This is an 8 day roadtrip through parts of the American Southwest, including a brief stint on historic Route 66. Highlights include: Petrified Forest National Park, Grand Canyon and Arches National Park.  

Arches National Park, Utah, USA

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

Loop 66 

I am beginning the trip from Albuquerque as it is the closest city to fly into. I, myself drove down from Colorado (if you do this, add one extra day of travel). Consider bringing binoculars for this trip. Also, consider planning this trip 6 months in advance for optimum lodging.

If you are beginning in Albuquerque, drive 3 hours to Petrified National Forest. (I'd suggest packing a lunch and getting an early start today). 

Continue on the drive, there are multiple pull offs to view the painted desert. Make sure to stop at Route 66 stop to see a rusted Studebaker, abandoned from when Route 66 used to cut through the park. 

First, stop in at the visitor's center right off of highway 40 and snag the park map. I would plan for about 4 hours to explore the park. Drive the north side of the park (north of 40) first. Stop at either Tawa point or the painted desert inn for a short hike.

1 mile, easy but unpaved trail, out and back (2 miles total). You will see Tawa point, Kachina point and the painted desert inn. The hike gives you lovely views of the painted desert, to the north of the park. 

Next, you'll be heading to the south side of the park where there continue to be many stops spanning from witnessing petroglyphs, desert views, and, of course, the petrified forest. 

1 mile easy loop - stunning views with rock formations with a bluish tone that is quite striking against the reds of the terrain. 

At just under a mile this is an easy walk through the parks largest (at least accessible to visitors) collection of petrified wood. 

At the end of the park, you will be deposited at route 180, which takes you back to 40. Drive an hour to arrive in Winslow Arizona.

Stop in Winslow for a photo op (If you're familiar the with Eagle's song "Take it Easy"). If not, still stop to grab dinner at RelicRoad Brewing. Basic fare, but there are a couple of vegetarian options to choose from.

Right now you have been driving a chunk (3 hours to the park, 4 hours through the park, and 1 hour to Winslow). When I did this trip I chose to do the bulk of the drive and get all the way to the Grand Canyon, which would mean 2.5 more hours of driving. You do have the option to find a hotel closer to Winslow, based on your own driving preferences. 

I can recommend either camping or staying in one of the lodges. I stayed at both (links below). 

Mather Campground

I felt I had lots of space in the campgrounds, and they are wooded and provide a decent amount of shade. You'll also have the bonus of potentially seeing some mule deer wander through the campground.  

Thunderbird Lodge

I stayed in a private room at the lodge that had a bathroom but no shower. The showers were communal, but individual, locking stalls, on the same floor as I stayed on. The facilities were quite nice and very convenient. 

Watch the film! great little introduction to the park. Grab some park maps (shuttle info, local hiking, etc.) and then you are ready to go. 

This is a 13 mile hike along the southern rim of the canyon. It should take you between 3-4 hours to walk. But, if you need any breaks there are multiple shuttle routes you can hop on/hop off along or near the route. 

South Rim Shuttle Bus Routes

On the West side of the South Rim Trail is the historic village. Consider downloading the audio tour (before you arrive at the National Park, as you may have limited to no cell service). 

Full Steam Ahead: A Historic Village Tour 

A hike down into the canyon. Consider turning around at the 2nd tunnel or the 1.5 mile rest house. Steep switchbacks begin shortly after the rest house. You will have fantastic views from inside the canyon, and no matter how far you choose to go, it is a breathtaking experience. 

Overall, if this is your first time at the Grand Canyon, consider only doing some of the shorter hikes and to bring plenty of water. Any canyon trails are steep and will take longer to hike back out then in. My following recommendations are based on shorter hikes. Hiking down the canyon and to the river is a multi-day hike, which I did not include. 

Check out the time for sunrise and sunset during your visit. Plan for your days (based on the weather) to witness both these occurrences over the Grand Canyon. 

Arrive 30 minutes before hand. Mather Point (by the visitor's center) is an excellent viewpoint, and easy to get to. It will be crowded. 

Sunrise/ Sunset Times and Moon Phases - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

If you would like to visit one of the other scenic views for sunrise/sunset, you can still navigate the part via shuttle buses. They run one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset. 

