American Southwest Road Trip
Freeby Sébastien Couix
21 Spots
Valley of Fire State Park
Nevada's oldest state park, just an hour from Las Vegas: blazing red Aztec sandstone, 2,000-year-old petroglyphs and the swirling Fire Wave. Drive the White Domes/Mouse's Tank Road at golden hour, and skip midday hikes from May to September when it tops 110°F.
The Narrows, Zion National Park
Hike up the Virgin River between thousand-foot canyon walls, starting from the Riverside Walk at the Temple of Sinawava. Rent canyoneering boots and a walking stick in Springdale, catch the first shuttle, and check the flash-flood forecast before you go.
Oscar's Cafe
Springdale's go-to refuel after Zion: huge portions on a shaded patio with canyon views. Order the Macho Burrito or the smothered pork verde, and come early at dinner as it fills up fast. Springdale is the best overnight base for Zion.
Sego Restaurant, Kanab
The best dinner on the Zion-Bryce-Grand Canyon triangle, in the easygoing overnight town of Kanab. Chef-driven Southwestern social plates and craft cocktails; book ahead, closed Thursdays and Sundays.
Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon
Watch the first light set thousands of orange hoodoos glowing in the Bryce Amphitheater. Afterwards, hike down the Queen's Garden trail and loop back up via Navajo Loop's Wall Street switchbacks (about 3 miles). Bring layers: it's below freezing at dawn most of the year.
Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogback
One of America's most spectacular drives: a two-lane road balanced on a knife-edge ridge with sheer drops on both sides between Escalante and Boulder. Pull over at the Head of the Rocks overlook and grab a coffee at Kiva Koffeehouse, perched on the cliff.
Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm
A remote farm-to-table legend in tiny Boulder, UT, growing much of its own produce on a six-acre farm. Book a dinner reservation, order the lemon-chile cornbread and whatever comes from the garden. Seasonal: open roughly mid-March to November.
Gifford Homestead, Capitol Reef
Pioneer farmhouse in the historic Fruita orchards of Capitol Reef, the least crowded of Utah's big five parks. Buy a fresh-baked mini fruit pie (they sell out by early afternoon) and eat it on the lawn, then drive the Scenic Drive to Capitol Gorge.
Goblin Valley State Park
A valley packed with thousands of mushroom-shaped hoodoos you can freely wander, climb and explore; the closest thing to hiking on Mars. Kids love it, and it's an easy detour between Capitol Reef and Moab. Stay for the stars: it's a certified dark-sky park.
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Utah's most famous landmark, reached by a 3-mile round-trip hike over slickrock. Go for sunset when the arch turns fiery red, bring a headlamp for the walk down, and check if timed-entry reservations are required for your dates.
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands
A short half-mile loop to an arch perched on the cliff edge, framing the canyons beneath. At sunrise the underside glows orange; arrive 45 minutes early to claim a spot among the photographers.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Jaw-dropping overlook 2,000 feet above a gooseneck of the Colorado River, often compared to a mini Grand Canyon. Pair it with Mesa Arch the same day, and come back for sunset when the canyon layers light up.
Milt's Stop & Eat
Moab's oldest restaurant (since 1954), a tiny walk-up burger stand beloved by climbers and bikers. Get the bison burger, hand-cut fries and a banana shake. Moab is the natural overnight base for Arches and Canyonlands.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
The quintessential Western landscape of sandstone buttes rising from the desert. Drive the 17-mile unpaved Valley Drive yourself or join a Navajo-guided tour to reach areas off-limits to private cars. For the classic road shot, stop at mile marker 13 on US-163 heading south.
Upper Antelope Canyon
A sculpted slot canyon where light beams pour through the ceiling on Navajo Nation land, visitable only with a licensed Navajo guide. Book months ahead and aim for a late-morning tour in summer for the famous light shafts.
Horseshoe Bend
The Colorado River loops around a sandstone tower 1,000 feet below this cliff edge. It's a flat 1.5-mile round-trip walk from the parking lot; sunrise is calmer and cooler than the busy sunset crowd.
Desert View Drive, Grand Canyon South Rim
A 25-mile rim road with the park's best viewpoints, ending at the Mary Colter-designed Desert View Watchtower. Enter via the east entrance from Page to skip the lines at the south gate, and stop at Lipan and Grandview points on the way.
Hopi Point, Grand Canyon
Widely considered the best sunset viewpoint on the South Rim, jutting far into the canyon with views of the Colorado River. Hermit Road is closed to private cars most of the year, so take the free Red Route shuttle and arrive an hour before sunset.
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In
A quirky Route 66 icon in Seligman since 1953, famous for its pranks (mind the fake mustard bottle). Order a cheeseburger with cheese and a malt, and wander Seligman's vintage storefronts afterwards.
Pizzicletta
Tiny, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria in downtown Flagstaff that regularly ranks among Arizona's best pizza. Get the Pistachio pizza and house gelato. Flagstaff is a cool, pine-scented overnight stop just 80 minutes from the Grand Canyon.
Cathedral Rock, Sedona
Sedona's most photographed red rock spire. The short but steep scramble to the saddle gives huge views; or for an easy shot, walk to Red Rock Crossing at Crescent Moon Picnic Site to see it reflected in Oak Creek. Parking is tiny, so use the free Sedona Shuttle.