10-Day Unforgettable Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary from Las Vegas

We’ve done several road trips across the Western U.S. — from coastal Oregon to desert Arizona — but this 10-day Southwest USA Road Trip was one of our most memorable.

Starting and ending in Las Vegas, we explored the colorful landscapes of Arizona and New Mexico, including dramatic national parks, peaceful desert towns, and iconic red rock scenery.

This itinerary is perfect if you love wide-open roads, natural beauty, and a mix of famous sights and hidden gems.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a return traveler looking for something new, I hope our route and tips help you plan an unforgettable Southwest adventure!

Route Overview + Map of Southwest USA Road Trip

Here’s a quick look at our road trip route.

Total route: ~2,000 miles

Route: Las Vegas → Phoenix (300 miles) → Tucson (120 miles) → White Sands (220 miles) → Carlsbad (52 miles) → Albuquerque (280 miles) → Santa Fe (65 miles) → Goosenecks (285 miles) → Monument Valley (22 miles) → Antelope Canyon/Page (43 miles) → Grand Canyon (130 miles) → Sedona (110 miles) → Route 66 towns (150 miles) → Death Valley (200 miles) → Las Vegas (120 miles)

The best part? Every single mile was different. We saw so many amazing things just driving from place to place!

Day-by-Day Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Las Vegas → Drive to Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, AZ)

Drive: 300 miles, about 4-5 hours

We kept this first day pretty easy because you never know what might happen with flights, right? After getting our rental car in Vegas, we drove south through Arizona. The scenery was already amazing!

About the Desert Botanical Garden: Honestly, we thought this would be our first look at Arizona’s famous cacti. But guess what? The whole drive through Arizona is like one giant cactus garden! Still, the botanical garden was really nice and peaceful. Not crowded at all, and we got to see so many different types of cacti up close.

Tips: 

• Stop for lunch in Kingman or Flagstaff
• The garden is quieter in the afternoon
• Don’t worry if you see cacti everywhere while driving – the garden is still cool!

Day 2: Saguaro National Park (Tucson)

Drive: 120 miles from Phoenix, about 2 hours

Valley View Overlook Trail: This was perfect! It’s a short, easy walk with incredible views. We spent most of our time driving around the park and doing this one hike. The giant saguaro cacti are even more impressive in real life – some are over 200 years old!

The best photos happen during golden hour when everything glows. These cacti are like the stars of Arizona!

Check the Saguaro National Park official Page for the details.

Day 3: White Sands & Carlsbad Caverns

Drive: 220 miles to White Sands, then 52 miles to Carlsbad, 4-5 hours total

This was our longest driving day, but wow – totally worth it!

White Sands National Park: This place is unreal! Picture this: bright white sand everywhere and blue sky above. It’s like being on another planet. Perfect for photos no matter where you point your camera.

Important warning: Bring sunglasses! The white sand reflects sunlight like crazy – it’s way brighter than anywhere else we’ve been. The place is gorgeous, but you don’t need to spend all day here unless you want to try sand sledding.

Carlsbad Caverns: Super popular, so book ahead! Once you’re inside, you can walk around at your own pace. The paths are well-lit and not too steep. Unlike some scary caves, this one just feels amazing, not frightening. The underground rooms are huge!

Tips:

• Pack snacks – not many restaurants between these parks
• Check cave tour times online first
• White Sands is best in the morning

Day 4: Albuquerque Old Town → Santa Fe

Drive: 280 miles to Albuquerque, then 65 miles to Santa Fe

Albuquerque Old Town: This historic area feels like stepping back in time. Adobe buildings, cool shops, and that classic Route 66 vibe. The old church from 1793 is really something!

Santa Fe: The buildings here are so unique! Adobe walls, wooden beams, and turquoise decorations everywhere. We visited on Christmas Day, so it wasn’t too crowded. The downtown plaza and art galleries on Canyon Road are really neat.

The mix of Native American, Hispanic, and other cultures makes Santa Fe feel different from anywhere else.

Day 5: Goosenecks → Monument Valley → Antelope Canyon → Horseshoe Bend

Drive: 285 miles to Goosenecks, 22 miles to Monument Valley, 43 miles to Page

This was our big scenic driving day!

Goosenecks State Park: We found this place by accident on Google Maps because it looked like Horseshoe Bend. Great views of the river winding through the canyon below!

Monument Valley: When we saw those famous red rock formations, we thought “This is America!” The 17-mile drive through the park shows you those iconic rocks you’ve seen in Western movies.

Antelope Canyon: This is a must-see, but you have to book a guided tour! There are two parts – Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. Everyone talks about the Upper Canyon because of those famous light beams from the sky, but honestly, you can only see them under very specific conditions (certain times of day and year).

I chose the Upper Canyon tour for a totally different reason – I’m scared of heights! The Lower Canyon tour requires going down steep stairs, which looked way too scary for me. The Upper Canyon is much easier to walk through.

Our guide was amazing! He took photos of each group and got shots we never could have taken ourselves. He knew exactly where to stand and how to use the canyon’s shapes to create incredible pictures. The narrow slot canyon with its smooth, flowing walls is absolutely stunning – like walking through a work of art carved by water and time.

Horseshoe Bend: It’s a 1.5-mile walk to get there, but the view is incredible. Go for sunset, but get there 15 minutes early to find a good spot!

