The Ultimate Southwest Road Trip Itinerary: 13 Days, 5 National Parks, 3 National Monuments, and more.

Our first southwest road trip in the summer was when we did our National Parks hopping for the first time. We traveled west from North Texas to New Mexico, Arizona, up to Colorado (a bit of West region), and back to New Mexico again before we headed home.

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During this road trip to the southwest from Texas, we visited 5 National Parks and 3 National Monuments, as well as three museums and other fantastic places. All in 13 days.

Sounds crazy and ambitious, huh? But I tell you, it was one of the very memorable vacations for us. And no, it’s not ‘been there done that’ kind of a holiday. Trust me.

Below, you will find the best places during southwest road trip that you need to put in your itinerary. As always, we started from North Texas, and you can adjust this itinerary from where you will begin.  

Southwest Road Trip: Parks Hopping Itinerary

Day 1: Home (North Texas) to Whites City, NM ( 454 miles, about 7 hour. Destination is in a different time zone.)

Place Visited:

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park. When we arrived in the afternoon, it was too late to enter the caverns from the Natural Entrance. So, we took the elevator from the Visitor Center to do the Big Room Self-Guided Trail. Then we went back in the evening for the Bat Flight Program. Too bad the park canceled it due to lightning. 

Entrance Fee:

• Free with National Park Pass, or $15 per person for 16 and older, free for 15 and younger. Valid for three days.
• Visitors have to get reservations and timed entry to enter the park.

Accommodation & Meals:

• We stayed at Rodeway Inn and ate dinner at Velvet Garter Saloon and Restaurant by the entrance. Both were pretty bad but we came for the caverns. You can stay and eat at better places in Carlsbad for an extra 30 minutes driving (one-way).
• If you’re taking your RV, check out Carlsbad RV Park & Campground in Carlsbad. We stayed there during Spring Break 2024 on our trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It’s clean, the bathroom was spotless, and your dog stays for free with you.

Day 2: Whites City, NM to Alamogordo, NM (166 miles, about 3 hour.)

Places Visited:

• Carlsbad Caverns NP in the morning and did Natural Entrance Self-Guided Trail. However, this entrance is not for visitors with heart or respiratory conditions. The trail is extremely steep. Whether you decide to hike up or down, you gain or lose about 750 feet (229 m) – equivalent to walking up or down a 75-story building. If you arrive in the morning and everyone is in good health, enter the caverns through the Natural Entrance, explore the Big Room Trail, then take the elevator to the Visitor Center.
• New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo. A friend suggested this museum because she knew our son likes everything in outer space. And we didn’t disappointed. In May 2016, the Lonely Planet published a book about 50 museums around the world to blow your mind. New Mexico Museum of Space History was one of them. 
• White Sands National Park, Alamogordo. One of the world’s great natural wonders, where you can sled, hike, or walk on the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. The gypsum sand feels cool and don’t stick to your skin. 

Entrance Fee:

• NM Museum of Space History: Adult (13-59) $8; Senior (60+), Military, NM Resident $7; Children (4-12) $6; Tots (3 and under) are free. Additional fees for feature films, planetarium shows, planetary combo, galactic combos, or universal triple.
• White Sands NP: Free with National Park Pass, or $25 per vehicle, $15 per person (per person fee is only charged if there is only one person in the vehicle), and $20 per motorcycle. Entrance fees are valid for entry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase. Or, buy a $45 White Sands National Park Annual Pass.

Accommodation & Meals:

• There are plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from in the city. Some hotel fee included a snow-saucer to use when you visit the park.

Day 3: Alamogordo, NM to Tucson, AZ (349 miles, about 5 hours. Destination is in a different time zone.)

Places Visited:

• White Sands National Park for more fun.
• The World’s Largest Pistachio Nut at McGinn’s Farm, Alamogordo. A quick stop for a roadside attraction, and of course, pistachios for snacking in the car. 
• Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona until dark. A unique park where you can see saguaro cactus. When visiting in the summer, make sure to arrive late afternoon or early in the morning. Temperature above 110ºF is normal here, and it is super dry as well.    

Entrance Fee:

• Saguaro National Park is free with a National Park Pass. Or buy a vehicle weekly pass for $25, $15 for individual entrance (entering by foot or bicycle), and $20 for a motorcycle weekly pass. The entrance fee is valid for seven days for the Tucson Mountain District (West) and the Rincon Mountain District (East.)

Accommodation & Meals:

• We stayed at the Hilton Hotel near the park, and it was the cheapest hotel we had during the trip at $69/night, including tax. You can find all kinds of restaurants around the area.

Day 4: Tucson, AZ to Holbrook, AZ (237 miles, about 4.5 hours.)

Place Visited:

• Petrified Forest National Park. A place to see petrified wood from sizes as tiny as your fingernail to as big as an old Elm tree. You will also enjoy colorful badlands and painted desert here. It is the only National Park with a section of Historic Route 66. We entered from the South End and exited through the North End when it got dark.  

Entrance Fee:

• Free with National Park Pass, or $25 – auto/7-days pass; $15 – bike/person; $20 – motorcycle (flat fee).

Accommodation & Meals:

• Choice of roadside hotels and restaurants in Holbrook, AZ.

Day 5: Holbrook, AZ to Grand Canyon National Park, AZ (182 miles, about 3 hours.)

Places Visited:

• Meteor Crater in Winslow, AZ (about an hour from Holbrook). It is where you can see the world’s best-preserved meteorite impact site on Earth. A spectacular result of a collision that rocked the American Southwest about 50,000 years ago with the energy of more than 20 million tons of TNT. It wasn’t in our original Southwest road trip itinerary, and we’re glad we stopped here. Too bad Meteor Crater is a private owner, so they don’t recognize your National Park Pass here.     
• South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, about 2 hours from Winslow. It is definitely a must-visit! We entered through the East Entrance. So we started our day in the park from the Desert View to the Village. I think we stopped at every viewpoint between the two places. 

Entrance Fee:

• Meteor Crater: – Adults (13-59) $27.00, Seniors (60+) $25.00, Juniors (age 6 through 12 years) $18.00, five and under are free, Non-Active Duty U.S. Military/Veterans (with I.D.) $18.00, Active Duty U.S. Military (with I.D.) FREE.
• Grand Canyon National Park: Free with a National Park Pass or $35 for a seven-day vehicle permit, including the north and south rim.

Accommodation & Meals:

• We stayed at Yavapai Lodge and ate at the restaurant in the Grand Canyon South Rim Village.
• Several years later, we camped at Mather Campground in the south rim.

Day 6: Explored Grand Canyon National Park.

Places Visited:

After we picked up the Junior Ranger booklet from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, we walked to the famous Mather Point. Then, we followed the Rim Trail to Bright Angel Trailhead. After lunch, we went to Hermits Rest. We joined three Ranger Programs and ended the day by watching the sunset at Yaki Point.

Notes:

We parked the car in front of our room and used the shuttle bus. I also noticed that the family who stayed in the next room brought their small grill. I saw the husband grilled hot dogs in the evening, and I think it was a good idea to save money. Food prices at the Village are not cheap. Expenses significantly increase when there are four adults and two children in a family like them. And not to mention if you stay more than two nights.  

Day 7: Grand Canyon NP, AZ to Page, AZ (131 miles, about 2.5 hours.)

Places Visited:

• Grand Canyon in the morning. Before leaving for our next destination on this Southwest road trip, we hiked to Ooh Aah Point at the South Kaibab Trailhead. I highly recommend you to do this hike. Views were spectacular, and the weather in the morning was pleasant. Going up is not as easy as going down, but children will love their times here.    
• Antelope Canyon in Page. You must book your ticket in advance to tour the Antelope Canyon. Page has tons of tourists from all over the world. 

Entrance Fee:

• The more famous Antelope Upper Canyon Tour prices are $85 for adults (8 & older) and $75 for children (0-7). There is an additional $8 Navajo Park Fee for those aged eight and above, plus surcharges. Prices for visiting at noon from April to September are more. 

Accommodation & Meals:

• Page is a vacation destination with Lake Powell. There are lots of hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Day 8: Page, AZ to Mesa Verde, CO (245 miles, about 4 hours.)

Visited:

• Horseshoe Bend Overlook, Page. We stopped at this famous place before we continued to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. It’s beautiful nature that you shouldn’t skip during your road trip to the Southwest. 
• The Four Corners, Teec Nos Pos, AZ. You don’t need to make a special trip here unless you drive through this area during your Southwest road trip.
• Mesa Verde National Park, CO. The cliff dwellings in the park are fantastic. You must do at least one of the house tours and buy the tickets right when you arrive at the Visitor Center. That’s what we did when we got there in the afternoon. We booked house tour tickets for the next day. After looking through the exhibit, we drove to Mesa Top Loop Road and stopped at several viewpoints. It took an hour to get there from the Visitor Center.

