How to Plan an American Southwest National Parks Road Trip (for Non-Hikers)

Whether planning your first Southwest adventure or trying to maximize vacation days, most travelers’ biggest challenge is creating an itinerary that doesn’t involve backtracking hundreds of miles or rushing through these spectacular destinations just to check them off a list.

Having completed this exact 7-day road trip loop, covering six major American Southwest National Parks, I learned firsthand what works—and what doesn’t—when navigating this region.

Admittedly, I am not an avid hiker or extreme outdoors enthusiast, so I approached this journey with the goal of maximizing the scenic payoff without exhausting myself.

My experience driving over 1,500 miles through Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico taught me invaluable lessons about timing, accommodation, and which trails offer the most reward for the least effort.

That’s exactly why I’m sharing this detailed 7-day itinerary—complete with honest assessments of each destination, money-saving tips, and realistic expectations for travelers who prefer scenic drives or at least non-exhausting hikes over strenuous ones.

You’ll discover which parks truly deliver those jaw-dropping moments and which ones might not be worth the detour, plus practical insights that only come from actually completing this challenging but rewarding Southwest loop.

My Southwest National Parks Road Trip Itinerary at a Glance

You don’t have to start this roadtrip from Los Angeles, there are several other great cities to choose from depending on where you’re located, such as:

• Las Vegas — 152 mi / 2 hrs 15 mins
• Phoenix — 381 mi / 6 hrs
• Salt Lake City — 269 mi / 3 hrs 45 mins

Why Take a Trip to the American Southwest?

Well, it offers a diverse range of landscapes, natural wonders, and outdoor activities (even if you aren’t a hiker, which is very much not me).

The area is home to numerous national parks, including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Grand Canyon, and a road trip is an ideal way to experience it all.

Whether you’re driving your own car, like me, or renting a car, you can explore the parks of the Southwest at your own pace while road tripping and thus do as many hiking trails, scenic drives, and off-the-beaten-path travel destinations as you like.

How Did We Decide Which National Parks to Add to This Road Trip?

I began planning our American Southwest National Parks road trip by considering the following factors:

• Researching beautiful locales within driving distance of Los Angeles, CA.
• Neither of us is extremely active, so we avoided National Parks with difficult hiking trails.
• We wanted some lovely views, so we scoped out images of the parks.
• Some locations were selected for their historical or wow factor, such as Mesa Verde National Park or Petrified Forest, respectively.

There are many lovely places to see in the Southwest USA area. One such place is Canyonlands. Joshua Tree is also a must-visit destination for its unique allure.

However, after laying out the locations I had gathered on a Google Map, we found it to be a little out of the way of the loop I had created with the other National Parks and destinations, so we skipped it.

Feel free to do the same with this National Park roadtrip itinerary. If one of the locales doesn’t jive with you, skip it or swap it!

7 Day American Southwest National Parks Itinerary

We began our National Park roadtrip early in the morning from Los Angeles, CA, and drove out in my car towards Zion National Park, which is located in the Southwest corner of Utah.

If you’re looking for additional places to drive, you can take a lovely Oregon Coast road trip by heading up north of California. Or, if you’re more of an RV gal, here are some RV road trip tips for Arizona and Utah.

Day 1: Zion National Park, Utah

Zion is one of the many National Parks in Utah. Parking is limited inside and lots are commonly filled early in the day.

Since we were arriving in the afternoon, we opted to avoid that headache. Instead, we parked in the nearby town of Springdale and rode the free Springdale Shuttle to the park’s Pedestrian Entrance.

We picked the hiking trails we wanted to attempt while there based on our energy level and experience. Please check the official Zion Canyon trail descriptions for detailed descriptions and the latest information, such as closures that may affect some trails’ availability.

We did the Lower Emerald Pool trail, which takes you through a small creek, and the Weeping Rock Trail, both of which are listed as “easy.”

Lower Emerald Pool is listed as 1 hour, and Weeping Rock is listed as .5 hour, but I recall we were there for about 3 hours. Likely because of the shuttle in and out, shuttling between the two trails, and taking extra time for photos.

As I’m not a huge nature girl, that amount of time was perfect for me, but if you are, then one day in Zion is perfect! I could have added another hour or two, but I recall we were rushing a bit as we had to make the last shuttle in order to get back to my car.

Those looking to explore more of the landscape of Utah won’t be disappointed, as there are many incredible places to visit.

Day 2: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park was my favorite of the American Southwest National Parks we visited. It is simply stunning!

It feels like a planet you’d see in Star Trek. Which is perfect for a nerd visiting from LA! I honestly have no other way to describe it except maybe hot.

