Hopefully, this guide was helpful for you and provided a few ideas on how to have a good long weekend adventure outside of CA. Make sure to sample a local beer while you are exploring downtown as Denver is famous for its local breweries. How long do you need? restaurants around Las Vegas: The area is a hidden gem that easily deserves 2-3 days of your time. However, traffic congestion and hotel prices tend to increase during this peak period. travelers and answer their questions about Los Angeles! 5 Best Road Trips - Utah National Park Trips Valley of Fire State Park (15 mentions) There is usually a lot of people here for sunset, so be warned. questions about Barstow: Pack warm as well, as the temperatures are known to fall below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. by calculating the distance from Los Angeles to Arches National Park. Here, youll find the main trailhead to hike Mt. Morning: If you only get up for sunrise once, do it today! to each other and sharing tips and advice. The dunes rise up to 100 feet, and get their name for the mesquite trees located throughout the dunes. a travel blog based out of Austin, Texas featuring all the best in solo female travel, adventure travel, weekend getaways, and so much more. I'm pretty used to the heat and have never had heat exhaustion before, but walking 2 miles here really hit me hard. Rent e-bikes in the morning to explore Zion's scenic route. Day 1: Arrive SLC. or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world. 5. Moab Brewery A popular dinner spot in the area with fresh beer (alcoholic and root beer) and good food. A full blog post is coming on this soon, however, a few quick tips: Our first stop from San Diego (our starting point) was the Seven Magic Mountains art installation, located outside of Las Vegas. While it was 80 to 85 degrees in the middle of the day, night temperatures dropped to 35 degrees! drive for about 2 hours, 10:03 am Zion National Park Some Instagrammable photo spots you can find around Red Rock Canyon State Park include Turks Turban (below, left), Camel Rock, Hagen Canyon, and the Red Cliffs Natural Area just off the highway (below, right). A four-hour rental will give you enough time to ride the entire drive, leisurely explore a few areas, and take a hike to the Emerald Pools. for our trip, we spent two full days inside the park, and were pretty much able to do everything we wanted (there were places we couldnt go without a 4WD vehicle) in that amount of time. Our goal was to focus on Utah, so this was a quick lunch stop. Wicked Spoon Drive time without stops (or traffic): 1 hour, 45 mins. Green River (Utah). Make sure to eat well and drink lots of cold water! Arches National Park, located in Moab deserves 2 days at least. One of the last stops we made inside the park was Ubehebe Crater, and Im glad we decided to make the drive up to here! drive for about 1 hour. At only 10 minutes drive and 15 minutes walk, Horseshoe Bend is a fantastic sunrise spot in the area. Maya is set to play Michael A .'s wife and Kristen will be playing Michael Cera . If you started in the morning as I did, then I recommend stopping about an hour and a half in at the Dunken Donuts in Barstow. The Cosmopolitan Day 3: Sedona to The Grand Canyon South Rim. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, next trip! One-Way California Coast/Pacific Coast Highway. This will take you on US-287 and then WY-220, where you will have the opportunity to admire Casper Mountain. Take Exit 17 for US-85 past Ranchettes. Head an hour down the highway to Las Vegas and spend a night there. But you dont have to do that. It's okay, you can start planning your Once youre done exploring everything around Lone Pine, head out towards Death Valley the drive can take 1-2 hours depending where you plan to stay in the park. Pin it for later and share it with others! Any tips for traveling during the pandemic? What's the best neighborhood in Barstow for a first time visitor? rent a one-way rental car and fly home). We stayed until dark and still made it down after dark easily - just use your phone flashlight. It also offers opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and rock climbing. The Colorado route mostly follows interstates as well, making it a smooth and enjoyable trip. Bring your camping blanket and a jacket - it is cold in the morning! U.S. Southwest Road Trip - Zion, Bryce, and Arches National Parks (2020) It can take awhile to walk out to where the salt flats are less trodden on, so make sure to budget time to walk out there and bring plenty of water and shade with you. It also helped that its such a short drive from where we were staying at the Oasis at Death Valley! Camping along the way? Want to plan the trip back? . restaurants around Barstow: Day: In the afternoon, drive on to Joshua Tree National Park, there are great sites at either the North or South entrance, so either is great! if you're camping, plan accordingly. The geology of Bryce Canyon (the bright orange columns are called Hoodoos) is incredible, and so truly breathtaking in person. Share Map. But, along the primarily Interstate 40 stretch, you'll want to make a few stops, so prepare for a long day or overnight journey. Find all the transport options for your trip from Los Angeles to Arches National Park right here. However, the stunning sights and attractions you will enjoy will make up for the relatively longer drive. restaurants around Las Vegas: Located in Southern Utah, Bryce Canyon is most well-known for its bright colored red hoodoos. . This volcanic crater is 600 feet deep and half a mile across. Delicate Arch needs no introduction, and I highly recommend visiting at dawn as it was much less busy. 1 year ago. Check out our article for how to spend 3 days in Las Vegas. Search for RV campgrounds. We absolutely loved our experience in the elevated and unique yurt. @l, Bangkok aesthetic There are very, very limited options once you enter Navajo Territory, especially right now. 10 Best Road Trips From Los Angeles We spent a total of day in Arches and will definitely need to come back. We chose to do a partial rim hike out to Little Hebe, which is a one-mile out-and-back walk with some light elevation gain on deep gravel paths that do give a bit of resistance, but is suitable for most hiking levels. Check-in: Check-out: Make sure to take some time to drive around the pinnacles to see them from different perspectives! Highlights include Kansas City, Denver, Las Vegas, Amarillo and Sante Fe, as well as Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree National Park, Zion and Arches National Park. You will drive past the breathtaking landscapes of McInnis Canyons as well as the White River, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests before reaching Denver. If you want to stay or camp within the park, you might need to make a reservation quite a bit in advance, as they tend to book up. Road Trip from St Louis to Los Angeles, California - LazyTrips Del Taco Moab Diner- A fun diner that always seems to have locals in it. I did this on the Fourth of July weekend, so I only had to take two days off of work, and I got to have such a fantastic adventure. After dusk you could stay at one of the local hotels or campgrounds here (very few were currently open) OR head back West to Page, Az to set you up for the following day. That said, Ive narrowed it down to what I feel are the major highlights of the park to make the most of your time there. Past the city of Casper, merge onto Interstate 25 (I-25) and take Exit 210 for WY-259 and then WY-387. If you have the time, its well worth it to walk down through hills and up over the ridges for unique views and up close perspectives of all the colors. (Try. Search for RV campgrounds. It a great stop, and I love supporting places like this. I did this trip in 2016, and all information is from that time, read more about my trips outside of California here. There are a lot of other options here too, like a McDonald's (I always stop there on road trips for $1 large drinks), Chinese food, and . Beware, it is HOT here - on a short, flat 2 mile hike I found myself with heat exhaustion, something that never happens to me. Giada Technically it is frozen custard, not ice cream, but it is fantastic. Del Taco The whole day is spent in the park and in the town of Moab, which is right next to it. In the morning and drive 2-2.5 hours from Los Angeles to the desert and stop in Palm Springs for lunch. The hotel boasts five courtyard swimming pools, lush botanical gardens, a world-class spa and numerous dining options to suit most palates. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Los Angeles to Arches National Park. Does the party capitol of the world really need an introduction? who wants the trip to end? Sunset: By early afternoon, drive North to Bryce Canyon. Day 6: Drive to Bryce Canyon. It was beautiful, and you must see it while in the park. But bring a jacket, the temperatures here drop very quickly. It will take you a few extra hours to drive, covering 1,440 miles in less than 22 hours. s.type = 'text/javascript'; Buy an annual, unlimited National Parks pass for $80 - you're going to use it a lot on this trip! open-ended. Again, this one was new as well, so it was another nice place with a good location in town. The Coral Pink Sand Dunes are named after its unique hued sand. One of my favorite views was from the top of the road on the drive in. The route to southwest Utah will take you directly through Vegas, so you can hit up all the . Rome2rio . I didnt go with a photo tour as it was double the price. Bryce is one of the highlights of the trip and you want to be able to explore it a bit before the sun goes down! 1 hour from downtown Las Vegas, 5 hours from Los Angeles; Amenities: There are a number of different campsites with tables, and BBQs. It is a fun little hamburger joint with locally raised meat and good prices. ), Boot Arch, and of course, the Insta-famous shot down Movie Road for the perfect desert photo op. We got ours from Zion Guru for around $150 for 2 bikes for a half day. Arizona Weekend Getaway Itinerary: Things to Do , Your Ultimate Guide to 15+ Fun San Diego . Find all the transport options for your trip from Los Angeles to Antelope Canyon right here. This park is tiny with not much to see, but the view at the end of the park is worth the price of admission in and of itself. (The earlier the better). Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions Day: Driving into Zion from the East means that you drive 15 miles right through Zion National Park before entering the town of Springdale where all of the hotels, restaurants, and shops are. We have drawn up this list of some of the most interesting spots to visit. Let me know what spots I left off in the comments, and be sure to ask any questions you have about this trip as well. Enter a city to drive through, or find all, trips from Los Angeles to Arches National Park, Family road trip for 6 days in early August. Keep reading for our road trip from California to Utah itinerary. Its an excellent place to stretch your legs before the last push into Moab. Or get a full Los Angeles to Arches National Park flight plan. As you can see below, sunset is definitely one of the best times to visit Zabriskie Point, as the sun lights up the hills in shades of orange and pink. The drive out is 52 miles from LAX, and takes about an hour to 1.5 hours depending on LA traffic. Arches National Park to Los Angeles drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Poisonous plants/ Venomous animals in Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park to Los Angeles drive, distance from Los Angeles to Arches National Park, Los Angeles to Arches National Park flight plan. stay overnight and leave the next day around 8:00 am, 8:00 am leave from Valley of Fire State Park This drive is BEAUTIFUL. There area lot of other options heretoo, like a McDonalds (I always stop there on road trips for $1 large drinks), Chinese food, and Subway, but I am still partial to a coffee and a donut. Poisonous plants/ Venomous animals in Zion Canyon As always, all opinions are my own. Is it better to stay on or off the Las Vegas strip? We saw five different arches while here, but my favorite was the double arch, I have never seen anything like that before. We ended up getting stuck in some deep clouds and rain, but the usually clear sunset photos here look amazing! Canyon hikes are different from most hikes because you're climbing down instead of up - so the most difficult part of the hike is the second half. Here, you can take Exit 257 for US-34 to visit the fantastic Rocky Mountain National Park. Named after the over 2,000 arches in the park, this 73,000+ acre natural wonder is a must-visit on a trip through Utah. You can rent ATVs or sand sleds if you arrive early enough (they get booked pretty quickly). s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); The hike is 4 miles round trip (out and back) and not very strenuous - but make sure to bring lots of water because it is HOT, and the elevation has changed quite a bit from Palm Springs! If not taking this detour, drive past Mojave National Preserve to reach the neon lights of Las Vegas. This Southern California road trip route includes driving parts of the iconic Highway 395 route, visiting at least two US National Parks (Death Valley and Joshua Tree). By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Wicked Spoon You might want to stay in and enjoy the casino on-site or head out to explore the city. This is another good sunrise spot as you will miss the crowds and get to see beautiful colors. Driving past Wind Cave National Park, you will arrive at your destination through Black Hills National Forest. OR Palm Springs has some of our favorite hotels anywhere. Day 2: Las Vegas. The grocery store in Springdale is open late and surprisingly well-stoked with things I didn't see anywhere else after we left California - like many flavors of Kombucha. We visited early July and I would recommend contacting/ researching all locations before visiting. Death Valley has been on my bucket list for a long time, so I was very excited when I was presented with the opportunity to road trip from LA to Death Valley thanks to my friends at Visit California. From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. Rent a boat or a jetski and explore the inlets of the lake - most of the best scenery is only accessible by boat and this could be really fun way to break up the trip and all of the Mountains, canyons, and hiking with a fun day out on the water. but nothing can top The Bellagio when it comes to luxury and glamour, The city offers many excellent hotel options for the visitor and of the best of them is the Grand America Hotel, the Kimpton Hotel Born will be the perfect choice of accommodation for you, with its stunning views and luxurious interiors. From Los Angeles, a National Park Tour of the American Southwest is one of the most incredible road trips you can do. All of Artists Drive is filled with beautiful photo spots, but the best of all has to be Artists Palette, towards the end of the loop road. Sunset: The sunsets within Joshua Tree park are legendary - but make sure you have a jacket, even in the height of summer, because as soon as the sun goes down the temperatures drop dramatically. Valley of Fire is SO stunning, and was one of our highlights! Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation While in Page, we stayed at Motel 6. Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino If you consider flying in and out of SLC as suggested by Valiant in post #6, I suggest a slightly different approach. Do make sure you check the weather though, as this is not seen when it is overcast. After exploring Horseshoe Bend, stop in town for some breakfast. It is a fantastic spot with great food and unique charm. To get the shot seen below, walk down the path to the left from the parking lot until youre enough down the mountain to get this perspective. You can drive on a short dirt road to see it or just take a photo from the road. Are things open due to the pandemic? Arches National Park, located in Moab deserves 2 . The area, located about 130 miles from Los . stay overnight at Bellagio Hotel Just make sure to make reservations! Day 2 Arches National Park ($10) & Moab. In summer months, youll also want to start your hike as early as possible, as its not safe to hike when temperatures are high. After you visit Moab, follow the same route back to get back on I-70 and continue following the interstate. Click the button below to explore more questions The state capital of Utah is known for its rich history and fantastic world-class ski resorts. The drive was around 2,000 miles, but it is a five-day trip you will never forget, here is all the info. MGM Grand Las Vegas 5 Best Road Trips. Driving Time: 3.5 hours to Las Vegas, 7.5 Hours to Los Angeles. Miles from L.A.: ~500. These are both on the way to the Grand Canyon from the main town of Sedona. For our visit, we stayed at The Inn at the Oasis at Death Valley in Furnace Creek, a historic, 4-diamond hotel that is perfect for anyone looking for a bit of luxury during their Death Valley stay. Road Trip from Virginia to California - LazyTrips It's okay, you can start planning your It is about 45 minutes out of town, and it is hard to miss. If youve visited Salvation Mountain in California and loved it, this is along those lines. This is one of the most unique places I have ever been in the world, and I absolutely loved it here. Improve this map; Remove Ads. We grabbed breakfast on the way out of town at a Starbucks and made our way back to the real world. I planned an 8 day road trip that took my partner and I from Los Angeles to Aspen, CO in mid August 2020. . Regardless of where you start your national park vacation, you'll find an exciting scenic route to the park when you follow one of these itineraries. We decided to stay at the Escalante Yurts in between Arches and Bryce Canyon as a co-worker highly recommended it. Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Visit California. Or, if youre only there for a quick stop, take a drive around to find Joshua Trees and beautiful red rock cliff faces. Put "Forrest Gump Hill" into your Google Maps to take you to the exact spot. The dusk light over the Hoodoos is so photogenic and just magical! The road distance is 552.3 miles. Bring lots of water and make sure your cooler is loaded with ice. 45 hours. Just before you reach Zion National Park, you can take Exit 16 for UT-59 and then AZ-389 to visit the Grand Canyon. Badwater Basin is home to the famous saltwater flats of Death Valley, and is the lowest point in North America, coming in at 282 feet below sea level! stay for about 1 hour and leave at 10:58 amdrive for about 3 hours, 2:03 pm Bryce Canyon National Park Los Angeles and Mount Rushmore are separated by a distance of 1,310 miles which will take you 19 hours and 30 minutes of nonstop driving before reaching the famous national memorial in South Dakota. and leave at 8:12 pm. Want to plan the trip back? find more stops. One of the great things about Joshua Tree is that there are areas to park all over the park where you can pull in and just walk around - no predetermined trail required. Depending on the time of year, you might even be lucky enough to capture the Milky Way core right above you, like I did in the shot below (right). LA to Vegas Drive: 4 Epic Road Trip Route Ideas (+ Best Stops)! Make it back to the top of the Canyon and watch the sunset from the Canyon ridge. Bring lots of cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and masks. If you're going on a road trip from Los Angeles to Denver, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Las Vegas, Greater Palm . If you have more time to add to this itinerary, I would do it here! The walk to the main site is about 3/4 of a mile and it is very flat but sandy. There are two other viewpoints out near the endof Canyonlandsthat I recommend you stop at as well, as they both provide a ton of beautiful photo ops. But the scenery is varied and beautiful. For dessert or a late afternoon snack, you should stop by Crystals and get a scoop of ice cream in an amazing pretzel cone. trip dates & more! Mesa Archis the best spot for sunrise in the area, and I highly recommend it as it is insanely beautiful. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:53 pmdrive for about 2.5 hours, 4:14 pm Las Vegas Las Vegas (324 answers) Day 4: Grand Canyon to Monument Valley Traveling with a dog or cat? There are very few restaurants or services in the Monument Valley area, especially right now as the entire Navajo Nation is on lockdown. Visitors like to check out the 40,000 acres of red Aztec sandstone, and most importantly the petroglyphs that are over 2,000 years old. Follow the same directions as the Utah Route until you reach Sulphurdale, and take Exit 132 for Interstate 70 (I-70). When you reach Joshua Tree National Park, don't pay the regular entrance fee. Lone Rock beach is one of the easiest spots to pull up, park, and get walk right into the lake to swim - many of the other areas are only accessible by boat. I would eat here every day if I could. . Traveling with a dog or cat? Lotus of Siam The road out to the Trona Pinnacles in unpaved and a bit rough (its a five-mile-long dirt road), so budget plenty of time to get there if youre not in a 4WD vehicle since youll have to go very slow. . Read more about it here. A note on Zion during the pandemic: We visited Zion over the fourth of July weekend, shortly after they re-opened.