10 Days Through the Southwest

The Southwestern states of Arizona, Utah and Nevada contain some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet, and the best way to see it is still by car. Indeed, a driving tour of the Southwest is perhaps the quintessential great American road trip. The itinerary below, which follows the route I took on my recent visit, stops at iconic national parks as well as lesser-known gems.

This 10-day journey begins in Phoenix, heads north into southern Utah and ends in Las Vegas, with stops at the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. Along with natural landmarks, we explored the history of indigenous culture in the region, which stretches back more than 10,000 years. We traveled in early spring to avoid the intense heat of summer, crowds of road trippers and occasional heavy rains. Fall is also a pleasant and temperate time in which to travel, but winter can be cold, especially at higher elevations.