! The itinerary covered everywhere we wanted to go (and a little bit more) and got the balance right between seeing enough different places without feeling too rushed. Equally, it was cool to have the opportunity to see a more rural and local side to the states as opposed to well known destinations. The accommodation at each stop was great and always central enough to wherever you were. Jessa, our tour guide, was great and recommending local restaurants and bars away from the tourist traps. She’s was also on hand at all hours if we needed any advice or help getting things booked. We had a really good group and all got on well together. Highlights were visiting the Grand Canyon (with Whisky tasting after), Santa Monica which is stunning and cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an added bonus not having to think about transport and activities as this was all organised for you. Epic trip, 100% recommend! Thanks Coyote!

USA - The Western Deserts

We have chosen the tour specifically because it was in German and also in other languages shown. Also on our voucher was again confirmed the tour with professional, German-speaking tour guide. Unfortunately, the tour guides did not speak German. We were able to help ourselves a bit with the translation app but we also missed a lot of information. We are very disappointed about this and expect compensation. The tour guides have tried and were very nice also the tour was very nice.

Enchanting Canyonlands (Classic, 7 Days)

I wanted to say excellent, but there is room for improvement. The website could be better. It required passport information with no option for "Not applicable." As a U.S. Citizen traveling in the U.S., a passport wasn't needed, but I continued to get reminders to complete my profile. Fortunately, I got an email assuring me I didn't need the passport, but I suggest updating your website. The descriptions of several days said "relaxed start," but most days, we had to be up early enough to be showered, dressed, and have our suitcases ready for pickup by 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. As an east-coaster, that was fine for me because of the time difference, but normally, I wouldn't call that relaxed. The sites were stunning, the optional activities were great, although one that I wanted to do got canceled due to a storm and there was no way to reschedule. The lodging was great at each stop and the provided meals were excellent. Some of the suggested "on-your-own" spot for meals were not so good. The change of lodging plans at the Grand Canyon was disappointing because we didn't get to see the sunrise at the Grand Canyon or the stars late the night before. Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park were all fantastic, and we were blessed with great weather for most of the trip. Everyone should see these wonders of God's creation.

What people love about Southwest USA Tours

We did the 7 day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Camping Tour with Adriann as our guide and it was outstanding! We drove through beautiful landscapes, had the opportunity to hike in all the national parks and were able to take great photos. Adriann is very accommodating, knows a lot about the individual places and manages to make the trip an unforgettable experience for everyone. We chose the camping option and didn't regret it. The sunrise over the Moment Valley was particularly unique! We can highly recommend Bindlestiff and especially Adriann Narciso :)

What a lifetime experience everyone needs Jun 2023 • Solo Within 7 days, we drove in 3 states, visited 5 national parks / 2 state parks, hiked 60 miles, made friends from 7 different states/nations, and eventually traveled through the iconic Route 66 back to Las Vegas. What a lifetime experience everyone needs Day 1 - Zion National Park Day 2 - Bryce Canyon National Park Day 3 - Canyonlands National Park Day 4 - Arches National Park Day 5 - Monument Valley Navajo Nation Day 6 - Grand Canyon National Park / Antelope State Day 7- Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas via Historic Route 66 AMAZING!

the best way to explore the vastness and glory of the Utah desert is by camping and hiking in small groups. I enjoyed this trip immensely, it was challenging enough but not too much. Our guide was a brave and resourceful powerful woman. I am planning my next trip with you already!

Southwest USA Tours starting in:

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Lonely Planet Southwest USA 8 (Travel Guide) Paperback – March 20, 2018

There is a newer edition of this item:.

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher

Lonely Planet Southwest USA is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Nourish your soul as you soak up the sheer immensity of the Grand Canyon, chase the neon lights in Las Vegas, or be lured by the ski slopes, hiking trails and white-water rapids of Taos -all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Southwest USA and begin your journey now!