Day 6: Grand Canyon National Park

Drive: 130 miles from Page, about 2.5 hours

I visited the Grand Canyon over 20 years ago and took a helicopter tour. This time we drove around and saw it from the rim. Even after all these years, it’s still breathtaking! The canyon is so huge that we spent almost the whole day just driving to different viewpoints.

Best spots to see:

• Mather Point (easy to get to from the visitor center)
• Yavapai Point (has a cool geology museum)
• Desert View (eastern end with an old tower)
• Hopi Point (awesome for sunset)
• Navajo Point (Navajo Point is the highest overlook point (7500 feet) on the South Rim drive)

Tips:

• Get there early to avoid crowds and find parking (Even in December, sometimes a bit difficult to find our parking space)
• Use the free shuttle buses
• Even a short walk shows you different views

Photos can’t capture how massive the Grand Canyon really is!

Day 7: Sedona

Drive: 110 miles from Grand Canyon, about 2 hours

Sedona is famous in Japan as a “power spot,” and now I know why! The red rocks are stunning, and the town is really charming.

We hiked:

• Boynton Canyon Trail
• Bell Rock
• Cathedral Rock

Even in December, Sedona was packed with visitors! We didn’t stay overnight, but we liked it so much we came back later for a longer visit. If you have time, definitely stay in Sedona for at least one night.

The red rocks look amazing during golden hour, and the shops uptown have great views.

Want to See a Different Route to Sedona?

On another trip, we explored Sedona from a completely different direction—starting in Phoenix and visiting Petrified Forest National Park, Mesa Verde, and Four Corners Monument along the way. If you’re curious about combining Sedona with unique natural and historical sites, check out our 3-day Southwest road trip itinerary from Phoenix!

Day 8: Seligman → Kingman (Route 66 Day)

Drive: 150 miles total along historic Route 66

We love Route 66, so we had to include these towns! If you’re not into Route 66 history, you could skip this and spend more time at the national parks or Sedona.

Seligman: This cute town is full of Route 66 stuff – old signs, vintage shops, classic diners. Great for photos!

Kingman: The best part here is the Historic Route 66 Downtown Sign. You can take pictures with the famous Route 66 sign and your car! The Route 66 Museum is pretty cool too.

These towns show you what American road trips used to be like back in the day.

For a detailed our Route 66 trip, visit my page : Route 66 Attractions by State: Our Personal Journey Through America’s Most Famous Highway

Day 9: Las Vegas (Fun Day!)

Drive: 90 miles from Kingman, about 1.5 hours

After 8 days in peaceful nature, Las Vegas was quite a change! We stayed at The Venetian hotel. Even though it’s a casino, it feels like being in Italy with shopping areas and even a little Venice canal with gondola rides!

What we did in Vegas:

• Walked around The Strip looking at all the lights
• Watched the Bellagio fountain show (get there 15 minutes early!)
• Enjoyed great food and shopping
• People-watched – Vegas is wild!

The crowds on The Strip felt overwhelming after all those quiet desert places, but the energy and shows were really entertaining.

Day 10: Death Valley National Park → Las Vegas Airport

Drive: 120 miles each way, 2 hours each way

Our flight was in the evening, so we had time for one last adventure. The drive to Death Valley was totally doable, and we saw enough to appreciate how special this place is.

Death Valley surprises: We went in December, so we missed the crazy heat Death Valley is famous for. But we discovered it’s not just dry desert! There are beautiful lakes reflecting the sky and constantly changing landscapes.

Cool spots we saw:

• Badwater Basin (lowest point in North America – 282 feet below sea level!)
• Zabriskie Point (amazing views)
• Artist’s Palette (colorful rocks)

Death Valley was the perfect ending to our trip!

What to Pack for a Southwest Road Trip

• Layers (weather can change fast)
• Sunglasses + hat
• Reusable water bottle
• Hiking shoes or comfortable walking shoes
• Offline maps or GPS
• Snacks and water for long drives
• America the Beautiful pass (for national parks access)

Road Trip Tips for the Southwest

• Gas stations can be far apart — fill up before remote areas
• Cell service is spotty in some national parks — download maps in advance
• Watch for time zone changes, especially in Arizona/New Mexico
• Reserve popular attractions early, especially Carlsbad and Grand Canyon hotels

Other Road Trip Ideas in the Western USA

If you’re planning more adventures in the western U.S., here are two other routes we’ve really enjoyed — with very different scenery:

West Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary – California, Oregon & Nevada: Redwoods, Waterfalls & Hidden Gems  :A nature-focused drive along the Pacific Coast, full of lush forests, coastal cliffs, and quiet towns.

Unforgettable Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria Road Trip: 8 Day Itinerary.  : A scenic journey through the Pacific Northwest, perfect for travelers who love city-meets-nature vibes and want to experience Canada too.

Final Thoughts

This Southwest road trip was incredible because every day was completely different. One day we’re looking at giant cacti, the next we’re in underground caves, then we’re seeing the Grand Canyon!

The best part? The drive between places was just as cool as the destinations. Watching the landscape change from Arizona’s cactus forests to New Mexico’s white sand to Utah’s red rocks felt like driving through different planets.

Whether you love nature, history, or just want to see some of the most beautiful places in America, this trip has something for everyone. The desert landscapes and star-filled night skies will stick with you forever.

Want to do this trip yourself? Use our route as a starting point, but feel free to change things based on what you like. The American Southwest is waiting for you!

We had such an amazing time, and I know you will too. The Southwest has so much beauty to share – you just have to get out there and see it!