55 Southwest USA Road Trip Ideas

An 8-Day Southwest road trip loop starting and ending in New Mexico, with stops in Arizona, Utah and Colorado. Detailed itinerary of things to see, places to stay, where to eat and more!

Here’s my version of a “perfect” 10-day road trip itinerary for the American Southwest, based on a road trip I took in April. (But you can totally do this same trip any time of year – the Southwest in winter is actually pretty great!)

An epic American Southwest road trip should be on everyone’s bucket list. Here’s the perfect southwest itinerary to see the best of what this amazing region has to offer in 12 days.

We have created a list of US Southwest National Parks guides, tips, and packing checklists to help you plan your trip.

How to make the most of your stay in the USA? Use this awesome 2-week American Southwest road trip itinerary then have an amazing time exploring the area!

Five day itinerary for a Los Angeles to Denver road trip. Here’s all you need to know about the route, stops and what I’d do differently.

An eight day road trip itinerary to the Grand Canyon that covers the Small Loop from Las Vegas and features Zion National Park as well as Bryce Canyon National Park.

Visiting National Parks in Utah was high on my bucket list. But I wanted more than just a southern Utah road trip…I wanted to see so many places in Arizona too! The top 10 CANNOT miss things to do on an Arizona Utah road trip.

If you are planning to visit Arizona, a road trip is an ideal way to see this state.

This itinerary is flexible, short enough for a weekend trip, or a week-long vacation.

This itinerary focuses on central and northern Arizona and takes about 5 days.

A visit here is a bucket list destination for many people, but planning a visit to Antelope Canyon can be daunting. This is Navajo tribal land and can only be accessed with a Navajo guide.

My experience visiting Horseshoe Bend, a must-see when in Page, Arizona.

Tips and things to do when visiting Page, Arizona!

7 day road trip through Arizona including the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and so much more.

Fun Tucson activities include hiking in the wilderness, horseback riding, mountain biking, golfing, scenic drives, snow skiing, exploring fascinating museums and missions, and eating possibly the best Mexican food north of the border to feed your soul.

Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome visitors at Rancho Rossa Vineyards unless they are hosting an event that day.

Lake Havasu City boasts an eclectic history, a thriving Main Street, and a busy waterfront area.

Old Tucson, the movie set turned theme park, was once the second-most visited destination in Arizona after the Grand Canyon. Here’s everything you need to know before you visit.

There’s never a shortage of spectacular scenery or memorable things to do in Arizona. It encompasses a beautiful, diverse range of climate, geography, and Arizona attractions.

California is a state that spans 900 miles along the Pacific. As such, there are a lot of things to do in California, with each city and town having its own unique flare.

If you’re looking for some ideas for your San Diego itinerary I’ve put together some of my favorite things to do to help you start planning your San Diego getaway!

These Southern California road trip stops are great to explore on your way up the coast.

Here is the best way to spend one day in Joshua Tree National Park.

If you’re planning a trip to this incredible desert park, you’ve got to put a tour of Keys Ranch in Joshua Tree on your itinerary!

If you are planning a fun weekend getaway to Joshua Tree, keep reading on for the perfect 2-3 day Joshua Tree itinerary.

Awesome guide about 21 fun things to do in Death Valley National Park.

One of my favorite places in the Southern California Desert is the colorful oasis of Salvation Mountain. This one of a kind man made ‘mountain’ was created by artist Leonard Knight.

This is my advice on how to enjoy the great outdoors in Los Angeles.

Here are 14 things not to miss on your first visit to Channel Islands National Park.

From sledding down the sand dunes to taking a ranger-led hike, here are ten fun things to do when you visit White Sands National Park.

Here’s a New Mexico backroads trip that’s one of our favorites. It includes national monuments and out-of-the-way destinations with plenty of history.

From the food to the architecture, there is a uniqueness to New Mexico that many other states simply lack. And for those visiting New Mexico with kids, you’ll find no shortage of interesting things to do.

The very best road trips in New Mexico include a mix of historical sites, natural wonders, quirky attractions, majestic scenery and plenty of red and green chile.

Bisti is known for its alien mesas, buttes, and jenga-esque spires that appear precariously unbalanced, like drip-castles you make at the beach.

Roswell is a fun stop on your way to or from Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

The Las Cruces water tank murals use a modern day canvas to share the area's culture and history. See all of them in less than an hour using this guide. Map included!

Learn all about one of the best things to do in Albuquerque!

With its stunning desert landscapes, the quirkiness of its small towns, and staggeringly beautiful national parks, it’s impossible not to love this hard-to-reach corner of the world.

Tips for planning the perfect West Texas road trip.

Tips to plan your next trip down the West Texas Camino del Rio down the Rio Grande.

This is a great quick stop to break up a long drive, especially if you like weird, quirky roadside attractions.  

The perfect Utah National Park road trip itinerary that will cover all 5 parks in this amazing state!

Zion National Park hikes are some of the best in the entire world. This guide details 13 of the best easy, moderate and strenuous hikes at Zion!

Here are our tips for visiting Zion National Park for two days as well as some family-friendly hikes.

People come from around the world to see the amazing Bryce Canyon views and capture the beauty with photos. We share information and photo tips for each viewpoint so you can take the most amazing pictures at Bryce Canyon.

Arches National Park photo tips, a list of best photo spots and the camera gear you’ll need to take pictures at Arches!

Details to plan the perfect weekend getaway to Southern Utah!