This 11-Day Itinerary for the American Southwest is Any Adventurers Dream
- Jennifer Evans
- Oct 15, 2024
- 9 min read
After visiting all 50 states, one of the most beautiful road trips you could go on is throughout the gorgeous southwest.
This 11-day itinerary includes hiking, water sports, nightlife, art, culture, entertainment, and more!
The thing you must remember when traveling to this part of the country is that the sun can be brutal.
Check out my favorite items that will help make this specific itinerary run smoother:
DAY 1: Fly into Las Vegas and head to Sedona
Las Vegas is going to be the biggest city on this route which means it’ll offer the most diverse flight and rental car options.
Don’t worry - I know Vegas is a hot spot to visit. But trust me, after all the physical activity this itinerary holds, you’ll want the end of your trip to include drinking and gambling, not the beginning.
This drive will be around 4.5 hours and is your longest drive for this entire trip - so make sure you get yourself a flight early enough to land at a decent time.
Knocking this drive out on Day 1 versus Day 2 will give you way more time to explore Sedona and trust me, once you get there… You’ll want to stay as long as possible.
Day 2: Hike in Sedona
Sedona, Arizona is tied for my favorite town in the country with Moab, Utah.
Sedona’s gorgeous red and orange rocky landscape is breathtaking even from the car which means once you get out and hike, the views only get prettier.
There are two hiking trails that Sedona is best known for - one is Cathedral Rock and here are the stats according to AllTrails (the best app for hikers to track and log their adventures):
Trail: Cathedral Rock
Distance: 1.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 741 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Type: Out and Back
Cathedral Rock is pretty, well, vertical. My husband even asked why I was taking him “rock climbing” because there are parts of the trail where you’re using both feet AND both hands.
But if you’re up for the challenge, this hike has a stunning view from the top and is a fun experience along the way.
The next hike that Sedona is known for is Devil’s Bridge which is a little bit easier difficulty-wise but is much longer in distance. The statistics from AllTrails are:
Trail: Devil’s Bridge
Distance: 3.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 521 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Out and Back
Dedicating one day in Sedona to either do one or both of these hikes will allow you to get the most out of your time in Sedona as tomorrow, you get to see a different side of why this town is so amazing.
If you are traveling with people who may not be able to conquer these hikes, consider taking a Pink Jeep Tour through the gorgeous scenery. It’s a great way to see the views without putting the miles on your boots.
Day 3: Explore the art and culture of Sedona, drive to the Grand Canyon
Sedona has a very strong Native American culture and a fairly large Hispanic community as well.
Throughout Sedona, you can see many monuments, stores, restaurants, and more that embrace their local cultures and by supporting these small businesses, you are helping families thrive.
My favorite place to seek these experiences is in the Tlaquepaque Village. This cute little area has an abundance of restaurants, shops, and art galleries all within walking distance of each other. You can find small bites, large meals, jewelry, artwork, wine, and more and this is a part of Sedona that you don’t want to miss.
When you’re ready to move onto the next phase of this journey, buckle up for your two-hour drive to one of America’s most stunning National Parks, The Grand Canyon!
Day 4-5: The Grand Canyon, drive to Page
You have arrived at one of America’s most awe-inspiring landscapes - The Grand Canyon!
The Grand Canyon has an abundance of tours and activities that you can book through various companies, or you can take the time to explore on your own.
Guided tours are always a phenomenal way to get to know the area before discovering it on your own. Tour guides are extremely familiar with the area and can give you insightful information that can help make your specific experience better.
If you look up the Grand Canyon Conservancy, there are guided tours that include hiking, photography, backpacking, and even volunteering.
You could also put in for the Havasupai Falls lottery but be prepared, you’d have to plan this lottery months before planning the rest of your trip, as actually winning this lottery is rare and will make a big difference on your Grand Canyon itinerary.
This part of the Grand Canyon is only accessible by people who win the lottery and it’s secluded, includes several waterfalls, and if you just look it up on Instagram or TikTok, you’ll immediately fall in love and see why it’s worth planning for.
This is one of my top bucket list items for America and I hope to make it here one day!
One of my favorite trails to do at the Grand Canyon is the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point whose stats from AllTrails are:
Trail: South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point
Distance: 1.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 685 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Out and Back
This trail (and most trails at the Grand Canyon) are going to include a lot of switchbacks, so be prepared, hydrated, and protect yourself from the sun!
Switchbacks are typically steep parts of the trail that zig-zag back and forth vertically. These are challenging physically due to the fact that you hike up, to hike up, to hike up some more. But they can be mentally challenging as well since it feels like you hike forever before making any real progress. On the bright side, whatever you walk up, you also have to walk down. So while one direction will be fairly challenging, the other direction will feel like a breeze.
Unfortunately with the Grand Canyon though, since you start at the “top” of every hike, you get to do the easy part first, saving the challenging part for last.
No matter what your abilities or goals are with this trip, you’re bound to find activities at the Grand Canyon that work for you and your travel companions!
Once you’ve completed your time at the Grand Canyon, it’s time to take a 2.5-hour drive to Page, Arizona!
Day 6: Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon
Welcome to your last stop in Arizona - Page!
Page is known for two primary destinations - Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon.
Lake Powell is a reservoir lake that’s off the Colorado River that covers land in both Utah and Arizona. It’s 254 square miles and is known for its rocky coves.
Once you arrive at Lake Powell, you come across two different buildings, one of which has boat rentals.
