Looking to explore America’s great Southwest? Are you worried because you don’t have a lot of vacation time? Fret not, fellow travelers. Here is our Ultimate 10-day American Southwest Road Trip.

Our Ultimate 10-Day American Southwest Road Trip

Best Time To Go

Your best bet is to schedule your trip during the spring or fall. During the summer the temperatures hit the hundreds and a lot of places become crowded. Winter is also not the best time for your trip because the temperatures can be too low, and snowfall can cause closures.

Your trip begins in “Sin City” Las Vegas, 279 miles from the Grand Canyon. Check out the various attractions here in the morning, if you haven’t already checked them out on Day 0. Be sure to peruse the other articles on this website for more information on what to do and see in Las Vegas, Nevada.)

Prep for a drive of 4.5 hours. Stop to stretch your legs at the Memorial Bridge to see Hoover Dam. Check out Lake Mead from the overlook too.  

This schedule focuses on the South Rim which is more family-friendly, with more moderate hiking trails, more amenities, and more to do. You can spend the night in Tusayan, just six miles from the popular South Rim. Should you crave solitude and more challenging hiking trails, simply adjust your schedule a bit and drive to the North Rim.  

Only 10 percent of the canyon’s visitors come here. You can stay at the Yavapai Lodge or the Bright Angel Lodge. Both of these places are on site.