Ready to turn a drive from Phoenix into one seriously unforgettable Southwest adventure?
This Arizona, Utah, and Colorado road trip packs red-rock cliffs, ancient stone dwellings, strange desert formations, and mountain roads into one incredible route.
Along the way, you can hike famous trails, follow scenic roads, explore centuries-old sites, and stop at viewpoints that practically demand another photo.
Keep reading to discover where to stop, what to do, and how to turn this three-state drive into a road trip you’ll be talking about long after you get home.
1. Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona, sits in the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by scenic mountains and known for more than 300 days of sunshine each year and hot summers.
Start your road trip with a sunrise hike up Camelback Mountain, where the Echo Canyon Trail climbs 1,322 feet over 2.8 miles to sweeping city views.
In town, explore 50,000 plants at the 140-acre Desert Botanical Garden, admire the murals along Roosevelt Row, or visit the Heard Museum for American Indian art.
To round out your time in the city, head to nearby Papago Park for the easy 0.3-mile Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, which winds through the park’s towering sandstone buttes.
2. Sedona, Arizona
About 2 hours from Phoenix, Sedona swaps city streets for iconic sandstone formations like Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and the unmistakable Capitol Butte.
Head into Coconino National Forest, where trails ranging from easy to challenging wind through canyons and bring you closer to the famous red-rock scenery.
You can tackle the 4.6-mile round-trip hike to Devil’s Bridge, the area’s largest natural sandstone arch, or climb the 1.4-mile Cathedral Rock Trail for great views.
For a more laid-back day, drive the 7.5-mile Red Rock Scenic Byway, explore the galleries at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, or visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
From Sedona, drive 2 hours to Grand Canyon National Park, where the Colorado River has carved a canyon up to 18 miles wide and about a mile deep.
To explore, walk parts of the 13-mile Rim Trail between viewpoints like Trailview Overlook, Hopi Point, and Pima Point, then hop on a free shuttle to reach other areas.
For a different view, follow the 9.5-mile Bright Angel Trail through layers of ancient rock and down toward the Colorado River, or take the 23-mile Desert View Drive.
Along the way, don’t miss the 70-foot Desert View Watchtower, a 1932 landmark designed by Mary Colter and inspired by Ancestral Puebloan architecture.
4. Zion National Park, Utah
Leaving the Grand Canyon behind, drive about 2.5 hours to Zion National Park in Utah, where 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs rise above the winding Virgin River.
This place packs in famous hikes, including Angels Landing, a 5.4-mile round trip that gains about 1,488 feet before a permit-required climb along the chain section.
Another adventure takes you through The Narrows, the narrowest section of Zion Canyon, where 1,000-foot walls surround a river that can be just 20 to 30 feet wide.
You can also ride the free seasonal shuttle, which runs every 5 to 10 minutes and stops near trailheads for Emerald Pools, Scout Lookout, and Weeping Rock.
5. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Just 1.5 hours from Zion, Bryce Canyon National Park is filled with orange, pink, and white rock spires called hoodoos that crowd the huge Bryce Amphitheater.
Start at Sunrise Point, then tackle the 2.9-mile Queen’s Garden and Navajo Combination Loop past colorful rock formations, switchbacks, and canyon walls.
After your hike, take a break at the Visitor Center Museum, where exhibits offer a closer look at the park’s geology, wildlife, human history, and night sky.
Before leaving, drive the 15-mile Southern Scenic Drive, stopping at nine overlooks like Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon before reaching Rainbow and Yovimpa Points.
6. Monument Valley
Next up is Monument Valley, which stretches across the Utah-Arizona border and is famous for sandstone buttes that rise up to 1,000 feet above the desert floor.
The Mittens and Merrick Butte greet you near the visitor center, creating a famous desert scene tied to classic Western movies like Stagecoach and The Searchers.
To see more, follow the 17-mile scenic drive past Three Sisters, John Ford’s Point, and Totem Pole, but expect rough dirt roads and allow two to four hours.
If you have more time, join a Navajo-guided tour into restricted areas for a closer look at natural arches, ancient Anasazi petroglyphs, and hidden rock formations.
7. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Now cross into Colorado for Mesa Verde National Park, home to hundreds of cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here for nearly 900 years.
The star here is Cliff Palace, North America’s largest cliff dwelling, with about 150 rooms and 23 ceremonial spaces called kivas tucked beneath a rock overhang.
Book a ranger-led tour to explore it up close, or visit Balcony House, where the route includes climbing a 32-foot ladder and crawling through a 12-foot-long tunnel.
For even more history, drive the 6-mile Mesa Top Loop Road past early pit houses, ancient pueblos, and archaeological sites that trace 700 years of life in the area.
8. Telluride, Colorado
After Mesa Verde National Park, drive roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes to Telluride, a former mining town set at 8,750 feet in a dramatic box canyon.
Stroll the Telluride Historic District, see colorful Victorian buildings from the mining era, and visit Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado’s tallest free-falling waterfall at 365 feet.
If you’re here in the summer, ride the free gondola to Mountain Village, stopping at 10,540-foot San Sophia Station for mountain views and access to hiking trails.
Hikers can tackle the 4.6-mile round-trip Bear Creek Falls Trail, which gains roughly 1,072 feet before reaching a roaring 80-foot waterfall surrounded by steep cliffs.
9. Garden of the Gods, Colorado
Wrap up your road trip at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, a free 1,341.3-acre park about 5.5 hours from Telluride with towering red rocks.
Follow the 1.5-mile Perkins Central Garden Trail to reach formations like North Gateway Rock and South Gateway Rock without tackling a tough climb.
Don’t miss Balanced Rock, a 700-ton rock perched on a narrow base, or the 1-mile round-trip Siamese Twins Trail, where a natural rock window frames Pikes Peak.
To experience the park beyond its hiking trails, try rock climbing, cycling, or a scenic drive for the perfect end to your three-state adventure.
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