Updated December 2025
The desert Southwest of the United States offers some of the most remarkable and varied scenery anywhere in the country. Across a broad region spanning several states, you’ll find dramatic red rock formations, deep canyons, high desert plateaus, mountain passes, and wide-open landscapes that feel distinctly American. While distances between destinations can appear daunting at first glance, the density of sights is high, and driving distances are often shorter than expected.
In this post, we share one possible road trip itinerary through northern New Mexico, southeast Utah, and southern Colorado. This route links together several outstanding national parks — including Arches, Canyonlands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, and Mesa Verde — along with a number of scenic highways and memorable towns. The full loop covers just over 800 miles and can be comfortably completed in about 10 days.
We worked this itinerary through several iterations to balance driving time with time spent exploring. With one exception, daily drives are kept intentionally reasonable, allowing most days to include meaningful time on trails, overlooks, and scenic roads. Only one longer driving day is required to position the trip efficiently; the rest of the route is broken into shorter, more scenic segments where the drive itself becomes part of the experience.
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Parks and Sights
For this trip, the anchor destinations are Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, located near one another in southeast Utah. Returning to Arches was a primary motivation for the trip, as we had last visited the park more than 20 years earlier. On that earlier journey, we explored several national parks in southern Utah, Monument Valley, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon — but Canyonlands had been just out of reach.
As expected, Arches was every bit as impressive as we remembered. What surprised us, however, was how consistently rewarding the rest of the route proved to be. From high desert to mountain passes to sand dunes and deep river canyons, each segment added something distinct to the overall experience.
After comparing flight and rental costs, we chose to fly into Albuquerque, New Mexico, rather than Salt Lake City. This decision influenced the shape of the itinerary and allowed us to include Santa Fe, the Million Dollar Highway (US Route 550), and several Colorado parks that might otherwise be skipped.
Key stops on this route include:
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Utah State Route 128
- US Route 550 (Million Dollar Highway)
- Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Itinerary at a Glance
After several rounds of planning using our itinerary-building approach, we settled on a route that balances driving time, sightseeing, and flexibility. The result is a loop that avoids backtracking while incorporating several well-known scenic highways and shorter stops in towns such as Silverton, Durango, and Santa Fe.
The total distance is a little over 800 miles, spread across approximately 10 days with time for hiking, making it manageable without feeling rushed. Scenic drives are intentionally woven into the route so that travel days remain engaging rather than purely functional.
Desert Southwest Itinerary #1: Arches, Canyonlands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and more:
Download as Open Document Sheets and use in Excel or a cloud spreadsheet tool (e.g., Google Drive or Office 365). Then, update your arrival date in cell A2. Next, get started on your itinerary (automations/equations are embedded to make a few things quicker). This file can serve as a template for other trip plans as well.
Download as a KML file and use in Google Maps, Google My Maps, OpenMaps, or other mobile apps. Start from the full screen view of the map.
Sight Rankings
Our star-ranking system is designed to help prioritize time while planning. For this itinerary, our general ranking of destinations and activities is as follows:
- ★★★ Arches National Park
- ★★ Canyonlands National Park
- ★★ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- ★★ Great Sand Dunes National Park
- ★ Mesa Verde National Park
- ★★ Santa Fe, New Mexico
- ★ US Route 550 (Million Dollar Highway)
- ★ Scenic Utah State Route 128
Transportation and Accommodations
This itinerary worked particularly well for RV travel, as it allowed us to stay close to the parks and scenic areas while covering a substantial distance. Overnighting in or near national parks reduced daily drive times and made it easier to adjust plans based on weather or energy levels. An RV also enhances scenic drives, making it easy to stop for impromptu picnics or short walks.
Whether you travel by car or RV, you’ll want flexibility for covering long distances between parks and towns. Comparing rental options early can make a noticeable difference in overall trip cost. Check out these options from DiscoverCars.com.
As we often do on an RV trip, we scheduled a commercial RV park at the mid-point of the trip with a laundromat and other facilities. This stop happened to be at Cedar Creek RV Park in Montrose. We also decided spontaneously to visit the Museum of the Mountain West (see our description in our Black Canyon of the Gunnison guide). We also booked our last night in Santa Fe at an RV park, making packing and clean-up easier.
See our tips page on Guide for Renting an RV for the pros and cons of RV travel.
One practical note: flying into Albuquerque instead of Salt Lake City significantly reduced RV rental costs — by roughly $1,000 in our case. When planning a trip like this, it’s worth comparing rental and flight prices across multiple cities before committing. We found a good deal at American Dream Vacations.
For travelers not using an RV, Moab makes the most convenient base for visiting Arches and Canyonlands, with a wide range of lodging options. Check availability on Booking.com below:
Alternative Itinerary Options
This route can be shortened, extended, or combined with other Southwest destinations. The southern portion can be paired with additional stops south of Albuquerque, while the northern segments can be linked with destinations around Colorado Springs or Rocky Mountain National Park. The itinerary is flexible by design and can be adapted based on available time and interests.
Related Guides
Planning Your Trip to Arches National Park: A Complete Travel Guide
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Essential Guide to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado