Complete Arizona and California Desert Road Trip Guide
Although I grew up in Arizona, it wasn’t until recently that I really began to appreciate the beauty of the natural desert landscapes that are so unique to the Southwest United States. The best way to explore this region is by car, which will allow you to explore the best desert spots in Arizona and Southern California on one epic road trip!
The deserts of the American Southwest are as iconic as they are diverse, and you can explore most of the best spots in just two and a half weeks. Of course, you won’t run out of things to do if you have more time, and if you have less time, you can still use this guide to plan a condensed road trip!
For each of these suggested stop for your Southwest road trip, you’ll find my favorite things to do, restaurant and hotel recommendations, entrance fees for the area (if there are any), and recommended number of days to visit each stop.
The minimum number of days I recommend for this entire road trip is 18 days, however that will be a fully packed and rather fast-paced trip. You can of course cut down the time by skipping certain activities or stops along the way. Or, you can add days to allow for more rest time or additional activities, or to spend time exploring the California Coast at the end!
1) PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Camelback Mountain, Country Dancing, Hip Restaurant Scene (2 days)
If you are flying into Arizona, you’ll probably land in Phoenix, the state’s capital and the city in which I was born and raised. Although still a large desert valley, Phoenix is actually one of the biggest cities in the country, and you’ll have tons of cool restaurants, cafes, nightlife, and hikes available to you.
HIKE CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN
One of the best things to do in Phoenix, Arizona is hike Camelback Mountain. Spend a morning doing this 2-3 hour hike, beginning with a relatively easy switchback trail and finishing with a challenging rock scramble.
You can also hike Camelback Mountain midday if the weather is cool, but be sure to bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and take breaks as needed!
Go COUNTRY Western DANCING AT BUFFALO CHIP
To get a full Wild West experience, head to Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek (about 45 minutes north of Phoenix) for live music, country dancing, and bull-riding. Fridays are the best nights to go for dancing! Cowboy boots welcomed (but not required).
Even if you don’t know how to two-step, I promise you it’s so much fun to go watch people spin around the dance floor. For the ladies, I encourage you to say “yes” if a guy asks you to dance — most often they’re incredible at leading, and you’ll have a blast (plus it’s one of the few kinds of “dance clubs” where you won’t have to worry about men trying to make a move on you or get your number afterward… when they ask you for dance, they really just want a dance!).
TRY THE HIP RESTAURANTS IN CENTRAL PHOENIX & ARCADIA
Two of my favorite areas of Phoenix are Central Phoenix and Arcadia. The area between Central Avenue and 7th street (running west to east) and between Bethany Home Road and McDowell Road (running north to south) is packed with delicious, hip restaurants and cafes, cool speakeasies, and funky antique shops.
Try Lux Coffee for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up, Verdura Vegan Food or Green New Vegetarian for a plant-based lunch, The Yard for a happy hour and afternoon hangs with fun outdoor games, St. Francis or Farish House for a nice dinner, or Welcome Diner for casual bite in an old outdoor diner, and the Stock & Stable speakeasy for after-dinner drinks.
In Arcadia, don’t miss brunch at Le Grande Orange, and the Henry is another favorite.
Recommended Hotels:
2) PRESCOTT, ARIZONA: Historic Courthouse Square & Watson Lake (2 days)
Less than a 2-hour drive north of Phoenix, Prescott was once Arizona’s original capital city, and still holds so much Wild West history. The main area of Prescott surround the historic Courthouse, edged by the famous street called Whiskey Row. However, outside of central Prescott you’ll find endless pine tree-covered mountains, with creeks, small waterfalls, wildlife, and hiking trails.
EXPLORE PRESCOTT TOWN SQUARE
Be sure to spend some time wandering around Prescott’s historic town square, called “Courthouse Square,” stopping into the ice cream shops, country western bars and saloons, and local artist galleries on Whiskey Row. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time to the Wild West!
There are also tons of amazing places to eat in Prescott, with — shockingly — cuisine from all over the world. Try El Gato Azul for creekside Spanish tapas, the Palace Restaurant & Saloon for a western throwback experience, Prescott Station with an amazing Sunday brunch, Tara for Thai food, Ginza for sushi, or Carmella’s and Papa’s for excellent Italian dishes.
