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If you’ve read my Epic 2-Week Southwest National Parks Road Trip Itinerary, you know that during the pandemic my two besties (fellow healthcare workers) and I were desperate to escape the hospital grind. So, we packed up and spent two weeks hitting six national parks.
It was epic, six parks, two weeks, a dance party on the salt flats, and even a surprise state park stop (shout out Dead Horse Point State Park, epic hiking, terrible name). We came home exhausted, proud, and ready for more.
With PTO still burning a hole in our pockets, we decided to run it back. This time, our goal was to road trip from Texas to Arizona, covering five national parks in just under two weeks. If you’re looking for a manageable but adventure-filled itinerary, here’s how we did it.
Days 1–4: El Paso & Big Bend National Park
Fly into: El Paso, Texas
Drive to: Big Bend National Park (~4 hours)
From Portland, we flew into El Paso, picked up our rental car, and drove to Big Bend National Park.
With over 800,000 acres, Big Bend is spread out, but worth every mile. We stayed in an Airbnb in Alpine Texas, which put us about a 2 hour drive away from the park each day. While the drive was brutal, we were too late in trying get camping spots in the park and had the added difficulty of deciding if we were going to camp everywhere or no where.
Regardless of our haphazard living situation the park was absolutely stunning. The mountains were so impressive, the desert setting was barren yet full of life. Unfortunately, there was a small fire in Big Bend while we were there. This made most hikes near the Chisos Mountain unavailable to us. If I ever go back the Window Trail would be top of my list. Other highlights include:
- Hiking trails with stunning desert and mountain views
- Santa Elena Canyon, where you can stand with one foot in the U.S. and one in Mexico
- Balanced rock on the Grapevine Hill Trail
- Some of the darkest skies in the country for stargazing
Hot Tips
- I will say, one of my least favorite hikes I have ever been on was at Big Bend National Park. Because the fire had made some hikes inaccessible we ended up on the Marufo Vega Trail. To be completely honest, it was unnecessarily long, had some unexpected boulder climbing and full exposure on the entire trail. And! The view that was the payoff was lack luster. We ended up drinking warm Truly Seltzers during the last mile because we were sunburned and out of water, yikes. So yes, I will say partial fault on the hikers (us) for not picking a better trail or packing for 6 hours in the Texas heat.
- Stop in Marfa, Texas on your way in or out of Big Bend. This quirky, artsy desert town is worth at least a few hours (or even an overnight stay). We loved it so much we visited twice. If you want more info on Marfa check out my guide here.
- If you are driving into Big Bend National Park everyday, like we did, make sure to stop at V6 Coffee in Marathon, Texas to fuel your drive. You won’t regret it!
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Days 5–8: Carlsbad, Guadalupe Mountains & Carlsbad Caverns
Drive to: Carlsbad, New Mexico (~4 hours)
Carlsbad makes a perfect home base for two national parks: Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns. There are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores so you can set up camp in this small town with ease.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
We spent two separate days hiking in Guadalupe Mountains. Only about 45 minutes from where we stationed ourself in Carlsbad was the park entrance. This park is home to the highest point in Texas Guadalupe Peak (8,751 feet) and this hike was a “must-do” on our list.
While summiting a mountain sounds intimidating on paper, this “mountain” is a big bang for your buck. While it was challenging it wasn’t impossible. Technically the trail is a piece of cake with some narrow, rocky bits leading to the summit. This doable hike gains only 3,000 feet and is totally worth it to say you have stood at the highest point in Texas.
Other hiking highlights include Devil’s Hall Trail which you should accomplish for the name alone.
Someone: “What did you do in Texas?”
Me/You: “Well, I went to the highest point in Texas and survived the Devil’s Hall”.
Sounds pretty bad ass to me.
In Devil’s Hall Trail be prepared for a bit of boulder climbing and in general walking on uneven rock for a majority of the trail. We also met so many new friends on this hike and enjoyed chatting and drinking trail beers right outside of the Devil’s Hall.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
After summiting Guadalupe Peak, give your legs a break and head underground at Carlsbad Caverns for a change of pace. This labyrinth of 119 caves was formed 4–6 million years ago when hydrogen-sulfide rich waters, while migrating through the limestone mixed with rain water and formed sulfuric acid, dissolving the stone through cracks and folds. And there folks, is your science lesson for the day.
The TLDR is a jaw-dropping underground world of stalactites and stalagmites. You do have to walk down a series of windy switchbacks to get to the cave entrance but once inside you follow a paved, railed pathway throughout the caverns. While there is plenty of light around the caves, especially lighting up the more significant structures in the cave, still parts are dark and moody.
Plan to spend at a minimum of 45 minutes in the caverns but possibly up to a couple of hours. There aren’t any bathrooms until to the end so plan accordingly! Also make sure to reserve your ticket in advance, this is a timed and ticket mandatory situation.
Days 9–10: White Sands National Park
Drive to: Las Cruces, NM (~3 hours) or El Paso (~2 hours, 40 minutes)
Your next stop is the dazzling White Sands National Park. Don’t confuse it with Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, this park is its own surreal experience. Exploring the park is quick and easy and only requires a few hours at minimum.
Drive the 8-mile Dunes Scenic Drive through the gypsum sand fields, then pull over, walk out into the dunes, and soak it all in. It’s the perfect place for photos, exploring, or even a dance party in the dunes. (trust me, you’ll want to and there is enough park for everyone to jam out in peace). If you are feeling adventurous you can rent sand sleds at the visitors center and take them out to the dunes and sled down snows much hotter cousin.
If you want to do more than dance in the dunes and the scenic drive there are a number of great hikes in the park that get you up close and personal with the variety of plants and surroundings of the area. Here are some I would recommend:
- Dune Life Nature Trail: great for families!
- Playa Trail
- Alkali Flat Trail
Safety Tips for White Sands: its very easy to become disoriented on directions when out exploring the dunes so be cautious and follow these instructions.
- Bring plenty of water and salty snacks
- Download offline maps and pin your parking spot
- Stick with your group
- Wear sunscreen and pack a first aid kit
- Let someone know where you will be that day and what time you will check in.
Days 10–11: Tucson & Saguaro National Park
Drive to: Tucson, Arizona (~4 hours)
For your final stop, head to Tucson to explore Saguaro National Park, home to the iconic giant cacti. Notably, the pronunciation of this cactus is Sa-Woh-Ro, no G sounds at all. The Saguaro cactus only grows in certain parts in the United States, so to see an entire park full of these impressive cacti is a real treat.
Now for a new segment on the show, Cactus Facts ! The Saguaro cactus is actually such an anomaly, we learned all these facts while stopping by the visitor center. The Saguaro cactus only grows a few inches in the first 10 years of their life and only starts to sprout arms when upwards of 60 years old.
You can estimate a cacti’s age around the park just by looking at its height and arm distribution. Additionally, a Saguaro will grow under a nurse tree, that literally nurses the cactus, providing protection from extreme weather. As the cactus continues to grow over time, the nurse tree will usually die ! So rude of the cactus, but tis the circle of life.
Flowering season starts in April and a Saguaro that is at least 35 years old will flower during that time. The pleats on the cactus help expand and contract the structure of the Saguaro when it is either very rainy and it needs to store water (expand) or very dry and it is using all its water (contract). Crazy!
We loved driving the scenic loop at Saguaro National Park and hiking the trails. When you visit check out the Ridge View Trail or the Mica Trail for cacti viewing. Afterward, treat yourself to some incredible Tucson eats, check out 5 Points Market or El Taco Rustico for local favorites.
Tucson itself is a fun city with plenty of food and culture, and the park being next door makes it an ideal final stop for a National Park road trip.
The Bottom Line
What made this itinerary so great is how different each park felt. From desert canyons to caves, gypsum dunes to cactus forests, every stop was its own adventure. You could easily stretch this into a longer trip if you want more time at each park, but even in under two weeks it felt doable and unforgettable.
If you liked this itinerary, check out my 2-Week Southwest National Park Road Trip or my guides on Death Valley National Park or Mesa Verde National Park.
As always, feel free to reach out with questions, and remember, when you’re out on the trail, leave no trace.
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