Top Destinations for A Southwest Road Trip List

Use our realistic Best Places for A Road Trip in the Southwest List to plan your next getaway to this region.

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Southwest Definition

Southwestern United States is a region without an agreed definition. One thing is clear: it spans across the state lines.

• Most people include Arizona and New Mexico.
• Others also count Nevada and Utah.
• Parts of California, Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma round up the broadest Southwest definition.

Our Top Destinations for A Southwest Road Trip List follows the broadest view.

Southwest is rich in natural wonders. You can find countless parks, monuments, and scenic drives across the region.

Yet you need a vehicle to reach and explore almost every one of them. Some sights require both a car and a long hike to reach. These places are not part of our overview.

The focus of our List is to help you explore the American Southwest from your car.

1. Big Sur National Scenic Byway

Big Sur National Scenic Byway is the Best Place for a Road Trip in the American Southwest. The Byway brings you via 7 California State Parks. You can enjoy countless overlooks over the course of about 100 miles (160 km). The rugged coastline at Big Sur is a sight to see.

This scenic byway constantly reminds you to enjoy the journey and not the destination. Driving the California Highway 1 is an adventure. The highway’s winding turns and scenic bridges make it a memorable road trip.

2. Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon claims the second place on our Best Places for A Southwest Road Trip list. This Utah park is a paradise for road trip lovers. Bryce Canyon features an 18-mile (29-km) Scenic Drive that follows the rim of the canyon.

All you need to do to enjoy the park’s formations is stop at any of the drive’s numerous overlooks. The overlooks provide great views at the brightly colored hoodoo formations.

3. Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is another gem on any road trip across the Southwest. This park in California allows visitors to drive up to almost any attraction:

• Badwater Basin or Devils Golf Course
• Artists Palette or Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
• Zabriskie Point or Dantes View

You can reach all these and several other overlooks in your car.

Some viewpoints involve driving on unpaved roads. Others have lots of winding turns. Either way, you are in for a fun adventure in Death Valley.

4. Mount Evans Scenic Byway

Mount Evans is a picture-perfect road. This winding Coloradan byway brings you via multiple climate zones to the altitude of 14,265 ft (4,350 m). You will encounter a rapid elevation gain over the highway’s 28 miles (45 km).

The byway is the easiest way to reach a fourteener in your vehicle during summer. The mountain’s proximity to Denver, CO is a double-edged sword.

• On the one hand, Mount Evans is a perfect day trip destination.
• On the other hand, you need an advance reservation to avoid crowds.

With a reservation in hand, you can start this picturesque drive.

5. Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands in Utah is another fantastic park for a road trip. The Island in the Sky park unit is best to explore from the comfort of your vehicle.

You could see almost all signature canyons along the Grand View Point Road without needing to hike. If you could venture into the Maze, you could drive on the unpaved roads across this moonlike scenery. This is an experience in itself.

6. Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon in Arizona is a must-visit destination in the American Southwest. While you can hike to the canyon floor, most people admire the park from the overlooks along the scenic drives. The Desert View Drive spans 55 miles (89 km). It brings you to the major overlooks at the canyon’s South Rim.

The Drive connects with the Hermit Road in the park. You can only visit its overlooks on a shuttle bus for most of the year. The North Rim Drive has far less viewpoints. It is more about the destination than the journey. This Drive is closed during winter.

7. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon in Colorado can only be enjoyed via a scenic drive. It does not matter if you choose to visit the South Rim, North Rim, or East Portal.

You will always take a scenic drive to get to your destination.

• The paved South Rim Drive spans for 8 miles (13 km). It features some of the iconic overlooks, including Tomichi Point, Painted Wall, and Chasm View.
• The 8-mile (13-km) East Portal Road connects the South Rim overlooks with the Gunnison River.
• Finally, the 5-mile (8 km) North Rim Drive is unpaved and takes two hours to reach from the South Rim.

You cannot drive on these scenic drives in the winter.

8. Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain in Colorado is mostly a hiker’s destination. You need to take the park’s trail to see its picturesque lakes and powerful waterfalls. But Rocky Mountain also features a scenic Trail Ridge Road.

It is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. This scenic highway brings you through several climate zones. You can experience the Rockies without leaving your car for 85 miles (137 km).

However, you would want to jump out of your vehicle to see more of the park’s beauty. Likely wildlife spotting are a bonus. The scenic drive is closed in the winter.

9. Arches National Park

Arches in Utah is an iconic Southwest destination. There is an easy explanation for the park’s position on our List of Best Places for A Southwest Road Trip. You would not be able to see the Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double O Arch from the overlooks.