WATCH SUNRISE AT WATSON LAKE
At sunrise, head to Watson Lake just 10 minutes outside of Prescott’s town center. The layered granite hills that emerge from the deep blue lake are spectacular at any time of day, but the light is especially beautiful at sunrise, plus you may have the entire lake to yourself. You can’t swim in Watson Lake, but it’s a fun place to explore the hills by foot or rock climbing, or you can rent a kayak or canoe to get out on the water.
ENTRANCE FEE
The entrance fee for Watson Lake is $2.
Recommended Hotels:
3) SEDONA, ARIZONA: Seven Sacred Pools, Bell Rock, Devil’s Bridge, Cathedral Rock (3 days)
From Prescott, head further north another 1.5 hours to the famous city of Sedona. You’ve probably seen photos of these iconic red rocks, produced from the iron oxide in the earth there.
HIKE TO FAMOUS Red Rocks VIEWPOINTS
There are so many amazing hikes to do in Sedona, but you won’t want to miss Soldier Pass Trail (stopping at Seven Sacred Pools right at sunrise is a must!) And Bell Rock.
Devil’s Bridge, a natural stone arch with incredible views of the Sedona landscape, is great for sunset, but you’ll be hiking back in the dark so bring a head torch and watch (and listen!) for rattlesnakes.
Note that you can park at the Devil’s Bridge trailhead only if you have a large 4x4 vehicle; otherwise, you’ll need to park at the initial parking lot and purchase a Red Rock Pass and hike in. If you want to watch sunset from Devil’s Bridge, I recommend getting a high 4x4 vehicle so that you can cut back on the hike time.
Cathedral Rock is one of my favorite views in Sedona and one of my favorite sunset spots in the world! The hike isn’t easy, as you’ll need to hike up steep and slippery red rocks. Give yourself plenty of time to find parking at the trailhead and safely make your way up to the top viewpoint.
TRY THE BEST SEDONA RESTAURANTS
For food, I recommend brunch or lunch at SaltRock Restaurant at the Amara Hotel (the cauliflower tacos and breakfast burrito are out of this world!), having a creekside meal at the L’Auberge patio, and trying everything possible on the menu at Pump House Station.
ENTRANCE FEES
To park at Sedona’s various hiking trails, you’ll need to purchase a Red Rock Pass. The Pass is $5 per day, $15 per week, or $20 per year and can be purchased at a visitor’s center, trailheads, or many businesses and hotels around town.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS
4) PAGE, ARIZONA: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, & Lake Powell (2 Days)
Some of the most spectacular sites in the American Southwest can be found within close driving distance from the sleepy town of Page.
TOUR ANTELOPE CANYON
You won’t want to miss the famous Antelope Canyon — a slot canyon with smooth, wave-like red rock walls snaking through the Native American Reservation. There are two sections of Antelope Canyon: Upper and Lower. Both are beautiful and worth seeing, but I prefer Lower Antelope Canyon for the sunlight that comes in through the top and makes those UFO-like light-beams.
Look online to find what time of day is best for the time of year when you’re visiting, both in terms of when the light is best and when the crowds will be there (these likely will happen at the same time, so choose your priorities!). If you want to avoid the crowds, booking at the last time slot of the day may be best.
Make sure you book online well in advance, because tours can fill up quickly! And yes, you do need to go with a tour guide to see Antelope Canyon (although Lower Canyon allows visitors to enter without a guide during winter), but the tours are run by locals from the Reservation and help provide income and resources to keep the canyon in good condition.
WATCH SUNRISE AT HORSESHOE BEND
After hiking Antelope Canyon, be sure to get to sleep early so that you can catch sunrise at Horseshoe Bend. There will still be other tourists and photographers there even before dawn, but the crowds are much smaller right at sunrise and the colors are incredible. Please be extra careful at Horseshoe Bend, as every year people fall off and die trying to take photos or getting too close to the edge.
Have a day on the water at Lake Powell
Although this massive lake is largely located in Utah, the southern part is situated in Page, Arizona, making it a perfect activity after your morning visit to Horseshoe Bend.
The unique boulders you’ll find at Lake Powell are the product of over 5 million years of erosion caused by the Colorado River, and is considered to be the most beautiful lake in the American West.
Here you can rent paddle boards, kayaks, jet skis, boats, and other water sport equipment for an unforgettable day cooling off in the waters of beautiful Lake Powell.
INDULGE IN AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD
Although Page certainly doesn’t have a robust food scene, you can find some pretty delicious Mexican restaurants in this area. Personally, I love the vibes at El Tapatio, but there are plenty other worth trying in the area as well.
ENTRANCE FEES
The entrance fee for Antelope Canyon is $8 for people over the age of 8. The price for tours ranges depending on the company, time of year, and time of day, but often run about $50 per adult.
The parking fee for Horseshoe Bend is $10 per vehicle and $5 per motorcycle.
The entrance fee for Lake Powell is $30 per vehicle and is valid for seven consecutive days.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS
5) GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA: South Rim & Star-Gazing (2-3 Days)
From Page, a less than 2-hour drive will get you to the famous Grand Canyon — a steep-sided canyon carved over millions of years by the Colorado River.
The Canyon is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide in some areas, and is the most visited National Park in the entire country. The site was originally inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon, and was a sacred pilgrimage site for the Pueblo people.
HIKE THE SOUTH RIM
If you have several days to spare, it’s an amazing experience to hike down into the canyon, camp at one of the designated campsites, or even raft down the Colorado River.
However, even with just a couple of days, you can do some beautiful hikes along the South Rim (more accessible than the North Rim) with spectacular views. The 7-mile hike to Hermit’s Rest is one of the most popular South Rim hikes, with stops along the way at the Abyss and Pima Point.
From the Shoshone Point turnout, a 2.2-mile trail takes you to the edge of the Canyon, for spectacular views without crowds.
Grandview Point to Moran Point is possibly the best stretch of hike along the South Rim, with views of the Colorado River bend, a small museum on Native American culture, and a short trail leading to the Tusayan Ruin — a 12th-century Pueblo village archaeological site.
There are several driving trails as well if you don’t have time for a hike but still want to see some amazing views. However, I definitely encourage you to allot at least one day to explore this world-famous canyon by foot!
GO STARGAZING IN A DARK SKY PARK
Star-gazing is also unbeatable in this area, away from any light pollution of cities. It’s even a designated International Dark Sky Park, with free telescope viewings, talks with astronomers, and photo workshops throughout the month of June. Even if you aren’t visiting in June, be sure to stay overnight here at least one night to get to observe the Milky Way like never before!
ENTRANCE FEES
Entrance fees to the park are $30 per vehicle and $15 per individual, and shuttles are available to take you to main sections of the Rim.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS
6) JOSHUA TREE, CALIFORNIA: Joshua Tree National Park & Pioneertown (2-3 Days)
From the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, you’ll have about a 6-hour drive across the border to California’s Joshua Tree National Park.
This national park boasts of 790,636 acres (1,235.4 square miles, or 3,199.6 square kilometers) of towering boulders and twisty, bristled Joshua trees (actually a cactus, not a tree). Joshua Tree National Park stretches across the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert, with the Little San Bernardino Mountains lining the southwest edge of the park.
EXPLORE THE NATIONAL PARK BY CAR & FOOT
The best thing to do in Joshua Tree is to spend the day driving around and stopping when you see a spot you want to explore more. There are small parking lots along the road or areas to pull your car over, and you can freely hike boulders, wander the landscapes of Joshua Trees, and take as many photos as your memory card can hold.
Joshua Tree is beautiful at all times of day, but like any open desert, can get extremely hot during midday and very cold at night. Still, seeing sunset or sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park is a can’t miss activity on your southwest road trip!
VISIT NEARBY PIONEERTOWN
Be sure to spend some time also exploring nearby Pioneertown, a small 1880s Wild West-style town that was built in 1946 as a movie set. Hundreds of Western movies and TV shows were filmed there, while it also served as a live-in town for a few hundred local residents.
Don’t miss Pappy’s & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, a historic local “club” with live music, excellent barbecue, and a nightly queue.
Sleep under the stars
The accommodations in Joshua Tree are spectacular, including unique sites where you can go glamping in a tipi. I definitely recommend this experience, but if the weather is too cold, you can also find endless hip, minimalist home/cabins on Airbnb with photo-worthy decor, or even outdoor jacuzzis, bathtubs, and fire pits.
At night, you’ll have the blankets of stars overhead and can often catch the Milky Way, as you’ll be quite far from light pollution of the surrounding cities.
ENTRANCE FEE
The entrance fee to Joshua Tree National Park is $25 per vehicle and $12 per motorcycle.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS
I definitely recommend booking a place in Joshua Tree through Airbnb! You’ll find the most beautifully decorated, desert minimalist homes and glamping sites. Be sure to read the review to check for things like air conditioning or heating!
You can get $40 off your Airbnb booking when you make a new account (just sign up with a new email!) using this link.
7) SLAB CITY, CALIFORNIA: Salvation Mountain & the Salton Sea (1 Day)
Although I don’t recommend staying overnight in Slab City, which is one of the least exciting cities you’ll probably ever visit, you won’t want to miss stopping in this area on your American Southwest road trip! The city is home to Salvation Mountain and is only 30 minutes from the Salton Sea.
explore Salvation Mountain
Visiting Salvation Mountain is one of the most unique things to do in the American Southwest. It’s a 2-hour drive from Joshua Tree but is absolutely worth a half-day trip before you head to your next overnight destination.
This folk art masterpiece was built by a man named Leonard Knight, a California drifter who decided to spread the word of God’s love in the form of a colorful, adobe clay-and-straw mound with domed “rooms” all covered in lead-free paint.
For a detailed guide on the fascinating history of Salvation and which parts not to miss, read this post: THE MAN AND MISSION BEHIND SALVATION MOUNTAIN: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR VISIT
stop at the eerie Salton Sea
After Salvation Mountain, the Salton Sea is only about a 30-minute drive. This shallow salt lake is the largest in California and is located directly on the San Andreas Fault. It’s an odd sight to see, as it sits 227 feet below sea level and is surrounded by arid desert landscapes and often shrouded in a cloud of dust.
From the Salton Sea, Palm Springs is another hour drive and is where you’ll sleep for the night.
entrance fees
There are no entrance fees for Salvation Mountain or the Salton Sea. However, Salvation Mountain is maintained by volunteers who rely on donations, so please consider leaving a donation for this cause!
8) PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA: Andreas Canyon, Moorten Botanical Garden, Palm Springs Town Center, & Windmills (3-4 Days)
You’ve now spent quite a while gathering dust in the Southwest Desert, so it’s time for some true rest and relaxation in California’s natural oasis: Palm Springs.
This town became famous in the 1900s, as a favorite retreat for John Muir and his daughters early in the century, and developing into a refuge for glamorous movie stars into the 1930s. Now, it’s no less fabulous, but has a more robust tourism industry accessible to all!
Hike through ANDREAS CANYON
While in Palm Springs, be sure to spend an early morning wandering through the massive, “furry” palm trees in Andreas Canyon (part of the Indian Canyons). The light is especially beautiful early in the morning, and it’s nice to be able to explore the area before the crowds start to arrive around 9:30/10:00am.
WANDER THROUGH THE MOORTEN BOTANICAL GARDEN
Afterward, stop at the Moorten Botanical Garden to wander the really beautifully curated maze of exotic desert plants and cacti. It’s only $5 to enter, and you can also pick up some pretty little potted succulents to take home with you as a souvenir (if you can manage to transport it!).
TOUR ICONIC PALM SPRINGS ARCHITECTURAL SITES
You also won’t want to miss some of the famous Palm Springs design and architecture. You don’t need to book an official tour for this — just plug these spots into your Google Maps, rent a bicycle from your hotel (or drive in your car), and check out the places that interest you most!
My favorite spots are the Parker Hotel (a pricey but beautiful spot for lunch or drinks, with giant portion sizes on meals), the Palm Springs Architecture Museum, Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center, Twin Palms Estates, Coachella Valley Savings and Loan, Elrod House Interior, and the Tramway Gas Station are just some of the truly impressive examples of mid-century modern architecture for which Palm Springs is so famous.
You can also just wander through the neighborhood to find all those cute colorful doors, mid-century facades, and typical Palm Springs landscaping of a minimalist double palm tree.
SHOP ALONG THE MAIN STREET
Be sure to wander the main street to check out the beautiful mid-century home design shops and funky clothing boutiques — even if you don’t buy anything, it’s fun to look around!
