SouthwestFamily TravelRoad Trip Ideas

The 7 Best Family Road Trips in the American Southwest

May 2026 · 9 min read

The American Southwest was made for road trips. Wide open highways, dramatic scenery that changes every hundred miles, and a density of National Parks and natural wonders that's unmatched anywhere else in the country. Here are the seven best family road trips in the Southwest — ranked by how good they are for families specifically.

1. Phoenix to Grand Canyon (Arizona)

230 miles · 2-3 days · All ages

The classic. The South Rim is genuinely one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth, and the drive through Sedona and Flagstaff is beautiful in its own right.

💡 Family tip: Split into two days with a night in Flagstaff. The drive from Flagstaff to the canyon is only 80 miles — a perfect easy morning.

2. Las Vegas to Zion & Bryce Canyon (Utah)

270 miles round trip · 3-4 days · Kids 6+

Arguably the most spectacular road trip in the country. Zion's towering sandstone cliffs and Bryce Canyon's otherworldly hoodoos are unlike anything else on earth.

💡 Family tip: Stay in Springdale outside Zion rather than driving in. The free shuttle system makes it easy to get around.

3. Albuquerque to Santa Fe to Taos (New Mexico)

130 miles · 3-4 days · Kids 8+

A cultural road trip unlike anything else. Adobe architecture, Native American history, incredible food, and art everywhere. Meow Wolf in Santa Fe is a must.

💡 Family tip: Time your visit for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October — watching hundreds of hot air balloons launch at sunrise is unforgettable.

4. Phoenix to Tucson to Tombstone (Arizona)

180 miles · 2-3 days · Kids 7+

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the best wildlife experiences in the country. Tombstone's gunfight reenactments are cheesy but kids love it.

💡 Family tip: Budget a full half-day for the Desert Museum — it's part zoo, part botanical garden, part natural history museum.

5. Los Angeles to Joshua Tree to Palm Springs (California)

150 miles · 2-3 days · Kids 6+

Joshua Tree is one of the most visually distinctive landscapes in America — a surreal forest of twisted trees and giant boulders that looks like Dr. Seuss designed it.

💡 Family tip: Visit in spring or fall — summer temperatures can exceed 110°F.

6. Salt Lake City to Moab (Utah)

235 miles · 3-4 days · Kids 8+

Moab is the adventure capital of the Southwest. Arches National Park, Canyonlands, river rafting — the options are almost overwhelming.

💡 Family tip: Book activities in advance. Moab is extremely popular and river rafting, jeep tours fill up fast in summer.

7. Las Vegas to Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes

400 miles · 4-5 days · Kids 10+

The epic route — Death Valley is strangely beautiful and the drive over the Sierra Nevada to Mammoth Lakes completes one of the most dramatic landscape transitions anywhere.

💡 Family tip: Only attempt Death Valley between October and April. Summer temperatures are not survivable without extreme preparation.

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