Our Incredible Deserts & Awesome Parks Road Trip!!
15 Night Deserts, Parks and The West Road Trip
This is an incredible Road Trip!, one we’ve done a couple of times, if you love the open road sprinkled with some jaw dropping sites, this is the trip for you!
Night 1 Phoenix
Fly direct into Phoenix from London. Enjoy acclimatising to the new time zone, explore the city and get some rest ahead of tomorrow.
Night 2 & 3: Sedona
Pick up your rental car (if you’ve thought about a Mustang Convertible, this is the trip!) and start to feel the freedom of the open road as you leave Phoenix and head north to Sedona. It’s about a 2 hour drive and as you approach Sedona you’ll see the landscape change to the famous red rocks you’ve seen many times in Western Movies. Spend 2 nights here, there are some lovely restaurants and excellent accommodation, we would recommend Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano | Sedona, Arizona for dinner one night. Italian food at its finest. Consider staying at Welcome to Villas of Sedona | Villas of Sedona excellent accommodation with a pool and situation in the middle of the red rocks!
Night 4 & 5: Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend & Monument Valley
What a day this is. Leave the red rocks of Sedona behind, head for Flagstaff up the twisting mountain road, and then onto Grand Canyon Village, it’s about a 2 hour drive in total. Park in the vast car park, and walk to the visitor centre and the edge of the Canyon. Jaw dropping!
After numerous photo opportunities and picking your jaw up from the floor, head back to the car and drive the 2 hours to Horseshoe Bend, this incredible feat of nature offers another excellent photo opportunity in the peace and quiet (and heat!) of the desert.
It’s another 2 hours onto Monument Valley. Monument Valley may not be that well known to you, but when you see the images you’ll recognise it from many films, from westerns to Forrest Gump, indeed keep an eye out for the straight road Forrest made so famous in the movie!
We highly recommend staying in Monument Valley itself, the places below are both excellent and offer incredible views. it’ll be late when you arrive, but you may still catch the sun setting over the giant sandstone formations. Spend the following day exploring the valley, there are excellent guided tours, which we can also book for you.
Goulding's Monument Valley: Your Gateway to Adventure
Home - Monument Valley View
Night 6 & 7: Antelope Canyon & Zion National Park
Another epic day, and if you’ve hired the Mustang you’re really reaping the benefits now! Take the 2 hour drive towards Page and once you arrive, enjoy the guided tour of Antelope Canyon.
Once you have completed the tour, head 2 hours north where the road intersects with the Grand Canyon in places towards Zion.
Arrive in Zion late afternoon and book into the hotel, we recommend Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort | Zion National Park Resort where you can also book guided tours of the park. You may wish to add extra days here, but for sure hike The Narrows and if you’re feeling brave head out to Angels Landing for one of the most incredible views anywhere (not for the faint hearted!)
Night 8, 9 & 10: Las Vegas
It’s a 2.5hr drive via the I15 into Las Vegas, with some great views of Sin City as you approach from the North.
Time to take a break from driving, in the entertainment capital of the world!
What happens here stays here, apart from the memories that you’ll take home and have forever! Dine in some of the world’s best restaurants, stay in iconic hotels, and see some of the global superstars in shows from intimate theatres to sold out stadiums.
It wouldn’t be a trip to Vegas without trying your hand at gambling. Whether Roulette, Blackjack or Craps is your game, there’s a game for everyone, including multi-million dollar jackpots on the slots!
If this all sounds exhausting, then you’ll be delighted to know that Vegas has some of the best pool complexes in the world! From the lazy river of MGM Grand, the beach at Mandalay Bay, and the tranquil pools at Bellagio, there’s a pool for everyone and every budget!
So, pack your comfy walking shoes, a daily budget and put a smile on your face and roll the dice on where we call Disneyland for adults!
Night 11: Death Valley
A 2 hour drive west of Las Vegas you’ll find Death Valley. The hottest place on Earth! Explore the rock formations, and if you do this trip in the summer months, experience the sheer ferocity of the baking sun. Back inside the Air Conditioned car, head to Lone Pine about 90 mins away, and enjoy a night in a one-horse town making new friends in the saloon bar!
Night 12 & 13: Lake Tahoe
With the snow-topped Sierra Nevada mountains to your west head north. Visit Mammoth Lakes on the eastern side of Yosemite, before reaching the deserted cowboy town of Virginia City. Walk the main street taking in all the wonderful shops & eateries, whilst keeping your camera ready! Take the final leg of the day to Lake Tahoe, climbing up the mountain road to reach the border of Nevada and California once again
Spend 2 nights exploring the lake and surrounding area. Get out on bikes, or do some hiking (we saw bears on a hike here!)
Night 14 & 15: San Francisco
It’s a leisurely 4 hour drive to the final stop, San Francisco. Drop off the hire car and explore everything the city has to offer including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Pier 39. Spend 2 nights here before taking the flight and all your memories back to London on the direct flight.
Please use this itinerary as a guide. We truly love creating bespoke road trips and enjoy nothing more than discussing all options with you before pulling it all together in your own personalised itinerary!
It’s so easy to get started, simply give us a call, click on the enquiry button or book a consultation to design your dream trip!
