Southwest One Week Itinerary

Planning a Southwest road trip but only have about a week’s worth of time? Don’t stress! The Southwest might be huge but you can hit a lot of the best places to see in that timeframe. Here is a great southwest one week itinerary that will help with your vacation.

From the Arches and Canyonlands to the history of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, here is the ultimate one-week Southwest itinerary that will have you hustling and bustling and checking out some of the best places in the US!

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The Ultimate Southwest One Week Itinerary

Days 1 and 2: Moab

From the red rock formations, sandstone spires, and canyons as far as the eye can see, you’re going to love this area of Utah. While you could literally spend weeks here, make sure that visiting Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park is on your list.

Start at the Delicate Arch and take in those views and then make a plan to start your desert hiking trip. The Landscape Arch trail will lead you to see the largest natural arch in the US.

After that hike, take a rest and take your car on the  Arches Scenic Ride This offers great views and gives you time to recoup for more hiking. To catch an epic sunset, hike the Double Arch trail and finish at the Windows.

The second day will be hitting all the highlights of Canyonland’s Island in the Sky District. There is so much here to see and explore.

Start early by hiking up the Mesa Arch to catch the sunrise. You can then have some fun and choose a couple of other short hiking trails. Green River Viewpoint is a great place to check out at sunset as the colors really pop!

Day 3: Mesa Verde National Park for your Southwest One Week Itinerary

On this day, you’ll drive to Colorado to check out this area of the Southwest! Nestled deep in the cliffs, ruins, and dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans can be viewed and explored.

Days 4 and 5: Grand Canyon National Park

You have to stop here – it’s a must!

This day will include about 4-5 hours of driving, so take it nice and slow and relax. Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon, you should still have time to take in the views and enjoy. For a short hike, the Ooh Ahh Point is just 1.8 miles round trip and gives stunning views.

For the fifth day, brave the Bright Angel Trail, a 9.5-mile trail that will have you hiking past some of the best views in the Grand Canyon. Keep in mind that completing this in one day is NOT recommended but there are points along the way that you can stop and turn around and head back as well.

Make sure that you bring a ton of water (even more than you think that you’re going to need) because the temperatures are crazy hot here.

Day 6: Zion National Park

More desert hiking? Yes, please! Zion National Park is a must see for everyone.

Have a pit stop at the Zion Human History Museum before starting out on a hike.

Most of the trails here are short, relatively easy, and absolutely stunning. This means that you can walk a few in a few short hours.

After that, drive to Kolob Canyon to visit a part of the park that isn’t as crowded. Take a hike on Timber Creek Overlook at Kolob View Point. This will give you an amazing view and you’ll even catch a glimpse of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Day 7: Valley of Fire State Park

End your trip with a visit to Valley of Fire State Park. This place will feel like a whole new world. It’s full of Aztec sandstone outcrops, ancient petroglyphs, petrified trees, and a landscape that is colored in all shades of red, pink, and orange.

Two of the must-do hikes here are the Fire of Wave and Rainbow Vista trails. Both are pretty easy and give some of the best views.

If you’re wanting to skip another day or hiking, explore the Valley of Fire from your car by following along Mouse’s Tank Road. This will give you plenty to view as you’re driving away from the desert!