When we arrived at Lake Powell, we were trying to save some money and chose to go the kayak route. About 20 minutes into our experience, we quickly learned that this was a mistake.
We got out on the water with the kayaks, started paddling, and realized just how big Lake Powell actually was.
We became fatigued very quickly, but we managed to get away from every sliver of shoreline leaving us with no choice but to paddle some more. On top of that, there would be large tour boats that come through and the waves in the water would push you back even further and you’d have to paddle extra just to get back to where you were a few minutes ago.
We had plans to see all these coves but by the time we made it to land, we wanted nothing more than to just paddle back and be done.
It was a bummer on our end because Lake Powell was stunning. We want to return one day soon and get a boat with a motor so we can work less, enjoy more, and have a better experience.
So learn from our mistake - if you’re going to take the time to explore Lake Powell, make sure to invest in a rental that actually includes a motor.
PRO TIP: If you have a National Park Pass, you can park at Lake Powell for free.
Our other mistake with our trip to Page was that it was towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had tickets to see Antelope Canyon but as the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t letting up, the tour company cancelled our tour until further notice. This is located in the Navajo Nation and they were doing what they had to do to protect their community - which I totally understood. But we will be back one day!
Antelope Canyon is a gorgeous canyon that’s known for its bright red and orange waves. You cannot explore Antelope Canyon without a tour guide. However, there are many different companies to choose your tour through. Antelope Canyon has a north and a south canyon so if you want the biggest bang for your buck, be sure to select a tour that includes both.
After your full day in Page is complete, get ready to drive 2.5 more hours to Bryce Canyon National Park!
Day 7: Bryce Canyon National Park
Welcome to Utah - home to the Mighty 5!
The Mighty 5 is five National Parks that are off the same highway in Utah and this itinerary gets you to two of them!
Bryce Canyon is a beautiful and accessible park that is known for its “hoodoos” which are thin and vertical rock formations that, at Bryce, extend up to 200ft tall.
Bryce is wonderful because you can drive around to see different lookout points and stop wherever you want to start hiking.
My favorite hiking trail at Bryce Canyon is:
Trail: Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 652 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Loop Trail
This trail takes you from the top of the canyon all the way down to the bottom of the hoodoos! This also takes you to a unique feature called “Wall Street” that’s gorgeous bright orange switchbacks. If you’re lucky, you’ll choose the direction to go down these switchbacks. But like I said, whatever you go down, you always have to come back up anyways!
This trail gives you a diverse set of scenery that gives you a good all-in-all perspective of the landscapes Bryce has to offer!
Day 8 - Day 9: Zion National Park
Out of the 26 National Parks I’ve visited so far, Zion is one of my absolute favorites - as it holds two of my favorite hiking trails in the country.
PRO TIP: Do NOT try doing both of these hiking trails on the same day or else you’ll probably hate both of them. But if you do them on separate days, you’ll have an incredible experience in Zion!
The first one requires a permit (that you can find here) and is called Angels Landing. It’s stats are:
Trail: Angels Landing
Distance: 4.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,827 ft
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Type: Out and Back
Angels Landing has switchbacks called Walter’s Wiggles which is definitely the worst part of the trail. There’s very little access to shade and there’s a total of 21 switchbacks in both directions.
After you conquer Walter’s Wiggles, it’s time for the “chains section.” Now, this is not for someone who is afraid of heights.
Some of this trail can get as narrow as three feet wide with a 1,000+ foot drop on either side. There are chains embedded into the wall face to hold onto and the view at the top is worth every ounce of effort that’s put into the hike.
If you don’t enjoy heights, you can stop after Walter’s Wiggles and see a similar view from Scouts Lookout.
On the opposite day of Angels Landing, you can’t miss out on hiking the Narrows:
Trail: The Narrows
Distance: 1+ miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 193ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Out and Back
The Narrows is a very unique trail that takes you into the Virgin River that runs through a steep slot canyon. The reason the distance says 1+ miles is because there is a concrete paved trail that takes you to the riverbed that is a mile on its own.
Some people who aren’t as adventurous will stop at the riverbed, as it still provides some cool views.
But the real adventures start in the river!
To thoroughly enjoy this hiking trail, check into rental gear. Depending on the season, this could include boots with ankle support, special socks, and a trekking pole and if you’re going to be there during cold weather, it will also include a dry-suit.
The rocks can be very slick so whether you get rental gear or not, boots with ankle support is a must.
The views in the slot canyon are absolutely breathtaking and the further in you go, the less people are there, and the view gets even better.
Check out my full guide to Zion National Park here!
Day 10: Unwind in Las Vegas
Alright, alright. I get it. You’ve earned yourself a nice cold drink (or two or three). And what better place to have a few drinks than the one and only Las Vegas?!
If you’re up for one more adventure before taking the load off, check out Red Rock Canyon located within 30 minutes of the city limits of Vegas.
This park has a one-way 13-mile road that has several places to park and look around. There are amazing hiking trails and rock climbing routes and I can say from experience… The rock climbing routes were epic.
Once you get back into Vegas, the Vegas Strip and Fremont Street offer an abundance of restaurants, bars, casinos, and entertainment venues.
Some of the best performers in the country have headlining shows in Vegas but it’s crucial to book these tickets early as they can sell out quickly.
Day 11: Fly Home
Do yourself a favor and don’t try to fly home too early. Give yourself a good night out, reminisce on your newly acquired experiences, and take that afternoon flight home.
You’ll thank me later!
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