Hike to either the "Ooh-Aah Point" (just under 2 miles round trip) or Cedar Ridge (3 miles round trip).  Even though Cedar Point is only 3 miles, it is best planned for as a day trip, this is a steep path back up to the canyon rim. 

Today you will drive out the east entrance of the park, stopping at a few additional points before you continue your drive on to Arches National Park. Consider getting an early start this morning (a potential sunrise viewing day?) as you will eventually be driving 5 hours after exciting the park. 

Pull off at mile mark 246. Whimsical rock formation seen from the overlook.

Pull off at mile mark 251. Offers more panoramic views, including of the Colorado River. There is a trail head here, but it is a more strenuous hike and I do not have experience on this trail. The first turn around is a 2-4 hour (out and back) hike. 

A scenic pull off at mile mark 258. If you want to view the 3 contrasting rock groups comprising the geology of the Grand Canyon, they are all visible from this vantage point. 

A short walk through an ancestral Pueblo village. It is self-guided, but closed during the winter months. Find it at mile mark 262.

A scenic overlook at mile mark 263.5. Here you can see rapids from the Colorado River and an overlook of an active archeological site, the Unkar Delta. 

The highest overlook on the south rim, found at mile marker 264. There is a panoramic view of the watchtower you will explore in the next stop. 

Perhaps my favorite stop on this drive, found at mile marker  264.5. The watchtower is open from 9am - 5pm. (but, the ability to ascend the watchtower may stop at 4:30). Only 25 people are allowed in the tower at a time and it is first come/first served. 

Didn't get a chance to get a picture of the Grand Canyon park sign? As you are exiting the park you can stop and take your picture by the east entrance park sign.

An uninterrupted drive between the desert view and Moab is 5 hours. But, there are a few stops along the way to admire the sweeping views in Arizona and Utah. 

Bring your binoculars along on this 1.3 mile (round trip) hike. This is the main overlook for the Betatakin Cliff Dwellings, which can be seen at about 1/4 mile distance. There is a ranger guided hike down to the cliff dwellings, but these are only offered at 7am Fridays and Saturdays and are very strenuous hikes. 

You will not see the cliff dwellings from this hike. But, this hike is just under a mile and offers views down into the canyon.

Monument Valley | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation

This was an unexpected stop on the trip - we saw the signs and quickly pulled off for a driving break. It is very close to Bluff, Utah, now home to the visitor's center for Bears Ears National Monument. This is a super short hike to witness petroglyphs that range from 300 to 3,000 years old. 

Just 30 minutes before you arrive in Moab you will find the first arch you can hike up to (easily, off of this particular drive).  

When I camped near Arches National Park I chose to make a reservation at Sun Outdoors campground. This was perfectly serviceable for camping. The amenities were quite nice, but if you are tent camping everything is very open and close together. 

Sun Outdoors

There were quite a few campgrounds that were first come/first serve along the Colorado River. I drove along the river and the campsites are picturesque and in the shade of the looming Arches park. My own hesitations in staying in these were not being able to make reservations beforehand. Campgrounds: Goose Island Campground, Big Bend Campground, Lower Onion Creek Campground. 

On these two days, you will want to aim to get into the park either before 7am or at your reserved time. When I went to Arches, they did not have the reservation system, and the lines are long and there is only one way in/out of the park. It may be different now as they pilot the timed entry, but still be prepared for a wait. If you would like to hike to the delicate arch, try to get there as early as possible (think 6am or earlier - bring a flashlight depending on the sunrise time). 

A great way to structure your two days at Arches is to spend time at the park early in the morning and late afternoon/evening. Mid-day I would take a break, go to Moab, go to a local winery/brewery, etc. After 4pm you no longer need reservations. 

Reservations are needed for Arches National Park:

Devils Garden Campground

You need to make reservations 6 months in advance for this campground. I did not find an opening when planning, so was not lucky enough to stay here. 

A brief overview of Mesa Verde National Park with some highlights for spending 1-3 days in the park. 

Mesa Verde

Petrified Forest National Park

Relic Road

Winslow

Desert View Drive

Grand Canyon National Park

Wilson Arch

Red Rock Bakery

Delicious food, healthy juices
and satisfying smoothies! 
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Loop 66

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