Skip to content
ZIon narrows, Racetrack Playa and the Last stream in Death Valley National Park

National Parks

Southwest National Parks Road Trip: Zion to Death Valley

By Alice Ford

Published

Updated

1 min read

This southwest national parks road trip leads to Death Valley, Zion, and Bryce Canyon for incredible views, trails, and scenery.

How to Plan a Southwest National Parks Road Trip

Taking a Southwest national parks road trip sets you up for some unforgettable adventures in what many argue is the coolest scenery in the entire United States. Proud Saguaro cacti and jagged rock formations rise out of otherwise desolate deserts, scrub and gnarled trees reach for the wide-open skies, and hiking trails wind around dusty pathways once wandered by Native American tribes in a wilderness that still feels untouched by time.

If you’re thinking about taking a Southwest national parks road trip of your own, you’ll want to make sure you hit the major highlights here: Death Valley National Park, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park. You can’t imagine the amazing scenery and views that are waiting for you here, from volcanic features and bubbling mud pots to rock arches and formations that look carved by supernatural beings.

Enter an alien world that’s strangely beautiful on your Southwest national parks road trip—I’ll show you how in the video below! Interested in learning more about some of the coolest national parks in the Southwest? Check out my guide to Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks next!

From the incredible rock formations and trails in Zion to the extremes and otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley National Park, the American Southwest offers so much for nature lovers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers to experience. I may include affiliate links in this post that help me earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. This commission costs you nothing, but it really helps me keep my blog going! Thanks for your support.

Founder, host & filmmaker

Alice Ford

Award-winning adventure filmmaker, PBS travel host, stuntwoman and sustainability advocate. Alice started this site in 2013.

Keep exploring

A mountain goat on a granite ridge as the sun bursts over layered blue ranges in the North Cascades

National Parks

North Cascades National Park Travel Guide

A 4-day North Cascades itinerary: the trek to Sahale Glacier, a swim in Diablo Lake, permits, where to stay and the logistics for this remote park.

Apr 22, 20267 min read

Verified by MonsterInsights