America’s spectacular Southwest boasts the best desert landscapes this side of the Sahara. Much of this jaw-dropping scenery resides within Arizona and Utah, making it easy to explore in one epic desert road trip.
We’ve planned the perfect Utah to Arizona itinerary, so you can explore this beautiful region with ease.
Six incredible national parks (plus Antelope Canyon) lie between Utah and Arizona, and you can see them all in one trip.
Salt Lake City
As Utah’s capital and biggest urban hub, Salt Lake City makes for a great starting point. The city serves as the spiritual center of the Mormon (Latter Day Saints) religion and attracts scores of thrill-seeking snow bunnies in the winter. You can also visit The Leonardo or Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
Arches National Park
A three-and-a-half-hour drive gets you to Arches National Park in Utah. True to its name, this otherworldly expanse is home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches—more than anywhere else on Earth.
Hiking trails and scenic drives let you gaze in wonder at these curvy, eroded formations. Highlights include the red-hued Delicate Arch, the awe-inspiring Windows Section, and the precariously placed Balanced Rock.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is your next stop, an easy 45-minute drive down the road. The Colorado River carved this dramatic arid landscape over millions of years, leaving protruding pinnacles and cragged canyons behind.
Island in the Sky affords the top photo-op—this spectacular flat-topped mesa is best viewed from the scenic Shafer Trail. Don’t miss Mesa Arch at sunrise when the day’s first rays pierce through the sandstone formation.
Bryce Canyon National Park
The four-and-a-half-hour drive from Canyonlands to Bryce Canyon will be worth it the moment you lay eyes on its compellingly beautiful hoodoo spires. These unusual vertical formations look especially majestic at sunrise and sunset.
Take the 18-mile Scenic Drive to view the main hoodoo hotspots—the Bryce Amphitheater is the cream of the crop. If you’d rather explore on foot, opt for the 11-mile Rim Trail instead. The route can be split into smaller sections for a more manageable hike.
Zion National Park
A one-and-a-half-hour trip gets you to Zion National Park, home to a rugged ravine flanked by stunning red sandstone cliffs. Carved by the roaring Virgin River below, you’ll marvel at the waterfalls and thick vegetation of the lush Emerald Pools.
A scenic drive winds along the magnificent 2,000-foot canyon, stopping at numerous panoramic viewpoints along the way. Alternatively, tackle the iconic Narrows, a tough hike that has you wade through waist-high water at times.
Antelope Canyon
Two hours from Zion, this world-famous slot canyon is among the most photogenic attractions in the Southwest. You’ll need to jump on a tour with an authorized agency to explore the site—it’s not possible to tackle it alone.
The Upper Canyon is the more popular and photogenic spot, but it’s pricey and books out months in advance. Although not quite as pretty, the Lower Canyon is fun to explore for its ladders and winding passageways.
Monument Valley National Park
Another two hours takes you two Monument Valley, a gorgeous national park famed for its gigantic sandstone buttes. These iconic sky-high formations set the backdrop for countless Western films and have rightfully become a bucket list road trip destination.
The 17-mile Valley Drive offers the best views of the buttes. Pull in at John Ford’s Point for a postcard-perfect shot of the majestic monuments.
Grand Canyon National Park
Over the border in Arizona (about two and a half hours from Monument Valley), the Grand Canyon National Park never fails to impress. This world-famous canyon slices through the barren landscape, leaving behind stark red strips of layered sedimentary rock.
The South Rim hosts the most famous scenic lookouts—try Hopi Point, Mather Point, and Shoshone Point. Head to the North Rim or hike along the Colorado River below to escape the crowds. White-water rafting tours offer an adrenaline-pumping way to admire this landmark location.
Phoenix
A three-and-a-half-hour drive gets you to Phoenix, the cosmopolitan capital of Arizona. If you’re worn out from roughing it in the national parks, the city has a slew of high-end spa resorts to pamper yourself.
Our Utah and Arizona road trip runs 1,200 miles between Salt Lake City and Phoenix, stopping off at seven stunning national parks along the way. That equates to 20 hours of total drive time, not including all the little detours and scenic drives.
The ideal timeframe to tackle this itinerary is 14 days, although 10 days is doable. If you’re pressed for time, cross one or two parks off the list. Also, there’s no harm doing it in reverse—starting in Phoenix and ending in Utah.
If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, you can do a Utah loop from Salt Lake City instead. It takes at least 10 days to see all five national parks in Utah at a lightning-fast pace.
Those wanting to travel at a leisurely pace, take their time, and enjoy a few hikes at each park, 14 days is a reasonable timeframe for a road trip around Utah. With two weeks in Utah, you can do Salt Lake City to Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and back again.
Whatever itinerary you choose, avoid summer if you can—it gets scorching hot and the parks get crowded with vacationers. The best time to travel around Utah and Arizona is spring or fall. Day and nighttime temperatures are mild, and you’ll see thinner crowds.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has a wide range of accommodations throughout Utah and Arizona. With comfortable yet cost-effective hotels near all of these remarkable national parks, we’re your one-stop-shop for an unforgettable southwest road trip.
Lock in your trip today and get excited about exploring this spectacular section of the United States.
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