As we visited in June, it was broiling. Make sure to bring water with you on hiking trails, as there was nowhere to get any water, to my recollection, in these parks.

I recall sticking to shade where I could get it, and that helped a bit.

While at Bryce Canyon National Park, we did an easy trail, Queens Garden, and a moderate trail, Navajo Trail. They make a combination loop that gives you a great opportunity to see Bryce from many different areas.

The Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop is the most popular hike in the park and a top recommendation for first-time visitors. It combines the open views and unique hoodoos of the Queen’s Garden Trail with the switchbacks and towering canyon walls of the Navajo Loop Trail.

It took us about 3-4 hours to complete the 2.9-mile loop. We got lost towards the end and went a bit farther than needed, but we quickly figured it out and corrected ourselves.

Note the entrance fee to Bryce Canyon National Park includes unlimited use of the park’s shuttle during its operating season.

If you’re looking for another hike nearby, there’s also Lower Calf Creek Falls.

Day 3: Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Horseshoe Bend is not one of the official American Southwest National Parks, however, it has gotten popular over the years as an Instagram spot for its unique and gorgeous view of the Colorado River.

The Horseshoe Bend overlook faces West, so please note that before sunrise and after sunset, the view of the Colorado River below tends to be in shadow, but at other times of the day, it is fully visible. 

Upon arriving, you’ll see a sign for Horseshoe Bend overlook and a large parking area. From there, you walk out to the overlook.

There are signs as you leave the parking lot to take water with you. Since it was such a short walk to the overlook, I ignored this. BIG mistake!

Please, oh please, do not do what I did, as I wound up nearly passing out on our walk back to the car. I actually had to stop and take a rest in the one shaded area nearby that was packed with people to recover.

It’s approximately a 1.25-mile, 30-minute roundtrip walk from the parking lot to the overlook. It’s also flat, but none of this stopped me from feeling like I may faint. I didn’t even think that it was that hot out or that I was that dehydrated, but apparently, I was.

All in all, it’s beautiful, but please take precautions, water, and keep away from the edge for safety.

Day 4: Monument Valley, Arizona

Monument Valley, even though it’s not one of the American Southwest National Parks, was on the top of my National Park roadtrip list as it’s been the filming location of many films and TV shows, such as:

• Thelma & Louise
• Forrest Gump
• The Lone Ranger
• A Million Ways to Die in the West
• Westworld
• …and many more.

And it’s no wonder—it’s spectacular.

We chose to get a guided tour of Monument Valley as the loop involves very rough terrain and deep sand dunes. I have a coupe, so it’s not a rugged terrain vehicle, which made me concerned.

Rather than chance it, getting a guide with a vehicle seemed a far better idea and allowed me to concern myself with the experience rather than possible car trouble.

It also gave us a chance to learn about this Navajo Tribal Park from someone who grew up in the Navajo Nation.

Our guide took us on the 17-mile loop scenic drive, showing us the scenic beauty and magnificent formations while telling us about Navajo culture and history and, of course, what films have captured the natural wonder of Monument Valley.

He also stopped at certain locations so that we could get out and take photos. I highly recommend a guide, not only for car concerns but in order to learn while experiencing this breathtaking valley. We took a 1.5-hour tour, but you can find tours of varying lengths that fit your schedule.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

If you’re looking for a low-key addition to your National Park roadtrip, Mesa Verde is it! I loved Mesa Verde not only for its cliff dwellings—the ancient homes and villages of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here for more than 700 years—but because this was a tour I could take in my car.

Remember, it was mid-summer when I went, so it was HOT!

We had also been hiking the last few places, so any excuse to sit in the air conditioning was perfectly fine with me. For those who get car sick though, I recall the Mesa Top Loop Road, a 6-mile (10 km) scenic drive, being a bit windy.

Along the road are short, paved trails to view twelve ancestral sites, including surface sites and overlooks of cliff dwellings.

The first stop of the tour is Pithouse, where you can get a printed guide to the Mesa Top Loop. You can also download their audio tour, Mesa Top Loop Drive: A Pueblo Perspective, and listen along in your car or on your phone, which takes about an hour.

Day 5: Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Another more leisurely addition to your National Park roadtrip is the Petrified Forest. As it’s mostly flat, it’s easy enough to get around this area, so much so that I recall seeing strollers on the paved trails.

I don’t recall which hiking trail we did. I know we were only there a couple of hours, but there are several trails for you to choose from depending on how long you’d like to spend.

Of all the American Southwest National Parks, the Petrified Forest is best known for its Triassic fossils and the landscape of the Painted Desert. Having turned to stone during the last 225 million years, these large petrified trees now contain a multitude of rainbow hues.