Inside Lonely Planet's Southwest USA Travel Guide :

• Colour maps and images throughout
• Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
• Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
• Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
• Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
• Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, politics, lifestyle, Native Americans, culture, art, literature, cinema, music, architecture, landscapes, wildlife, environmental issues, cuisine, beer, wine, customs, etiquette
• Covers Las Vegas, Nevada, Arizona, Greater Phoenix, Grand Canyon Region, Navajo Reservation, Taos, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Southwestern Colorado, Utah and more

The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Southwest USA , our most comprehensive guide to Southwest USA, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled.

Looking for a guide focused on Las Vegas? Check out Lonely Planet's California guide for a comprehensive look at all the city has to offer; Discover Las Vegas , a photo-rich guide to the city's most popular attractions; or Pocket Las Vegas , a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip.

About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveler community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travelers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves.

• Print length 544 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Lonely Planet
• Publication date March 20, 2018
• Dimensions 5.4 x 0.88 x 7.85 inches
• ISBN-10 1786573636
• ISBN-13 978-1786573636
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From the Publisher

Welcome to Southwest USA

The Southwest is America’s untamed playground, luring adventurous travelers with thrilling red-rock landscapes, the legends of shoot-’em-up cowboys and the kicky delights of green-chile stew.

This guide includes information on:

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Book description, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lonely Planet; 8th edition (March 20, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 544 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1786573636
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1786573636
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.3 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.88 x 7.85 inches
• #71 in Canadian National Parks Travel Guides
• #75 in Grand Canyon Travel Books
• #842 in West Mountain United States Travel Books

About the authors

Christopher pitts.

Christopher Pitts works as a writer, editor, and translator for various publishers including Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveler, the Institute of East Asian Studies, and University of California Press. Visit him online at www.christopherpitts.net.

Lonely Planet

With over 150 million guidebooks in print, Lonely Planet is a trusted source for any traveler. Since our inception in 1973, we've inspired generations of travelers to discover amazing places and enabled curious travelers to get off the beaten paths to appreciate different cultures and become agents of positive change.

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Carolyn McCarthy

Author of many travel guides to North and South America, Carolyn McCarthy specializes in adventure, culture and the environment. Skilled at tough travel, she has explored the Amazon Basin via dugout canoe and solo hiked Patagonia to write Lonely Planet's Trekking in the Patagonian Andes. Other titles include guides to Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Central and South America. She has also contributed to the Lonely Planet guide to Yellowstone & Grand Tetons National Parks and Lonely Planet's Best in Travel series.

Her work also appears in National Geographic, the Boston Globe, Sherman’s Travel and other publications. A former Fulbright fellow and Banff Mountain Culture grantee, she currently writes a travel column for Patagon Journal.

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Southwest U.S.

This Southwest USA travel guide has everything you need to know about Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The Southwest United States is known for arid deserts, red rock landscapes, rugged mountains, the Alamo, and natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, Big Bend, and Monument Valley.

Whatever kind of adventure you want to have in the Southwest, this guide has everything you need for planning a trip!

Ready to plan your trip? Then here’s your ultimate S outhwest USA travel guide !

Know Before You Go

Towns and gas stations can be few and far between in some parts of the Southwest. So make sure you always have enough gas to get where you’re going.

Cities to Visit

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Fall is a fantastic season to visit the Southwest because the temperatures have cooled off, but the days are still long and sunny. The foliage will be changing colors – the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is spectacular. Plus, prices and tourist numbers will be decreasing from the peak summer season.

You’ll want layers for the mornings and evenings, and in late-October and November, you’ll need warmer layers for the whole day.

Route 66 is particularly lovely during Fall because you won’t risk inclement weather or encounter as many tourists as the rest of the year.

Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon are two of the Best Destinations To Visit In November .

In Winter, you can choose between snow or no snow in the Southwest. For snow sports, you’ll want to stay at Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire Resort. Arizona’s Sunrise Resort, or the Arizona Snowbowl.

