The Ultimate Southwest USA Road Trip – Epic One Week Itinerary

The American Southwest Dream Road Trip

A road trip through the Southwest USA has a spot on a lot of people’s bucket list. It was certainly on ours. So, in the spring of 2020 with international travel off the table, we set out to make this dream trip a reality. This was our first experience with a camper van, and while it wasn’t without it’s challenges, the experience was one we will never forget. Keep reading to see why our road trip through the Southwest US turned into an unforgettable adventure that exceeded our wildest expectations (including what we did and what we wish had done!)

Affiliate Link Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through one of our links. Please see our disclosure policy and terms and conditions for more detail. We appreciate your support!

The Highlights of Our Southwest USA Road Trip

• 4 National Parks in 7 Days
  • Death Valley National Park
  • Bryce Canyon National Park
  • Zion National Park
  • Grand Canyon National Park
• Discovering our love for the Valley of Fire State Park
• Exploring new cities
  • Springdale, UT
  • Page, AZ
  • Las Vegas, NV

When is the Best Time to Visit the American Southwest?

We love traveling in the shoulder season, so planning our trip for late April was a perfect choice for us. It allowed us to escape the scorching heat of summer, but still offered warm enough weather that outdoor cooking wasn’t unenjoyable (for the most part, but more on that later). It is important to keep in mind many places have seasonal closures due to weather conditions so always be sure to check ahead of time as these closures can vary slightly year to year. In late April, we were able to enjoy Death Valley National Park and Valley of Fire State Park without dealing with trail closures. However, the North Rim entrance for the Grand Canyon National Park was still closed for the season.

How to Pack for a Spring Southwest USA Road Trip

• Layers!!
  • No matter how much you check the weather you’re always bound to experience a wide variety of conditions when traveling in the shoulder season. Layers are essential as temperatures can range from hot in the desert to down right cold in places like Bryce Canyon. We actually had snow on the ground at Grand Canyon National Park in late April!
• Cooking equipment
  • If you’re plan on going the camper van route like we did, you’ll want to make sure you have adequate equipment for cooking. We opted to include the cooking kit with our rental. You’ll want to plan meals ahead of time to ensure you make the most of the limited fridge space. With a packed itinerary, unscheduled stops for supplies can eat into your valuable adventure time!
• Chargers
  • This was something we overlooked in the planning stage of our trip, but you’ll want to make sure you have the necessary charges to keep your equipment ready for adventure.
• Pack lite!
  • Camper vans aren’t the most spacious options when it comes to travel. If you’re used to traveling with carry-on luggage only, it shouldn’t be a problem. Just remember it’s best to use your space wisely and avoid the headache of shuffling around tons of luggage.

Day 1 – California

Los Angeles to Death Valley National Park

You have several options for where to start your trip. We were picking up our camper van rental in Los Angeles, so we had the option of driving through either Death Valley National Park or Joshua Tree National Park. The drive from Los Angeles to Death Valley was approximately 4 hours. We learned our lesson the hard way to not under estimate the sheer size of Death Valley National Park. The drive to the campsite well inside the borders of the park made the drive time well over what our GPS told us.

There are no regrets here. Our time in Death Valley National Park was well worth how tired we were, but we do wish we’d been a bit more aware of what we were getting ourselves into. We spent one night at the Furnace Creek Campground in the park. You can find more information on campgrounds within the park here.

Day 2 – California & Nevada

Death Valley National Park to Valley of Fire State Park

Wake up early to enjoy the incredible sunrise at Zabriskie Point. Spend the morning and early afternoon exploring Death Valley National Park. These spots made our list of what you should not miss on your visit to Death Valley. The drive to Valley of Fire will take approximately 2.5 hours depending on what part of the park you leave from. Arrive at Valley of Fire in the evening and either camp inside the park or outside at one of the BLM dispersed camping areas like we did.

Day 3 – Nevada & Utah

Valley of Fire State Park to Springdale, UT

Spend the morning exploring the stunning scenery in Valley of Fire State Park. We only had the pleasure of spending one day here, but this state park easily topped our favorites. Here is how we spent one day in the Valley of Fire.

The drive from Valley of Fire State Park to Springdale, UT (just outside Zion National Park) will take you just over 2 hours. We used Springdale as a base for both Bryce Canyon and Zion. We wanted some flexibility at this stage of our trip because we wanted to hike Angel’s Landing in Zion.

Day 4 – Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park

The drive from Springdale to Bryce Canyon is about 2 hours. You could easily opt to spend another day in Zion instead if you’re looking to limit your driving. Seeing Bryce Canyon was well worth the drive, but we did wish we’d had more time. It was quite cold when we were there, so we are definitely looking for a chance to revisit the park when it is a bit warmer to enjoy more of the scenic hikes available.

Day 5 – Utah & Arizona

Zion National Park to Page, AZ

Our visit to Zion National Park was definitely one of our favorites parts of our road trip. Hiking Angel’s Landing had been on our bucket list for quite a while, and it really did not disappoint. This hike is not for the faint of heart, so if heights are not your speed you may want to opt for one of the other iconic trails in Zion. With more time we would have loved to hike The Narrows as well, but that is just an excuse to revisit some day! The drive from Zion to Page, AZ was around 2 hours.

Horseshoe Bend to the Grand Canyon

The parking lot for Horseshoe Bend is just about 10 minutes outside of Page. A half mile walk will bring you to the overlook. This roadside stop is a great, easy addition on your way to the Grand Canyon. Page, Arizona has a lot to offer. If you have more time we’d suggest adding a tour of Antelope Canyon.

You’ll want to be aware of seasonal closures to determine which entrance you’ll be visiting for the Grand Canyon (The North Rim is open seasonally usually from May-October but exact dates vary). The drive from Horseshoe Bend to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park will take approximately 2 hours.

Day 6 – Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park

Spend the day taking in the incredible views. While a hike to the base of the canyon requires more time, there are plenty of view points to explore that are sure to take your breath away. If you’re looking for a bit of hiking, we suggest visiting the Ohh Aah Point. This 1.8 mile out and back trail offers incredible views and will take under 2 hours to complete (including the time you’ll want to marvel at the scenery).

Other popular viewpoints include:

• Desert View Watchtower
• Mather Point
• The Abyss (One of our favorites)
• Grandview Point
• Mohave Viewpoint

Day 7 – Arizona & Nevada

Grand Canyon to Las Vegas

Spend the morning checking out the visitors center and enjoying some sunrise views of the canyon. The drive from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas is approximately 4 hours.

Note: the drive to Las Vegas will take you past the Hoover Dam. We missed the hours for the visitor’s center. If it is something you want to see make sure to plan your drive accordingly.

Looking for More Places to Add to Your Southwest USA Road Trip?

Here are the places we wish we’d had time to include (& plan to see next time!):

• Sedona, Arizona (2 hours from Grand Canyon)
• Coral Pink Dunes State Park (1.25 hours from Springdale, UT)
• Antelope Canyon (Page, AZ)
• Monument Valley (2 hours from Page, AZ)

Overview of Our 7 Day Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary

• Day 1 – Los Angeles to Death Valley National Park
• Day 2 – Death Valley National Park to Valley of Fire State Park
• Day 3 – Valley of Fire State Park to Springdale, Utah
• Day 4 – Bryce Canyon National Park
• Day 5 – Zion National Park to Horseshoe Bend to Grand Canyon National Park
• Day 6 – Grand Canyon National Park
• Day 7 – Grand Canyon National Park to Las Vegas

Have You Visited the Southwest USA? Let us know what your favorite stops were in the comments!