National Park Road Trip Guide: Southwest Edition
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
