Are you looking for a fun American southwest road trip? Well, even if you’re not, I can guarantee you that you will have a blast cruising through the dessert, while making stops at some of the most iconic places in Nevada and Arizona!
In this post I’ll be sharing my
Nevada & Arizona road-trip guide and itinerary!
Day 1-2 : Las Vegas, Nevada
Our road trip began in Las Vegas because why not? Flights to Vegas are usually super cheap, so we booked our flights, reserved a rental car with Thrifty, and started our journey in Sin City! We dedicated two whole days to exploring Vegas!
We booked our all of our stays with Airbnb! Use my code and save $40 on your next Airbnb stay!
Las Vegas
Ooh la la! VEGAS BABY!! Las Vegas is obviously a fun destination! Nightclubs, casinos, and pool parties in every corner! But during this road trip I wanted to explore beyond the nightlife! Listed below are some fun things to do and see in Vegas!
– Las Vegas Sign
Did you even go to Las Vegas if you didn’t take a picture with the Vegas sign? Haha! The sign is actually supper cute but a lot of people want a picture so make sure you show up early in order to avoid long lines!
– Neon Museum
The Neon Museum features a collection of iconic Las Vegas signs from casinos and other business that are no longer in use, dating all the way back to the 1930’s! I didn’t get the chance to visit the museum but I’ve seen plenty of pictures and videos and it looks super cool!
– High Roller + The Linq Promenade
The High Roller is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world at 550 feet tall! You can catch the best views of Sin City from their glass window cabins! It is located at the end of the Linq Hotel promenade that features retail stores, restaurant, bars, and more! It is such a fun hangout spot!
– Gondola Rides at The Venetian
Ride through this Venice inspired canal at the Venetian Hotel and catch some Italian vibes! It’s obviously no Venice, but you will definitely enjoy the ride and find plenty of photo-ops as you float beneath bridges, besides cafes, and under balconies.
– Fountains of Bellagio
The Bellagio Fountains are some of the most iconic fountains featuring dramatic water shows choreographed with music and light! You can’t miss it!
– Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain at Caesar’s Palace is another Italy inspired replica based on the original Trevi Fountain in Rome! It’s definitely a must-see!
– Eiffel Tower
Go for a quick and inexpensive trip to Paris and visit the Paris Las Vegas Hotel! It features a half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower with a 460 foot high observation deck! You can also have dinner up there!
– Seven Magic Mountains
Another location that I didn’t get to visit because our road trip was heading towards the opposite direction and our time was limited, but this spot is super instagrammable! It is a desert installation featuring seven colorfully painted boulder totems in the middle of the desert!
– Explore the Hotels & Resorts
Almost all Vegas hotels have something exciting to offer! Whether it’s entertainment shows, iconic landmark replicas, shopping venues, or trendy restaurants, there’s always something new to see! So go and get lost in as many hotels as you can!
Check out my Oregon Road Trip Guide here!
Day 3 – Valley of Fire
On day 3, we drove to Valley of Fire and dedicated the entire day to exploring this stunning state park! If you don’t care to explore the whole park, then I’m sure 2-4 hours is more than enough! Personally, I love exploring places like these so we hiked and took pictures here all day long!
Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire is a nature preservation where you can find red sandstone formations and limestones that reflect fiery red hues! Below I listed some of my favorite trails in the park!
– Mouse’s Tank
– Fire Canyon
– Fire Wave
– White Domes Trail
Interested in more desert road trips? Check out my Joshua Tree Road Trip Guide here!
Day 4-5: Page, Arizona
Our last two road-trip days were spent in Arizona! We drove to Page and stayed there for a night in order to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend! After our planned activities, we drove back to Vegas to catch our flight and head home!
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in Page, Arizona that includes two separate sections, referred to as Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. The slot canyons were formed by erosion due to rainwater and flash flooding. During summer, light beams shine through creating the most epic photo opportunities!
We visited Upper Antelope Canyon with Navajo Tours and it was unreal! Imagine walking through a narrow slot between rock formations that look like ocean waves. It is quite spectacular!
To enter, a tour guide is required so you’ll need to book in advanced! Here’s a link with more information!
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe shaped meander in the Colorado River! Except, it’s not just any little bend, it’s so huge that it will make your jaw drop! The overlook is located on a steep cliff and it is easy to reach after an easy 1.5 mile hike! It’s also free so there’s no excuse for you to skip it! All you have to pay for is a $10 parking fee!
Other Stops to Make
If you have more time on your hands, then you should definitely check out the following spots:
Zion National Park, Utah
Monument Valley, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Lake Powell, Arizona
Helpful Tips for an Ultimate Road Trip Experience
- Go grocery shopping for snacks, water, and easy-to-make lunch so that you save time and money on eating out! For example, I purchase food items like toast, almost butter, bananas, apples, water, bagged popcorn, oatmeal cups, almond milk, and so on.
- Book Airbnbs with kitchen access so you can prepare some of those meals!
- Pack sunscreen with 50+ SPF!
- Please note that if you visit Antelope Canyon you can’t bring anything along with you other than your phone, a camera, sunglasses, and clear water bottles! No bags, backpacks, food, tripods, selfie sticks, drones, etc.
- Wear closed-toed shoes for anything that requires hiking!
- Bring car chargers and adapters!
- Be respectful and take care of all the places you visit!
- Download maps on your cell phone in case you lose service!
- Obey traffic laws! It’s easy to forget that different states have different traffic regulations!
- Always make sure you’re good on gas!
- The trajectory from Las Vegas, Nevada to Page, Arizona is 4.5 hours (272 miles), make sure you plan accordingly!
I hope you find this guide useful and I hope you have a blast on your next road trip through Nevada and Arizona! Comment below if you have any other suggestions!
Leave a comment