For my boyfriend's [redacted] birthday we decided to go on a road trip through the Southwest. I won't tell you how old he is, just know it's old JKKK 😂, we're only a couple years apart.
Anyway, going on a road trip through the Southwest was a first for both of us so we made sure to plan as thoroughly in advance as possible and I have to say, I think we did a great job. We only had one accident (you'll hear about that as you keep reading 🥴) and both of us returned home in one piece, LOL. Here's our itinerary below if you decide to take a road trip through the Southwest soon! Enjoy!
OVERVIEW
DAY 1: Fly to Las Vegas. Depart Las Vegas the next day for Coral Pink Sand Dunes, UT. Drive to Flagstaff, AZ and stay the night.
DAY 2: Visit Horseshoe Bend, AZ and spend the night in Flagstaff again.
DAY 3: Depart Flagstaff, AZ to head for The Grand Canyon, AZ.
DETAILS
First things first, download the route via Google Maps prior to getting on the road as you will be without service for a good portion of the trip. Last thing you need is to be stranded out in the middle of nowhere with miles until you reach the next town.
We took this trip in the middle of October so the weather ranged from around 80 *F during the day to about 60 *F at night.
With that said, it's best to pack a hoodie/long sleeve/light jacket and shorts. I'd also recommend bringing pair of pants or leggings. The weather was warm during the day and got very chilly at night so preparation is key here.
Being that this is a road trip, you'll be spending a significant amount of time on the road and if you have a weak bladder, it's probably a good idea to buy some emergency toilet urinals (for if you gotta go outside) and some packs of disposable toilet seat covers for when you make pitstops. We didn't have to go bad enough where we needed to use the urinals but the seat covers definitely came in handy. Below are links to both:
Emergency Toilet Outdoor Urinal Funnel
Disposable Toilet Seat Covers (the ones we ordered are out of stock, so here are similar ones)
ITINERARY:
Day 1:
DEPART LAS VEGAS FOR CORAL PINK SAND DUNES (ON THE ROAD: 3 HOURS /181 MILES)
STAY THE NIGHT IN IN PAGE, ARIZONA AT THE HYATT PLACE LAKE POWELL (ON THE ROAD: 1 HOUR & 38 MIN/93.6 MILES)
Destination is on Mountain Standard Time (1 hour behind Las Vegas). Plan accordingly. We weren't prepared and if we didn't leave Vegas when we did, we would've missed our opportunity to check out the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Sand boards are available for rental for $35 and the park closes at sun down. I HIGHLY suggest that you tie up over even cover your hair and bring sunglasses. You will get sand everywhere (especially if it's windy). I personally was nearly blinded for a day and a half after getting sand in my eye 😭. It was the most painful/annoying eye pain I've ever experienced. You've been forewarned.
Day 2:
HORSESHOE BEND OVERLOOK ON THE ROAD: 8 MIN (5.2 MILES)
Only cost is for parking which is $10 per vehicle. No intense walking. Distance from parking to overlook is about ¼ of a mile
Day 3:
DEPART PAGE FOR
GRAND CANYON
ON THE ROAD: 3 HOURS & 36 MIN (217 MILES)
South Rim Entrance: Only cost is for parking which is $35 per vehicle.