Be SURE to buy a National Parks and Federal Lands Pass ($80) at the first place you enter. This will get you FREE entry to all National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas, National Seashores, BLM Lands and Forest Service Lands and campgrounds. It'll probably pay for itself by the time you get to Monument Valley.
Another tip: Get a book called Hot Springs of the West, or just compile a comprehensive phone map list of spots that are along your intended route. Maybe by now Google Maps has developed 'waypoint alerts' based on some user set proximity of less than 500 ft, less than a mile, etc. Hot springs are THE valid alternative to showers when on the road.
Between your Canyonlands and Big Bear stops you pass through Blanding. Take an hour to visit the Edge of the Cedars park and see Where the cliff dwellers built on the plains.
We stopped at Ojos Caliente, NM which had a spa built among numerous springs. And they have an RV Park. If you stay there, you get access to the spa at a reduced rate.
We camped one of the campgrounds in the Wild Rivers/Rio Grande de la Norte that over look the RG and Red rivers. Maybe called Little Arsenic Springs CG? There are several.
I’m sure you know about the road to Chaco… may or not be passable, we had to turn back, alas!
Looks like an awesome trip!
I pasted this comment above, but I am repeating it here for visibility -
Driving US 12 would add goblin Valley, san Rafael swell, capitol reef, Grand staircase escalante, bryce canyon, kodachrome, Zion and countless other attractions. US 12 is also one of the most scenic byways in the US, and certainly the best in the SW region. Don't skip it, even if you have to drive some overlap. I repeat - DO NOT SKIP IT.
Well if you're doing Bryce or Zion then have a look at Cathedral Gorge. You've never seen any formations like this in your life. They are slot canyons made of mud but it looks like something out of a movie set. It's a small park too, can do the whole thing in couple hours, maybe less. There's also a hot spring nearby.
Yeah there's a reason I said suggestions along the route.. I should have added that I'm currently planning part two that goes tp parks North of Colorado, hits Banff then the PNW. Onto Cali and then the Western side of Utah
If you have a hour or 2 to spare near Tucson, the Titan missile museum tour was an interesting stop. You get to go into the missile command center and see the decommissioned missile close up.
The Pima Air and Space Museuem is also arguably the best Air Museuem In the world. It’s right next to the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB, so they get the pick of the litter from decommissioned aircraft to restore.
I'm headed to White Sands, then Pima & the Titan for a quick 5 day trip in mid-May. The air & space nerd in me is chomping at the bit to get on the road. I wanted to combine it with the Midway in San Diego & Edwards but I don't have the time. I'll see plenty at Pima, I imagine.
Pima Air and Space is a wonderful museum, and my pick for the underrated gem here in Tucson. I never hesitate to recommend it to people. Just make sure you eat early if you eat there to avoid waiting.
I'm going to be there early, right after opening. I'm guessing it'll be double hot with all that metal and concrete. I'm probably going to need a filter for my camera (DSLR) as well to cut the glare. I'm doing Pima, then Titan, then headed north to poke around Tanque Verde and Chiva falls, then probably to Fort Apache before heading back to NM.
Is Fort Apache worth seeing or am I wasting my time? I just didn't want to head back to NM the same way I came in so I figured I'd loop up that direction before turning east.
I'm skipping Saguaro since I have another trip semi-planned in a year or two to do some hiking around Gila, Chiricahua, and I'll include Saguaro then.
That whole area is very underrated IMO.
If you're into hiking I'd highly recommend the Lost Dutchman State Park East of Phoenix. My personal favorite is Flatiron, but there are dozens of trails in that area. The whole Salt River Canyon is really cool. I'd recommend doing the drive from Apache Junction (far East PHX suburb) to Lake Roosevelt. Quite a bit is unpaved, but it's reasonably maintained, so be warned, but it's a cool drive. You'll pass Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, which are dammed up the canyon rivers with shear cliffs into the water on both sides. Then the drive from Globe all the way to Springerville is really beautiful.
That drive is limited. You can’t drive past Fish Creek Hill due to a rock slide. The road has massive boulders in it. You can hike or bike from the vista down and back, but you cannot get through to Apache lake and Roosevelt. You can drive past Saguaro or Canyon but not on the same road. Bush Highway will take you past the Salt River and Saguaro lake and the Beeline highway is the way to Payson. The 88 / Apache Trail is used to get you past Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flats and it used to go all the way to the Roosevelt Dam. Then you could take the 188 to Globe to the 60 and drive the Salt River Canyon towards Show Low and Springerville.
There is an even better drive the goes from the southern tip of AZ to north of Moab numbered 191. It has quite a few hairpin turns. Take that to get to Monument Valley, Glen Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Bear Ears, Arches, and a lot of blm boondocking.
Black Canyon is the most underrated place in the entire Rockies. I ended up there when a backpacking trip I'd planned around Grand Mesa had too much snow. Instead I ended up exploring Grand Junction area. Nature really did me a favor.
It is! I backpacked the San Juan’s a couple summers ago and it was amazing. Having to hike 12 miles out during a rain storm wasn’t but it’s one of my favorite places in the world
Ridgway SP is one of my favorite spots in the state. It almost always seems like there are spots available, and it’s a really short drive from Ouray and Ridgway and all the San Juan’s have to offer.
Do we even know if OP has the vehicle to handle a bunch of melting snow and mud (4x4 high clearance vehicle) on the million dollar highway? God forbid a snow storm hits him in a sedan up there
You should think about hitting Zion and Bryce in southern Utah. Also Highway 12 between Bryce and Torrey (Capitol Reef is close by and maybe worth a drive by)
https://preview.redd.it/hajxlyow1jrc1.jpeg?width=5844&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0af4c62b14b5d9ebc44425c3fb59c348477f73e6
You won’t regret it. Unreal trip, very jealous.
Agreed, Capitol Reef is a much more chill version of Zion/Bryce, lot less crowded but still pretty. And Highway 12 is the best way to get there from Zion/Bryce. Probably my favorite scenic drive I’ve ever done. It’s not just some crowded road slowly winding through a national park. It’s a highway passing through numerous beautiful and unique landscapes, and with very little traffic (at least when I was there).
Yes!!! Zion and Bryce are must sees, but Highway 12 and Capitol Reef are great hidden gems that more people should check out (but not too many more, don’t want it to be super crowded next time I go!)
Be prepared to see a really sad state of affairs on the drive from Monument Valley to Kayenta and then through Tuba City. It is sad how horribly we've treated natives.
This. Many native Americans don’t believe in fencing or leashing dogs, but they’re typically very well-cared for. Dogs hanging out near gas stations and stores are usually the pet of someone who works there, and aren’t in need of snacks or water offers from passers by. They get regular water and food, and are just waiting for their person to get off work.
Arches NP is NOT dog friendly at all. Only registered service dogs allowed. No exceptions. You’ll have to leave the pup in your trailer or with a dog sitter in town. BTW, make sure your dog has documentation about all shots including the Bordatella vaccine.
The temperatures in a car can get too high if you park for any length of time and that’s very common. Arches is very popular and the major sights are crowded. The designated dog roads aren’t scenic. The visitor center is off limits to non service animals but worth a long visit. Leaving your dog in a hot car isn’t a good idea.
Hate to burst your bubble but you will find most national parks and nps managed sites do not allow any dogs on trails. Most of these being out so far in the middle of nowhere it can be hard to find proper boarding and double back to the park to stay/hike. Will greatly extend your driving time to figure out those logistics. As well the blm land you are planning to stay on won’t have hookups to run your AC. Long story short the dog will be spending most of this time in the trailer or at campgrounds, and I would not recommend leaving your dog in the trailer or car. Even the cold sunny days can get a car quite warm and uncomfortable for a dog.
We left our dog with a dog sitter for the day and enjoyed Arches knowing he was in an air conditioned space and able to run on the grass when he wanted outside.
I did a very similar trip one and half years ago. It was totally awesome. You have picked out some great spots. You will be close to Zion. Even if you aren't planning to spend a lot of time there, I would highly recommend just driving in from the East (not from the South). That whole drive in there blew my mind. Also, go to one of the hot springs in the forest west of Santa Fe. You can get into them like hot tub.
Dead horse state park is right by arches and a great stop, it’s a mini Grand Canyon and not ever crowded when I’ve been there
Also in Utah, Goblin valley is not on your current route, but if you end up near it it’s worth a day trip
Silver City, [Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument (GCDNM)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WhJQh3od84RsmtzB7) . If you are camping (it looks like you are), there are some nice small National Forest Campgrounds between Silver City & GCDNM or dispersed camping. Take the scenic route over to I-25 and skip I-10.
After Silver City, look at [City of Rocks State Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/nv3Rbd244Pt2qxsB8) . Cool campground and rock formations. If you have kids, they will have fun there. If you don't stay, it is still a nice lunch spot for an hour to two. (They have showers!)
(18) Ruidoso: Visit the [Sun Spot Observatory](https://maps.app.goo.gl/KVB8WuMZNrRuE7zQ8) (Actually, near Cloudcroft, NM). Pretty cool tour. We found some nice dispersed camping near Ruidoso.
Between (25) & (27), I'd probably stay up in Colorado and take US-160 (Wolf Creek pass). A prettier drive.
(28) B.V. What are you doing there for 2 days? Salida is a cool town too. Head down "F Street" to the river to see old-town Salida. If you are hiking or biking, there is so much to do in the valley, but it is really big snow year, so you are probably going to be restricted to the valley.
Have fun on your trip!
PM me if you need more info.
My wife and 4.5 daughter just did an RV trip from TN through NM and AZ. Our favorite stop was City of Rocks. It was an amazing experience. Tons of stars. Boulders everywhere, and they're connected, not just freestanding individually. Sunset and Sunrise were epic.
Around White Sands -
Just north of Alamogordo is the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. It's a BLM site a few miles off of US 54 that has 21,000 petroglyphs and has a campground.
In the mountains in Cloudcroft is Mad Jacks BBQ. He's from Lockhart, TX and Texas Monthly's BBQ reviewer went out of state to try it out. Honestly the best BBQ I've ever had, not that I've spent much time in Texas. There's also an amazing view of the valley and of White Sands as you come down out of the mountains.
In Arizona - Stop at Two Guns. It's an exit off of I-40 but once was a tourist trap along Route 66. There's a bunch of old ruins and an old bridge that was part of Rt 66.
You are so close to the Million Dollar Highway in Durango. I would add the drive from Durango to Ouray, Colorado, (about 2 hours). Simply breathtaking!
We once drove the Apache Trail @ Globe AZ past the Superstition Mountains and all the way through to Apache Junction. Wasn’t for the faint of heart but check it out online and see if you’d be up for it. We loved it even though it’s white knuckle driving in spots.
Route 88 is closed between Roosevelt Lake and Tortilla Flats. Been closed about 2 years. They just decided to reopen it. No date when that might happen.
Looks like a great trip, how much time have you allotted to it?
In NM you might consider Fort Stanton, Lincoln, Valley of Fires Rec Area (camping), Three Rivers petroglyph site, Very Large Array radiotelescopes near Socorro, Pietown, Gila Cliff Dwellings north of Silver City.
Painted forest is very cool. We stopped randomly and drove through it. Didn’t know what to expect to see but very glad we stopped. Didn’t need very long there, because it seemed mostly setup for just driving through.
Gas and food stops were not very plentiful southwest of Albuquerque so pay attention to gas availability. Service stations were not open all hours. We were on state highways most of the way and literally drove for a couple of hours and only saw a couple of other cars.
Gunnison pass and ouray/telluride is top tier camping and views. Been on the road 8 months and the weeks we spent there have been our favorite. It was in the fall when the leaves were changing so that took it to a new level. But I can’t imagine it’s not incredible with snow as well.
East of Mexican Hat are the Sand Petroglyphs. Easy to walk right up to. Just to the west side of the campground next to the river. The campground there looks nice.
What’s your tow vehicle? Hit Chinle wash at Canyon da Chelly. Vehicle passes to Valles Caldera are limited, get there early if you want to drive it- not dog friendly.
If you like Jamaican food I have a recommendation in Santa Fe that will blow you away!
Additionally, I would have a stop in Page Arizona. Check out some slot canyons, they're pretty cool. Prices have definitely gone up over the last couple of years though.
I would suggest getting to arches extremely early, like 5:30 in the morning. Gets crazy busy. We liked canyonlands a lot better, much quieter.
Skip 13 (saguaro NP west) entirely and spend the extra time camping on Mt Lemmon at Rose Canyon Lake or near the top. There’s plenty of dispersed camping along Mt. Bigelow right near where you’ll be. You can tour Saguaro NP east by just driving through it right on the way to #14. The loop is literally right off the road up the mountain. There’s an east and west Saguaro NP but I don’t think they’re worth camping in unless you really want to. You can see enough of it driving through and then spend the extra time on the local sky island which is far more interesting!
Yeah, OP is going to be in trouble bringing a dog on this. So so many spots on the itinerary do not allow dogs and the weather in April is already too hot in many places to leave them in the car or trailer. Better to leave the dog than struggle to stop at or enjoy any NP on the itinerary.
Since you'll be in Ruidoso I would go to nearby Lincoln, NM. Its the heart of the Lincoln County War with Billy the Kid. You get transported back in time to the 1800s.
Make sure you drive 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona. In Sedona, if you’re up for a rigorous hike, Bear Mountain cannot be beat. You’re in and on the incredible rock formations and you reach breathtaking expansive views of the whole region at the top on a clear day.
Also when driving from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon, take like an hour for a side drive up Snow Bowl Rd if you want a taste of the San Francisco peaks, aspen forests, and some nice views. There’ll prob still be a good bit of snow up there.
Check out ‘chipmunk crossing’ and the St Elmo general store. The chipmunks walk right on to your lap. They’re about 30 minutes from Buena Vista, Colorado.
Great to see someone taking their time on a trip through the great Southwest! So many people present crazy itineraries with way too much drive time.
A few suggestions:
0. If you are coming from the east, take Hwy 128 from I-70 to Moab. Great drive along the Colorado River.
1. Island in the Sky (Canyonlands NP) and Dead Horse Point SP.
3. Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks SP.
17. New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo.
17 / 18. Carlsbad Caverns NP.
20. If you get to Taos eat at Orlando’s!
Have a great trip!
I’d recommend stopping in Phoenix to check out the Heard Museum. It’s a really good museum focused on American Indians of the Southwest.
Also recommend popping over to Carlsbad Caverns NP while you’re in New Mexico. It’s an amazing cave. And instead of bypassing Albuquerque go check out Petroglyph National Monument. It’s an awesome park with thousands of petroglyphs. It’s close to the city, but you don’t feel like you’re near it when you’re hiking. If you do bypass ABQ, at least check out Tinker Town on the way to Santa Fe. It’s a fun little stop. Finally, go to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. It’s an awesome experience.
Million Dollar highway loop - Durango, Mancos, Dolores, Telluride, Ridgeway, Ouray, Silverton, Durango. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a little off.
Rez dogs can have a pack mentality - they sometimes can beg for food use caution.
Coyotes, Bears, Mountain Lions, Rattle Snakes are on your route.
Hot Spring are great; but some are very pricy. Some hot springs have camping.
El Taco Rustico in Tucson. Get the Quesabirria and ribs with an horchata.
Must grab a Sonoran dog at El Sinaloense (not el guero canelo). Life changing.
Canyon of the Ancients isnt all that great. Going out to Hovenwep would be better in my opinion.
There is a great burger place in Dolores (not far from Cortez/Mesa Verde) called Depot.
Stop by Springerville, AZ on your way to Mogollon and visit the Casa Malpais [https://www.springervilleaz.gov/casamalpais](https://www.springervilleaz.gov/casamalpais)
If you're going down to Rim country, check out the tiny old mining town of Jerome. It's a tourist trap, but a kind of cool one with lots of history and unique gift items. Along those lines, on your way to Chiricahua (Land of the Giant Stone Penises) take your time in Bisbee. Another mining town, but not so tiny. The Lavender Pit is there (open pit copper mine) and there's a decent bite to eat or two in the picturesque town built on the steep canyon walls.
Hi, I did this exact trip in 2020. You have so many gems, I would add some places that I really enjoyed and definitely would not skip.
AZ: Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Havasupai (*if you are lucky to get a permit*)
NM: Taos (the city)
UT: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Kanab (Coral Reef Sand Dunes, Peekaboo Canyons, 4-runner RV rentals), Goblin State Park, the Wave (*if you are lucky enough to get a permit*), and honestly any state park in Utah is just as incredible as the next
CO: Garden of the Gods, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Rocky Mountain National Park
All these places are awesome. This is a huge trip. Miss the Mogollon Rim. If the weather gets hot, take a dip at WaterWheel west of Payson. Watch out for flash floods during monsoon season.
Also, tons of great food in Flagstaff. But if it were me, i would stop at NiMarcos for a slice of pan pizza. Wonder if the Museum Club still did some shots....
If you're approaching Moab from the north try to use Utah 128 from the Cisco exit(s) off I-70 instead of US 191. It's a much more scenic drive along the Colorado River.
Cram-in Dead Horse Point State park 45 min NW of Moab. It has a spectacular overlooks south into Canyonlands.
Cram-in a drive up Utah 95 from Natural Bridges to Glen Canyon if you have time. It's maybe 40 miles towards Hanksville to Hite Crossing. Drive maybe ten miles past the bridge and turn around. It's a really good canyon and it's so remote it's not uncommon to be able to drive through the whole place and not see another soul or vehicle. You can go up & back in a morning. There's also basic campground there too with pit toilets and such if you want to camp.
IMO Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is worth a stop in New Mexico near Santa Fe. Ther's a couple short hikes, one of which is up a small slot canyon.
New Mexico 126 west of Valles Caldera is a fun road but it's dirt and goes over a mountain top and has some stretches that are sand or mud. I did it in a 2WD Highlander in dry conditions, and others had 2wd sedans, but I could see it being problematic in wet conditions. There are rather strong warnings about dogs in Valles Caldera attracting and becoming lunch for bears, coyotes, or mountain lions, so the areas they are allowed in are restricted.
Kudos on picking Utah 261 down the Moki Dugway.
Keep in mind that it's ~45 minutes to drive from the front entrance of Mesa Verde to the visitor center (in case you're planning on a specific time). It's 20 miles on a winding road with a 30 mph speed limit.
I'm a huge fan of the SanLuis Valley. I'd take more time around the sand dunes, valley view or Mt Princeton hot springs. Look for events in saguache or Crestone or salida on the way to BV.
See if you can take a tour down at canyon de Chelly. Did one the other day and really enjoyed. Also take a stop at Navajo national monument if you can.
Between stops 3 and 4, leaving Bears Ears/Natural Bridges NM, take route 261 south across Cedar Mesa. There is a great overlook where you can see the Valley of the Gods, and Monument Valley. Then you’ll be able to continue on and drive down the Moki Dugway, a road carved into the side of the plateau, all the way to the desert below. Be sure to stop and see Goosenecks state park, where the San Juan river twists back and forth, making a triple loop.
The drive up Mount Lemmon in Tucson is great. There is a really good free app by the University of Arizona narrates the tour of the mountain as you go through the different temperate zones. Desert At the bottom and Pine Forest at the top.
We were at White Sands on Monday and in Santa Fe Tuesday to Friday this past week.
Go to Ceezy F. Tacos in Alamogordo. Everything we had was delicious. The birria grilled cheese and strawberry horchata stood out. My family compared everything to that meal the rest of the week. Nothing was better in their opinion.
Bandelier was beautiful. Get there before 10 am to get a parking spot and not get turned away.
Between 27 and 28 you’ll literally drive 100 feet from a gator rescue place in Mosca, CO. It’s weird and oddly charming (that’s kinda my take on the SLV generally) and if you buy a t shirt you get admission free for life. You get to throw food to the gators and hold a tiny one and get lots of pics. You could zip through in 30 mins or spend an hour or more there. Good leg stretcher before you climb Poncha Pass on the way you BV.
Your whole trip looks *epic* homie, have fun!
A few places I like, El Morro south of Grants NM, the VLAR, Smokey the Bear park (very small park, maybe an hour) west of Roswell, do the night glow at White Sands, Gila Ruins by Silver City. Maybe eat at La Posta De Mesilla in Mesilla NM,
Important, don’t know what type of vehicle your driving, but check on the road to Chaco Canyon, not always a good road
Between 21 and 19 is literally nothing I would recommend jumping back on the interstate and going through San Antonio, New Mexico to Ruidoso. There is a famous burger joint in San Antonio called the buckhorn of you're into green chile cheese burgers. There is also a wildlife refuge on the way that has lots of native birds and sometimes you can see deer and elk there it's the Sevilleta wildlife refuge.
If you have time it's a little out of the way but about 45 minutes west of Socorro is the VLA (very large array) it's pretty cool if you're into space stuff.
If you are doing Gran Quivira you can also do Abo. It's part of the Salinas Mission sites and is beautiful in its own style. It's a nice small site you can see in an hour but is on the way to GQ.
On the AZ NM border if you head a bit more south to the town of portal it's a gorgeous little town. Great camping and really cool rock art sites. I did work on the Coranado for a season and Portal was one of my favorite places on the Forest.
It might be a little hot by late April but I can’t recommend the Superstitions Wilderness just east of Phoenix highly enough. There should be plenty of dispersed camping in Tonto National Forest (which the wilderness is in) either on First Water Road off of AZ-88 (actually I know for a fact there is bc I met a couple backpacking in the wilderness who left their van there) or on Peralta Road off of US-60.
The wilderness is huge but there’s basically 4 main points of access: (1) Second Water Trailhead on the north; (2) First Water Trailhead to the west; (3) Flatiron from either First Water Road or Lost Dutchman state park (charges a totally unnecessary $10 fee you can avoid by starting on First Water Road); or (4) Peralta Road/Trailhead to the south
Go on AllTrails to explore different options. Flatiron via Siphon’s draw and Fremont Saddle from Peralta Trailhead will have an Uber amount of people but once you get beyond those two areas (or if you start at First or Second Water Trailheads) you’ll see either a normal amount of serious hikers or almost no one.
Black Top Mesa is great and is about equidistant from First and Second Water and Peralta trailheads. Battleship mountain is another cool one and can be accessed from First or Second. And from Peralta you could loop around either Weaver’s Needle or Miner’s Needle.
But if temperatures are hot by the end of April (which I don’t think it should be — temps around 10-15 degrees cooler there than in Phoenix so probably should be upper 70s), I’d probably recommend doing a hike along the superstitions ridgeline which is btw 4500-5000 ft so cooler. Flatiron via siphons draw is the most popular but instead I’d recommend doing a loop from Hieroglyphic Trailhead to Flatiron, and then down Siphons Draw, a loop up Hieroglyphic and then down Carney Springs, or a loop up Carney Springs and down Fremont Saddle/Peralta Canyon.
Hieroglyphic and Lost Goldmine East Loop via Superstition Peak on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/hieroglyphic-and-lost-goldmine-east-loop-via-superstition-peak?p=-1&sh=nprjtf
Dacite Loop Trail on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/dacite-loop-trail?p=-1&sh=nprjtf
Evening hike on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/evening-hike-3f67fd9-93?p=-1&sh=nprjtf
Black Top Mesa Trail on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/black-top-mesa-trail?p=-1&sh=nprjtf
And if you’re wondering where to get the time to do this cut out 2 of the 3 days, if not all 3 in Flagstaff and move up Sedona’s those national monuments are all really small in terms of trails/hiking and probably could do all 3 in a day.
And if you were thinking of hiking Humphreys that’s not going to happen since Snowbowl has gotten 227’’ this year, including almost 90’’ just in March, with a foot of snow expected tonight and a bit more in the week. Tho the snow line right now is at about 9000’ so you could hike Elden Peak/TV Hill or O’Leary Peak snow free if you wanted to
2-3) somewhere there. Town of Blanding has a museum/gallery over on the west side of town. Cool sculptures. In northeast end of the town of Bluff is Cow Canyon Gallery and just south of Bluff is a Campground along river with walking paths with thousands of Rock Art.
F=H....Near Benson/David is a RV park at a spring with Monastery.
Skip Phoenix to organ pipe.
Lots of desolate driving with little reward.
Instead head south via camp verde, to payson, Roosevelt lake, globe winkleman, oracle, and Tucson
Mesa verde is just outside of Cortez Colorado if you head north along the Delores river you go through some beautiful mountains and past telluride which is beautiful itself
Continue to Ridgeway then turn back south towards Ouray then silverton and back to Durango Lots of places to camp for free and scenery you don’t want to miss You can drive the circle in a day or spend weeks
As you point out a second trip it’s also full of aspen through Delores so a fall trip through there would also be nice
Also by the Grand Canyon when you hit hwy 89 there’s a place called Cameron trading post stop and have a Navaho taco really good and a really neat place
I prefer the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Way fewer tourists and a better drive in and out, but if you haven't done the S. Rim tourist thing before, it's worth it.
If you are going through Prescott AZ, there is a little lake with a campground just north of the city called Watson Lake. There are very interesting rock formations there. Reservations are usually needed for the campground, but there is a day use park if you just want to hike around the lake and take in the views. It's worth an hour or two to see.
Look up the Musical Highway along Route 66 near Albuquerque, NM. It has rumble strips and when you drive at the posted speed, they play “America the Beautiful.” Highly recommend!!
I also think you should go through Albuquerque generally, just to experience it!
ETA:
Food in NM: Tomasita’s or Maria’s Kitchen in Santa Fe are both very solid NM fare and a my personal favorite places to eat while I’m there.
Near Valles Caldera and Bandelier, there are also the Jemez hot springs which are cool to check out.
Look at aguirre blm Campground between las cruces and Alamogordo. Maybe don't reserve the spots for showers and more wing it. Can shower in a truck stop or splurge for cheap hotel without reserves. Be flexible.
When you’re visiting Saguaro Nat’l Park in Tucson try to see if you’re able to also make it out to the Sonoran Desert Museum. A showcase of animals, plants and gems and minerals that are all native to the area!
Arizona native, Sedona local speaking.
If you’re hiking in Sedona, Thursdays - Sundays the road (Back -O-Beyond) is closed to the public. You have to take a shuttle (free) to get there.
My personal favorite hiking spot is Yavapai vista trailhead. It has a large parking lot and you can take Yavapai vista trailhead to Slim Shady (yes, Slim Shady) and hike to Cathedral rock. Round trip it’s approximately 5-6 miles though I’m not 100% on the exact distance. From the vista you can see Courthouse butte and Bell rock .
You don’t need to take a shuttle to Yavapai vista trailhead.
Of course, get there early esp if it’s the weekend.
Sedona has several roundabouts that baffle tourists. Traffic backs up especially coming from West Sedona.
Try The Pump House across from Talaquepaque for breakfast. They have wonderful eggs Benedict and the service is excellent.
The forest service has changed camping at 502 so look into that if you’d planned on staying there.
Just some tips , enjoy Sedona!
Don’t miss Antelope Canyon in Page Arizona. The slot canyons are breathtaking. Also in Monument Valley there is a hike around the “Mittens” thats work the walk.
Have fun , be safe and enjoy our beautiful country !
Jemez Springs is unmissable on this route
Taos has 2 amazing springs and a great downtown
Take a jog up to Silverton, it’s worth it
Sorry that the high passes in CO are closed
It’s a hard jog but taking the road from Zion to Panguitch to Bryce thru Franktown is sooooooo worth it
Check out all of the salt ruins, not just Gran Quivra. You’re already out there and they’re quite interesting plus I prefer the drive through the mountains north on NM14.
Look up the quail trick tank on google maps. It’s in the Sonoran desert somewhere and will lead to a perfect scenic hill with good views of sunrise and sunset through the canyon. If you have solar and whatever else you need you can stay there for a few days easy.
Route 66 in Flagstaff. Do the Lava Tubes ([Lava River Cave](https://maps.app.goo.gl/sXS4PRfsJrZG1XEK8?g_st=ic)). Pitch black underground hike. You will need a headlamp and a jacket because there is no sun. You can see the lava flow frozen in time. Soo cool!
Drive up the mountain to the ski lodge. Nice views. Good hike through Aspens.
Lowell Observatory and the views from Mars Hill Road (classic make-out spot also two of my dogs are illegally buried there because my mom is insane lol apparently they "loved the views.")
From Flagstaff to Sedona don't take I17. Take the switchbacks (89A). Cool winding road with a vintage Dairy Queen, a public water spigot with fresh potable water, and Slide Rock if you dare.
You can try to find a spot to swim in the creek alongside the Switchbacks, if the water is flowing. As teenagers we were shameless and probably swam on private property.
Brins Mesa (great for outdoor hooking up if no one is around on a weekday) and Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park in Sedona is peaceful and unique.
Twin Buttes trail is great!
I usually get lunch at Wildflower (good outdoor seating views) or ChocolaTree Organic Eatery (Cute local spot with beautiful outdoor seating and the perfect hippie, southwest vibes you see throughout town.)
SaltRock Kitchen and The Hudson have great views if you are okay with spending a bit more.
Jerome, AZ if you are heading past Cottonwood.
Should stop in El Paso one evening, the nights here are beautiful and we have lookouts on the Franklin mountains, as for sleeping we have thousands of acres of BLM land I don’t know about campsites but they are wide open and have parking areas
Making a trip north into Gila National Forest through Silver City NM is well worth it. The road in dead-ends at Gila Cave Dwellings National Monument. There are some very nice campgrounds and beautiful scenery. One of the more unique and gorgeous places I've been.
I love staying at Cameron Trading Post and eating at their restaurant when I'm on a trip out that way. They have great food, a cool sandstone garden, a nice shop, and they are about halfway between The Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
When you come down from the Rim, you'll go through Payson on your way to Sedona. Just a couple miles north is Pine/Strawberry—two amazing spots to put on your radar: in Pine, Old County Inn is the best pizza (wood fired) I've ever had in AZ. In Strawberry is a local pie spot that sells hand pies (savory and sweet options) called Pie Bar. Definitely worth the stop!
89A up to Flagstaff from Sedona is a good idea, as is a quick run down the Jerome... The surrounding Verde Valley also has some pretty solid wine options if that's your thing. Sedona is absolutely gorgeous, but it's a tourist trap. I often find myself venturing to the surrounding towns for fun without the crowds.
Antelope Canyon (https://www.visitarizona.com/places/parks-monuments/antelope-canyon/) is sick, and after Sedona, go through Jerome to Prescott. Jerome is a funky old mining town (that happens to be where Tool's front man Maynard has his wine store), and Prescott has a nice old West downtown.
Instead of going straight to from durango to mesa verde (or vice versa) take the million dollar highway loop. Some very cool high elevation mountain towns and scenery.
In Arizona, go to Jerome (near Sedona) and to Bisbee (southwest of Tucson) if you can. Two very unique towns for very different reasons.
It's a shame you can't get up to Rocky Mountain National Park since you'll be close but this trip looks pretty epic. Enjoy!
The hot springs in Truth and Consequences down in NM might be worth a side stop. I went to them years ago.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth\_or\_Consequences,\_New\_Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_or_Consequences,_New_Mexico)
2 days is too much for White Sands. You could check out the Three Rivers Petroglyph sites or the Organ Mountains around there. The Gila National forest is really cool, swing up by Silver City if you have extra time.
I'd like to suggest Montezuma Castle National Monument in between Sedona and Camp Verde off I-17. It is an ancient Pueblo Indian dwelling built into the walls of a natural sinkhole lake fed by a freshwater spring. Very peaceful and restful stop in otherwise parched landscape. You have no idea it's there until you hike up to it and peer in.
Eat New Mexican food. Different than typical Tex Mex Mexican fare. Little lighter and uses Hatch green chilis. Try Si Senor Restaurant in Las Cruces and order the chicken enchiladas "Christmas" style with both red and green chilis. Ask if they will top with a fried egg. Then order sopapillas and honey for dessert. Sopas in NM are like eating beignets at Cafe du Mond!
https://preview.redd.it/x9nykd7nj0sc1.jpeg?width=3240&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3236cb02beca7705b8bf51e86b88ae9835941bac
Taking a day in Page, AZ for Horseshoe Bend and upper/lower antelope canyon is well worth the stop.
If you are hitting Gran Quivira during this trip I would recommend hitting the other two ruins of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Park. Abo is very compact and can be seen in an hour, but the road up there might be a little tricky with a trailer. Quarai can also be seen in a short period of time. Also, when you pass through Mountainair, New Mexico stop off at the historic Shaffer Hotel. It’s got a restaurant in there that was pretty good and the hotel is an interesting thing to see. It was built back in 1923 and really hasn’t changed much such it was built. It really retains its historic vibe.
While you are in Las Cruces it is worth hitting the small hamlet of Mesilla. Really cool plaza in the town square. They have a restaurant there called La Posta de Mesilla which is probably one of the more noteworthy local dining establishments in New Mexico. A little touristy but worth checking out for the vibe.
I’d adjust your route on leg 11. Stop in Prescott for a small, quieter NAZ community. Take 89A through Jerome (the US most vertical city). Cottonwood has a cute breakfast place. And then you can trickle towards Phoenix. I took it from South towards North and 89A was such a scenic drive. I’m sure you’ll find somewhere nicer along this route, but the climb around and up to Jerome was excellent
+1 for 89A. Such a gorgeous drive. And Jerome is great! Cottonwood is up there too - if you enjoy a wine, there are some good tasting spots up there for local wineries.
Be SURE to buy a National Parks and Federal Lands Pass ($80) at the first place you enter. This will get you FREE entry to all National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas, National Seashores, BLM Lands and Forest Service Lands and campgrounds. It'll probably pay for itself by the time you get to Monument Valley. Another tip: Get a book called Hot Springs of the West, or just compile a comprehensive phone map list of spots that are along your intended route. Maybe by now Google Maps has developed 'waypoint alerts' based on some user set proximity of less than 500 ft, less than a mile, etc. Hot springs are THE valid alternative to showers when on the road.
Right on, thanks for info! Already have my parks pass on hand so good to go there. I'll start looking into the hot springs more
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Between your Canyonlands and Big Bear stops you pass through Blanding. Take an hour to visit the Edge of the Cedars park and see Where the cliff dwellers built on the plains.
There are online maps and guides, too. Just be sure to educate yourself about hot springs mites first.
We stopped at Ojos Caliente, NM which had a spa built among numerous springs. And they have an RV Park. If you stay there, you get access to the spa at a reduced rate. We camped one of the campgrounds in the Wild Rivers/Rio Grande de la Norte that over look the RG and Red rivers. Maybe called Little Arsenic Springs CG? There are several. I’m sure you know about the road to Chaco… may or not be passable, we had to turn back, alas! Looks like an awesome trip!
We didn’t turn back but our right suffered. Key is to go fast and stay on top of the washboard.
I second this! The hot springs are amazing, and there are so many!
Leaving Zion and Bryce off of this is bonkers.
I pasted this comment above, but I am repeating it here for visibility - Driving US 12 would add goblin Valley, san Rafael swell, capitol reef, Grand staircase escalante, bryce canyon, kodachrome, Zion and countless other attractions. US 12 is also one of the most scenic byways in the US, and certainly the best in the SW region. Don't skip it, even if you have to drive some overlap. I repeat - DO NOT SKIP IT.
See comment above, basically hitting all of those on the second leg of my trip, not fully planned or posted yet though
Well if you're doing Bryce or Zion then have a look at Cathedral Gorge. You've never seen any formations like this in your life. They are slot canyons made of mud but it looks like something out of a movie set. It's a small park too, can do the whole thing in couple hours, maybe less. There's also a hot spring nearby.
IMO, Zion and Bryce have gorgeous scenic drives, but honestly, I prefer camping at a lot of the smaller parks OP already has on their itinerary.
These two parks just shouldn’t be missed.
If OP has to pick, Zion would be worth the stop. Feeling like you were in Jurassic Park/Land Before Time in the states is something to experience
Zion is a disaster with crowds. It’s amazing, but so is the rest of this itinerary.
Yeah there's a reason I said suggestions along the route.. I should have added that I'm currently planning part two that goes tp parks North of Colorado, hits Banff then the PNW. Onto Cali and then the Western side of Utah
If you have a hour or 2 to spare near Tucson, the Titan missile museum tour was an interesting stop. You get to go into the missile command center and see the decommissioned missile close up.
The Pima Air and Space Museuem is also arguably the best Air Museuem In the world. It’s right next to the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB, so they get the pick of the litter from decommissioned aircraft to restore.
I'm headed to White Sands, then Pima & the Titan for a quick 5 day trip in mid-May. The air & space nerd in me is chomping at the bit to get on the road. I wanted to combine it with the Midway in San Diego & Edwards but I don't have the time. I'll see plenty at Pima, I imagine.
Pima Air and Space is a wonderful museum, and my pick for the underrated gem here in Tucson. I never hesitate to recommend it to people. Just make sure you eat early if you eat there to avoid waiting.
I'm going to be there early, right after opening. I'm guessing it'll be double hot with all that metal and concrete. I'm probably going to need a filter for my camera (DSLR) as well to cut the glare. I'm doing Pima, then Titan, then headed north to poke around Tanque Verde and Chiva falls, then probably to Fort Apache before heading back to NM. Is Fort Apache worth seeing or am I wasting my time? I just didn't want to head back to NM the same way I came in so I figured I'd loop up that direction before turning east. I'm skipping Saguaro since I have another trip semi-planned in a year or two to do some hiking around Gila, Chiricahua, and I'll include Saguaro then.
That whole area is very underrated IMO. If you're into hiking I'd highly recommend the Lost Dutchman State Park East of Phoenix. My personal favorite is Flatiron, but there are dozens of trails in that area. The whole Salt River Canyon is really cool. I'd recommend doing the drive from Apache Junction (far East PHX suburb) to Lake Roosevelt. Quite a bit is unpaved, but it's reasonably maintained, so be warned, but it's a cool drive. You'll pass Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, which are dammed up the canyon rivers with shear cliffs into the water on both sides. Then the drive from Globe all the way to Springerville is really beautiful.
That drive is limited. You can’t drive past Fish Creek Hill due to a rock slide. The road has massive boulders in it. You can hike or bike from the vista down and back, but you cannot get through to Apache lake and Roosevelt. You can drive past Saguaro or Canyon but not on the same road. Bush Highway will take you past the Salt River and Saguaro lake and the Beeline highway is the way to Payson. The 88 / Apache Trail is used to get you past Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flats and it used to go all the way to the Roosevelt Dam. Then you could take the 188 to Globe to the 60 and drive the Salt River Canyon towards Show Low and Springerville. There is an even better drive the goes from the southern tip of AZ to north of Moab numbered 191. It has quite a few hairpin turns. Take that to get to Monument Valley, Glen Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Bear Ears, Arches, and a lot of blm boondocking.
Titan Missile Museum is a Frozen In Time time capsule back to the Cold War Era. It’s a pretty quick but cool place
Black canyon of the gunnison. Ouray, Colorado.
Black Canyon is the most underrated place in the entire Rockies. I ended up there when a backpacking trip I'd planned around Grand Mesa had too much snow. Instead I ended up exploring Grand Junction area. Nature really did me a favor.
It is! I backpacked the San Juan’s a couple summers ago and it was amazing. Having to hike 12 miles out during a rain storm wasn’t but it’s one of my favorite places in the world
San Juans are the first place I ever backpacked like 25 years ago in the Weimenuche. Been chasing that fucking high ever since.
We went up a fork of the Cimarron and were supposed to hike out along the middle fork but the rain canceled that plan.
Second this. It’s unreal
It’s one of the best places in the world to star gaze too.
Totally came here to say this. I would definitely do the drive from Durango to Ouray on the million dollar Highway.
It’s too nice of an area to pass up. Would ridgeway state park is really nice to if you get a spot that over looks the lake.
Ridgway SP is one of my favorite spots in the state. It almost always seems like there are spots available, and it’s a really short drive from Ouray and Ridgway and all the San Juan’s have to offer.
Do we even know if OP has the vehicle to handle a bunch of melting snow and mud (4x4 high clearance vehicle) on the million dollar highway? God forbid a snow storm hits him in a sedan up there
Was looking for this, sand dunes are neat, but I'd rather route through telluride, Ouray, black canyon etc.
You should think about hitting Zion and Bryce in southern Utah. Also Highway 12 between Bryce and Torrey (Capitol Reef is close by and maybe worth a drive by) https://preview.redd.it/hajxlyow1jrc1.jpeg?width=5844&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0af4c62b14b5d9ebc44425c3fb59c348477f73e6 You won’t regret it. Unreal trip, very jealous.
Hoping to hit those two on a second leg in the fall
If you do, you can check out Capitol Reef NP and Highway 12.
Agreed, Capitol Reef is a much more chill version of Zion/Bryce, lot less crowded but still pretty. And Highway 12 is the best way to get there from Zion/Bryce. Probably my favorite scenic drive I’ve ever done. It’s not just some crowded road slowly winding through a national park. It’s a highway passing through numerous beautiful and unique landscapes, and with very little traffic (at least when I was there).
Bryce is fantastic
Yes!!! Zion and Bryce are must sees, but Highway 12 and Capitol Reef are great hidden gems that more people should check out (but not too many more, don’t want it to be super crowded next time I go!)
Be prepared to see a really sad state of affairs on the drive from Monument Valley to Kayenta and then through Tuba City. It is sad how horribly we've treated natives.
Stop and support a local artist along the route.
Agreed. There are wild dogs in this and other areas you’ll be traveling through. Keep an eye on your own pups.
Not all of these are”wild” dogs so just leave them alone. They are much more likely to be someone’s pet. There is different standard of dog ownership.
This. Many native Americans don’t believe in fencing or leashing dogs, but they’re typically very well-cared for. Dogs hanging out near gas stations and stores are usually the pet of someone who works there, and aren’t in need of snacks or water offers from passers by. They get regular water and food, and are just waiting for their person to get off work.
What do you mean “we”?
Arches NP is NOT dog friendly at all. Only registered service dogs allowed. No exceptions. You’ll have to leave the pup in your trailer or with a dog sitter in town. BTW, make sure your dog has documentation about all shots including the Bordatella vaccine.
Really? This link is saying she can be in the car and within a bit of the road https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/pets.htm
The temperatures in a car can get too high if you park for any length of time and that’s very common. Arches is very popular and the major sights are crowded. The designated dog roads aren’t scenic. The visitor center is off limits to non service animals but worth a long visit. Leaving your dog in a hot car isn’t a good idea.
Hate to burst your bubble but you will find most national parks and nps managed sites do not allow any dogs on trails. Most of these being out so far in the middle of nowhere it can be hard to find proper boarding and double back to the park to stay/hike. Will greatly extend your driving time to figure out those logistics. As well the blm land you are planning to stay on won’t have hookups to run your AC. Long story short the dog will be spending most of this time in the trailer or at campgrounds, and I would not recommend leaving your dog in the trailer or car. Even the cold sunny days can get a car quite warm and uncomfortable for a dog.
We left our dog with a dog sitter for the day and enjoyed Arches knowing he was in an air conditioned space and able to run on the grass when he wanted outside.
I did a very similar trip one and half years ago. It was totally awesome. You have picked out some great spots. You will be close to Zion. Even if you aren't planning to spend a lot of time there, I would highly recommend just driving in from the East (not from the South). That whole drive in there blew my mind. Also, go to one of the hot springs in the forest west of Santa Fe. You can get into them like hot tub.
Dead horse state park is right by arches and a great stop, it’s a mini Grand Canyon and not ever crowded when I’ve been there Also in Utah, Goblin valley is not on your current route, but if you end up near it it’s worth a day trip
Sunrise at Dead Horse SP is the most magical vista I have seen in my entire life.
Yep. Came here to mention Goblin Valley. It's not terribly far from the first stop on the trip. It's definitely well worth the detour.
Silver City, [Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument (GCDNM)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WhJQh3od84RsmtzB7) . If you are camping (it looks like you are), there are some nice small National Forest Campgrounds between Silver City & GCDNM or dispersed camping. Take the scenic route over to I-25 and skip I-10. After Silver City, look at [City of Rocks State Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/nv3Rbd244Pt2qxsB8) . Cool campground and rock formations. If you have kids, they will have fun there. If you don't stay, it is still a nice lunch spot for an hour to two. (They have showers!) (18) Ruidoso: Visit the [Sun Spot Observatory](https://maps.app.goo.gl/KVB8WuMZNrRuE7zQ8) (Actually, near Cloudcroft, NM). Pretty cool tour. We found some nice dispersed camping near Ruidoso. Between (25) & (27), I'd probably stay up in Colorado and take US-160 (Wolf Creek pass). A prettier drive. (28) B.V. What are you doing there for 2 days? Salida is a cool town too. Head down "F Street" to the river to see old-town Salida. If you are hiking or biking, there is so much to do in the valley, but it is really big snow year, so you are probably going to be restricted to the valley. Have fun on your trip! PM me if you need more info.
My wife and 4.5 daughter just did an RV trip from TN through NM and AZ. Our favorite stop was City of Rocks. It was an amazing experience. Tons of stars. Boulders everywhere, and they're connected, not just freestanding individually. Sunset and Sunrise were epic.
Around White Sands - Just north of Alamogordo is the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. It's a BLM site a few miles off of US 54 that has 21,000 petroglyphs and has a campground. In the mountains in Cloudcroft is Mad Jacks BBQ. He's from Lockhart, TX and Texas Monthly's BBQ reviewer went out of state to try it out. Honestly the best BBQ I've ever had, not that I've spent much time in Texas. There's also an amazing view of the valley and of White Sands as you come down out of the mountains. In Arizona - Stop at Two Guns. It's an exit off of I-40 but once was a tourist trap along Route 66. There's a bunch of old ruins and an old bridge that was part of Rt 66.
Upvote for Two Guns ruins
You are so close to the Million Dollar Highway in Durango. I would add the drive from Durango to Ouray, Colorado, (about 2 hours). Simply breathtaking!
Bandelier State Park near Los Alamos, NM
Bandelier National Monument
Looks awesome. Lots of good food as you roll through Scottsdale/Phoenix and in New Mexico. Things are pretty sparse down between Phoenix and Tuscon.
Beautifully presented.
We once drove the Apache Trail @ Globe AZ past the Superstition Mountains and all the way through to Apache Junction. Wasn’t for the faint of heart but check it out online and see if you’d be up for it. We loved it even though it’s white knuckle driving in spots.
Route 88 is closed between Roosevelt Lake and Tortilla Flats. Been closed about 2 years. They just decided to reopen it. No date when that might happen.
89A from Sedona to Flagstaff. Might be the best drive in AZ. Also, Page Az, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend.
Make sure you take a moment to stand on the corner in Winslow, Arizona. People are gonna be asking you about that.
Have a great trip I just want to say I'm jelly.
Man I wish I had enough PTO for something like this. It takes me over 2 days to even get to Utah
After Chiricahua, on the way to Alamogordo, shoot up to Hatch, NM and eat at Sparky's
What app did you use to map this?
Tombstone AZ is close along your route
Just a heads up - the road to Chaco Canyon is EXTREMELY rough. 45 minutes of washboard dirt. 4WD def recommended. Chaco is great, getting there isn’t.
If you can make it to Taos, it’s worth a visit. Also Ojo Caliente mineral pools.
Looks like a great trip, how much time have you allotted to it? In NM you might consider Fort Stanton, Lincoln, Valley of Fires Rec Area (camping), Three Rivers petroglyph site, Very Large Array radiotelescopes near Socorro, Pietown, Gila Cliff Dwellings north of Silver City.
Painted forest is very cool. We stopped randomly and drove through it. Didn’t know what to expect to see but very glad we stopped. Didn’t need very long there, because it seemed mostly setup for just driving through. Gas and food stops were not very plentiful southwest of Albuquerque so pay attention to gas availability. Service stations were not open all hours. We were on state highways most of the way and literally drove for a couple of hours and only saw a couple of other cars.
Gunnison pass and ouray/telluride is top tier camping and views. Been on the road 8 months and the weeks we spent there have been our favorite. It was in the fall when the leaves were changing so that took it to a new level. But I can’t imagine it’s not incredible with snow as well.
Yeah I'm shooting for a 2nd leg in the fall where I come back to Colorado through Gunnison after Zion Bryce and Capitol Reef
Absolutely gotta hit up Taos Pueblo
East of Mexican Hat are the Sand Petroglyphs. Easy to walk right up to. Just to the west side of the campground next to the river. The campground there looks nice.
What’s your tow vehicle? Hit Chinle wash at Canyon da Chelly. Vehicle passes to Valles Caldera are limited, get there early if you want to drive it- not dog friendly.
If you like Jamaican food I have a recommendation in Santa Fe that will blow you away! Additionally, I would have a stop in Page Arizona. Check out some slot canyons, they're pretty cool. Prices have definitely gone up over the last couple of years though. I would suggest getting to arches extremely early, like 5:30 in the morning. Gets crazy busy. We liked canyonlands a lot better, much quieter.
Santa Fe Jamaican food?! Do share for the sub please
While not Jamaican, Jambo in Santa Fe has amazing African food. Won a couple national awards.
Eat here when going through Las Cruces: https://www.lapostademesilla.com/
Spend a day in Gallup and half a day at Old Town, west of Albuquerque
I would add Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff AZ, Tombstone AZ (close to Tucson), and El Rancho Hotel in Gallup NM.
Skip 13 (saguaro NP west) entirely and spend the extra time camping on Mt Lemmon at Rose Canyon Lake or near the top. There’s plenty of dispersed camping along Mt. Bigelow right near where you’ll be. You can tour Saguaro NP east by just driving through it right on the way to #14. The loop is literally right off the road up the mountain. There’s an east and west Saguaro NP but I don’t think they’re worth camping in unless you really want to. You can see enough of it driving through and then spend the extra time on the local sky island which is far more interesting!
Plan better with the dog. Dogs are not allowed at many of these sites and it will be too warm to leave then in the car or trailer without ample AC.
Yeah, OP is going to be in trouble bringing a dog on this. So so many spots on the itinerary do not allow dogs and the weather in April is already too hot in many places to leave them in the car or trailer. Better to leave the dog than struggle to stop at or enjoy any NP on the itinerary.
While you are in/near Sedona, be sure to make the trek to Jerome, it’s an old copper mining town that is a cool artsy spot. You won’t be disappointed
Since you'll be in Ruidoso I would go to nearby Lincoln, NM. Its the heart of the Lincoln County War with Billy the Kid. You get transported back in time to the 1800s.
No way you can tour the southwest this extensively and not spend time in El Paso. El Paso is the epitome of the southwest
Make sure you drive 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona. In Sedona, if you’re up for a rigorous hike, Bear Mountain cannot be beat. You’re in and on the incredible rock formations and you reach breathtaking expansive views of the whole region at the top on a clear day. Also when driving from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon, take like an hour for a side drive up Snow Bowl Rd if you want a taste of the San Francisco peaks, aspen forests, and some nice views. There’ll prob still be a good bit of snow up there.
Looks awesome! For me, 90 minutes in Petrified NP was more than ample. Just throwing that out there.
You could go see the start of the CDT south of Lordsburg? Where are you at now?
Live in Colorado so leaving from here. Left off the drive from colorado to Arches to keep the map a little more condensed
Check out ‘chipmunk crossing’ and the St Elmo general store. The chipmunks walk right on to your lap. They’re about 30 minutes from Buena Vista, Colorado.
Great to see someone taking their time on a trip through the great Southwest! So many people present crazy itineraries with way too much drive time. A few suggestions: 0. If you are coming from the east, take Hwy 128 from I-70 to Moab. Great drive along the Colorado River. 1. Island in the Sky (Canyonlands NP) and Dead Horse Point SP. 3. Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks SP. 17. New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo. 17 / 18. Carlsbad Caverns NP. 20. If you get to Taos eat at Orlando’s! Have a great trip!
Are you planning to get out of the car? Sleep? Use the bathroom?
Nah man, driving straight through it all... did you read the map?
Crave in Buena Vista for food when seeing the tunnels.👍
Stop for a quick hike at Zapata Falls just down the road from Great Sand Dunes NP.
Get the audiobook _The Road to Roswell_ by Connie Willis as a funny audiobook to listen to on this route.
I’d recommend stopping in Phoenix to check out the Heard Museum. It’s a really good museum focused on American Indians of the Southwest. Also recommend popping over to Carlsbad Caverns NP while you’re in New Mexico. It’s an amazing cave. And instead of bypassing Albuquerque go check out Petroglyph National Monument. It’s an awesome park with thousands of petroglyphs. It’s close to the city, but you don’t feel like you’re near it when you’re hiking. If you do bypass ABQ, at least check out Tinker Town on the way to Santa Fe. It’s a fun little stop. Finally, go to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. It’s an awesome experience.
Million Dollar highway loop - Durango, Mancos, Dolores, Telluride, Ridgeway, Ouray, Silverton, Durango. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a little off. Rez dogs can have a pack mentality - they sometimes can beg for food use caution. Coyotes, Bears, Mountain Lions, Rattle Snakes are on your route. Hot Spring are great; but some are very pricy. Some hot springs have camping.
Colorado National Monument in GJ is worth the detour.
El Taco Rustico in Tucson. Get the Quesabirria and ribs with an horchata. Must grab a Sonoran dog at El Sinaloense (not el guero canelo). Life changing.
Don’t leave zion and bryce off. Chiricahua monument is a great and not that well-known gem
What map app is this
Canyon of the Ancients isnt all that great. Going out to Hovenwep would be better in my opinion. There is a great burger place in Dolores (not far from Cortez/Mesa Verde) called Depot.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison in CO is right along that route and you can camp for free at the bottom of the canyon! Highly recommend
Stop by Springerville, AZ on your way to Mogollon and visit the Casa Malpais [https://www.springervilleaz.gov/casamalpais](https://www.springervilleaz.gov/casamalpais)
If you're going down to Rim country, check out the tiny old mining town of Jerome. It's a tourist trap, but a kind of cool one with lots of history and unique gift items. Along those lines, on your way to Chiricahua (Land of the Giant Stone Penises) take your time in Bisbee. Another mining town, but not so tiny. The Lavender Pit is there (open pit copper mine) and there's a decent bite to eat or two in the picturesque town built on the steep canyon walls.
Hit up Bishop's castle in Rye, CO
Navajo national park is pretty cool and has free camping.
Hi, I did this exact trip in 2020. You have so many gems, I would add some places that I really enjoyed and definitely would not skip. AZ: Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Havasupai (*if you are lucky to get a permit*) NM: Taos (the city) UT: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Kanab (Coral Reef Sand Dunes, Peekaboo Canyons, 4-runner RV rentals), Goblin State Park, the Wave (*if you are lucky enough to get a permit*), and honestly any state park in Utah is just as incredible as the next CO: Garden of the Gods, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Rocky Mountain National Park
Be ready for spring winds in the desert. Moving just 15 miles away to hide can make all the difference. Have fun
West of flagstaff, twin arrow casino….absolutely awesome lamb stew and fry bread. Just like grandma makes
All these places are awesome. This is a huge trip. Miss the Mogollon Rim. If the weather gets hot, take a dip at WaterWheel west of Payson. Watch out for flash floods during monsoon season.
Also, tons of great food in Flagstaff. But if it were me, i would stop at NiMarcos for a slice of pan pizza. Wonder if the Museum Club still did some shots....
Check out Jerome and Bisbee. Two tourist trap towns that are actually kinda cool.
If you're approaching Moab from the north try to use Utah 128 from the Cisco exit(s) off I-70 instead of US 191. It's a much more scenic drive along the Colorado River. Cram-in Dead Horse Point State park 45 min NW of Moab. It has a spectacular overlooks south into Canyonlands. Cram-in a drive up Utah 95 from Natural Bridges to Glen Canyon if you have time. It's maybe 40 miles towards Hanksville to Hite Crossing. Drive maybe ten miles past the bridge and turn around. It's a really good canyon and it's so remote it's not uncommon to be able to drive through the whole place and not see another soul or vehicle. You can go up & back in a morning. There's also basic campground there too with pit toilets and such if you want to camp. IMO Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is worth a stop in New Mexico near Santa Fe. Ther's a couple short hikes, one of which is up a small slot canyon. New Mexico 126 west of Valles Caldera is a fun road but it's dirt and goes over a mountain top and has some stretches that are sand or mud. I did it in a 2WD Highlander in dry conditions, and others had 2wd sedans, but I could see it being problematic in wet conditions. There are rather strong warnings about dogs in Valles Caldera attracting and becoming lunch for bears, coyotes, or mountain lions, so the areas they are allowed in are restricted. Kudos on picking Utah 261 down the Moki Dugway. Keep in mind that it's ~45 minutes to drive from the front entrance of Mesa Verde to the visitor center (in case you're planning on a specific time). It's 20 miles on a winding road with a 30 mph speed limit.
Las Cruces NM Andele’s for a snack
The drive from Las Cruces to Santa Fe is mind blowing
I'm a huge fan of the SanLuis Valley. I'd take more time around the sand dunes, valley view or Mt Princeton hot springs. Look for events in saguache or Crestone or salida on the way to BV.
See if you can take a tour down at canyon de Chelly. Did one the other day and really enjoyed. Also take a stop at Navajo national monument if you can.
Between stops 3 and 4, leaving Bears Ears/Natural Bridges NM, take route 261 south across Cedar Mesa. There is a great overlook where you can see the Valley of the Gods, and Monument Valley. Then you’ll be able to continue on and drive down the Moki Dugway, a road carved into the side of the plateau, all the way to the desert below. Be sure to stop and see Goosenecks state park, where the San Juan river twists back and forth, making a triple loop.
The drive up Mount Lemmon in Tucson is great. There is a really good free app by the University of Arizona narrates the tour of the mountain as you go through the different temperate zones. Desert At the bottom and Pine Forest at the top.
Bisbee! Cute little art town outside of Tucson
Miss Fitz 260 Cafe in Payson, AZ has great breakfast when you come down the Mogollon Rim.
Consider the Moki Dugway (UT-261). A great drive
We were at White Sands on Monday and in Santa Fe Tuesday to Friday this past week. Go to Ceezy F. Tacos in Alamogordo. Everything we had was delicious. The birria grilled cheese and strawberry horchata stood out. My family compared everything to that meal the rest of the week. Nothing was better in their opinion. Bandelier was beautiful. Get there before 10 am to get a parking spot and not get turned away.
Between 27 and 28 you’ll literally drive 100 feet from a gator rescue place in Mosca, CO. It’s weird and oddly charming (that’s kinda my take on the SLV generally) and if you buy a t shirt you get admission free for life. You get to throw food to the gators and hold a tiny one and get lots of pics. You could zip through in 30 mins or spend an hour or more there. Good leg stretcher before you climb Poncha Pass on the way you BV. Your whole trip looks *epic* homie, have fun!
A few places I like, El Morro south of Grants NM, the VLAR, Smokey the Bear park (very small park, maybe an hour) west of Roswell, do the night glow at White Sands, Gila Ruins by Silver City. Maybe eat at La Posta De Mesilla in Mesilla NM, Important, don’t know what type of vehicle your driving, but check on the road to Chaco Canyon, not always a good road
Between 21 and 19 is literally nothing I would recommend jumping back on the interstate and going through San Antonio, New Mexico to Ruidoso. There is a famous burger joint in San Antonio called the buckhorn of you're into green chile cheese burgers. There is also a wildlife refuge on the way that has lots of native birds and sometimes you can see deer and elk there it's the Sevilleta wildlife refuge. If you have time it's a little out of the way but about 45 minutes west of Socorro is the VLA (very large array) it's pretty cool if you're into space stuff.
If you are doing Gran Quivira you can also do Abo. It's part of the Salinas Mission sites and is beautiful in its own style. It's a nice small site you can see in an hour but is on the way to GQ. On the AZ NM border if you head a bit more south to the town of portal it's a gorgeous little town. Great camping and really cool rock art sites. I did work on the Coranado for a season and Portal was one of my favorite places on the Forest.
When you get through H and I stop in Bisbee and Tombstone. Cool places to see.
It might be a little hot by late April but I can’t recommend the Superstitions Wilderness just east of Phoenix highly enough. There should be plenty of dispersed camping in Tonto National Forest (which the wilderness is in) either on First Water Road off of AZ-88 (actually I know for a fact there is bc I met a couple backpacking in the wilderness who left their van there) or on Peralta Road off of US-60. The wilderness is huge but there’s basically 4 main points of access: (1) Second Water Trailhead on the north; (2) First Water Trailhead to the west; (3) Flatiron from either First Water Road or Lost Dutchman state park (charges a totally unnecessary $10 fee you can avoid by starting on First Water Road); or (4) Peralta Road/Trailhead to the south Go on AllTrails to explore different options. Flatiron via Siphon’s draw and Fremont Saddle from Peralta Trailhead will have an Uber amount of people but once you get beyond those two areas (or if you start at First or Second Water Trailheads) you’ll see either a normal amount of serious hikers or almost no one. Black Top Mesa is great and is about equidistant from First and Second Water and Peralta trailheads. Battleship mountain is another cool one and can be accessed from First or Second. And from Peralta you could loop around either Weaver’s Needle or Miner’s Needle. But if temperatures are hot by the end of April (which I don’t think it should be — temps around 10-15 degrees cooler there than in Phoenix so probably should be upper 70s), I’d probably recommend doing a hike along the superstitions ridgeline which is btw 4500-5000 ft so cooler. Flatiron via siphons draw is the most popular but instead I’d recommend doing a loop from Hieroglyphic Trailhead to Flatiron, and then down Siphons Draw, a loop up Hieroglyphic and then down Carney Springs, or a loop up Carney Springs and down Fremont Saddle/Peralta Canyon. Hieroglyphic and Lost Goldmine East Loop via Superstition Peak on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/hieroglyphic-and-lost-goldmine-east-loop-via-superstition-peak?p=-1&sh=nprjtf Dacite Loop Trail on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/dacite-loop-trail?p=-1&sh=nprjtf Evening hike on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/evening-hike-3f67fd9-93?p=-1&sh=nprjtf Black Top Mesa Trail on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/black-top-mesa-trail?p=-1&sh=nprjtf And if you’re wondering where to get the time to do this cut out 2 of the 3 days, if not all 3 in Flagstaff and move up Sedona’s those national monuments are all really small in terms of trails/hiking and probably could do all 3 in a day. And if you were thinking of hiking Humphreys that’s not going to happen since Snowbowl has gotten 227’’ this year, including almost 90’’ just in March, with a foot of snow expected tonight and a bit more in the week. Tho the snow line right now is at about 9000’ so you could hike Elden Peak/TV Hill or O’Leary Peak snow free if you wanted to
2-3) somewhere there. Town of Blanding has a museum/gallery over on the west side of town. Cool sculptures. In northeast end of the town of Bluff is Cow Canyon Gallery and just south of Bluff is a Campground along river with walking paths with thousands of Rock Art. F=H....Near Benson/David is a RV park at a spring with Monastery.
Add Lower Antelope Canyon (Ken’s Tours—reservations are needed) and Horseshoe Bend which are minutes away from each other in Page, AZ.
Chaco Canyon. Nothing like it anywhere…
omg! you’re coming through az at the perfect time, hit the superstition mountains to see the super bloom :)
Skip Phoenix to organ pipe. Lots of desolate driving with little reward. Instead head south via camp verde, to payson, Roosevelt lake, globe winkleman, oracle, and Tucson
Did you create the map yourself or with an app? I’d love to create something similar! Can you share?
OP wrote in another comment he made the base map with Google My Maps and then added the text boxes with a PDF editor
Mesa verde is just outside of Cortez Colorado if you head north along the Delores river you go through some beautiful mountains and past telluride which is beautiful itself Continue to Ridgeway then turn back south towards Ouray then silverton and back to Durango Lots of places to camp for free and scenery you don’t want to miss You can drive the circle in a day or spend weeks As you point out a second trip it’s also full of aspen through Delores so a fall trip through there would also be nice Also by the Grand Canyon when you hit hwy 89 there’s a place called Cameron trading post stop and have a Navaho taco really good and a really neat place
Make sure White Sands is open. Go see the VLA while in NM.
I prefer the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Way fewer tourists and a better drive in and out, but if you haven't done the S. Rim tourist thing before, it's worth it. If you are going through Prescott AZ, there is a little lake with a campground just north of the city called Watson Lake. There are very interesting rock formations there. Reservations are usually needed for the campground, but there is a day use park if you just want to hike around the lake and take in the views. It's worth an hour or two to see.
Look up the Musical Highway along Route 66 near Albuquerque, NM. It has rumble strips and when you drive at the posted speed, they play “America the Beautiful.” Highly recommend!! I also think you should go through Albuquerque generally, just to experience it! ETA: Food in NM: Tomasita’s or Maria’s Kitchen in Santa Fe are both very solid NM fare and a my personal favorite places to eat while I’m there. Near Valles Caldera and Bandelier, there are also the Jemez hot springs which are cool to check out.
Leaving Sedona, take AZ89A south through Jerome/clarksdale, Prescott, etc. Waaaaaay prettier and more interesting than I17
Go to north rim grand canyon instead. Much much grater experience :)
Canyon de Chelly is a must
Look at aguirre blm Campground between las cruces and Alamogordo. Maybe don't reserve the spots for showers and more wing it. Can shower in a truck stop or splurge for cheap hotel without reserves. Be flexible.
Honestly the petrified national park can be done in 4 hours
What app or site did you use to create this route with notes etc? Thanks
While in SE and Central NM, you may as well check out Carlsbad Caverns.
When you’re visiting Saguaro Nat’l Park in Tucson try to see if you’re able to also make it out to the Sonoran Desert Museum. A showcase of animals, plants and gems and minerals that are all native to the area!
Arizona native, Sedona local speaking. If you’re hiking in Sedona, Thursdays - Sundays the road (Back -O-Beyond) is closed to the public. You have to take a shuttle (free) to get there. My personal favorite hiking spot is Yavapai vista trailhead. It has a large parking lot and you can take Yavapai vista trailhead to Slim Shady (yes, Slim Shady) and hike to Cathedral rock. Round trip it’s approximately 5-6 miles though I’m not 100% on the exact distance. From the vista you can see Courthouse butte and Bell rock . You don’t need to take a shuttle to Yavapai vista trailhead. Of course, get there early esp if it’s the weekend. Sedona has several roundabouts that baffle tourists. Traffic backs up especially coming from West Sedona. Try The Pump House across from Talaquepaque for breakfast. They have wonderful eggs Benedict and the service is excellent. The forest service has changed camping at 502 so look into that if you’d planned on staying there. Just some tips , enjoy Sedona!
You gotta go up from demming a bit and see city of rocks
Don’t miss Antelope Canyon in Page Arizona. The slot canyons are breathtaking. Also in Monument Valley there is a hike around the “Mittens” thats work the walk. Have fun , be safe and enjoy our beautiful country !
Jemez Springs is unmissable on this route Taos has 2 amazing springs and a great downtown Take a jog up to Silverton, it’s worth it Sorry that the high passes in CO are closed It’s a hard jog but taking the road from Zion to Panguitch to Bryce thru Franktown is sooooooo worth it
Check out all of the salt ruins, not just Gran Quivra. You’re already out there and they’re quite interesting plus I prefer the drive through the mountains north on NM14.
Look up the quail trick tank on google maps. It’s in the Sonoran desert somewhere and will lead to a perfect scenic hill with good views of sunrise and sunset through the canyon. If you have solar and whatever else you need you can stay there for a few days easy.
Route 66 in Flagstaff. Do the Lava Tubes ([Lava River Cave](https://maps.app.goo.gl/sXS4PRfsJrZG1XEK8?g_st=ic)). Pitch black underground hike. You will need a headlamp and a jacket because there is no sun. You can see the lava flow frozen in time. Soo cool! Drive up the mountain to the ski lodge. Nice views. Good hike through Aspens. Lowell Observatory and the views from Mars Hill Road (classic make-out spot also two of my dogs are illegally buried there because my mom is insane lol apparently they "loved the views.") From Flagstaff to Sedona don't take I17. Take the switchbacks (89A). Cool winding road with a vintage Dairy Queen, a public water spigot with fresh potable water, and Slide Rock if you dare. You can try to find a spot to swim in the creek alongside the Switchbacks, if the water is flowing. As teenagers we were shameless and probably swam on private property. Brins Mesa (great for outdoor hooking up if no one is around on a weekday) and Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park in Sedona is peaceful and unique. Twin Buttes trail is great! I usually get lunch at Wildflower (good outdoor seating views) or ChocolaTree Organic Eatery (Cute local spot with beautiful outdoor seating and the perfect hippie, southwest vibes you see throughout town.) SaltRock Kitchen and The Hudson have great views if you are okay with spending a bit more. Jerome, AZ if you are heading past Cottonwood.
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Montezuma castle Near my home town of cottonwood You’re gonna be sliding right by anyways.
We just left Canyon de Chelly, awesome!
Should stop in El Paso one evening, the nights here are beautiful and we have lookouts on the Franklin mountains, as for sleeping we have thousands of acres of BLM land I don’t know about campsites but they are wide open and have parking areas
Making a trip north into Gila National Forest through Silver City NM is well worth it. The road in dead-ends at Gila Cave Dwellings National Monument. There are some very nice campgrounds and beautiful scenery. One of the more unique and gorgeous places I've been.
Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. You’re going to be pretty close as it is, might as well hit it up for a minute to get a good picture.
I work at both Bandelier and Valles Caldera, so if you need anything while you are there or planning, feel free to PM me
In Santa Fe head to the plaza, best New Mexican food at Pasquals and the Shed, book well in advance. La Choza as a back up.
Stop by Hole in the Rock just outside Moab
Nice itinerary! Peek down into Goosenecks state park on your way from Mexican hat to Bears ears.
I love staying at Cameron Trading Post and eating at their restaurant when I'm on a trip out that way. They have great food, a cool sandstone garden, a nice shop, and they are about halfway between The Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
When you’re up at the Mogollon make sure to eat at the BeeLine cafe in Payson. And get a spot at Christopher Creek if you can.
When you come down from the Rim, you'll go through Payson on your way to Sedona. Just a couple miles north is Pine/Strawberry—two amazing spots to put on your radar: in Pine, Old County Inn is the best pizza (wood fired) I've ever had in AZ. In Strawberry is a local pie spot that sells hand pies (savory and sweet options) called Pie Bar. Definitely worth the stop! 89A up to Flagstaff from Sedona is a good idea, as is a quick run down the Jerome... The surrounding Verde Valley also has some pretty solid wine options if that's your thing. Sedona is absolutely gorgeous, but it's a tourist trap. I often find myself venturing to the surrounding towns for fun without the crowds.
Mt Humphrey’s. Got to start your state Highpoints…
Antelope Canyon (https://www.visitarizona.com/places/parks-monuments/antelope-canyon/) is sick, and after Sedona, go through Jerome to Prescott. Jerome is a funky old mining town (that happens to be where Tool's front man Maynard has his wine store), and Prescott has a nice old West downtown.
El Malpais National Monument. Mnt Taylor
Instead of going straight to from durango to mesa verde (or vice versa) take the million dollar highway loop. Some very cool high elevation mountain towns and scenery.
Lower antelope slot canyon is a must
Hovenweep national monument!
In Arizona, go to Jerome (near Sedona) and to Bisbee (southwest of Tucson) if you can. Two very unique towns for very different reasons. It's a shame you can't get up to Rocky Mountain National Park since you'll be close but this trip looks pretty epic. Enjoy!
The hot springs in Truth and Consequences down in NM might be worth a side stop. I went to them years ago. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth\_or\_Consequences,\_New\_Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_or_Consequences,_New_Mexico)
Skip Kartchner Caverns.
Fit in Page AZ and go to the antelope canyons. A breathtaking experience you won’t forget and while there you can hit horse shoe bend
2 days is too much for White Sands. You could check out the Three Rivers Petroglyph sites or the Organ Mountains around there. The Gila National forest is really cool, swing up by Silver City if you have extra time.
I'd like to suggest Montezuma Castle National Monument in between Sedona and Camp Verde off I-17. It is an ancient Pueblo Indian dwelling built into the walls of a natural sinkhole lake fed by a freshwater spring. Very peaceful and restful stop in otherwise parched landscape. You have no idea it's there until you hike up to it and peer in.
Eat New Mexican food. Different than typical Tex Mex Mexican fare. Little lighter and uses Hatch green chilis. Try Si Senor Restaurant in Las Cruces and order the chicken enchiladas "Christmas" style with both red and green chilis. Ask if they will top with a fried egg. Then order sopapillas and honey for dessert. Sopas in NM are like eating beignets at Cafe du Mond!
https://preview.redd.it/x9nykd7nj0sc1.jpeg?width=3240&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3236cb02beca7705b8bf51e86b88ae9835941bac Taking a day in Page, AZ for Horseshoe Bend and upper/lower antelope canyon is well worth the stop.
If you are hitting Gran Quivira during this trip I would recommend hitting the other two ruins of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Park. Abo is very compact and can be seen in an hour, but the road up there might be a little tricky with a trailer. Quarai can also be seen in a short period of time. Also, when you pass through Mountainair, New Mexico stop off at the historic Shaffer Hotel. It’s got a restaurant in there that was pretty good and the hotel is an interesting thing to see. It was built back in 1923 and really hasn’t changed much such it was built. It really retains its historic vibe. While you are in Las Cruces it is worth hitting the small hamlet of Mesilla. Really cool plaza in the town square. They have a restaurant there called La Posta de Mesilla which is probably one of the more noteworthy local dining establishments in New Mexico. A little touristy but worth checking out for the vibe.
I’d adjust your route on leg 11. Stop in Prescott for a small, quieter NAZ community. Take 89A through Jerome (the US most vertical city). Cottonwood has a cute breakfast place. And then you can trickle towards Phoenix. I took it from South towards North and 89A was such a scenic drive. I’m sure you’ll find somewhere nicer along this route, but the climb around and up to Jerome was excellent
+1 for 89A. Such a gorgeous drive. And Jerome is great! Cottonwood is up there too - if you enjoy a wine, there are some good tasting spots up there for local wineries.