But if you want to escape the snow, then many of the southern parks and cities will have relatively mild temperatures in the mid-40sºF (around 7ºC) during the day. You’ll want warm layers, especially in the mornings and evenings.

Winter is the low travel season for the Southwest. So prices and tourist numbers will be at some of their lowest. The exceptions to this are the ski resorts and around Christmas and New Year’s.

Some National Parks will have trail or road closures, so make sure you check in advance whether a trek or drive is open.

The warm pleasant days and refreshingly cool nights make Spring an excellent time to visit. Wildflowers will be blooming, especially Texas bluebonnets. And this is the start of the rodeo season!

All roads and trails will re-open, and as long as you avoid the peak Spring Break weeks from mid-March to early April, the crowds and prices will still be relatively low.

You’ll still want warm layers for the mornings and evenings and in the higher elevations.

Summer days are sunny and have the perfect daytime weather in the mid-70s to low-80s°F (24-28°C), and the nights are warm enough to camp out under the stars.

But be aware that, like most places in the U.S., summer is the peak travel season because of school breaks, so crowds and prices will be at their highest. Route 66 is particularly crowded this time of year.

Incredible Vacation Homes & Hotels

Cool Hotels in Arizona

The Best Hotels in the Southwest U.S.

Sedona Luxury Vacation Rentals

The Best Hotels in Sedona

Fantastic Vacation Homes in the Southwest

The Best Hotels in Scottsdale and Phoenix

Top Vacation Homes In Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ

Top Vacation Homes for Rent in Tucson, Arizona

The Best Hotels in Tucson

Vacation Home Rentals in Waco, Texas

The Best Hotels in Waco

Luxury Vacation Rentals in Arizona

Unique Hotels in Dallas, Texas

The Coolest Airbnbs in Dallas

The Coolest Downtown Austin Vacation Rentals

The Best New Mexico Vacation Rentals

Luxury Vacation Rentals in Texas

National & state parks to visit.

Saguaro National Park Guide

What To Do in White Sands National Park

Best Things To Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Backpacking Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Scenic drives.

THE ULTIMATE ARIZONA ROAD TRIP

Must-Do Excursions

Shop my travel essentials.

Local Foods To Try

Have you been to this region comment below with anything you’d add to this southwest united states travel guide, explore the u.s. by region, frequently asked questions, what do people like to do in the southwest region.

Your American Southwest bucket list:

1. Visit the Grand Canyon

2. Drive Route 66

3. See Montezuma Castle National Monument in Arizona

4. Paddle on Lake Powell in Arizona

5. Visit Taos Pueblo in New Mexico

6. Lounge on South Padre Island in Texas

7. Visit the South Padre Island in Oklahoma

8. Swim in Turner Falls in Oklahoma

What are some major attractions in the Southwest region?

The best national and state parks to visit in the Southwest USA:

1. Grand Canyon National Park

2. Big Bend National Park, Texas

3. Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

4. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

5. Glass Mountains State Park, Oklahoma

6. Monument Valley, Arizona

7. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

8. White Sands National Park, New Mexico

9. Saguaro National Park, Arizona

10. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

What do you know about the American Southwest?

The Southwest USA region consists of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. This region is known for arid deserts, red rock landscapes, rugged mountains, the Alamo, and natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, Big Bend, Route 66, and Monument Valley.

Why do tourists visit the Southwest?

The Southwest USA is famous for its unique and breathtaking landscapes – from red rocks and deserts to caves and rivers. Cities in the Southwest are known for their food and mild winters. The famous Route 66 road trip is also one of the most driven scenic drives in the country.

What food is the Southwest known for?

The best local foods to try in the Southwest USA:

1. Albondigas de Pollo

2. Arizona Cheese Crisp

3. Cactus Fries

4. Chile Relleno

5. Enchilada Casserole

6. Green Chile Cheeseburger

7. Huevos Rancheros

9. Sopapillas

10. Stuffed Peppers

What is the Southwest famous for?

