The Southwest Region is mostly arid but also has a combination of climates due to varying elevations and landscapes including mountains, foothills, high deserts, high plains, plateaus and deep canyons throughout the area. The southern parts of the Southwest Region have the driest and hottest conditions of all the U.S. Regions. The higher elevations in the northern parts of the region in Colorado and Utah experience cooler temperatures and snow in the winter. Camping is great at a KOA campground in this region and most campgrounds are open year-round making it a great destination for campers when the cold hits up north. Arizona especially is popular for snowbirds during the winter months.
This region offers plenty of outdoor experiences, there are thirteen national parks and many other recreational areas, national monuments and state parks here as well. You will find Utah's Mighty 5 national parks in this region; Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Park. In Arizona, visit Grand Canyon National Park, and Petrified Forest and Saguaro National Parks. In New Mexico, make a stop at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Colorado is home to four national parks, Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde or opt for a winter road trip through the state. You will find many ruins of ancestral native peoples in this region, including cliff dwellings and kivas.
The states in this region meet geographically in the Four Corners Monument area, where you can straddle all four of them at once. Popular stops in Arizona include Sedona, Tombstone, Antelope Canyon and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. New Mexico awes visitors with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta held in early October every year. New Mexico is also where you will find several impressive national monuments; White Sands, Bandelier, Petroglyph and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monuments as well as several national historic parks. In addition to all of Utah's national parks, there are great national monuments and state parks here too, including Grand Staircase-Escalante, Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges and Dinosaur National Monument and Dead Horse Point State Park. Colorado has some interesting sights including Garden of the Gods National Natural Landmark, Colorado National Monument and Dinosaur National Monument. Major metropolitan areas in this region include Phoenix, Arizona, Salt Lake City, Utah, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Denver, Colorado. Skiing is popular in the winter months in Colorado and Utah.
Arches National Park, Utah
Aspen, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Eldorado Canyon State Park, Colorado
Elephant Butte Lake State Park, New Mexico
Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, Taos, New Mexico
Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arizona
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
State Forest State Park, Colorado
Zion National Park, Utah
Since the Southwest is mostly made up of an arid desert climate, the best time to visit is typically late winter to spring. In the summer, you may be limited in activities due to the extreme temperatures. In some parts of the Southwest, such as Arizona, summer temperatures can reach above 100 degrees.
If you visit in the late winter or spring, the weather is much cooler so you'll be able to take full advantage of the outdoor activities on your trip. If you're lucky, you might even be able to catch the beautiful wildflower superbloom.
The Southwest offers plenty of attractions. Some of the top attractions in the region are the Grand Canyon National Park, The Mighty 5, Angels Landing, and Monument Valley.
The Grand Canyon holds a huge amount of history and information, however its historical importance is not that only thing that draws over 5 million visitors each year. The canyons spectacular beauty can only be understood when you see it for yourself.
The Mighty 5 are Utah's five best national parks—Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. These parks are famous for their red-rock formations, desert solitude, and over 1,000 miles of hiking trails.
Straddling the Utah-Arizona border is the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This region is comprised of a red, sandy landscape with rock formations carved by years of erosion. It's truly a stunning sight to see.
The deserts in the Southwest are the perfect place for outdoor activities. Outdoor recreation and extreme sports are popular in the Southwest. Some of the top outdoor activities in this region are hiking, canyoneering, mountain biking, canoeing, and riding.
The National Parks in this region are tourist magnets for hikers. A few of the most popular parks in this region are the Grand Canyon, Guadalupe Mountain, The Mighty 5 (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion), and Carlsbad Caverns. These parks are also a great place for bikers to ride.
One of the most popular places to canoe is the Colorado River, just upstream from the Grand Canyon.
The Southwest has several well-known national parks. There are thirteen national parks in this region. Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and South Colorado each offer unique landscapes, rivers, mountains, and canyons to explore.
Some of the top National Parks are Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and White Sands National Park.
Most state parks are based around a beach or a reservoir, but in the Southwest, the landscapes are more varied. A lot of the state parts are home to the most beautiful red rocks and canyons. The state parks in this region are rewarding, with countless opportunities for hiking, camping, boating, biking, and more.
Some of the most popular state parks in the Southwest are Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Red Rock State Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Goblin Valley State Park, Kartchner Caverns State Park, and State Forest State Park.
After exploring the Southwest, you're bound to build up an appetite. A few of the popular foods you can find in this region are green and red chilies, Tex-Mex, burritos, blue corn, huevos rancheros, and so much more. Throughout the Southwest, you'll find red and green chilies on everything from bagels to cheeseburgers.
Some of the most popular restaurants in this region are Beckett's Table, Elote Cafe El Parasol, La Choza Restaurant, Buckhorn Exchange, Range Cafe, Antiquity Restaurant, Riverhouse on Main and Red Iguana. Although these are some of the top favorites, there are so many delicious options for foodies in the Southwest.
Most campgrounds are open year-round in the Southwest, making it a great destination for campers. With all of the national and state parks, you will not have a hard time picking a place to stay. Since there's a combination of climates due to varying elevations and landscapes, there's several attractions to explore depending on the goal of your camping trip.
There's something special about waking up in the desert. Whether it's the endless sky, towering red rocks, and winding rivers, there's beauty that you just can't find anywhere else. Although camping in the desert is fascinating and you won't have to worry about your tent getting flooded with rain, it will require planning and preparation to make sure you have everything you need to have a great camping experience.