Nonetheless, you could enjoy the Turret Arch, both Windows, and Garden of Eden. The Balanced Rock and Courthouse Towers formations are also within reach. Finally, you could take highway UT-128 to or from the park for a marvelous drive along the Colorado River.

10. Great Basin National Park

Great Basin in Nevada allows visitors to get almost to the top of the glacier. The 12-mi (19-km) Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive has multiple overlooks.

Once the drive has gained elevation, you could see for miles and miles. It is also surreal to see a forest in Nevada desert. Outside of the scenic drive, the park features cave tours and strenuous trails.

11. Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument is a park and a scenic drive. The Historic Rim Rock Drive covers 23 miles (37 km). You can enjoy Independence Monument, Coke Ovens, Fallen Rock, and other signature formations from the overlooks.

If you are to traveling on the I-70 from Colorado to Utah, take a short detour and explore this park.

12. Zion National Park

The presence of Zion on the List of Top Destinations for A Southwest Road Trip raises some questions. We could not in good conscience select the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive as a top destination.

In fact, you cannot drive that road in your car for most of the year. But the lesser known Kolob Canyon Road is open year round. You can enjoy the Paria Point, Lee Pass, and Kolob Canyons Viewpoint from the comfort of your vehicle.

13. Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire is just northeast of Las Vegas, NV. Nevada’s first state park has a lot of overlooks. From Elephant Rock and The Cabins to Fire Canyon and Beehives, Valley of Fire does not stop to fascinate visitors.

Even the picnic areas are scenic in this state park. You would still need to hike to see the signature formations like the Fire Wave and White Domes Slot Canyon.

14. Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon in Utah is a solid road trip destination. You can explore most of the park’s sights without leaving your vehicle.

But you would still need to budget time for short hikes to see slot canyons, Whiterocks Amphitheater, and Petrified Dunes. You can combine Snow Canyon with a visit to Bryce or Zion.

15. Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef in Utah should be on an advertising poster for road trips. The park has an 8-mi (13-km) Scenic Drive along the ancient reef. The views are fascinating. Yet there are hardly any overlooks on that drive.

The views get somewhat old since you have to take the same drive back to the main highway UT-24. You might want to prioritize Chimney Rock, Twin Rocks, Petroglyphs, and Orientation Pullouts.

16. Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree near Los Angeles is a great way to see a plant common to the Southwest. You will find lots of Yucca Palms or Joshua Trees in this national park. The Keys View provides amazing views of the Coachella Valley.

But the park’s scenery is not unique to the region. Still, the park is worth a visit. You can admire the Skull Rock, Cap Rock, and Jumbo Rocks and drive on sand.

17. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon is a great escape from Las Vegas, NV. This park is just outside of the city limits. It has a 12-mile (20-km) Scenic Loop Drive.

You could see the red, orange, and white formations directly from the drive. The park is very popular with locals and tourists. You need to an advance reservation to enter the scenic drive.

18. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano is a great addition to the Grand Canyon itinerary. The park features several overlooks along the Loop Road. This road connects Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments.

You can walk on the volcanic sand and explore lava beds. Unless you are into history, you might find the drive beyond Sunset Crater Volcano a bit boring.

19. Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest in Eastern Arizona is a worthy road trip destination. The Petrified Forest Drive brings you through the park’s major sights.

You would still need to take short hikes to see the fossilized tree stumps. But you can explore the Painted Desert and Blue Mesa without leaving the car.

20. Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde in Southwestern Colorado closes our list of Best Places for A Southwest Road Trip. The park has two scenic drives: Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop.

But you would not see the most iconic cliff houses from the overlooks. To get the most out of Mesa Verde try visiting in spring and summer and taking a tour.

Honorable Mentions

Many parks and sights did not make it on our list of Top Road Trip Destinations in the Southwest. Some of them, like Pinnacles, Channel Islands, and Great Sand Dunes National Parks, are amazing destinations to visit.

However, you would not see a lot of signature sights of these parks from your vehicle. In fact, you need to hike the parks’ trails or take a passenger ferry to fully explore their beauty.

Takeaways: Best Places for a Road Trip in the Southwest

American Southwest is a versatile region, full of natural and historic sights. Remote location of its many parks requires a vehicle. It also makes Southwest a great destination for a memorable road trip.

There are several options when it comes to a Southwest road trip itinerary.

• You could pick between scenic drives on rugged California Coast and in Colorado Rockies.
• You could venture to the heart of the Southwest and explore Grand Canyon.
• Or you could visit all of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks.

As always, the choice is yours. We hope that this Top Destinations for A Southwest Road Trip List helps you in planning the next adventure.

Take a look at our Best Places for A Road Trip in the Southwest Video Guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

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Safe realist travels!