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National Park Road Trip Guide: Southwest Edition

Celebrate 100 years of the NPS with the road trip of a lifetime

By: The Outbound Collective + Save to a List

There’s nothing quite like a road trip through the desert; red rock, big sky, and nothing but the horizon ahead. A road trip to the national parks of the American Southwest is even better because after a few hours of cruising through the barren expanse, you’ll reach endlessly deep canyons, stunning rock formations, and rolling sand dunes that look straight out of the Sahara Desert. We know you’ve had your eye on a few of these national parks, and there’s no better time to hit the road and cross them off your bucket list!

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Explore the Great Sand Dunes


Photo: Justin Ritucci

Backpack the Great Sand Dunes


Photo: Michael O’Keeffe

Mesa Verde National Park

Explore Mesa Top Loop


Photo: Jason Hatfield

Pit Stop: Santa Fe, New Mexico


Photo: Gemina Garland-Lewis

Climb down into the Depths of Carlsbad


Photo: Lucos Pols

Saguaro National Park

HIke to Javelina Rock


Photo: Chema Domenech

Pit Stop: Phoenix, Arizona


Photo: Kevin Kaminski

Petrified Forest National Park

Hike the Blue Forest Trail


Photo: Jared Blitz

Grand Canyon National Park

Backpack to Cremation Canyon


Photo: Tiffany Nguyen

Hike Plateau Poing via Bright Angel Trail


Photo: John Stambaugh

Capturing the Monsoons in Grand Canyon National Park


Photo: Michael Strickland

Bryce Canyon National Park

Backpack the Under the Rim Trail


Photo: Emily Goodman

Hike Mossy Cave


Photo: Rebecca Jones

Zion National Park

Hike Many Pools


Photo: Spencer Rudy

Backpack the West Rim Trail


Photo: Rebecca Wood

Arches National Park

Hike the Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop


Photo: Ryan Dewane

Explore the Fiery Furnace


Photo: Devin K

Canyonlands National Park

Hike Chesler Park and Joint Trails


Photo: Tobin Akehurst

Camp at Squaw Flat Campground


Photo: Madison Sankovitz

Capitol Reef National Park

Hike Sulphur Creek


Photo: Thomas Burton

Hike Cassidy Arch


Photo: Nick Oman

Great Basin National Park

Camp and Hike in Great Basin National Park


Photo: Jason Shepherd



Find your next awesome lodgings across America with KOA!

Cover photo: Nick Oman

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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