What’s nice about this park is that you can get super close to the trees. I don’t advise touching them and harming anything, but it’s incredible how close you can get to see the crystalized shapes of the rings within the trees.

You almost feel like you’re in some Jurassic world while there. Even as recently as 2013, researchers unearthed a well-preserved, two-foot-long phytosaur skull, a distant ancestor of the modern crocodile.

Sedona, Arizona

You probably didn’t expect to see McDonald’s on this National Park roadtrip! Right? Well, we got into Sedona late, and on our way to our hotel, I spotted these turquoise arches.

When the Sedona McDonald's was built in 1993, city officials believed a bright yellow M would intrude on the surrounding natural scenery. Claiming that gold would clash with the surrounding red rocks, the city is famous for.

So they settled on a soft blue to match the city’s (natural) decor, making it the only McDonald’s in the world that doesn’t feature the golden arches.

Aside from McDonald’s, there is plenty to see in Sedona.

However, we didn’t get a chance to as we were running out of time and running low on energy with the heat and amount of driving I was doing. But if you have some more time, below are some suggestions to take advantage of.

Day 6: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The last stop on this National Park roadtrip was the Grand Canyon. I’ve heard about the Grand Canyon nearly my entire life, but I have to say, of all the American Southwest National Parks, this was the one I was least impressed by.

I’m not sure if it was because it was the end of the trip, I was tired of driving, or the heat, but I basically parked, walked near the edge, looked down, and that was it. My friend had to actually convince me into walking around the South Rim.

We wound up hanging around the Village Historic District for an hour to two, which includes a Visitors Center, Hopi House, and the Grand Canyon Railway Depot.

If I had had the energy to hike down, maybe I would have enjoyed it. Who knows? If I had gone on a Grand Canyon helicopter tour, where I could have beat the heat. Maybe? But of all the National Parks on this National Park roadtrip itinerary, this is the one I’d skip if I were to do this all over again.

Day 7: Head Back Home

I began in Los Angeles, so this was a drive back for me on this day, but depending on where you’re coming from, it can also be a flight back home from several different airports.

Depending on which Rim you’d like to visit, will dictate where you should fly out of.

Las Vegas (LAS) is closer to the Grand Canyon, only 128 miles to the West Rim. The West Rim is where you can explore the Grand Canyon Skywalk and easily visit Hoover Dam. You could also spend a day in Vegas and enjoy world-famous entertainment at the end of your roadtrip.

Alternatively, you could fly out of Phoenix (PHX), which is 222 miles to the South Rim.

There is also Flagstaff (FLG), but flying into Phoenix is cheaper, as there are more flights since PHX is an international airport.

Or you could start in Salt Lake City, which is another great airport to use.

Southwest National Parks Road Trip Map

Where to Stay Near These Southwest National Parks

On our roadtrip, we didn’t book any accommodations ahead of time because we decided to go at our own pace.

This is extremely unusual of me as I’m used to plan, plan, plan, but it was actually nice to just see where we were toward the end of daylight hours and pick hotels and motels along our route.

The first accommodation we stayed at was just outside the Zion area in Hurricane, UT.

We chose Hurricane over Springdale, which is at Zion’s door, because it was far more affordable. Hurricane is a much larger town than Springdale, allowing more choices in places to stay affordably.

There are other towns around Zion, however, so as long as you’re looking in the larger areas, you should be able to find something in your budget.

We then stayed in Hatch, UT, which is near Bryce Canyon—followed by Mexican Hat, which is near Monument Valley. We then moved to Gallup, NM, located near the Petrified Forest. And finally, a hotel in Sedona before a stay in Kingman on our way back to Los Angeles.

Best Hotels Near Zion National Park

Springdale sits right at Zion’s south entrance and is your most convenient option, though it comes at a price.

• Cliffrose Springdale, by Hilton is a strong upscale pick, with a riverfront location, heated pool, and red rock views.
• Cable Mountain Lodge is the closest property to the park entrance itself, steps from the shuttle stop.
• Driftwood Lodge offers a simpler, more affordable stay without straying far from the park.

If Springdale’s prices don’t fit your budget, Hurricane (where we actually stayed) is about a 30-minute drive away and noticeably cheaper.

• Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane and Sleep Inn & Suites Hurricane are both well-reviewed, affordable options in town.

Best Hotels Near Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon City sits right at the park’s entrance and is your most convenient base.

• Best Western PLUS Ruby’s Inn is the largest, most established option here, just a mile from the gate, with indoor and outdoor pools, multiple dining options, and a tour desk for things like stargazing tours.
• Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, right next door, is a newer, more upscale alternative with a complimentary hot breakfast buffet.