My favorite boutiques are The Shops At Thirteen Forty Five and the Trina Turk shops with a new home collections shop.
ENJOY THE BEST OF PALM SPRINGS DINING
The food scene is incredible in Palm Springs, and you can find almost any kind of cuisine that sparks your fancy.
Get a truffle grilled cheese sandwich or poached pear salad at Eight4Nine, grab locally famed Vietnamese food at Rooster and the Pig (come early and be prepared to queue!), have a quaint authentic Italian meal at Il Giardino, enjoy fine dining at Farm or Workshop Kitchen + Bar, or grab delicious Mexican food on the patio at El Mirasol.
SNAP PHOTOS AT THE WINDMILLS
If you have free time, or perhaps on your way out of town, stop by San Gorgonio Pass, where you can see the massive white windmills spread across the desert for miles, with the towering San Gorgonio Mountain and Mount San Jacinto on either side. It’s pretty cool to see these up close, and it’s an excellent spot for photos!
ENTRANCE FEES
The entrance fee to Andreas Canyon (which also includes access to neighboring Murray and Palm Canyons) is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $5 for children 6-12.
The entrance fee to the Moorten Botanical Garden is $5.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS
Korakia Pensione (historic Moroccan style villa with a delicious homemade breakfast, activities like yoga and outdoor movie nights, and the most beautifully decorated rooms)
9) SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA or PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Finish Road Trip (1 Day - 1 Week)
From Palm Springs, you’re only a short drive from southern California’s coastal cities, including Los Angeles and San Diego. To San Diego, the drive is 2 hours 15 minutes; to Los Angeles, the drive is 1 hour 45 minutes. If you have extra time on your road trip and haven’t already blown through your budget, it’s a great idea to end your trip in Southern California!
VISIT SAN DIEGO
San Diego is my favorite major city in Southern California, because there’s plenty to do without the chaos of Los Angeles. In San Diego, catch sunset at Sunset Cliffs, spend a day on Coronado Island, lounge in Balboa Park, take a day trip to La Jolla, shop for cute home goods at Pigment, grab tacos at Luca Libre in San Diego, and get your matcha on at Holy Matcha.
Continue the ROAD TRIP UP THE california coast
If you’d like, from San Diego, you can move onto a second road trip along California’s Pacific Coast Highway, stopping in Del Mar, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, and Santa Barbara, making your way up to Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey, and eventually reaching San Francisco.
However, keep in mind that dropping off a rental car in a different state from where you rented it will require you to pay an additional (and sometimes substantial) fee.
return to phoenix to finish your adventure
If you’re limited on your budget and time, I recommend heading back to Phoenix from Palm Springs to return the rental car and fly home! The drive back to Phoenix from Palm Springs is about 4 hours 20 minutes.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please Take Care Of Our Deserts.
I’m so glad you’re interested in exploring this absolutely beautiful part of the American Southwest! I grew up here, so it has a special place in my heart with lots of fond memories.
As these areas become more popular among tourists, it’s especially important to remember “leave no trace” principles. It’s heartbreaking to see the damage that tourists leave: new trails that shouldn’t have been made, damage done to the land, piles of trash and toilet paper, new porto-potties installed everywhere, fecal waste (yes, really) littering once pristine natural landscapes, and even vandalism.
TIPS:
Please have the utmost respect for the environment and trail etiquette as your explore the deserts and national parks in this region. Consider not “geo-tagging” the more out-of-the-way/fragile ecosystems on social media, which can bring an influx of less aware or environmentally-responsible tourists. Avoid using porto-potties and wait until you’re back at a hotel, restaurant, or other establishment to do your business. Never leave trash behind, and say “no” to any single use plastics as you travel. Stay on the trails and be aware of the damage even your footsteps can do to sensitive ecosystems.
This land is “home” to so many people and sacred to indigenous people groups in the area. It is your job as a visitor to leave it exactly as you found it, if not better.
Let’s Go.
The deserts of Arizona and Southern California are home to some of the most spectacular landscapes you’ll find on the planet. From minimalist Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, to the world famous Grand Canyon, to the red rocks of Sedona, and everywhere in between, a road trip through the American Southwest deserts is an adventure of a lifetime!
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Have any questions on planning a road trip through the American Southwest? Let me know in the comments!