The American Southwest is known for its red-rock canyons, wide open spaces, and crazy natural beauty unlike anywhere else in the world. It is one of the best road trip destinations in the USA, and one of our favorites. Full of national parks, national memorials, state parks, and stunning drives, you can see a lot without traveling very far. Here are three of our favorite southwest road trips itineraries.
Bryce, Grand Canyon & Zion
8 Nights – Starting and Ending in Las Vegas
Kick off your trip in the bright lights of Las Vegas. Take in a show or try a little gambling, before picking up your RV and hitting the road. Your first park is Zion, known for its stunning landscape and abundant hikes, whether it’s wading through the river in the Narrows or the thrilling Angels Landing. Travel to Bryce and explore the famous hoodoos by horseback or take a wild ATV ride. Continue to the less-visited North Rim of the Grand Canyon, where you will marvel at its depth and beauty. Hire a mule ride to take you along the rim or just soak in the views at sunset, drink in hand. Explore Snow Canyon State Park with its 16 miles of hiking trails and world-class climbing. Return to Las Vegas to drop off your RV and hop on a flight home.
If you have more time, we recommend adding in a stop in Lake Powell before returning to Las Vegas. Rent a boat for the day to enjoy the pristine waters, or explore the magnificent slot canyons of nearby Antelope Canyon.
Grand Canyon & Sedona
8-9 Nights – Starting and Ending in Las Vegas
Begin your trip in the bright city lights of Las Vegas. Gamble, take in a world-class show, or even take a trip out to Red Rock Canyon before picking up your RV and hitting the road. Head to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the most popular way to see the park, and check this big one off of your bucket list. You’ll find there are many ways to take in the breathtaking views, from hiking to horseback rides to helicopter tours! Next is Sedona, a city surrounded by red rock cliffs and spiritual vortexes. The Day Hike Capital of the US and known for its overland trails, you can explore this city in a variety of ways. Drive old Route 66 to Lake Mead, where you can enjoy the 700 miles of shoreline and tour the Hoover Dam. Return to Las Vegas to drop off your RV and head home.
Grand Canyon & Utah’s Mighty 5
13 Nights – Starting and Ending in Las Vegas
Visit all of Utah’s National Parks, The Mighty 5, with an added bonus of the Grand Canyon, in one single, epic road trip! Starting under the bright lights of Las Vegas, your trip then takes you to Zion, where you can hike to Angels Landing or through the Narrows. Continue to stand among the hoodoos in Bryce before making your way to Capitol Reef, home to mighty gorges and walls of petroglyphs. Drive to Moab, the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands, and stand underneath sandstone arches and view vast canyons from above. Your route then takes you to Monument Valley before hitting the Grand Canyon to marvel at the wild depths and fantastic landscapes. Return to Las Vegas via Lake Mead, catch your breath, and hop on a flight home.
Don’t have 13 nights? Consider removing the Grand Canyon and taking a one-way trip from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City.
These are 3 iconic southwest road trip itineraries, but there are many more options! We can build a custom southwest RV road trip just for you, based on where you want to go and what you want to see. Contact us to get started!