If you’d rather stay slightly outside the immediate park strip, Tropic (about 15 minutes away) and Panguitch (about 30 minutes away) both offer a quieter, more local feel, with options like Stone Canyon Inn in Tropic for a more secluded stay.

Best Hotels Near Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend itself is just outside the town of Page, Arizona, and nearly every hotel option for this stop is actually located in Page.

• Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell is a strong upscale pick, just minutes from the trailhead, with an outdoor pool, fitness center, and complimentary breakfast.
• For something more budget-friendly, Hampton Inn & Suites Page – Lake Powell and Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Page Lake Powell are both well-reviewed and only a few minutes’ drive from the overlook.

Since Page also serves as the jumping-off point for Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell, basing yourself here for a night lets you knock out several Southwest highlights at once.

Best Hotels Near Monument Valley

• Goulding’s Lodge is the most established option right in Monument Valley itself, just a few miles from the park entrance, with a restaurant, indoor pool, and the on-site Goulding’s Trading Post Museum.
• The View Hotel, located just inside the Navajo Tribal Park boundary, offers rooms with direct views of the iconic buttes, a genuinely rare perk for this area.

Mexican Hat, where we stayed, sits about 20 miles north and offers more budget-friendly options, including Mexican Hat Lodge and the San Juan Inn, both well-reviewed motels along the San Juan River.

Kayenta, about 20 miles south, is another solid alternative, with chain options like Hampton Inn Kayenta and Best Western Wetherill Inn.

Best Hotels Near Petrified Forest National Park

Holbrook, about 20-25 miles from the park, is the main lodging hub for this stop.

• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Holbrook Petrified Forest consistently earns some of the best guest ratings in town and is pet-friendly.
• For a fun, only-in-Arizona option, the Wigwam Motel offers unique teepee-style accommodations right on historic Route 66, a fitting overnight stop on a Southwest road trip.

If you’d rather stretch your legs in a slightly bigger town, Winslow, about an hour west, adds the historic La Posada Hotel to the mix, along with easier access if you’re continuing on toward Sedona or Flagstaff next.

Best Hotels Near the Grand Canyon (South Rim)

Tusayan, just outside the South Rim entrance, is the most convenient base if you don’t want to stay inside the park itself.

• The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon is a AAA 3-diamond property about a mile from the entrance, with a heated indoor pool, recently renovated rooms, and several on-site dining options.
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Canyon is a solid, family-friendly choice within walking distance of Tusayan’s restaurants.
• Red Feather Lodge offers a more budget-friendly, pet-friendly option in the same area.

If you’re willing to stay further out, Williams (about an hour south) has more Route 66 character and connects to the South Rim via the scenic Grand Canyon Railway, while Flagstaff offers the widest range of hotel options in the region.

Southwest Road Trip Tips for First-Time Visitors

• Go in a cooler month if you can. We visited in June, and the heat sapped our energy daily. If your schedule allows, shoulder-season months will make hiking and driving far more comfortable.
• Rotate drivers if you’re not going solo. Over 1,500 miles is a lot for one person to handle alone, and fatigue creeps up faster than you’d expect on long desert highways.
• Don’t feel obligated to book every night in advance. We didn’t reserve any accommodations in advance and simply picked towns based on how far we’d made it each day. It worked well and gave us flexibility, though if you’re traveling in peak season, booking ahead reduces the risk of getting stuck with a hotel you don’t like or paying through the nose.
• Skip any park that doesn’t excite you. We originally considered Canyonlands and Joshua Tree but cut both since they didn’t fit the loop geographically. If a stop doesn’t make sense for your route or interests, swap it out.
• Get a guide for Monument Valley if you’re not in a rugged vehicle. The loop involves rough terrain and deep sand that a standard car won’t handle well. My Honda was pretty new at this time, and I didn’t want to risk it. A guided tour solves that problem and adds real cultural context from a Navajo Nation guide.
• Check for timed-entry requirements before you go. None of the parks on this specific itinerary required reservations during our visit, but policies change, so confirm current requirements for each park before your trip.

How to Save at National Parks

You can save money on admission to the American Southwest National Parks by either getting a pass that covers multiple parks for a year or checking with your local library.

When I did this trip, libraries in California were allowing you to borrow a National Parks pass. I looked this up, and it seems they have this for California parks now, but I can’t find it otherwise. However, check this by your particular state, as it may vary. It’s worth a shot to save some money!

Or, you can plan for around six days when the National Park Service sites offer free admission. Check their calendar for the latest dates.

However, my only concern with these dates is that they may make the park busy, so attendance could be limited. Please keep that in mind.