180 West Four Feathers Lane, Benson
5803 North US Highway 89, Flagstaff
5333 State Highway 64, Williams
102 Hermosa Drive, Holbrook
3820 North Roosevelt, Kingman
1540 South Tomahawk Road, Apache Junction
18428 South Picacho Highway, Picacho
64812 Harcuvar Drive, Salome
21305 I-40 Business Loop, Seligman
5151 South Country Club Road, Tucson
700 N Virginia Avenue, Willcox
1000 Circle Pines Road, Williams
180 West Four Feathers Lane, Benson
5803 North US Highway 89, Flagstaff
5333 State Highway 64, Williams
102 Hermosa Drive, Holbrook
3820 North Roosevelt, Kingman
1540 South Tomahawk Road, Apache Junction
18428 South Picacho Highway, Picacho
64812 Harcuvar Drive, Salome
21305 I-40 Business Loop, Seligman
5151 South Country Club Road, Tucson
700 N Virginia Avenue, Willcox
1000 Circle Pines Road, Williams
6900 Juniper Lane, Alamosa
7202 Highway 133, Carbondale
8100 Bandley Drive, Fountain
2800 E Hwy 40, Craig
2576 County Road 81, Cripple Creek
1312 Monroe Street, Strasburg
605 Lake Gulch Rd Co Rd 6, Central City
2051 Big Thompson Ave., Estes Park
14010 Judge Orr Road, Peyton
1910 Lakeside Resort Lane, Fort Collins
4821 E CR RD 70, Wellington
629 River Frontage Road, Silt
2819 Highway 50, Grand Junction
143 Co Rd 48, Grand Lake
105 County Road 50, Gunnison
26680 U.S. Highway 50, La Junta
575 Colorado Avenue, Limon
200 N Cedar Avenue, Montrose
225 CR 23, Ridgway
4131 Interstate 25 North, Exit 108, Pueblo
9040 Interstate 25 South @ Exit 74,, Pueblo
559 County Road 3A, Canon City
16105 US 50 West, Salida
3603 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs
6900 Juniper Lane, Alamosa
7202 Highway 133, Carbondale
8100 Bandley Drive, Fountain
2800 E Hwy 40, Craig
2576 County Road 81, Cripple Creek
1312 Monroe Street, Strasburg
605 Lake Gulch Rd Co Rd 6, Central City
2051 Big Thompson Ave., Estes Park
14010 Judge Orr Road, Peyton
1910 Lakeside Resort Lane, Fort Collins
4821 E CR RD 70, Wellington
629 River Frontage Road, Silt
2819 Highway 50, Grand Junction
143 Co Rd 48, Grand Lake
105 County Road 50, Gunnison
26680 U.S. Highway 50, La Junta
575 Colorado Avenue, Limon
200 N Cedar Avenue, Montrose
225 CR 23, Ridgway
4131 Interstate 25 North, Exit 108, Pueblo
9040 Interstate 25 South @ Exit 74,, Pueblo
559 County Road 3A, Canon City
16105 US 50 West, Salida
3603 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs
412 24th Street, Alamogordo
12400 Skyline Road NE, Albuquerque
555 South Hill Road, Bernalillo
2 Manthei Road, Highway 285, Carlsbad
26 Cibola Sands Loop, Grants
814 Weinrich Road, Las Cruces
76 County Road a25a, Las Vegas
1501 Lead Street, Lordsburg
1330 South 2nd Street, Raton
934 Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe
11824 Highway 180 E, Silver City
6299 Quay Road AL, Tucumcari
412 24th Street, Alamogordo
12400 Skyline Road NE, Albuquerque
555 South Hill Road, Bernalillo
2 Manthei Road, Highway 285, Carlsbad
26 Cibola Sands Loop, Grants
814 Weinrich Road, Las Cruces
76 County Road a25a, Las Vegas
1501 Lead Street, Lordsburg
1330 South 2nd Street, Raton
934 Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe
11824 Highway 180 E, Silver City
6299 Quay Road AL, Tucumcari
485 North Bear Lake Blvd, Garden City
145 N. 300 W., Garden City
1428 N Manderfield Road (Hwy 357), Beaver
1040 West 3600 South, Perry
410 West 900 South, Fillmore
320 West Highway 43, Manila
235 South 1780 East, Green River
2903 S 1700 E,, Mt. Pleasant
3225 South Highway 191, Moab
Milepost 2, Highway 163, Monument Valley
590 West 600 South, Richfield
1400 West North Temple, Salt Lake City
1550 North 1750 West, Springville
5800 North Old Highway 91, Hurricane
930 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal
485 North Bear Lake Blvd, Garden City
145 N. 300 W., Garden City
1428 N Manderfield Road (Hwy 357), Beaver
1040 West 3600 South, Perry
410 West 900 South, Fillmore
320 West Highway 43, Manila
235 South 1780 East, Green River
2903 S 1700 E,, Mt. Pleasant
3225 South Highway 191, Moab
Milepost 2, Highway 163, Monument Valley
590 West 600 South, Richfield
1400 West North Temple, Salt Lake City
1550 North 1750 West, Springville
5800 North Old Highway 91, Hurricane
930 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal
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