Have you ever dreamed of roaming the dessert, eating delicious Mexican food, strolling through the most beautiful national parks, and making memories that last forever? Me too!

In May of 2021, my parents, bestie, and I decided to take a 10 day trip of a lifetime. It was honestly a dream come true! There were so many prayers and time that went into this trip.

Since we only had 10 days, we didn’t have any time to waste – which was why we had to keep a tight itinerary. This trip took months to plan – partly because there was so much to see in so little time and partly because each place was so far apart from the other.

Our trip involved a lot of driving – but the views were unlike anything I had ever seen. Such vastness and variety. Such breathtaking beauty. I would literally do the same roadtrip all over again.

Here you will find our overall itinerary, the national parks we visited, the places we stayed, the mouthwatering food we tried, and even the link to the perfect out west roadtrip.

With our limited budget, I will also be sharing what to pack, how to save some money, what to wear, and which places I wish we had added to the list.

By sharing our weeks of hard work, I am hoping you will have the tools to create a wonderful vacation of your own!

So let the adventure begin!

• Day 1
  • Flew from Charlotte, North Carolina to Phoenix, Arizona. (Arrived as early as possible)
  • Picked up the rental car
  • Drove 1 1/2 hours to Sedona, AZ. Explored Sedona
  • Drove approximately 1 hour to Flagstaff.
  • Stayed in Flagstaff at Comfort Inn Lucky Lane
• Day 2
  • Drove 1 1/2 hours from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon
  • Explored the Grand Canyon
  • Drove 3 1/2 hours to Page, Arizona
    • Horseshoe Bend
    • Glen Canyon Dam
    • Lake Powell
  • Drove approximately 2 1/2 hours to St. George, Utah
  • Stayed in St. George, Utah at My Place Hotel – Hurricane
• Day 3
  • Drove 1 hour to Zion National Park
  • Explored Zion National Park
  • Drove 2 1/2 hours to Bryce Canyon
  • Explored Bryce Canyon
  • Drove approximately 5 hours through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Park to Flagstaff (Note: This was not planned but it was one of our scariest and favorite places)
  • Stayed in Flagstaff, Arizona at Comfort Inn Lucky Lane
• Day 4
  • Drove 4 1/2 hours from Flagstaff to Albuquerque, NM
  • Pit Stops:
    • Geronimo, Arizona
    • Holbrook, Arizona
      • Petrified National Forest
      • Cars movie hotel
  • Stayed in Albuquerque at Hilton Garden Inn Albuquerque Journal Center
• Day 5
  • Explored Old Town Santa Fe & Bonanza Creek Ranch
  • Stayed in Albuquerque at Hilton Garden Inn Albuquerque Journal Center
• Day 6
  • Explored Albuquerque & Old Town Albuquerque
  • Stayed in Albuquerque at Hilton Garden Inn Albuquerque Journal Center
• Day 7
  • Drove back to Phoenix, AZ (6 hours)
  • Explored Tonto National Forest
  • Stayed in Phoenix at Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Tempe
• Day 8
  • Explored the Botanical Gardens & the Cub Spring Training Facility
  • Stayed in Phoenix at Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Tempe
• Day 9
  • Explored Papago Park & Scottsdale
  • Stayed in Phoenix at Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Tempe
• Day 10
  • Returned rental car
  • Flew home

• Plan your trip ahead of time so you don’t have to pay last minute prices
• Purchase an Annual Park Pass. This $80 pass lasts up to one year and covers up to 4 people in a vehicle. This will save you so much money!
• Pack snacks and plenty of water for the road – because half of the fun is getting there. In addition, this will keep everyone in a good mood – hehe.

• Portable phone charger
• Sunscreen
• Portable water bottle
• Summer clothes (shorts, bathing suit, flip-flops, etc.)
• Winter clothes (winter coat, leggings, etc.)
• Western hat for pictures
• Sunglasses
• Packing cubes
• A good moisturizer (Your skin will be more dryer than normal)
• Annual Park Pass
• Maps of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico (especially Utah)
• Comfortable shoes
• Small, comfortable backpack
• Flashlight if exploring a park in evening hours

• Travel light. Moving from one hotel to another is no fun if you’re having to lug around a large suitcase (like me)
• Create the perfect playlist to fit the mood
  • (Or listen to mine here)
• If you’re not in a major city, fill up the gas tank. Always. You very well might not see another gas station for 100+ miles.
• Always dress in layers.
• Upgrade your rental car. I am frugal on trips, but I completely recommend a comfortable, spacious rental car for this trip due to all the driving. In fact, we stayed in average hotels but drove a luxurious Nissan Armada. Plenty of leg room, multiple charging stations, and a sunroof. After all, put your money where you’ll spend most of your time!
  • NOTE: A sunroof is very important when traveling with multiple people. The mountains are so tall that I would have missed a lot in the back seat without the sunroof.

Click below to continue traveling!

I would add time for a dinner cruise on Lake Powell

I would allow one whole day for Zion National Park

I would add Arches National Park in Utah to the list

I would take a hot air balloon ride in Albuquerque, New Mexico.