40+ US Southwest National Parks Guides, Tips, and Packing Lists

Having worked at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, I understand the most important elements that go into planning a trip there for families, hikers, or day trippers!

Seeing the Grand Canyon is something that pretty much everyone in America wants to see or SHOULD want to see! Nothing can prepare you for the majestic and awe-inspiring site. There are also lots of great things to do near the Grand Canyon South Rim your entire party will enjoy.

The Grand Canyon is the jewel of the American National Park system. A must-see on every family cross-country road trip. But here’s my confession: I just don’t think it’s great for families. These reasons to skip the Grand Canyon are based on our experience visiting the South Rim.

The Grand Canyon is so epic in proportions it can feel more daunting to photograph it. Well, have no fear. We are here to share with you some Grand Canyon photography tips for beginners.

If you plan on making a pitstop at the Petrified Forest National Park (good choice!), here’s everything you need to know about having an awesome day, from where to stay to the most photogenic spots in the park.

If you’re looking for desert, beautiful landscapes, petroglyphs, fossils and Route 66, it’s all to be found in Petrified Forest National Park.

The big question when planning a trip is which side of Saguaro National Park is better, and I’m here to help you pick a side.

I know you’ll want to make a trip to Arizona to see Saguaros in real life after seeing these photos because they’re amazing!

Death Valley is one of the most unique National Parks we have visited so far. With unique landscapes and some extreme conditions, you might be wondering how to prepare for your trip. In this Death Valley travel guide, I am covering 20 Death Valley travel tips to know before visiting! 

Death Valley National Park is huge at almost 3.5 million acres, but it if you drive through Death Valley you can see the top sights easily in one day!

A day trip to Joshua Tree National Park is very manageable from big surrounding cities and with only 24 hours, you can still see the main highlights of the park.

Joshua Tree National Park highlights, including the best hikes in Joshua Tree for families and an overview of Joshua Tree camping.

The best way to drive through Black Canyon is by travel along along the South Rim of the canyon. There are 12 scenic overlooks along the South Rim Drive, many with short trails that are easy out-and-back walks.

This Black Canyon of the Gunnison travel guide has been written to help with planning and expectations for your visit to the park. In it, you will find all pertinent information including what to see, where to stay, suggested itineraries, and more.

Are you wondering how to spend the perfect one day in Great Sand Dunes National Park? Well, you’re in luck! I’m a Colorado local, and I’ve taken many trips to this park from Denver.

If you’re visiting Colorado and looking for an incredibly unique camping experience, Great Sand Dunes National Park camping should be high on your list of options!

Sand sledding at Great Sand Dunes National Park can be a ton of fun for the whole family. A few tips for sand sledding to help you get started will make this sport more fun and your sledding more effective. Here is our best advice for how to sand sled on these amazing sand dunes.

This guide to Mesa Verde National Park includes the history and how to visit the sites in this park preserving archaeological structures.

Guide to visiting Mesa Verde with kids: things to see and do. Kids will enjoy seeing the ancient dwellings and learning about the people who built them!

Epic Guide to Great Basin National Park in Nevada including things to do, Lehman Caves, camping, hiking, nearby lodging, and so much more.

Great Basin is in the literal middle of nowhere Nevada. It’s actually on the Loneliest Road in America so I mean literal middle of nowhere. It’s an alpine paradise in the middle of the desert with so many unique features that are pretty hard to beat. I would definitely say it’s an underrated national park and absolutely deserves to be on your bucket list..

In this comprehensive guide to Carlsbad Caverns NP, we will explain everything you need to know for planning your visit. This includes all pertinent information about making your reservations for the park (mandatory!), guided options, where to stay nearby, and other things to do on your visit.

Carlsbad Caverns Big Room is a truly enormous underground cave, full of beautiful limestone formations and underground lakes. Here's everything you need to know about visiting this cave!

When I had the chance to witness sunset at White Sands National Monument I did not pass it up…and neither should you! Here are all my tips for experiencing the sunset at White Sands.

Located in the South of New Mexico is a gem of nature, White Sands National Park. It is America's 62nd National Park and guaranteed to be like no other national park you've ever been to.

Heading to Big Bend and looking for the best family hiking trails? We recently returned from a family hiking trip to Big Bend. I’ve put together this list of the best day hikes in Big Bend (all kid friendly hiking trails).

Head out to West Texas between the border of Mexico and New Mexico and you will find something special. Desert mountain ranges occupy this landscape creating a unique mix of river valley, desert and mountain ecosystems. Here is my guide to spending a week exploring Big Bend National Park.

This guide is a collection of the must-see destinations in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. If you are short on time, plan wisely and focus on these top sights.

What makes this park unique is that there are very few roads to access the park’s most famous sights and viewpoints.  However, with just a short walk, you can easily see some pretty impressive sights, making it good for all ages. 

All about boondocking in Guadalupe Mountains National Park since there is no nearby “gateway town” to base yourself in when visting this park in Texas.

This guide details the 13 points of interest along the scenic drive in Arches and tips for things to see, do and photograph at each stop.

Arches National Park has some of the best hikes, given that most are fairly easy and short with a high reward, i.e. great views at the end. Here are all of the trails we did and can, therefore, recommend.

Canyonlands in an utterly massive National Park with distinct, sprawling districts. Of all the Utah Mighty 5, I think Canyonlands is the hardest to see in just one day. However, it’s really easy to see the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands in one day! If you’re in the Moab area, you absolutely have to budget at least one day to visit Canyonlands National Park.

Use this jam-packed guide to help you get ready to take a vacation to Needles Canyonlands: what to pack, where to stay, things to do and more!

Many visitors don’t have time for both, so we’ll help you decide between Canyonlands vs Arches based on your interests. Arches and Canyonlands are both pretty amazing but they offer fairly different National Park experiences. To decide which is better between the two you’ll need to identify your travel style and goals while visiting Arches or Canyonlands.

Guide to visiting Bryce Canyon detailing the hiking trails and overlooks in the park. There's something to see and do for all interests and age levels.

If you are short on time, this guide has everything from where to stay, where to watch sunset, and of course, where to hike, to make the most of your one day in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Are you wondering what to do in Capitol Reef National Park in one day? Find out everything you need to know – including where to stay and dine! – in this complete guide.

Capitol Reef is my favorite Utah National park. I mean there are fewer crowds, homemade pie, pick-your-own orchards, epic hikes, beautiful views and short drive times. Capitol Reef has something for everyone including history buffs and adventure addicts.

Zion National Park has lots of dramatic scenery filled with rainbow-colored sharp peaks and deep twisting canyons. The Virgin River carves its way through the park and was one of the highlights of our Zion National Park activities. No matter the physical ability of your group, everyone will find a way to explore Zion National Park. 

Best known for its incredible canyons, Zion is one of the world’s most popular places for canyoneering and offers other activities like hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing and more. Here's our suggested 3-day itinerary for Zion.

Determining the best time to visit Utah National Parks depends on what you want to see and do. We’ve got everything you need to know to help you decide WHEN to visit the amazing national parks in Utah.