American Southwest

The densest concentration of red-rock canyons and national parks, with the Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches and Monument Valley, plus Las Vegas and Texas cowboy culture.

In this plan, the Southwest covers four states, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah, and, following common travel practice, also takes in Texas and Oklahoma. It is the part of the US with the greatest concentration of red-rock landscapes and national parks. Arizona has the Grand Canyon, the red rocks of Sedona, and Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend near Page. Utah has the "Mighty Five" national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. Monument Valley, on the Arizona–Utah border, is the signature landscape of the Navajo Nation. Las Vegas is famous for entertainment, shows and dining, and is also a common starting point for Southwest road trips. In New Mexico, Santa Fe and Taos preserve adobe architecture, Pueblo Indian culture and an artistic atmosphere, while White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns are worth a dedicated trip. Texas offers live music in Austin, the Alamo and River Walk in San Antonio, and the German-heritage small towns of the Hill Country. The classic route is the big loop from Las Vegas linking Zion, Bryce, Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon, taking about 10–14 days. The region is vast and a car is essential; attractions are often several hours' drive apart, and fuel and phone signal are limited on remote stretches. Some sections of popular parks require reservations or involve queues at certain times or seasons, and Antelope Canyon can only be visited with a Navajo guide. Summers are extremely hot, so carry plenty of drinking water, and beware of flash floods in canyons during the rainy season.

Destinations

Itineraries

Southwest Grand Circle Self-Drive in – A loop from Las Vegas linking Utah's red-rock parks, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon South Rim.
Route 66 Southwest Road Trip – Drive west from Tulsa along historic Route 66, passing through Amarillo, Santa Fe, and Flagstaff, ending in Las Vegas.
Texas Triangle, Hill Country & Gulf Coast – Head south from Dallas through Fort Worth, Austin, the Hill Country, San Antonio, and Houston, ending in Galveston.
Utah's Mighty Five National Parks Crossing in – A one-way crossing from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, covering Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands.
Arizona Desert, Red Rocks & Grand Canyon – A Phoenix loop taking you from the giant saguaro cacti of the Sonoran Desert to the red rocks of Sedona and the South R…
US West National Parks & Coast Grand Loop – A Los Angeles loop passing through Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Yosemite, and San Francisco, returning…
Four Corners Ancestral Puebloan Loop – An Albuquerque-based loop through the Four Corners region, featuring cliff dwellings, narrow-gauge railroads, Monument…
Texas Gulf Coast & Barrier Islands – Head south from Houston along the Gulf of Mexico, passing through Galveston, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi, ending a…
Valley of Fire, Zion & Bryce Loop – A 4-day loop from Las Vegas featuring the red rocks of Valley of Fire, Zion Canyon, and the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon.
Northern New Mexico Adobe & Art – An Albuquerque loop via the Turquoise Trail, Santa Fe, Bandelier, and Taos, returning along the High Road.
White Sands, Caverns & Big Bend – An El Paso loop taking you through White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains, Marfa, and Big Bend.
Las Vegas, Death Valley, and the Western Grand Canyon: Zion – A self-drive trip based in Las Vegas, covering Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley, the western Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire…