The Ultimate 2-Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary
In the middle of COVID-19, my fiancé Jack and I were desperate for anything to latch onto that would convince us that this crisis would one day pass and that the state of the world, no matter how tragic, was temporary.
Being the travelers that we are, we settled on a 2-week southwest road trip toward the end of the summer. We didn’t know what the state of the world would look like then, but we figured a road trip through national and state parks would be a way to stay socially distant and still itch our travel bug after being safe at home for over three months.
In this post, I’ll be covering our exact itinerary, including all the parks we visited and all the places we stayed. I’ll be sure to add in a few coffee and restaurant recommendations as well for all my foodies!
*Please know that the choice to travel and fly during this time was strictly our own and we are not recommending that you fly at this time without taking extreme precaution. Check out this video that I made to show you how we traveled safely/how airports are currently operating. We do not recommend that anyone at-risk should travel right now.
I have to give a shout out to the Mandagies post for being a huge inspiration for our own itinerary. We used theirs as a base and then added to it/altered it to make it our own.
First… a few tips:
Pick up an America the Beautiful pass from your local REI— this will save you $$$ and pay for itself after just three parks.
Notify your family that cell service will be few and far between, and then download any music, podcasts, or audiobooks you might want to enjoy during the drive.
Bring cash for state parks (America the beautiful only covers national parks).
A few musts to pack: a cooling towel, sunglasses, an insulated water bottle, binoculars, lotion and Chapstick (the heat will dry your skin out), and of course— your camera!
THE ULTIMATE 2-WEEK SOUTHWEST
ROAD TRIP ITINERARY
Alabama Hills
Day 1:
Los Angeles ➳ Alabama Hills 3 hrs 12 mins
Alabama Hills ➳🡪 Death Valley 1 hr 44 mins
Death Valley ➳🡪 Airbnb in Parumph 1 hr 13 mins
LOS ANGELES: The first day was honestly the longest, and we had a hard time squeezing everything in. I would suggest booking a morning flight into LA and picking up your rental car (learn how to slip past the underage fee here) no later than 11 am. Run any errands you need (learn how we saved hella $$$ by eating out of a cooler in this post), stop by an In-n-Out (this is mandatory ;)) and get on the road.
ALABAMA HILLS: Drive through the quaint town of Lone Pine and then head to Movie Flat Road (an iconic viewpoint) to take in the crazy landscape before you.
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK: The road that takes you through Death Valley is enough to send shivers down your spine and take in the crazy views you’ll be passing. If you have time, I recommend checking out the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Dante’s View, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie Point.
PARUMPH: This little town has everything you need to gear up for day 2 of your epic trip— a Starbucks, Wall*Mart, gas stations, etc. We stayed in this sweet little RV which we recommend to anyone going on this trip!
Seven Magic Mountains
Day 2:
Parumph ➳🡪 Las Vegas 1 hr 16 mins
Las Vegas ➳ Valley of Fire 52 mins
Valley of Fire ➳🡪 Airbnb in Leeds 1 hr 39 mins
LAS VEGAS: I would suggest heading straight toward the Seven Magic Mountains (only on display through end of 2021), located south of the city, before the crowds and the heat start to rise. Afterward, grab breakfast and coffee at Bad Owl which is this super cute Harry Potter themed coffee shop right outside of Las Vegas. We decided to simply drive back and forth down the famous Las Vegas strip a few times rather than getting out and exploring the city.
VALLEY OF FIRE:
Entry Fee: $10
They don’t call it this for just anything— bright red rocks and scorching heat during summer left us enjoying this park from the comfort of our car’s AC. However, I feel like simply driving through the park and stopping to enjoy the viewpoint was enough to allow us to really soak up the surrounding views. In particular, make sure to drive Mouse’s Tank Road.
LEEDS: We drove the rest of the way to Leeds and stayed in an adorable little glamping experience in an RV/campsite about 40 minutes outside of Zion National Park, which was our first stop the next morning.
Day 3:
Leeds ➳ Zion National Park 40 mins
Zion National Park ➳ Coral Pink Sand Dunes 33 mins
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park ➳ Ruby’s Campground in Bryce 1 hr 20 mins
ZION NATIONAL PARK:
Entry fee: Covered with America the Beautiful Pass
The first of Utah’s Big 5!! I would suggest getting an early start and taking the very scenic drive up to the Canyon Overlook Trail. It’s an easy 1 mile out-and-back trail that takes you to a spectacular viewpoint (and it is supposed to be breathtaking at sunrise). Unfortunately, because of the limited shuttle passes due to COVID, we didn’t get to explore much more of the park. However, I felt like the drive and this hike alone allowed us to see so much! When we were done, we drove back to the adorable town of Springdale. You MUST get a coffee from FeelLove and then pick one of the places nearby to eat lunch!
CORAL PINK SAND DUNES STATE PARK:
Entry Fee: $10
This state park is definitely worth the stop! Even walking up to the viewpoint and taking in the sandy landscape before you is amazing. Jack and I rented a sand sled for $25 but only used it once as the wind and temperature were very intense! So, it’s up to you if you wanna give it a try :)
RUBY’S INN & CAMPGROUND: This camp spot is adorable and we found the facilities to be very nice! Plus, the weather dips down into the 50s at night— even during the summer— making it ideal camping weather!
Bryce Canyon
Capitol Reef
Day 4:
Ruby’s Inn and Campground in Bryce ➳ Bryce Canyon National Park 8 mins
Bryce Canyon National Park ➳ Fruita Campground in Capitol Reef National Park 2 hrs 7 mins
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK:
Entry Fee: Covered with America the Beautiful Pass
Your first introduction to this park has to be watching the sunrise from Sunrise Point! Roll out of bed for this spectacular view and then make your way back to the campsite to get ready and pack up.
TIP— Need some caffeine after waking up early for dem views? We loved making the 15 min drive to Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. after watching the sunrise!
Drive back to Bryce Canyon for one of my favorite hikes of all time— the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail. We started with the switchbacks famously coined “Wall Street” and ended by hiking from the canyon floor back up to Sunrise Point!
On the way out of Bryce and onto your next destination, stop by the Bryce Canyon Rock Shop for some delicious ice cream! It’s the perfect reward after a hike.
FRUITA CAMPGROUND: What I loved about this place was that it was literally inside Capitol Reef National Park. Along the way, you’ll drive through this adorable little town called Torrey and catch amazing views of the 10,000 ft geological structures. Settle into camp and take time to wander the apple orchards and the gorgeous Fremont river lining the site.
DON’T MISS— After getting settled, head back out to catch the sunset at Sunset Point. This short trail is only .8 miles round trip and will leave you with your jaw touching the ground. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch a moonrise like we did!
Arches
Day 5:
Capitol Reef National Park ➳ Arches National Park 2 hrs
Arches National Park ➳ ACT Campground, Moab 15 mins
Jack and I wanted a slightly slower morning, so we decided to head into Torrey (about 20 mins way) for coffee and a bite to eat. We REALLY wanted to try Dark Sky Coffee, but it was closed :( Maybe you’ll be able to? Another great option is Castlerock Coffee!
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK:
Entry Fee: $20 per vehicle (Covered with America the Beautiful Pass)
We started by picking an easy to moderate hike and settled on Hickman Bridge Trail, a 1.8 mile out-and-back. Afterward, we rode along the scenic drive and took our time admiring the striking landscape.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK:
Entry Fee: $30 per vehicle (Covered with America the Beautiful Pass)
Depending on when you land in Moab, you might want to take some time to explore a bit of Arches National Park before heading to your campsite. We really enjoyed Balancing Rock and The Windows.
ACT CAMPGROUND: Probably the nicest amenities of any campground we’ve been to! You’re not exactly out in the wilderness, but I enjoyed our stay here. You are only 5 mins from downtown Moab! Hungry? Jack and I enjoyed a late meal at Peace Tree Juice Café before catching some sleeps!
Balancing Rock, Arches
Day 6:
ACT Campground, Moab ➳ Downtown Moab 8 mins
Downtown Moab ➳ Arches National Park 9 mins
Arches National Park ➳ ACT Campground 15 mins
DOWNTOWN MOAB: We took a much-needed relaxing first half of the day exploring downtown Moab. Jack and I grabbed coffee at Café Italiano for some nostalgia and then pottered around the shops! Some of my favorites were Moab Made and Ar-tee-sian.
TIP— Moab Garage Co. looked HELLA cool for coffee and food from what we saw, but sadly it was closed. Maybe you can enjoy it for us!
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: On day two of Arches, Jack and I explored Double Arch, Skyline Arch, and Delicate Arch. As amazing as this park was, once you’ve seen a few arches— you’ve kinda seen them all.
ACT CAMPGROUND: Afterward, we headed back to ACT Campground to rest and have dinner and then decided to go back into town for drinks at Zax Restaurant and ice cream at The Spoke on Center. YUM!
Canyonlands
Monument Valley
Day 7:
ACT Campground, Moab ➳ Canyonlands National Park 40 mins
Canyonlands National Park ➳ Goulding’s Campground by Monument Valley 2 hrs 36 mins
After waking up, packing up camp, and spending way too much money on a lavender latte at Wicked Brew Coffee Drive Thru, Jack and I headed to Canyonlands.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK:
Entry Fee: $30 per vehicle (Covered with America the Beautiful Pass)
This park blew us away, and we were told by a local that it’s comparable to the Grand Canyon, but if you see the Grand Canyon first, it kinda dulls down this park. This wasn’t the case for us, and Canyonlands instantly became one of our favorite parks.
We started out by walking the White Rim Overlook Trail, a 1.8 out and back that showcased our most favorite view in the park. I would also recommend stopping for the Grand View Point and hiking the Upheaval Dome Overlook, however we stopped at the first viewpoint (.8 miles out and back) rather than continuing along to the second.
TIP— On the way to Goulding’s, make sure to stop by the famous Forrest Gump Hill, an iconic point from the movie!
*MONUMENT VALLEY TRIBAL PARK IS CLOSED AS OF 8/12/20*
GOULDING’S CAMPGROUND: This RV park and campground is a majority of the Navajo Nation’s economy within their reservation (which includes Monument valley). I suggest learning more about the Navajo— you can start here. Because they are very at-risk for COVID and are such a poor community, they are taking serious precautions. Please respect your time and the community should you choose to stay here!
Horseshoe Bend
Day 8:
Goulding’s Campground ➳ Page, Arizona 2 hrs
Page, Arizona ➳ Horseshoe Bend 10 mins
Horseshoe Bend ➳ The Chains 12 mins
The Chains ➳ Airbnb in Page 10 mins
PAGE: Page is a small, quaint little town in Arizona. We really enjoyed grabbing coffee at LP Espresso and checking out a really cool artist collaboration space to the left of Canyon Crepes Café (I forget the name). If you end up finding it, tell Bob we say hi!
HORSHOE BEND:
Entry Fee: $10 per vehicle
We LOVED Horseshoe Bend! It’s seriously one of the most stunning geological structures we saw during this trip. The trail out and back is a 1.7 mile heavily trafficked path. Take in the views, snap a pic or two, and enjoy!
THE CHAINS: Bob from that art collab space told us about this super local spot! It’s super scenic and the best part is you can cool off in the clear waters of Lake Powell.
PAGE AIRBNB: After camping for 5 nights in a row, this Airbnb was a little bit of heaven. The hosts were lovely and the room and bathroom were spacious! Plus, there’s a giant TV and streaming services available.
Day 9:
Airbnb in Page, Arizona ➳ Flagstaff, Arizona 2 hrs 21 mins
Flagstaff, Arizona ➳ Ten-X Campground, Grand Canyon 1 hr 16 mins
After packing up and moving out of our Airbnb in Page, we headed straight to the university town of Flagstaff.
FLAGSTAFF: Y’all, this town is adorable! We walked around and grabbed coffee at Firecreek Coffee Company and then headed to Historic Brewing Barrel + Bottle House for a beer flight and bite to eat (this place was definitely the highlight of our day). I also recommend stopping in ZANI Cards & Gifts for some unique souvenirs
TEN-X CAMPGROUND: This place is great because it’s less than 10 minutes from Grand Canyon National Park. The grounds are pretty primitive, meaning there are no showers or sinks, but I loved how private the campsites were. Bundle up because it gets COLD at night!
TIP— After setting up camp, head to Yavapai Point for the sunset, and then drive back to camp for some stargazing and YES— you can see the Milky Way!!
Grand Canyon
Ten-X Campground
Day 10:
Ten-X Campground, Grand Canyon ➳🡪Grand Canyon National Park 9 minutes
Grand Canyon National Park ➳🡪Airbnb in Cottonwood, Arizona 2 hrs 32 mins
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK:
Entry Fee: $30 per vehicle (Covered with America the Beautiful Pass)
After visiting several other national parks, Grand Canyon was a little… underwhelming? It was still gorgeous and definitely worth the stop, but it’s a lot busier, more “commercial”— almost like a theme park. Some people may prefer this vibe, and others may not!
Because of COVID, the shuttles were not running and there was limited parking. So, we decided to walk the south rim from Mather Point and then veer off to the Canyon Village Market to fill up on water and grab a snack. Afterward, we took the greenway/bike path back to our car.
On the way to Sedona, we drove through Flagstaff once again and grabbed a drive-thru lunch to fuel us for the rest of the journey.
COTTONWOOD: Jack and I decided on booking an Airbnb in Cottonwood for 2 nights because it was cheaper than staying in Sedona. It’s about 30 mins outside of the city.
Day 11:
Cottonwood, Arizona ➳ Landers, California 5 hrs 55 mins
LANDERS: This Airbnb was my 22nd birthday present from Jack and boy was it a treat! What’s cooler than staying in a vintage airstream right outside of Joshua Tree National Park?! Because of the long drive we had this day, we didn’t do much exploring in the late afternoon when we pulled up to our new accommodation. Instead, we settled in, opened some wine, and made Sicilian pesto gnocchi in our little kitchenette cuz we were feeling nostalgic for Italia.
Landers, CA
Day 12:
Landers, California ➳ Joshua Tree National Park 30 mins
Joshua Tree National Park ➳ Landers, California 30 mins
Pssst— need some coffee in the morning? Stop by Joshua Tree Coffee Co. on your way to the park in the morning (their iced vanilla latte was amazing)!
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK:
Entry Fee: $30 per vehicle (Covered with America the Beautiful Pass)
This park blew me away and it was the one place that I really felt like I learned to wholeheartedly appreciate the beauty of the desert. We started by exploring near the “Barren or Bountiful” exhibit plaque just inside the West Entrance. Make sure to read the sign— the words are so beautiful! Afterward, we made our way to a 1 mile loop called Hidden Valley Nature Trail which we really enjoyed. The history was fascinating— this hidden valley was said to be the place where 19th century cattle rustlers would hide their stolen herds! Our last stop was Keys View, a mountain peak with views of Palm Springs way down below.
When we felt satisfied with what we had seen of the park and were ready to get out of the sun, we headed back to our Airbnb and enjoyed its amazing amenities for the rest of the day!
Venice Canals; photo by Brittney Lucy Photography
Day 13:
Landers, California ➳ Palm Springs, California 52 mins
Palm Springs ➳ Los Angeles, California 1 hr 43 mins
PALM SPRINGS: We were so close to the famous resort town of Palm Springs (which was more like a ghost town when we drove through) that we had to stop for a coffee and gaze at the mid-century modern architecture. The lavender vanilla latte I had at Ernest coffee was top tier!
LOS ANGELES: Once we checked into our Airbnb and unpacked/cleaned up the car, we drove it back to Hertz and said goodbye! RIP Nissan Rogue. Then, we took an Uber to Venice Beach (in which I experienced extreme overwhelm cuz helloooo civilization), and ended up waking to Abbot Kinney Blvd, did some window shopping, and ate at Greenleaf Chopshop, and then stopped in [insert gallery] and had a chat with with the artist/owner. The, we met my friend who took photos of us at the gorgeous Venice Canals (my favorite place we visited) and then dropped us off for tea and cake at Urth Caffé, an enchanting way to end our trip!
Day 14:
Los Angeles, California ➳ Atlanta, Ga
LOS ANGELES: Before catching an Uber to the airport, we walked down to Amandine Patisserie Cafe from our Airbnb and ate pastries while pretending we were back in Paris.
Thus ends the fantastic, exhausting, eventful, miraculous, starry-eyed trip across the SW. Jack and I discovered our love for roughing it on the road, and we expect to be partaking in more of these in the future.
Take it all in. Put down your phone, even when you are on a long drive, and just look. Really see. You won’t regret it.