How to Do Van Life in Southwestern USA: A 7-Day Itinerary from Arizona to Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks
How to Do Van Life in Southwestern USA: An Itinerary from Arizona to Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks
Embarking on a road trip through the diverse landscapes of the Southwest USA? Follow our 7-day guide to maximize your time in this region of the sun-soaked deserts of Arizona and Utah. Our guide promises an adventure filled with natural wonders and breathtaking scenery. This blog post outlines a comprehensive itinerary that includes all the national parks within Utah and Arizona, complemented by the freedom of van life! Make no mistake this itinerary is INTENSE and driving 1800 miles in the span of seven days is A LOT of work! Not to mention all the hiking and activities there are to do! If you’re someone who wants to maximize every second of your time and see the most you can in seven days this itinerary is for you!
Day 1: Phoenix AZ
Start your journey in Phoenix, Arizona! This is where you can pick up your Cruise America van, which we highly recommend doing to get the most out of your Southwestern road trip!
Spend time hiking the scenic trails around Sedona but make sure you do the 3.9 mile hike to Devils Bridge for sunset to witness the glowing red rocks of the surrounding canyons! Park your van at a nearby campsite and immerse yourself in the peaceful desert night. We stayed here: Forest Road 302 (FREE near Grand Canyon)
Day 2: The Grand Canyon
Wake up early to witness a sunrise at the Canyon! Venture further north to the Grand Canyon, one of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders. Take in the panoramic views from the South Rim, explore the rim trails!
Drive 2 hours north to Page, AZ and walk .5 miles to Horseshoe Bend for an incredible sunset! This is something we’ve done twice and can’t wait to do again. Sunset here is unbelievable!
Campground: Lake Powell Campground $15pp
Day 3: Page and Lake Powell
Lake Powell is the BEST spot to spend your morning or entire day (or even more if you can spare the time!) At the boat dock you can rent a jet ski OR a boat all you need is your license! We did a 2 hour rental and we thought it was the perfect amount of time to go tubing, explore the area and experience the fun!
BEST TIP: PLAN THIS TRIP AS FAR IN ADVNACE AS POSSIBLE! Especially if you want to see the Upper Canyon of Antelope Canyon - we had to book far in advance! Personally we think this was an interesting experience but not essential. It’s amazing but lower canyon is just as great to visit! There are also tons of other canyons in the area to see for free if this isn’t in your budget!!
Make a quick pit stop out of AZ to see the “Welcome to Utah” sign!
Campground: Zion Canyon Campground
Day 4: Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a haven for hikers and nature enthusiasts. Hike the renowned Angel's Landing trail (but be sure to apply for the proper permits HERE) stroll through the Narrows (check the weather and make sure its open we went in June and sadly they were still closed due to heavy water flow melting), and marvel at the towering sandstone cliffs that make Zion a must-see destination. In Zion we LOVED the Canyon Overlook Trail!
Campsite Address: Bryce Canyon
Day Five: Bryce Canyon National PArk
The BEST way to start your day and to see Bryce is horseback riding first thing in the morning before it gets hot out! The views on horseback take you further into the canyon than you could on foot in a shorter amount of time!
Book here! https://canyonrides.com we had the most fun on a 2 hour ride with the most experienced guides!
After that we recommend some hiking in the Canyon - we’ve done the Navajo Loop twice and LOVED it every time! This is the spot with the famous views of the switchbacks!
Next stop in Escalante for some lunch or dinner and drinks at 4th West Pub the only restaurants serving drinks on scenic highway 12! Their food was DELICIOUS! Check out their menu here: https://www.4wpub.com/menu
Don’t stay too late make sure you stop at Capitol Reef for a beautiful sunset before heading to the next stop!
day six:Arches or Canyonlands National Park
Embark on a captivating journey through Arches and Canyonlands National Park Start your day by witnessing the breathtaking sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park this is a relatively easy hike that you can start in the dark comfortably to secure your spot for sunrise - be warned this does fill up quickly since its a heavily travelled area!
Next head to Arches National Park!
Hike the Windows Trail (0.7 miles) to marvel at the iconic Double Arch and if you do one hike in the park make sure it’s the Delicate Arch! 3mi out and back with incredible views! We LOVE this trail and have done it twice!
For thrill-seekers, experience the adrenaline-pumping Moab ATV Sunset Tour for $544. And after dark opt for an extra adventure with Astrophotography or indulge in mesmerizing Stargazing in the Arches National Dark Sky Area. Elevate your travel experience with this unforgettable day of nature, adventure, and celestial wonders. Book Here with High Point: https://www.highpointhummer.com
Campground: Arches Campground or near Diamond Fork Hot Springs
Day Seven: Arches or Canyonlands National Park and Hot Springs
After all that hiking and exploring the perfect way to end a trip in our opinion: RELAX! Head to one of two Hot Springs: Diamond Fork Hot Springs or Meadow Hot Springs: both are equally beautiful but we did enjoy after all that hiking that Meadow Hot Springs offers a quick walk from the parking lot!
We were lucky enough to get an early morning flight out of Salt Lake City back to NYC so we had our entire day seven to explore and dropped off our van late at night in Salt Lake! But again we can’t stress enough how important it is to plan ahead to maximize every moment of a trip like this! there is so much to see and do and tons of fun stops along the way you’ll want to make!