The Southwest is known for its arid deserts, red rock landscapes, rugged mountains, national and state parks, food, and the famous Route 66.

What is the most famous landmark in the Southwest?

The Grand Canyon is the most famous landmark in the Southwest USA and the entire country.

What are some fun facts about the Southwest?

Fun facts about the Southwest USA:

1. The region’s main food is called Tex-Mex

2. Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado meet at Four Corners, the only place in the country where four states meet at one point.

3. Three of the four North American Desert ecosystems (Great Basin, Mojave, and Sonoran) converge at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

YOUR TRAVEL CHECKLIST

Book your flight, get travel insurance, book your accommodation, make sure you're traveling with the best credit card to earn travel points and avoid international fees, find out if you need a visa and get one here, pin this guide.

This Southwest USA travel guide is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Southwest USA travel guide are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

June 18, 2020

Lucy Maynard

Agnes Clapsaddle

i like this perfect article

Lucy On Locale

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Is Southwest going to start assigning seats? CEO says the airline is weighing changes.

Southwest Airlines is considering doing away with open, single-class seating on its aircraft.

In an interview with CNBC , ahead of the airline’s first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, CEO Bob Jordan said the company is weighing options for cabin reconfiguration to address its recent revenue shortfall.

“We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” Jordan told the network.

Southwest has long differentiated itself from other airlines with one class of seating and little variability – no extra legroom seats or first class on its 737 fleet. But now, Jordan said it may be time to change the strategy.

Cruising Altitude: Another Boeing plane issue? Don't fall for the headlines.

“Customer preferences do change over time,” he told CNBC. He acknowledged the airline hasn’t made any decisions on implementing a new strategy but said studies about what they could do have yielded “interesting” results. 

For now, the only reliable way for Southwest customers can get their seating preference is to pay extra for an earlier boarding position. Southwest Airlines does not currently assign seats and passengers claim their real estate as they board the plane in an assigned order. 

During Thursday's earnings call, Jordan confirmed the airline was exploring updates to its seating and boarding processes. He also announced Southwest would be ending service to Syracuse, New York; George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (the airline will still serve William P. Hobby Airport); Cozumel, Mexico and Bellingham, Washington. Jordan cited underperformance in those markets as the reason for their closure.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

Southwest Airlines ending flights at Houston's Bush International, three other airports

Swa is also reducing capacity at hartsfield-jackson atlanta international airport and chicago o'hare international airport, by cristina gonzalez • published april 25, 2024 • updated on april 25, 2024 at 11:20 am.

Southwest Airlines will stop flying to four airports in the United States and Mexico, including Bush Intercontinental in Houston, due to losses recorded in the first quarter of the year and delays suffered by Boeing aircraft.

The Dallas-based airline announced on Thursday that it will stop operating at the following airports:

• Syracuse, New York
• Bellingham International Airport, Washington
• Cozumel International Airport
• George Bush Intercontinental Houston

As part of the restructuring, Southwest would also implement "significant" capacity reductions at other airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

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"To improve our financial performance, we have intensified our network optimization efforts to address underperforming markets," said Bob Jordan, CEO. "I want to sincerely thank our employees, the airports, and the communities for all their incredible support over the years."

Southwest Airlines flies only Boeing aircraft, so it continues to face challenges due to delays in the delivery of aircraft that are expected to last until 2025.

The route changes will take effect on Aug. 4, 2024.

The airline will limit employment processes and voluntary leave programs to help reduce costs and is expected to end the year with 2,000 fewer employees than it had at the end of 2023.

The news comes after JetBlue announced in late March that it was also reducing flights to cities like Los Angeles and Miami to cut costs after its $3.8 billion merger deal with Spirit Airlines fell through.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Open seating no more? Southwest CEO says airline is weighing cabin changes

Southwest cuts growth plans, warning effect of Boeing airplane delays will last into 2025

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