Entrance Fee:

• Horseshoe Bend Overlook is free. However, you must pay for parking now. $5 – motorcycle, $10 – passenger vehicles (incl. RV and motorhome), and prices are subject to change without notice. 
• The Four Corners is $8 per person. It is a Navajo Tribal Park, so National Park Passes are unacceptable. Only pay with a credit card. 
• Mesa Verde NP: Free with National Park Pass; or Private vehicles (May 1 – Oct. 22) $30, Oct. 23 – April 30 $20; Motorcycle (May 1 – Oct. 22) $25, Oct. 23 – April 30 $15; per person (May 1 – Oct. 22) $15, Oct. 23 – Dec. 31 $15. Prices are good for seven days.

Accommodation & Meals:

• We stayed at Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park. No TVs. It’s peaceful in the evening. We ate at restaurants in the park.

Day 9: Explored Mesa Verde National Park.

Places Visited:

Our day in the park starts with a one-hour, ranger-guided tour to Cliff Palace. It is the largest cliff dwelling in the park. Then, we hiked the Soda Canyon Overlook Trails, which location is also in the Cliff Palace Loop.

From here, we visited Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum and Spruce Tree House, just before the Mesa Top Loop. Spruce Tree is a self-guided tour, but today it is closed for the foreseeable future due to safety concerns related to rock falls.

Before returning to our lodge, we drove the Mesa Top Loop again to visit places we didn’t see the day before. Then, we ended the day at the Far View Sites.

Day 10: Mesa Verde, CO to Santa Fe, NM (294 miles, about 5 hours.)

Places Visited:

• Before we left for New Mexico, we went to Wetherill Mesa on the other side of the Park. We did a self-guiding tour of the Step House.
• We arrived late afternoon in Santa Fe and browsed the downtown area to get a picture of the city. Beautiful place.

Accommodation & Meals:

• Lots of hotels and restaurants that will match your budget in Santa Fe.

Day 11: Santa Fe, NM to Los Alamos, NM (33.8 miles, about 40 min.)

Places Visited:

• Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe. Famous for its miraculous staircase that has no visible means of support. Loretto Chapel is a beautiful addition to your Southwest road trip. We arrived before the opening hours to avoid crowds. Check their website before your visit because this beautiful chapel is a favorite wedding venue. If time permits, visit the other two old churches in Santa Fe.
• Canyon Road in Santa Fe. Not too far from Loretto Chapel, Canyon Road is dedicated to the country’s finest art. Enjoy a pleasant stroll while admiring art pieces created by artists from all over the U.S. and the world. Besides art galleries, the street is also home to Santa Fe’s finest jewelry and dining establishments. 
• Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos. An incredible place where you can walk through the archeological sites and climb into cavates (small human-carved alcoves). You can also climb to the Alcove House, located 140 feet above the floor of Frijoles Canyon. There will be four wooden ladders and several stone stairs that you must climb to reach the house. I didn’t touch my camera at all when we climbed the ladders. Too scary to take pictures.  

Entrance Fee:

• Loretto Chapel is $5/person, children six and under are free.
• Bandelier NM: Free with National Park Pass; or $25 – private vehicle; $15 – individual permit; $20 – motorcycle. The permit is good for seven days.

Accommodation & Meals:

• We moved to Albuquerque to get closer to the places we visited the next day. Again, there are lots of hotels and restaurants that will match your budget. In Santa Fe, we had lunch at Cowgirl BBQ.

Day 12: Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM (64 miles, about one hour.)

Places Visited:

• Petroglyph National Monument. If your children like history, this is a place to learn about Native Americans and Spanish settlers from 400-700 years ago. Our son had fun finding petroglyphs on volcanic rocks while doing his Junior Ranger Program here.
• Explora, the science center, and the children’s museum. We had fun exploring this museum, which is full of hands-on activities. If only our local Children and Science Museum like Explora.
• New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Like Explora, you can’t miss this museum while in Albuquerque. You will take a journey through billions of years of New Mexico’s natural history, watching how scientists extract dinosaur fossils from the rock matrix, exploring the night sky of New Mexico, and so much more. And this museum is located right across from the Explora.

Entrance Fee:

• Petroglyph NM: Free with paid parking ($1 weekdays, $2 weekends).
• Explora: Free with your museum membership card (check with Explora first); or Children (ages 1-11): $7, Adults (ages 12-64): $11, Seniors (age 65+, with ID): $8, Students or Military (with ID): $8.
• NM Museum of Natural History and Science: Free with your museum membership card (check with the museum first); or adults (18-59) – $8, seniors (60+) – $7, youth (13-17) $7, children (3-12) – $5. Tots (2 & under) are free.

Day 13: Albuquerque, NM to home in North Texas (644 miles, about 9.30 hours. Destination is in a different time zone.)

General tip:

• We bought National Park Pass for the trip which was also good for National Monument. (Cost $80).
• Booked hotels in advance, especially for Grand Canyon NP.
• Found information online, travel blogs, from magazines, and friends who’d been to these places or live around the area.