Reservations at National Parks

We didn’t have any issues when we visited in the Summer of 2018, but the National Parks Services site states that some highly visited parks use a seasonal or year-round timed entry system to manage vehicle traffic.

So, if you’re planning to drive into one of these parks while the timed entry system is in effect, they recommend making a reservation in advance.

None of the American Southwest National Parks I’ve listed below apply to this system, but keep it in mind should you add another park to your itinerary that it does apply to.

What to Pack for a Southwest National Parks Road Trip

Because it is the Southwest, this loop covers areas that experience extreme heat, long stretches of driving, and trails with little to no shade, so packing right matters more here than on a typical sightseeing trip to avoid heat exhaustion and other health risks.

• More water than feels necessary. I ignored the warning signs at Horseshoe Bend and nearly passed out on a flat, 30-minute round-trip walk. Bring more than you think you’ll need, especially for Horseshoe Bend, Petrified Forest, and any Bryce Canyon hiking.
• Sun protection. A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are non-negotiable across nearly every stop on this loop, since shade is hard to come by at several of these parks.
• Comfortable walking shoes, even for “easy” trails. Trails like Lower Emerald Pool and Weeping Rock at Zion are rated easy, but you’ll still want real footwear, not sandals, for the terrain since trails aren’t always even and cushioned, sturdy shoes mean less footache later.
• A car phone charger and offline maps. Cell service drops out frequently across this route, especially around Monument Valley and the more remote stretches between parks. Maps.me is my favorite offline map app.
• Snacks and a cooler. Some stretches between towns are long, and not every stop has reliable food options nearby. Bring at least some snacks in case you get stuck.
• Cash. Smaller stops and some park fees may not take cards reliably, worth having some on hand just in case.
• A National Parks pass, or a library card to check for a free loaner pass. Worth sorting out before you go if you want to save on admission.
• Layers, even in summer. Mornings and evenings can be cooler than the brutal midday heat, especially at higher elevations like Bryce Canyon.

Check out my travel packing guides for more extensive lists.

Best Time to Visit the American Southwest

This loop covers a huge range of elevation, from Horseshoe Bend’s low desert to Bryce Canyon’s high plateau, so the “best” time of year for a Southwest road trip really depends on which extreme you’re trying to avoid.

Spring (March–May)

Spring is widely considered one of the best windows for this route.

Daytime temperatures across most of the loop sit in a comfortable range for hiking, and you’ll avoid the worst of summer’s heat.

Wildflowers can add extra color to Zion and Bryce Canyon during this period, though spring can still bring occasional snow at higher elevations, such as Bryce and the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, so layers are worth packing.

Summer (June–August)

I took this trip in the summer, and the heat nearly did me in.

Temperatures regularly broil at lower-elevation stops like Petrified Forest, and I nearly passed out from dehydration during what should have been a short, flat walk back from the Horseshoe Bend overlook.

If you go in summer, bring far more water than you think you’ll need, start hikes early in the day, and build in extra downtime, since the heat will sap your energy faster than you expect, even on “easy” trails.

Fall (September–November)

Fall offers a similar appeal to spring: milder temperatures, fewer crowds than in peak summer, and comfortable conditions for the moderate hikes on this itinerary, such as Bryce Canyon’s Queen’s/Navajo Loop.

Early fall can still run warm at lower elevations, but by October and November, conditions across most of the loop tend to be pleasant for both driving and hiking.

Winter (December–February)

Winter brings far fewer crowds, but also cold weather and possible road closures at higher elevations.

Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon’s South Rim can see snow and icy conditions, which may affect trail access or driving along scenic routes like Mesa Verde’s Mesa Top Loop Road.

Lower-elevation stops like Horseshoe Bend and Sedona stay milder, but layering and checking individual park websites for seasonal closures before you go is essential so you don’t wind up disappointed.

Final Thoughts

I highly recommend this National Park roadtrip itinerary as we were able to do a lot in a short amount of time.

My suggestions for improvements would be to rotate drivers and go in a month with a cooler climate, as I did feel the heat sapping my energy daily.

A quick outline of our roadtrip itinerary…

• Day 1: Leave Los Angeles, hike at Zion National Park, stay in Hurricane
• Day 2: Hike Bryce Canyon National Park, stay in Hatch
• Day 3: Hike Horseshoe Bend, stay in Mexican Hat
• Day 4: Take a tour of Monument Valley, drive around Mesa Verde National Park, stay in Gallup
• Day 5: Hike Petrified Forest National Park, stay in Sedona
• Day 6: Visit Grand Canyon National Park, stay in Kingman
• Day 7: Drive back to Los Angeles

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